Maya Angelou's books have been on my TBR list for longer than I'd care to admit, and yet I have never read any of them. Today she passed away, and her death has me thinking about what I do know about her.
Despite never having read her work (and don't worry, that is a situation I plan to rectify ASAP), I have always held her in high regard. She is one of the fierce tribe of trailblazing women who took life by the balls and strove to be extraordinary. She did more in her life than most people could accomplish in five lifetimes, and she did it with grace, generosity, and no small amount of spunk.
I have spent a lot of time today reading Maya Angelou quotes - there are a lot of them, and they're all pretty awesome - but I think the one above is my favorite. It sums up not only what I imagine Angelou to have been like, but what I consider to be a pretty decent philosophy for girls and women the world over.
RIP, Maya. Your words live on.