Valuable Lessons from a Wise Woman

Just finished reading LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER by Maya Angelou.
Very good book. Some light stories and personal accounts of her life. I enjoyed her insight. Since this is a library book and must be returned I have jotted down one passage that was particularly meaningful:

" There have been people in my life who meant me well, taught me valuable lessons,and others who have meant me ill and, have given me ample notification that my world is not meant to be all peaches and cream.
I have made many mistakes and no doubt will make more before I die. When I have seen pain, when I have found that my ineptness has caused displeasure, I have learned to accept my responsibility and to forgive myself first, then to apologize to anyone injured by my misreckoning. Since I cannot un-live history, and repentance is all I can offer God, I have hopes that my sincere apologies were accepted.
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be a rainbow in someones cloud. Do not complain. Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution."

Very wise woman.