Sister, there are people who went to sleep all over the world last night, poor and rich and white and black, but they will never wake again. Sister, those who expected to rise did not, their beds became their cooling boards, and their blankets became their winding sheets. And those dead folks would give anything, anything at all for just five minutes of this weather or ten minutes of that plowing that person was grumbling about. So you watch yourself about complaining, Sister. What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain.
"Sister, there are people around the world who went to sleep last night, regardless of their background or status, and will never wake up again. Their beds have become their cooling boards, and their blankets their winding sheets,"
Maya Angelou reminds us of the fragility of life and the indiscriminate nature of death. She emphasizes that those who died cannot enjoy simple pleasures or complain about hardships anymore, suggesting a need for gratitude and perspective. "What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain."
Angelou encourages a proactive attitude towards life's challenges, urging us to alter our circumstances when possible or shift our mindset when we cannot. Her words promote resilience and gratitude over unnecessary complaining.