This quote feels particularly relevant at the moment. We are living in times where negativity, sorrow and frustration seem to fill the air. It’s hard to ‘see the wood for the trees’ on some days when the news cycle is filled with division, fear, and uncertainty. Yet, have you ever noticed how, when you try to find something positive to say or do for someone else, it not only lifts them, but it also makes you feel lighter and brighter, even if only for a short while?
Such a simple sentence, yet it carries a world of wisdom. Maya Angelou, such a wise lady who had experienced so much difficulty in early life and yet managed to turn that around, achieving greatness and then dedicating herself to uplifting and supporting others, knew what it meant to endure hardship. Her words remind us that even in the darkest of times, we can choose to shine a little light into someone else’s life.
Being a rainbow doesn’t always mean bringing a solution. Sometimes, it’s simply about showing up and sharing space with another person. It might mean acknowledging that it’s okay to grieve a little; for time missed with family members who live far away, for changes in our work lives, or for the growing fear that sometimes comes with each new unsettling headline. Just giving someone permission to feel, without judgement, can be a powerful act of kindness.
“Being a rainbow” may look different in each situation. It might be the smile you give to a stranger, the text you send to a friend to let them know you’re thinking of them, or the phone call that says: I hear you, I’m here for you. Sometimes, it’s listening deeply when someone needs to speak their worries aloud. Other times, it’s gently reminding them that while the clouds are real, they are not permanent. Behind every storm there is a sky waiting to clear, and often, a rainbow waiting to appear.
Hope is what keeps us moving forward. And where there is hope, there is light. To embody Maya Angelou’s words is to become a small beacon of that hope. And the beautiful thing is that kindness tends to ripple outwards. When you brighten someone else’s day, even just a little, they often pass that light forward. Gratitude works like that - it multiplies, spreading warmth far beyond its starting point.
So perhaps today, we might pause and ask ourselves: How can I be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud? It doesn’t require grand gestures. It could be as simple as offering encouragement, sharing a laugh, or sitting quietly beside someone who needs company.
The world can always use more rainbows. Let yours be one of them.