This week, one of my favorite writers, Maya Angelou passed away. In fact, if you look back to my Weekly Update from 4/11, entitled, "YOLO (Your Optimism Lifts Obstacles)," you will see that I quoted her! You probably have not yet read any of her works since she writes for an older audience, but I guarantee that one day you will come across a piece by Maya Angelou, and you will see why the world is so moved by her words.
In honor of her passing, I'd like to share some other quotes by Ms. Angelou that I always try to keep in the back of my mind. Perhaps one of them will remain in your memory as you journey through life as well:
"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song."
"The question is not how to survive, but how to thrive with passion, compassion, humor and style."
"Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."
“Hate: it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”
"Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option."
"When people show you who they are, believe them."
"You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot–it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive."
"What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain."
"Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud."
"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."
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better."
"My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness."
--Ms. Sanford
Parent Outreach: Here is a post that may be helpful as parents/guardians help children proofread their scrapbook projects (which are due on Tuesday, June 3rd): http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/7-grammar-mistakes-you-dont-want-to-make. This helps narrow in on some of the most common grammar mistakes, such as using your vs. you're, which can be tricky even for adults!
In honor of her passing, I'd like to share some other quotes by Ms. Angelou that I always try to keep in the back of my mind. Perhaps one of them will remain in your memory as you journey through life as well:
"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song."
"The question is not how to survive, but how to thrive with passion, compassion, humor and style."
"Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."
“Hate: it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”
"Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option."
"When people show you who they are, believe them."
"You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot–it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive."
"What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain."
"Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud."
"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."
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better."
"My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness."
--Ms. Sanford
Parent Outreach: Here is a post that may be helpful as parents/guardians help children proofread their scrapbook projects (which are due on Tuesday, June 3rd): http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/7-grammar-mistakes-you-dont-want-to-make. This helps narrow in on some of the most common grammar mistakes, such as using your vs. you're, which can be tricky even for adults!