The importance of exercise truly cannot be overemphasized. It is an essential aspect of maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life. Exercise plays a crucial role in keeping our bodies in optimal condition. It helps to strengthen our muscles, improve our cardiovascular health, and enhance our overall physical endurance.
Moreover, regular exercise has a profound impact on our mental well-being. It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and boost our mood and self-esteem. When we exercise, our bodies release endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. Additionally, exercise can improve our sleep quality, allowing us to wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
In conclusion, incorporating regular exercise into our daily routine is of utmost importance. Whether it's through simple activities like walking, jogging, or cycling, or more intense workouts at the gym, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. So, let's make exercise a priority and enjoy the many rewards it has to offer.
The words in the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou are truly powerful.
You may write me down inIt shows a remarkable spirit of resilience and determination. No matter how others try to bring the speaker down with their false accusations and demeaning actions, the speaker refuses to be defeated. They will rise above it all, just like dust that cannot be kept down. This poem serves as an inspiration to all of us, teaching us that we should never let the opinions or actions of others define us. We have the power within us to rise above any situation and shine brightly.
history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very
dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Apart from her powerful poem 'Still I Rise’, which I have a deep love for, my knowledge of Maya Angelou's writing was rather limited. This little anthology, therefore, was a truly timely discovery for me. As I was reading aloud, a plethora of adjectives sprang to my mind: raw, sensual, melancholic, vital, lonely, fierce, irreverent, and so on. There was also a distinct musicality to some of the poems, leading me to think that they could effortlessly be utilized as lyrics. The format varies as well, ranging from the very short, not dissimilar to haikus, to a longer form with a more intricate thread. Many of them exuded this warmth, as if I could physically feel the sun beating down on me, while others were enshrouded in shadows. Some of the poems made me smile, but a great number left me lost in profound thoughts...
As one would anticipate, Angelou centers her attention on black lives, but also delves into women's lives and the themes of old age and experience, which was a pleasant surprise for me. Her voice truly shone through her writing, so powerful and evocative. Many of these poems seemed to 'converse' with me, both as a woman and as a person who has always felt like a foreigner no matter where I've resided. I'll conclude with an extract from one of her poems that truly encapsulates her:
"I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”
As I am wrapping up my 2024, I find myself immersed in the beautiful and phenomenally written words of Maya Angelou. It is truly the perfect way to bring this year to a close. Maya Angelou's writing is like a gentle breeze that caresses your soul, yet it has the power to move mountains. Her words are so vivid and powerful that they transport you to another world, a world full of emotions, experiences, and lessons. Reading her works at the end of this year makes me reflect on all that has happened, both the good and the bad. It gives me a sense of closure and also fills me with hope for the future. I am grateful for the opportunity to have discovered her writing and to have been able to end my year in such a meaningful way.