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This was in my inbox, and I just loved it.... it was entitled "Maya Angelou's Best Poem Ever"

A woman should have . . .

enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants or needs to;
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date, of her dreams wants to see her in an hour;

A woman should have . . .

a youth she is content to leave behind,
a past juicey enough that she is looking forward to retelling it in her old age;
a set of screwdrivers,
a cordless drill,
and a black lace bra;
one friend to who always makes her laugh,
and one who lets her cry;

A woman should have . . .

a good piece of furniture never owned by someone else in her family,
eight matching plates,
wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe with a meal that will make her guests feel honored.

A woman should have . . .

a feeling of control over her destiny,

Every woman should know. . .

how to fall in love without losing herself;
hot to quit a job
break up with a lover
and confront a friend without ruining a frienship;

Every woman should know. .

when to try harder and when to walk away,

Every woman should know...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips,
or the nature of her parents;
that her childhood may not have been perfect, but that it is over.

Every woman should know...
what she would or wouldn't do for love or more

Every woman should know. . .
how to live alone, even if she doesn't like it.

Every woman should know. . .
whom she can trust, whom she can't and why she shouldn't take it personally;

Every woman should know. . .
where to go, be it her best friends kitchen table, or a charming inn in the woods when her soul needs soothing.

Every woman should know...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, a year.


This has been going around the internet since the 90's and is attributed to Maya Angelou, however it is not a poem by Angelou it is rather written by Pamela Redmond Stratton, who has written 5 novels and has been published in numerous magazines and newspapers. The piece, called "30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She is 30" appeared in her article in Glamour Magazine in 1997. (Just in case you were wondering).

After reviewing the list, I have passed 30, yet still have something to know and have. Life is a journey.

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