Everyone is Blessed

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (4 April, 1928 – 28 May, 2014), born Marguerite Annie Johnson, was an African-American poet, memoirist, actress, director, producer, writer, singer, dancer, and civil rights activist. Her compassion, courage, and deep spirituality influenced her vast body of work and public life. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and Stamps, Arkansas, Angelou confronted racial discrimination and personal trauma. These experiences served as the basis for her seminal work, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," reflecting her resilient spirit and setting the stage for her impactful roles in literature, cinema, and activism.

Angelou's kindness and empathy were defining traits, evident in her personal interactions and her writing. She held a strong belief in the transformative power of words, using her literary prowess to explore themes of love, kindness, and human fellowship, advocating the role of compassion in healing societal fractures. A spiritual person, Angelou drew on diverse traditions, encompassing African religions, Christianity, and Eastern philosophies. This broad spiritual perspective underpinned her sense of human interconnectedness and significantly influenced her creative output.

Her creativity, which spanned film directing, screenplay writing, autobiographical writing, poetry, essays, and music, addressed social, personal, and spiritual themes with a distinctive blend of honesty and empathy. Through life's hardships, Angelou retained a spirit of gratitude, a trait she imparted as a mentor to younger generations of artists and writers. Despite her passing in 2014, Angelou's legacy of courage, compassion, creativity, and spirituality continues to inspire, offering insight and comfort to countless individuals worldwide.

(1928-2014) Humanism, Arts and Sciences

Angelou, Maya. "When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." TODAY.com, https://www.today.com/life/inspiration/maya-angelou-quotes-rcna126821?search=Maya+Angelou. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

Maya Angelou

Theme: Gratefulness

About This Maya Angelou Quotation [Commentary]

Maya Angelou’s quote, “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed,” underscores the importance of generosity and gratitude. Angelou emphasizes giving not out of obligation but with genuine cheerfulness, ensuring that the act benefits both the giver and the receiver. By giving joyfully, we create a positive exchange that fosters mutual happiness and satisfaction, making it a source of true blessing for all involved.

Angelou also highlights the significance of accepting gratefully. When we accept with gratitude, we acknowledge the effort and intention behind the giver’s actions, completing the cycle of kindness. This mutual exchange, grounded in thankfulness, enhances our relationships and nurtures a sense of community. Angelou’s words remind us that gratitude transforms the act of receiving into a meaningful experience that uplifts both the giver and the receiver.

Ultimately, Angelou’s quote reflects her deep understanding of human interactions and the power of positive virtues. Her message is clear: when generosity and gratitude are practiced together, they create a harmonious balance that blesses everyone. This perspective aligns with her broader teachings on resilience, compassion, and the enduring human spirit. By embodying these values, we contribute to a more connected and fulfilling life, underscoring Angelou’s belief in the transformative potential of kindness and thankfulness.

Maya Angelou’s friendship with Oprah Winfrey and Brené Brown

Maya Angelou’s friendship with Oprah Winfrey and Brené Brown was one of warmth and enduring mutual admiration. Oprah, who considered Angelou as her mentor, and Brown, who frequently found inspiration in Angelou’s work, both cherished the wisdom and compassion Angelou embodied. One touching moment was when Brown first met Angelou at Oprah’s studio. Reflecting on this meeting, Brown shared: “When Maya walked into the room, everything stopped. She embodied that rare combination of fierce courage and complete presence. Her words, ‘I shall not be moved,’ echoed in my mind and resonated in my heart.” This shared recognition and reverence defined the deep connection between Angelou, Winfrey, and Brown—a bond characterized by shared values, love, and the power of language.

Additional Maya Angelou Quotes

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

Maya Angelou [Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer].

“Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”

—Maya Angelou [As quoted in USA Today (5 March 1988)].

“You can’t use up creativity,” she stresses. “The more you use, the more you have. It is our shame and our loss when we discourage people from being creative. We set apart those people who should not be set apart, people whom we assume don’t have a so-called artistic temperament, and that is stupid.”

—Maya Angelou, 1982, Bell Telephone Magazine, Volume 61, Number 1, Creativity: It’s the Thought that Counts by Mary Ardito, p. 32 [Also as quoted by Jeffrey M. Elliot [Conversations with Maya Angelou (1989)].

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

—Maya Angelou [I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings].

“Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait.”

—Maya Angelou [I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings].

“The caged bird sings with a fearful trill,
of things unknown, but longed for still,
and his tune is heard on the distant hill,
for the caged bird sings of freedom.”

—Maya Angelou [I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings].

Everyone is Blessed

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