Excitement was bubbling through my veins like celebratory champagne waiting for Amanda Gorman to start speaking at University of Buffalo’s Distinguished Speaker event last night. The event was sold out- of course it was! There was an hum throughout the whole auditorium.
This young woman is just enthralling. Everything she says is so poetic. I was in awe of her poise, humility, intellect, perseverance, creativity and her views about life. The way she balances fear with moving forward is something I still need to learn at my advanced age.
I wanted to be totally present in the moment but after awhile I started taking notes because I didn’t want to forget her words. Her words were so impactful to me. Here are some that I had to record (as close as what she said as I could quickly write)
- “Our humility allows us to access our humanity. Our humanity allows us to access hope. “
- “Free yourself to seek and be greatness.”
- “Own your voice! You have something to say and the world owes it to you to listen.”
- VOTE!
- “Let them underestimate you. Then they will enter a state of wonder and reconstruct the thoughts they brought into that space. Be the surprise.”
- “Hope is not something you possess but something you practice each day.” (I want to make this into a poster so I can be reminded of this each day)
As if these amazing words and thoughts were not enough, Amanda ended the night by reading aloud her poem, “What We Carry”. An immediate standing ovation- so moving. These words sent the audience off into the night- ” Just like a blooming thing, We walk into tomorrow, Carrying nothing But the world.”
Doodads and Doodles 
9 responses to “Fan Girling over Amanda Gorman- Day 28 SOLSC”
Okay, I’m jealous and simultaneously happy for you. I particularly love #5 as I’ve always been a bit of a late bloomer and often surprise people w/ what I can do and how I speak. Are you familiar w/ Gorman’s poem “Earthrise”? It’s an amazing climate activism poem, and you can find it online if you haven’t heard it.
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Thanks for sharing that poem. I haven’t heard of it but am I looking it up right now.
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What a wonderful event. This is important, “Free yourself to seek and be greatness.”
We can’t limit ourselves. We need to shine.
Thanks for sharing your notes!
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What a great evening you had. “Own your voice! You have something to say and the world owes it to you to listen.” I go into this challenge every year think I have nothing to say and no one will read what I write. Yet, I keep doing it. We all need to believe in ourselves.
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I agree with Amanda Gorman that we all have something to say. I enjoy reading your writing and often walk away with new things to think about.
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Lucky you. I watched her Masterclass and this was already impressive. Seeing her to give a live speech must be times more.
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I know that was an absolutely inspirational evening, filled with goosebumps! So excited that you heard her in person. I adore her #5 quote on your list, this idea of nudging someone into a state of wonder is magical, I think; and also #6 – that we don’t possess hope, we practice it each day. Yes! I’ve just copied these into my journal. Wonderful!!
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How lucky to be able to see her–and how generous of you to slice about it, so we could vicariously be there with you! I love that line in #5: “Be the surprise.” (as well as everything else you shared!)
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Thanks for sharing this memorable experience with us. Those quotes you captured are very deep! Requires another read and contemplation. So glad I have her book, “Call us what we carry,”, I may write around one of her poems soon.
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