writers dreaming

Writers dreaming

Question)           Angelou says she doesn’t even like to talk about her bad dreams because talking about them “gives them too much power”. Do you think talking about bad dreams, or bad news, or other bad things gives those bad things more power? When have you known this to happen?

Answer)             I don’t think that you should talk about the bad things that happen in your life too often. It doesn’t do well to dwell on the past. I think that you should get it out of your system once and then leave it at that. You don’t want these bad things to weigh on you throughout your life. So yes, I think that speaking about these things constantly gives them a power over you that it doesn’t deserve. This happens a lot today with teens and bullying. When someone says something bad to you, you just keep on rolling it through your head and it drives you mad. I don’t think that you should let these people do that to you though. They aren’t worth it, and neither are the other bad things that happen in our life.  

Question)           After going through a major trauma at age seven, Angelou didn’t talk for almost five years. Could you live this way? Do you talk too much, or too little? What could you learn if you listen more and spoke less? How could you grow as a person by speaking more?

Answer)             Each and every person has their own mind, their own opinions. There are many things in this world that people are at a constant debate about. If even one of these people had the right idea and didn’t speak up then the system would be at an imbalance. I think that everyone should speak out. I don’t like the idea of a little girl with such a bright young mind, not voicing her wonderful opinions. I could never be one who stays silent. I always need to express myself and what I believe in. As do many people. Now I know that there are people out there who think that they have nothing to say. That their lives are so boring that their life story doesn’t matter, but really it does. Not only can you make a difference by speaking up, but you can make an even bigger one by listening. A lot of people have experienced things in their lifetime that others wouldn’t even dream of. Others have a rougher lifestyle and are humbled by the experience. Maya Angelou for example was raped as a child. This caused her to lose her will to speak, in fear that her words didn’t matter. But look at how many lives she has effected by her story. Her many experiences helped people shape their lives. As could anyone’s story. You never know what your words can mean to someone, until you speak them. I think that if all people, found it in their hearts to speak up, that we would all benefit from their story.