Christine A. Moore

Phenomenal? What? Who Me?!

“No” does not always mean never, it could mean “Not Now.”                Christine A. Moore

One can say that pivotal circumstances or life moments are triggers for reflection. The death of Dr. Maya Angelou in June 2014, brought back memories of a life and mind-changing experience from my early 20’s. And, if memory serves me correctly, it was during the summer of 1987 that I read an announcement that Maya Angelou was scheduled to speak in the auditorium, at the University of Miami. At the time, I didn’t really know much about Dr. Angelou, or about her work, but I had nothing better to do that evening, and I did need to get out of my small studio apartment and actually interact with people for a change, so I went to the lecture not realizing that I would walk away forever a changed woman – A Phenomenal Woman!

For me becoming a phenomenal woman is an evolution … a process of growth. I can say that night listening to Maya Angelou read excerpts from “Why the Caged Bird Sings” and “Phenomenal Woman” had a major impact on my life. After that, when I looked in the mirror, I started to see a completely different women.  I started to see a woman of beauty, confidence, power, and poise.  I started to see a woman free to choose her destiny and to sing her own song. I started to see a phenomenal woman.