I'm interested in women's health because I'm a woman. I'd be a

In the powerful words of Maya Angelou, poet, prophet, and mother of courage, there rings a truth as old as womanhood itself: “I’m interested in women’s health because I’m a woman. I’d be a darn fool not to be on my own side.” This is not a statement of selfishness, but of awakening—a declaration of loyalty to one’s own being, to one’s body, and to one’s right to thrive. In these few words, Angelou speaks for every woman who has ever been told to diminish herself, to serve others before tending to her own well-being. She reminds us that self-care is not vanity, but survival; that to stand on one’s own side is the first act of wisdom, and the foundation of freedom.

The origin of this truth is written in the story of every woman who has endured in a world that has often demanded her silence. Maya Angelou, who rose from the wounds of racism, trauma, and poverty to become one of the great voices of the twentieth century, knew the struggle of reclaiming one’s body and dignity. Her words come from the lived wisdom of experience—from a lifetime of learning that no one can defend your worth if you do not first defend it yourself. To be “on your own side,” she teaches, is not to reject others, but to honor your divine self, to guard the temple of your health, your spirit, and your voice.

The ancients, too, would have understood her meaning. In the sacred hymns of old, the goddess was revered as the source of life, the keeper of the flame, the embodiment of balance and strength. Yet across the centuries, that reverence dimmed, and women were taught to carry the burdens of others while neglecting their own well-being. Angelou’s words reclaim that ancient balance—she calls women back to the seat of their power, to remember that the health of the world begins with the health of its women. Just as no tree can bear fruit if its roots are starved, no society can prosper if its women are diminished or unwell.

Consider the story of Florence Nightingale, who defied the expectations of her time to become the mother of modern nursing. In an era when women were expected to stay silent, she chose to serve—but she did so with fierce purpose, guided by reason and compassion. Her work in the Crimean War not only saved lives but transformed medicine itself. Nightingale’s health often suffered, yet she refused to be a martyr; she tended her own spirit with the same care she gave to others. In her, we see Angelou’s truth in motion: a woman on her own side, strong because she refused to be diminished by custom or exhaustion.

Angelou’s declaration also holds a deeper mirror for all humanity. To be on one’s own side is to reject the poison of shame, to see oneself as worthy of love, rest, and healing. For too long, many—especially women—have been taught that sacrifice is virtue, that self-denial is strength. But Angelou, in her bold clarity, overturns that lie. She tells us that loving oneself is not rebellion against others—it is allegiance to life itself. A woman who cherishes her health, her body, and her truth is not selfish; she is setting the world back into harmony.

And yet, her words are not only for women—they speak to all who have ever forgotten their worth. The human soul, regardless of gender, must learn to stand on its own side. For how can one fight for justice, for family, for beauty, if one is at war within? Angelou’s wisdom calls us to unity within ourselves—to tend to our hearts, our health, and our joy as sacred duties. For when the spirit is nourished, it becomes a light that nourishes others.

The lesson, then, is clear and eternal: stand on your own side. Honor your health as the vessel of your dreams. Guard your energy as a sacred flame. Speak truth, even when silence is easier. Eat, rest, move, and create with love for yourself, for you are part of the great chain of life, and your wellness strengthens the whole. A woman who stands tall in her own strength heals generations behind her and empowers those yet to come.

So let Maya Angelou’s words echo through your heart: Be on your own side. For the world grows brighter when women rise in health, wisdom, and self-respect. In doing so, they do not turn away from others—they lead the way. For when a woman honors her own body and soul, she teaches the world how to honor life itself. And that, dear listener, is the deepest truth of all.