MAYA ANGELOU'S BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own even if she never wants
to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her
dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ......
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black
lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone
else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
HOW TO QUIT A JOB,
BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,
AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its
over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...


Know that you are truly loved by the friend who sent this...
and that she wishes the best for you always...
.............................................wisdom: true!
.................writing prompt: What do you have?

Thankful Exercise

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, stop, take a breath, and raise your hands in joyfulness and thanksgiving. You are exactly where you need to be right now. Write about it.

Bonsai

The process of relationship is like
carefully growing a Bonsai tree.
Over a number of years, the loving
caretaker who grew this bonsai
patiently bent each branch.
It probably
didn't feel good to the tree.
It probably hurt.
The gardener would also bind
certain branches with wire,
or hang a rock from them in order to bend the branches this way or that.
The gardener was kind, observant, and patient.
In it's own way, the tree would communicate it's pain.
A leaf would drop. A branch might die.
The gardener and the tree have a longlasting, on going relationship.
The tree now looks like this because of its natural need to grow, and the gardener's trained eye for how to guide it in a certain direction.
This is the relationship we have with other people, whether we know it or not. One person bends, the other person sheds a leaf, or a tear. Both are changed in the process. We are all, at one time or another, the bonsai or the gardener. Reflect on a time when you were the gardener. Who was the other person?
How did you bend their branches? How are you changed?

Hold On Tight

The secret to making it through the down slope is to hold on tight and remember to breathe. The wind will cool your face, and you will soon find yourself back on top, even if just through sheer momentum.
After the ride, think of how far you've traveled!
You are now a new person. Savor the thrilling ride.
Please, don't be afraid to think about the rough times, just remember to cherish every moment.
Take a moment to face a time when the roller coaster was on the downslope. Write about it. How did it feel? Get it down on paper.
Now, turn the story around and talk about how you stepped off the ride and moved forward again.

Your dreams are now possible. Please pick up a pen and write them down. Read them back to yourself. Then, take the very first step that can make them a reality. Write a letter, pick up the phone, or just send an email. Put your thoughts and dreams out into the universe. You are there.

The Future

How can we know the future? How much should we worry about it?
If we just keep driving over the ridge, enjoying the view, can we reach the right destination? I guess we need to have a good map, drive safely between the lines, and keep the car in good condition, well stocked with gas whenever possible. What are you doing to have a safe ride? Are you enjoying the twists and turns in the road? Where are you headed?