Important Lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

By Kayla Orange

"We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools." This quote is just one of many by Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, that sets the tone for how humanity should approach life in a way that shows love and equality for our neighbors as well as our community at large.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday that falls on the third Monday of January. This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated on January 17th. On King Day, we as a nation reflect on the life lessons Dr. King has taught us, not only through his speeches, but also through his leadership and toil towards eliminating hate and racism.

No matter how old or young we are, we can each continue to learn many valuable lessons from Dr. King to make our world a better place. By implementing these principles in our daily lives, we can help keep Dr. King's dream alive for generations to come.

Serving Other People

"Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love." – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Serving others should come naturally. When you see someone in need of help and fulfill that need, you have served! Unfortunately, as we age, we often feel that we can no longer serve our community due to physical limitations. However, things like sharing a kind word, sending a card, buying someone a meal, or gifting those less fortunate with used clothing, furniture, or appliances you no longer need are excellent ways to serve.

The art of caregiving is synonymous with serving. But, caregivers can also think of ways to serve outside the realms of their profession. For example, helping with community cleanups, tutoring school-aged children, assisting with local food distributions, or any other tasks that directly impact others exemplify Dr. King's message of serving.

The Importance of Perseverance

"If you can't fly then run; if you can't run then walk; if you can't walk then crawl; but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward." – Martin Luther King, Jr.

We all face difficult and trying times, times when we are tempted to simply "throw in the towel." This sentiment can be especially true when we seek to change a person or situation. But, as Dr. King encourages, when working towards any goal of significance, it's important to persevere even when it becomes difficult to do so.

Use these practical tips to achieve your personal goals:

●      Set realistic goals

●      Make a list of the positive outcomes associated with your goal

●      Create a "to-do" list to break tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps

●      Track your progress

Never Stop Believing

"I say to you today, my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream."

No matter how murky a situation may seem, there's always an opportunity for good to hail from it. Those who believe in good should never stop believing that eventually good will prevail. When we reflect on the life of Dr. King, we realize the strides that have been made toward his dream of a nation that sees one another as brothers and sisters – even on the darkest days, Dr. King didn't stop believing.

Seek good and be the good in the world. Together we can keep Dr. King's dream alive.

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