Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday, January 15. The campaign for a federal holiday in Martin Luther King Jr.’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Despite opposition from various US states, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was observed three years later. Unfortunately, some states resisted observing the holiday, so it was officially observed inall 50 states for the first time in 2000.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Martin Luther King Jr. helped to change many unfair laws and showed us how important it is to love and respect each other despite the skin color. During his time on Earth, he fought many discrimination battles, led many dangerous protests and marches, where black people were beat, called racial slurs, bitten by dogs, sprayed with powerful water hoses and sometimes killed. Often times, black people were arrested for participating in these widespread events trying to fight for equality in America.

I often wonder what Martin Luther King Jr. would say today if he was still here on Earth. Black and white people are able to attend the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, live in the same neighborhoods, shop at the same stores, drink from the same water fountains, but yet we are still divided as Americans.

Where do we go from here? Well, we can start by reading and learning about our black history. It is important to know what happened to our ancestors in the past so we can grow and learn in order to move forward. We need to teach our children about history facts, responsibility, reality for what we know it to be, and how to stand for what is right. I don’t know about you, but I know for a fact that racism is alive and well in America and abroad. Not only what you read about in the local newspaper or watch on your local news, but I have experienced racism first hand. You cannot change a person’s heart and how they were taught to feel about you because of the color of your skin. I don’t try to change people’s thoughts about me, but I do live my life as an example of how an American should live every day, not just on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

 

Step Out on Faith

Step Out on Faith

 

Have you ever just stopped to listen to your mind, body, and spirit? Now, come on I need you to be honest with me. Sometimes we have to take a moment to reflect on our lives and those individuals who surround us day to day. It is also important to think about what really makes us happy as we approach our personal goals in life. Do we wake up each day to strive to be better than yesterday or just to be mediocre? Do we strive to help others achieve his or her goals or are we selfish? Do we always put the needs of others (family and friends) before our own? If you answered YES to any of these questions it is not uncommon.

I have come to a point in my life where I want to do something that I have never done before. Believe it or not, you are reading it right now, this very moment.  I have decided to step out on faith to pursue a blogging career. I have always enjoyed writing in my journal, but I recently began writing to comfort my soul when my mother passed away in December 2015. This was a dark time for me, but writing allowed me to capture my feelings on paper and allowed my tears to flow freely. Writing offered me a new way of looking at life. Yes, I am sad and I will truly miss my mother’s presence here on Earth, but I have a new inner strength that is scratching to get out in order to help others overcome his or her fears.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am nervous about the new venture, but I am determined to succeed in all that I do in life. Yes, that means my new blogging career as well. I love to learn new things and I cannot wait to see what my new passion has in store for me. I hope you are ready for the fun and motivational adventure that we are off to explore. Come on, don’t be shy. I would love to have you stop by and visit often so we can encourage one another throughout this journey, we call life. Until next time, live…love…laugh…CELEBRATE life every day!