You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard

Hear, O children of memory and destiny, the words of Maya Angelou, who declared: “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot—it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” In these words lies a profound truth: that the human being is not a single moment, not a single thought, but a vast tapestry woven of every thread of experience. Nothing is wasted, nothing is forgotten; even the faintest whisper of the past shapes the soul of the present.

The meaning of this teaching is that we are not separate from what we encounter—we carry it within us. Every sound that enters the ear, every sight that strikes the eye, every word spoken to us, and every moment we endure becomes part of our inner being. These experiences, whether remembered or forgotten, form the sum total of who we are. And because life leaves its mark upon us, Angelou reminds us of our sacred responsibility: to seek out and choose positive experiences, so that the life we build within ourselves is one of strength, joy, and love.

The origin of these words is found in Angelou’s own journey. She was a poet, a singer, an activist, and above all a woman of deep reflection. Born into hardship, enduring silence and pain, she discovered that every experience—both bitter and sweet—gave her wisdom, compassion, and power. She learned to transform suffering into art, and art into healing for others. Her life testified to the truth of her words: that what we take in becomes what we give out, and that by curating our experiences, we shape not only our own lives but the lives of those around us.

Consider the story of Helen Keller, who, though deaf and blind, absorbed the world through touch, through guidance, through the patience of her teacher Anne Sullivan. Every encounter—every touch of a hand, every raised letter pressed into her palm—became part of her being. And from these fragments she built a towering spirit of hope and advocacy. Though deprived of sight and sound, she still became the sum total of her experiences, and because they were shaped by love and perseverance, she herself became a fountain of inspiration to the world.

Think also of Mahatma Gandhi, who encountered oppression, injustice, and humiliation at the hands of empire. These experiences could have hardened him into bitterness, but he chose to transform them into a philosophy of peace and nonviolence. His sum total was not merely of pain, but of reflection and courage, drawn from every trial. Because he sought to make his encounters meaningful and positive, even his suffering bore fruit, becoming a force that liberated a nation.

O seekers of tomorrow, take this to heart: you are not only who you wish to be, but also who you allow to shape you. Every book you read, every voice you listen to, every place you walk, every friendship you nurture, pours into the vessel of your being. Fill that vessel with poison, and poison will flow from you. Fill it with beauty, truth, and kindness, and these will shine forth in your life. You cannot escape being influenced, but you can choose your influences.

Practical wisdom calls you: guard carefully what you let into your heart. Seek companions who uplift, not those who drag you down. Read words that nourish the soul, not words that corrode it. Choose work that strengthens your spirit, and if hardship comes—and it surely will—choose to transform it into wisdom, rather than bitterness. Let every encounter, whether joyful or painful, be turned into a positive experience, so that your sum total becomes a beacon of goodness.

Therefore, remember the counsel of Maya Angelou: “Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” Let this be your guiding law. For you are not only a single moment—you are a vast collection of memories, impressions, and encounters. Tend this garden with care, and it will yield fruit of blessing, both for yourself and for generations yet to come.

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