Like many of you, I felt deeply affected by the loss of Maya Angelou. After she rose, the void left here felt wide and deep. And I mourned the loss of the powerful example of Sisterhood that her friendship with Oprah symbolized to the world. I love Oprah, so I was comforted by the hope that with the world’s weight on her shoulders, she had a woman like Mighty Maya to help her carry it.
I don’t know Oprah in person, but I am a grateful student of hers and have been since a decade before I got sober. I remember – even as a lost, lost drunk – listening to her speak and knowing that the language of love, power, sisterhood, and freedom she spoke was my native tongue. Since Oprah is a person who has discovered the way the world works, she knows how to swim with the current of life. The truth is a strong current and it will carry us – if we surrender to it. I think that surrendering to life’s strongest current- Love – is how Oprah travels so far, so fast, and with such grace, power, and joy.
My favorite way that Oprah swims with the current is by being a true student of life — by soaking up everything beautiful and true and allowing each new discovery to shape her into a more heavenly creature. I often feel less like Oprah is trying to teach me and more like she is allowing me to watch her learn. Every time I watch her eyes light up when encountering a new person or her whole body bolt upright when encountering a new idea I think – that’s it. That is it. That’s what I want. I want her constant state of wonder and gratitude and insatiable curiosity about people and truth – that’s the secret to joy. The secret to joyful success is to live your life wide-eyed and open-handed – ready to receive the gift wrapped inside every person and experience, and then willing to allow everything and everyone new to change you. The secret to joy is being Ready and Willing to be dazzled by life like today is the first and last day you’ve got down here. To live with the zeal of a Beginner. That is what I think they mean when they say: You must become like a child to enter the kingdom of God.
I once saw Oprah tear up at Toni Morrison’s suggestion that the single most loving thing a mother can do is make sure her eyes light up every time her child enters the room. And that’s why Oprah feels like a mother to so many of us. Because her eyes light up when life in ANY form enters her presence. It’s like the whole world is her child and she is lit up by all of us. THAT is how I want to be. When folks talk about Oprah I feel inadequate to explain my feelings and so I usually just say, “Yes. She is wonderful.” That IS what Oprah is – full of wonder. And being wonder-full has nothing to do with wealth or power. Being wonder-full – being dazzled by life — is something that each of us can choose now, today. Life and all its wonder is the one thing to which everyone with a heartbeat has access. That’s one of many truths that Oprah Winfrey has taught me. And it seems like the more time I spend in her world – the quicker my eyes light up in mine.
I wrote an essay the day after Mighty Maya died and today it is being shared on Huff Post OWN. That’s a very special thing to me. I have thirteen Maya quotes on my desk and one of them says this: “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” And so my gratitude today is not about reaching stars. It’s about reaching a heart that has changed mine. After thirty years of accepting daily gifts from Oprah – I got the opportunity to return one.
So today I’m quietly celebrating the power and beauty of one woman’s heart being held by another. That is the beauty that Maya and Oprah had and that I have with Sister and that you have with the women you love and trust and march through life with. Today I feel reverence for Sisterhood. And for the power that gratitude has to build bridges between sisters who’ve known each other since birth or who will never meet in this life.
In Closing – LET IT BE KNOWN that today I’m supremely grateful for two things that have saved me again and again throughout my life: Good Women and Good Writing.
Thank God for Both.
Glennon
P.S. Please go here to read the essay I wrote for Oprah and Maya and please love it. Along with gratitude I am also feeling just a touch of holy terror. Sacred and scared are sisters. Thank you and I love you forever.
Author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller LOVE WARRIOR — ORDER HERE
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56 Comments
Just beautiful. Feeling the same way about Maya, the same about Oprah, and the same about YOU xoxo
I just read your post and your article. They were beautifully written. I couldn’t bring myself to do it before now. I was too sad and wanted to deny that Maya Angelou had died. It seems silly since I didn’t actually know her. She was a hero of mine and inspired me to start writing poetry which I will soon be taking the daring step of publishing. Your words are beautiful. I think of those words of Toni Morrison’s often and hope that I light up every time I see my children. I know I don’t, but I try. I wish that I had a Maya in my life.
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I loved BOTH of your essays. I love Oprah too. And you totally NAILED it with her being a student of life. I am also deeply sad that Maya is gone. She was such a source of strength and wisdom. And, yes, I totally thought of Oprah when I heard of her passing. Thank you for writing. You are also a source of strength and wisdom. I hope you know that.
I truly love this….even though *whispering* I am not an Oprah fan. But I wept loudly when I heard that one of my heroes had passed.
I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I feel like you are a Maya to me. Your words are just…..well let’s just say when I am discussing the woes of the world with my kids I try not to end everything with “love always wins” 🙂
And though I’m only haha 44 I have plenty of silver in my hair and don’t fuss about how I look at the beach, and the only reason to cover up is because I burn. I’m trying to pass this onto my kids, my 19 yr old daughter in particular. Being comfortable in your own skin is so freeing.
Thank you for being you.
You are so sorely missed, Dr. Angelou. <3
Loved it. Just. Love.
This article was not only excellent, it brought me peace. Thank you.
Beautifully written- well said G!:)
Well, actually, it is good. Very very good.
This was BEAUTIFUL, Glennon! I’m pretty sure you probably brought Oprah to tears. What a lovely tribute to her and Maya and the idea of sisterhood in general. Love, Holly from JMU 🙂
Glennon, you never cease to amaze me.You’re one of my Mayas. I hope you get to meet Oprah one day so we can all cheer alongside you to see two great women, fearless life learners side by side. Just like you said about O, I may not know you personally but I am one of YOUR grateful students. Thank you for this. I’m sure Oprah loved it…and our lovely Maya, too.
Glennon, I loved it. I really did. And like you, I love Oprah. And I loved Maya. I am in awe of your ability to write what a lot of us feel. We’re all teachers, I think, in some way, to someone. I read & watch & listen & learn something new every day. You’re at the top of my list.
I loved it. I’m so glad you are finding your “Maya” where you are. When I heard the news of Maya’s passing, my first thought was of Oprah. So sad to lose one who guides you. Thanks, Glennon. Great post, lots of things to think about.
Ahh.May.Zing. Truly. Thanks for sharing despite your fear.
I love it. What wisdom from your Mayas.
Oh G, you are one of my Mayas and I am so grateful for you. And Oprah’s one too. I’ve loved Oprah, love loved her for as long as I can remember. Imagine a fourth grader soaking her in at 4pm every day. I grew up with her wonder and zest. And you just articulated why I love Oprah and why I love YOU so much. Right here: “I often feel less like Oprah is trying to teach me and more like she is allowing me to watch her learn.”
You and her are learners, and you bring us along with you. On behalf of everyone ever, thank you G, and thank you Oprah, and thank you Maya.
Loved your essay, G!! I’ve been learning the same sort of thing about older friends, and you said it all so perfectly!
Howdy! This post could not be written any better!
Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him.
Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
I truly, honestly, and sincerely am moved so much by your words in your essay. And yes, I read it and shared it before I even saw this post with your request. 🙂
I loved your essay and I hope someone sees me as their “Maya” someday.
Beautiful and truth!
To quote something my Maya’s would say and maybe even the actual Maya, you did good, kid.
xoxo
LOVE IT AND YOU!
I loved both the essays, Glennon!
Loved the essay!
Oh, Glennon, it’s so beautiful. Love it. Love you!
Living in a big (huge) city, I feel very isolated and find it excruciatingly difficult to find “good women” who are interested in being anything more than acquaintances. I love this essay, G. It gives me hope. Your writing always encourages me.
Great essay. But honestly, it made a little sad once I used it to self-reflect. I used to be an Oprah type. I deeply loved meeting and getting to know people. I was truly awed by the complex yet ultimately simple nature of people of different backgrounds. I used to believe everyone should start off with an A+ in my book and that most people were geuinely good. But somewhere along the way, I lost that “awe” of people. I think too many people have let me down, life in general just got harder, and my spirit has been crushed a lot. But I want to be “wonderfull” again. I think this blog, Maya Angelou’s poetry, and surrounding myself with more Mayas will help me bring my wonder back. Thanks for the thoughts, Glennon.
I was thinking the same thing Melinda. My bright-eyed wonderment in people (a quality I loved in myself) has dulled. I commit to bring it back, bit by bit, by active practice. Best of luck to you!
Lovely, G. And the post on HuffPo too. I’m keeping my eyes open for a Maya-like mentor.
The essay is beautiful G, but of course it is.
You are a beauty.. and a Maya to many.
The Huffpo essay is lovely. Thank you for sharing what you have learned with us, the lessons are profound, simple, and game changing for many of us. Thank you for carrying a torch, being a guide, and being a Maya for so many. Much love!!
Lovely essay. Some of my closest women friends are some 20+ years older than me. Their perspective is always a gift that I didn’t even realized I needed.
Loved loved loved your HuffPo piece on finding your Mayas. Beautiful reflection and lesson learned from our great mother mentor Maya Angelou through you, her sister daughter.
loveyou
Really and truly I loved it too.
I am SURE Oprah loves this as much as I do. You have such a gift and thank you once again for sharing it with us all.
I loved it. And decided I need some Mayas in my life. And also, I think you should know that when I heard Maya died, I thought instantly of you, and how you are that voice to me, the one I would feel a little like a child left at home alone without hearing every day.
Great essay, as usual :o)
I do love it (both the post and the essay) and I posted a link on my FB page. Thank you for putting this so beautifully into words.
I did love it…
My first thought when I heard was, “Oh, poor Oprah.”
I loved your essay! It captured so well why multi-generational friendships are important!
I love the essay. What a great thing to have friends who have “been there, done that” and are willing to be gentle with those of us who haven’t.
chills and love and love and chills! Amazing. Bravo!! Don’t be scared. Or be scared, that’s ok, but don’t worry- everything is going to be amazing. HUGS!!
I loved your essay. It brought tears to my eyes. It helped personalize the loss – not just a great and inspiring luminary, but a friend and teacher.
Sweet Fancy Moses Glennon! 🙂 I read your essay on OWN and along with “Little Drummer Boy” it’s my favorite. NAILED IT! I shared it too and have fallen in line to join the march.
I love your blog and your essay! Your words always hit home!!!
I would love to have some silver friends like that. 🙂
Beautiful, Glennon. All of it. Thank you, as always, for sharing your heart. And thank you for letting us watch you learn. It’s beautiful and helps me grow. Carry on, wise mama.
Wonderful words of wisdom that will give me the strength to move forward today.
Beautiful!
Just letting you know I LOVE YOUR ESSAY!
So many things to say! Of course, I always felt the exact same way watching Oprah and Maya, as though not only had I been privileged with a glimpse into their friendship and sisterhood… but was somehow a part of it. But here’s the thing, Glennon: YOU DO THAT, TOO!
You bring us all in, hold us so close, we feel like we are a part of your circle. Earlier this month, I gave a speech, and in that speech I mentioned both you and Oprah in the same sentence… so this makes me deliriously happy!!! I’m overjoyed to know that finally Oprah has welcomed you into her OWN circle and I, for one, look forward to seeing you in an interview soon!!!
(I know, maybe it seems like I’m getting ahead of myself, but I am not. I assure you. It’s going to happen, I can feel it in my bones… I only wish I could be there when it happens!)
Love <3
Arwen, YES. That’s what I was thinking as I read, too.
G, every time I see a photo of you and other Monkees on your book tour or after a speaking engagement, it looks like you have NEVER, EVER been more happy to meet someone than that person you are with right then. Seriously. And somehow you look that way for the next person and the next. I often look at those photos in awe, wondering just how you do that, how you can have that light for so many people. It’s a gift. And you have it already, we promise. And we’re grateful for it.
Your HuffPo post was lovely, as is this post. Keep RAWKin it out, girl.
Really and truly, I loved your essay. Thank you.
And, “Judy, this is the hottest you will ever be. Enjoy it!” YES. YES. YES. Now if I could get my 37-year-old self to that place….