When I think about myself, Maya Angelou often comes to mind. Her words resonate deeply within me, inspiring me to embrace my identity and celebrate my uniqueness. As a renowned poet, writer, and civil rights activist, Angelou’s life and work have left an indelible mark on the world, making her an icon of strength, resilience, and self-love.
Angelou’s journey was one of overcoming adversity and embracing her true self. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in 1928, she faced numerous challenges throughout her life, including racism, poverty, and sexual abuse. Despite these hardships, she found the courage to rise above her circumstances and share her experiences with the world. Her powerful narrative, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” is a testament to her unwavering spirit and determination to overcome the obstacles that stood in her way.
In her poem “When I Think About Myself,” Angelou reflects on her own identity and the lessons she has learned from her life experiences. The poem serves as a reminder to embrace our true selves and to never be defined by others’ perceptions. Here is an excerpt from the poem:
When I think about myself,
I think about the times I’ve been brave,
The times I’ve been strong,
The times I’ve been vulnerable.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been betrayed,
The times I’ve been happy,
The times I’ve been sad.
I think about the times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined,
The times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve been a stranger.
I think about the times I’ve been loved,
The times I’ve been unloved,
The times I’ve been free,
The times I’ve been confined.
I think about the times I’ve been myself,
The times I’ve been someone else,
The times I’ve been accepted,
The times I’ve been rejected.
I think about the times I’ve been a woman,
The times I’ve been a mother,
The times I’ve been a friend,
The times I’ve
