On Resolutions and Martin Luther King Day

January 17th is National Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day.

Now just think what would have happened if Martin Luther King Jr. had ditched his "resolutions?"

Of course January 19th is Martin Luther King Day. And, in light of our new president, particularly meaningful this year. "I have a dream" has become a common catchphrase but the speech in its entirety--an ode to nonviolence--is one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of literature I have ever read. While written in the 1960's it is equally as valid and relevant and powerful today, from the US to the middle east conflict. Read the whole speech at The US Constitution Online.

Far from appealing for violence, Dr. Martin Luther King called for nonviolent means to justice for all, and isn't that what every citizen of the world wants? The only way to achieve that goal is to work together. Here is the last paragraph, but I urge everyone to read the entire speech--with their kids. Because the children of this world are the future. Let's hope they get it right.

"From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went on, in 1964, to win the Nobel Peace Prize. How is that for a dream to pursue? (Read his bio at NobelPrize.org.)

My dream for the coming years is peace. What's your dream, or "resolution?" It's not too late to make a dream come true, whether that dream be world peace, peace within your own community, or peace within yourself. I think everyone needs a dream to work toward. To be constantly challenging ourselves to make the world--or at least our own little part of the world--better, to create, to build something to be proud of.

Don't ditch your New Year's "resolutions"--or your dreams. Make this new year the year. The year of change, for the better. The year of "free."

Make it a good one!