They Never Forget How You Made Them Feel

Maya Angelou was an incredible woman. She was an author, a poet and even Tony and Grammy nominated! If you haven’t read anything about her or by her, I highly recommend it. She definitely deserves all of her accolades.

The quote you see above is one of my favorites. It always makes me think of my foster parents. I may not remember everything they said or did but the way they made me feel will never go away.

I was brought into my new foster parents’ home in 1968. I was so scared! I cried constantly, and just wanted to go back home to my mom. I had no clue what was happening or why I was even there. As I began to settle in, I remember my foster parents showing me my very own bedroom. That was my safe space. It was a space where I could be all alone with my thoughts. It was the little things in that room that mattered the most to me. Things you might not normally think about – like the window I would crack open every night. I still do that to this day whether it’s in the dead of winter or height of summer. It takes me back to when I felt safe.

My foster parents also started to get me on a routine such as waking up at a certain time, with school, and activities. I think they did all this to help alleviate and distract me from some of the pain. It was almost like they knew exactly what to do to make me feel safe and welcomed. I might not remember every word that was said or everything that we did together, but like Maya Angelou’s quote, I will never
forget the way they made me feel.

I think we all remember the people in our lives that made us feel good. That’s what reminds us of the good in the world when we are in the worst circumstances. The people who gave us a feeling that we will never forget -even if it was just for a moment. I also wonder if I have ever been that person for someone over the course of my life. It’s changed much of the way I approach situations and see people because I hope that I have been that for someone.

During this upcoming holiday season, I would encourage you all to look around and see if there’s someone you can make more comfortable or maybe even just give them a smile on a tough day.