Maya Angelou – I sustain myself with the love of family

The Daily Quote podcast pageThe Great News Podcast pageThe Great News LetterVoicemail feedback line – 1-877-636-1474CONTACT MEWelcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and today is August 13th.On this beautiful day, we celebrate Women’s and Family Day. It’s a time to honor the incredible strength, resilience, and love that women bring into our lives, and to recognize the importance of family in all its forms. Whether you're thinking of your mother, sister, partner, or your own chosen family, today is a day to reflect on those relationships that shape us into who we are.This brings us to today’s quote by the legendary Maya Angelou: "I sustain myself with the love of family."Angelou, in her infinite wisdom, captures the essence of what keeps us going even in the toughest of times. Family, in all its wonderful complexity, is more than just blood relations. It’s the people who hold you up when you feel like you can’t stand on your own. It’s the laughter around the dinner table, the silent support in moments of despair, and the collective memory of shared experiences.Imagine a quilt, each square representing a different part of your life. Some are bright and colorful, stitched with moments of joy and celebration, while others are darker, sewn with threads of struggle and pain. But it’s the stitching that holds it all together, binding each piece to the next. That stitching is the love of family.Now, not every family looks the same. For some, family is the one you’re born into; for others, it’s the one you choose. But the beauty of Angelou's quote is its simplicity and universality. We all have a need to belong, to be part of something larger than ourselves. It’s this connection that sustains us, that feeds our souls and keeps us moving forward.On Women’s and Family Day, we celebrate those who are the backbone of our families—often the women who, with quiet strength, manage to hold everything together. Think of your own life. How many times has a woman—be it your mother, grandmother, sister, or friend—been there to pick you up when you fell, to listen when you needed to talk, or to simply stand by your side when the world felt overwhelming?Maya Angelou herself was a beacon of strength, a woman who overcame immense adversity to become a voice for so many. Her words remind us that love, especially the love we find in our families, is a powerful force. It’s what keeps us going when the going gets tough. It’s what fills our hearts when they feel empty. And it’s what gives us the courage to face each new day with hope.So today, on Women’s and Family Day, take a moment to reach out to those who sustain you. Send a message, make a call, or if you're lucky enough to be with them, share a hug. Let them know how much their love means to you, how it stitches together the fabric of your life.And with that, I wish you a day filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of family. Thanks for joining me on The Daily Quote. Until next time, keep those connections strong and your heart open.