I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. — Maya Angelou
I met Maya Angelou once. She wrote an article about my friend and colleague, Charley Bussey, who was vice-mayor when I was Mayor and when I stepped down became Little Rock’s first African-American mayor. Ms. Angelou had a presence, and when she talked to you she made you feel like the only person in the room. President Clinton had that same quality, and whether you agreed with his politics or not, he made you feel like you had his full attention. You never felt insignificant or not worthy.
There are also times when we mess up, and we hurt someone and the memory of how we made someone feel is more painful for us than them. I certainly have plenty of those memories. I am not like a modern politician who says he/she has no regrets. If you’ve lived you have regrets.
If you are like me in the category of having lots of regrets, don’t beat yourself up over them. Instead resolve every day to do better, and to live a life where the last person you saw in a day feels loved, comforted, and cared for. That includes yourself.
It’s a continuing process and requires work, but the rewards are worth every bit of effort. Begin the process today.
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