I had the great honor of being interviewed on a couple of podcasts this past week.

This was to promote my first book, which had the audacity to be released as COVID was having its way with the entire planet’s livelihoods, schedules, and plans for the future.

I mean, my publisher wasn’t all that keen on the idea of my travelling around like some modern-day Wayne Dyer, anyway. As inspiring as his life story was, I’m afraid the days of selling books out of the trunk of your Chrysler Cordoba to propel your way onto Johnny Carson’s “Late Night” show ended decades ago.

I digress.

I mention the podcasts because both hosts asked me about the same technique that I espoused on the written page: that is, to immerse oneself in as much life-affirming material as you one can stand every day. It makes sense, doesn’t it? The entire world seems to be circling the drain right now because we are all surrounded by as much toxic negativity as we could possibly imagine. It dribbles out of our phones and tablets and laptops 24 hours a day.

Last night, when I was feeling particularly hopeless, I practiced what I preached. I sought out inspiration in the words of a mentor—Maya Angelou. And as much as she is a legendary wordsmith, it is not her sentence construction that sends me back into the path of freedom I long for. It is her perspective.

Skeptical? Check out these 10 quotes and see if they do not unlock your self-imposed chains, as well:

“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

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

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”

“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to out and kick ass.”

“Nothing will work unless you do.”

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