Today we celebrate a Legacy…
Image by Unsplash @unseenhistories
Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. who left a legacy by his nonviolent struggle for civil rights in the United States. His legacy is something we can learn from as we continue to live our own lives and think about the legacy we want to leave.
King was assassinated in 1968, but his words still ring true today. He knew that he wasn’t going to change things overnight, but he continued to speak out to let his voice be heard and the voices of so many other people. With King’s nonviolent protests, he was able to see the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
What he did wasn’t easy, but he continued to speak out for what he believed in so that others could get a chance to live equally. He dedicated his life to this and ultimately gave his life for what he believed in.
What can we learn from Martin Luther King? For me, I look at him as someone who had a dream and passion for something that drove how he lived. He had a purpose and wasn’t going to stop until he saw it through. This is how we can live our lives so we can leave a legacy too.
Let’s take a look at some things we could do that emulate Martin Luther’s King’s way of living -
Establish a purpose - what is something you care so much about that you would love to change in your life or others’ lives? For me, I think about how I like to help others be successful and help them overcome challenges that I have had in my career.
Passion - Find something that you are really passionate about. I’m really passionate about helping others be successful. It makes me happy and it helps me get up in the morning.
What is the legacy you want to leave? Putting a list together of what you want people to say about you can help you determine your purpose. In everything I do, I think if I can help 1 person, I am successful.
These are just a few thing we can do if we want to leave a legacy like Martin Luther King. It doesn’t have to be as big as his, but even a few small steps can make a difference. As I think about what Martin Luther Kind did, I want to continue to speak out for those who are diverse and many who are still not treated as fairly as others.
I take little steps each day to do this. It may be as simple as calling out someone for being rude to others or using my voice to speak out about creating inclusion in companies across the country. I do this through working with others in the workplace and writing about it in my blogs.
You too can take simple steps every day to make a difference and help others who may not be as fortunate as you are. If we all work together to make changes in how we live, we can create a better life for all.
Today, while you are enjoying your day off, think about how you want to leave your legacy.
Here’s to your success.
Best,
Rene