Life Lessons from Maya Angelou 5: On Doing RIGHT
As I continued my search for interviews, speeches and performances of Maya Angelou, I found this video of Oprah presents Master Class “Just Doing Right with Dr. Maya Angelou”.
Inspiring and moving are her words, I just had to write them down and share it with you so you too may be inspired.
Being a survivor of abandonment and abuse, Maya’s life is a shining example to the world as to how humans are capable of rising, recovering and even thriving from a dark and painful past.
She begins by saying…
“Maybe the hardest part is if you teach you have to live your teaching. Hmmm… You can’t say “You do not as I do but do as I say.” No, no! You have to say “I’m doing my best to live what I teach…”
JUST DO RIGHT
Excerpts from Oprah Presents Master Class
with Dr. Maya Angelou
“You know what’s right.
Just do right.”
You don’t really have to ask anybody.
The truth is – right may not be expedient.
It may not be profitable;
but it will satisfy your soul.It brings you the kind of protection
that bodyguards can’t give you.
Try to be all you can be
to be the best human being you can be.
Try to be that in your church,
in your temple.
Try to be that in your classroom.
Do it because it is right to do.
You see, people will know you
and they will add their prayers to your life.
They’ll wish you well.
I think, if your name is mentioned
and people say oh hell, oh damn, hahaha…
I think you’re doing something wrong.
But if your name is mentioned
and people say oh she’s so sweet,
he’s so nice, oh i love… oh god bless her.
There you are…So try to live your life in a way
that you will not regret years
of useless virtue and inertia
and timidity.
Take up the battle.
Take it up.
It’s yours.
This is your life.
This is your world.I’ll be leaving it long before you
under the ordinary set of circumstances.
You make your own choices.
You can decide life isn’t worth living
but that would the worst thing that you can do. How do you know?
So far. Try it. See.So pick it up.
Pick up the battle
and make it a better world.
Just where you are.
Yes.
And it can be better.
And it must be better.
But it is up to us.”
A Little Tribute to Maya Angelou
“Life Lessons from Maya 5: On Doing RIGHT”
Digital collage by Paulina Constancia
The words are inspiring but it is even more moving when you hear Dr. Angelou say them herself: So make sure you watch the video below…
Oprah presents MASTER CLASS
“Just Do Right”
with Dr. Maya Angelou
Learn more about Maya Angelou on bio, the academy of achievement, and wikipedia
So do… as Maya said, “Just do right!”
thank you so much,i love Maya Angelou and one of my wishes was to meet her before i/she dies.sadly she is dead 😦 thanks for the script,i love her alot 🙂