Powerful Words of Maya Angelou

             

      Power to me doesn't mean authority or a high social standing, although it is easily interpreted that way.  I think it is better described as strength and courage.  Think about it, if one is a supposed powerful leader, they must be able to lead.  A good leader is courageous and not afraid to take chances when necessary. Someone is a leader because they have the qualities to have that power. Although unfortunately this hasn't applied to every world leader in our history. Not all powerful leaders are respectable.  Some use force and unfairness to feed their power, causing others to crumple under their reign.  That’s not being courageous, that’s being the opposite.  They aren't “powerful” mentally, unfortunately they are physically. Hitler for example, he used his power to cause a nationwide genocide. He abused whatever power he believed he had. When some people believe having power means being an authority figure over someone else, I believe you have to earn that role by proving the skills worthy of the position. 

                When Ms. Angelou states that she doesn't talk about her bad dreams because it gives them power, I find that very interesting.  I admire that she wouldn't let herself give her bad dreams the ability to become the authority over her. In the actual sense, some people dread over their bad dreams, thinking that they’re physic and that the dream is going to come true.  When obsessing over some vision you have when you’re sleeping, it controls your life.  It could keep you from following your aspirations in life and living every day to its full potential. I think Ms. Angelou’s logic about not letting her bad dreams have power over her is admirable and brave.

                As for my life and the life of teenagers, we feed the fire too often.  That’s why there are fights in school, drama, and hardships in life.  If mankind were simpler organisms, we could easily get over problems and conflicts in our daily life.  Unfortunately, teenagers are bred to spread rumors, throw a violent punch, and make endless amounts of mistakes.  It’s the way we are unfortunately.  We let rumors and other people define us.  I hope one day, all of us can be content with ourselves, and how we feel about ourselves enough to brush off the drama at school.  I know that for me, it would be hard.  Being insecure and letting stronger individuals produce an opinion of yourself that you believe is too easy.  It’s easier than finding yourself.  That’s why bullies have so much power, because we let them.  They know that it’s hurting the person, and that’s their ultimate goal.  Letting these things have power over you causes much worse things.  If not for someone else, do it for yourself.  By being courageous, one can hold the power for themselves, not letting anything else on the planet define who you are or what you aim to do.

                I hope humans remember that it’s possible to take control of your own life by not giving your time to the bad things.  Dreading the past and regrets wastes time.  That precious time could be spent time with the friends and family that support you and love you.  It could be spent doing something you love and have a passion for, like a sport or something at school.  Those things are the good things in your life that is okay to let define you.  Think about it, when you meet a new person, do you say “Hi I’m (name here) and I’m a fat loser,” or do you say “Hi, I’m (name here) and I love writing and playing basketball.”  Most people use the second one.  Nobody tells a new person that their a loser, so why tell yourself that you are? There is no difference.  In fact, what a person thinks of themselves should be more important that what others think of them.

                Take Maya Angelou’s advice, don’t let the bad have the power.  Build up the courage to stand up to the things in life that causes unhappiness, and let that thing know that they don’t deserve the control, you do.