Passing The Torch

"No work is insignificant.  All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."

Those were the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he reflected on the value of labor, its impact and meaning in America.   As we pause this week to remember the work and legacy of Dr. King, we also must keep in mind to teach and demonstrate those values to this and the next generation.  The King Holiday continues to grow in its importance as more and more communities and businesses embrace the significant of what he believed in and stood for.  It’s just good business.

MLK day is not just another holiday, but it is a day in which to refocus and to reflect on what is important in life.  Without a doubt, Dr. Kings’ life’s work helped us all to live better and to achieve more.  We must also remind ourselves that it took a lot for his birthday to become a national holiday… of course that is another story all to itself.   

In the light of Dr. King’s work, it is always easy to just stay the way you are and not change a thing, but in the reality of life it is impossible to remain the same.  Regardless of how much we desire to keep things the way we found them, enjoy what we have, we all know that change happens and it occurs sooner than later.  The world is a place of constant motion… ins and outs… ups and downs… dips and curves. And when you take an honest look at things, we all are continuously changing, little bit by little bit… it could be because of age… it could be because of more knowledge… it could be because of more experience… or it just could be that we are evolving and adapting to what is happening as we go along.      

The greatest thing that we can is to empower those in the upcoming generation to take the lead.  It is to begin the process of passing things of importance on to them.  Keeping the status quo will not be enough.  This new generation has some new ideas, dreams, visions, and a boarder way of thinking and seeing things.   We should not be afraid of the new leadership that is emerging in the next generation of African Americans, they will bring a few changes,... spice it up or add a few new twists they say… to many things that worked well in the past.  Of course there will be a price to be paid… but they will make the best of the legacy we leave behind… so we can only expect that more progress will be made in making our nation better… and bring true light to what God intended.    

Setting a New Agenda

“Begin with the End In Mind”


Those were the words of Stephen Covey in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”  In fact this is the second habit.  This habit speaks to the need for self-discovery; clarify deeply important character values and to set life goals.  It is to envision the ideal characteristics for each of one’s various roles and relationships in life.  It is to define your vision, mission and to set measurable expectations.     


Similarly, it does a heart good to begin each and every year with high expectations, resolutions, and noteworthy good habits.  How about those plans of healthy eating, dieting, weight loss, getting in to shape, going back to school to complete that degree, back to church, spiritual growth, applying for a new job or take that trip to visit distance relatives and friends.  Or even better yet, let’s do a makeover of ourselves.      


What gets most of us is that we have good intentions to do things at the beginning of each year, start with a “big bang”, but after a few months into the new routine, things begin to play out, lose our motivation and drive.  It does not take long after that, we revert back to old habits and wasteful thinking.  By midyear, much of what we gained has been lost and the New Year begins to look, feel and sound like the previous year.  Soon, you begin to wonder about where did the time go… and what did I accomplish? 

Perhaps the reason is simple…or complex.  Perhaps the project, event or the cause is of little interest and therefore we lack the motivation to make it happen or to get involve.  Or could it be that we are overwhelm by the sure volume of what needs to be done and that we simply run out of time to get it done.  Perhaps, we are spread ourselves too thin; …have too many irons in the fire”… not in control or lost control and not in the loop to what is happening.   Maybe that is where we should start, to begin with the end in mind and only take on what we can do and nothing more … and be good at it.  Trying to do a lot, to please others, helps no one, but can only lead to frustration, burnout, and compassion fatigue.   So where is that to do list?                  

Treasure These Moments

“My favorite things in life don't cost any money.

It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

Those were the words that Steve Jobs, Co-founder and CEO of Apple once said.  He was a pioneer of the personal computer revolution.  His leadership helped to transform nearly all the industries of the world.   Additionally, while being the CEO of Apple, he oversaw the development of many products including the iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and the iPad.  From computers to smartphones to music and movies, his creative genius has changed our lives forever. 

Remarkably, he helped us to see and to do things more clearly, to make our work more efficient, keep our memories near, completing task faster, to work smarter and to remain connected to those we love and work with.  To many of us it seems so simple; it seems so easy and it has made things more convenient.  In his view the overriding goal was to make our use of time more precious.   

Today, there is lot of things going on in our society.  Some days it is hard to make any sense in the disruptive things we are seeing or experiencing all across our nation, in our cities and neighborhoods.  There continues to be an uptick in gun violence, drug usage, continual world conflicts, and expanding gaps in wealth, increase in poverty rates, growing homelessness population, medical and mental health issues.  Each day the list of crisis’s and challenges grow.  

Similarly, each passing year, we also learn about people who passed away; some more acclaimed than others, but nevertheless, they are no longer with us.  Additionally, each of us knows of someone whose life has changed due to illness, an accident, loss of a friend or family member. Our hearts are saddened, our emotions are shattered and our faith is tested.  But in the midst of it all what we do or accomplish, how much wealth we obtain, the fame we receive, homes we buy, cars we drive, careers we chose or where we live… we take for granted the one thing we all have in common… it is the finite time in which to get things done.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., perhaps said it best … “It does not matter how long you live, but how well you do it.”    So, I say… let make these moments we have with each other count… for we can’t get them back.          

Let's Go Old School

“I wish those days could come back once more,

Why did those days ever have to go… Cause I love them so…”    

These are the opening words to the chorus on the song called “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder.  It was released in the fall of 1976 by Motown Records as a single that was included in the “Songs in the Key of Life” album.  The song became an instance hit and number #1 on the billboard charts by the spring of 1977.  The album was the 18^th recording for Stevie Wonder and became the best-selling and most critically acclaimed albums of his long extraordinary career.  In addition, it became a worldwide hit as well is considered part of the top albums of all time. 

The song itself, “I Wish” became the top selling single of the album and would begin setting a high standard for others to follow.   The lyrics themselves are based on the reflections of Stevie growing up as a little boy in the 1950 and 1960’s.  The amazing thing about Stevie is that he was born blind and by the age of eleven he signed a recording deal with Motown’s Tamia label.  He soon was considered a child prodigy in music, singer and songwriter and developed into one of the most beloved musical figures of our times.

In taking a closer look at the lyrics, it reflects a lot about the feelings, emotions and activities of being a child growing up.  The song also brings to life a sense of testing the boundaries and yet knowing that what you were doing was not always the right thing to do.  It also brings to light that limits are needed for all children, regardless of their talents and abilities.  

In my view the song continues to speak volumes to what continues to occur in the 21^st century…for children will be children.  But my central question is this… “Who is setting the limits and the standards for a good society today?”  So, as we move forward in the new year of 2014, I say… let go “retro.” Let set some new standards in helping those locked in poverty, unemployed, lack of education, health care, gun violence, voting rights and more.  Let’s make what is considered “old” the “new normal” and raise the bar and the expectations on things that really matter.  So, where is my afro pick and platform shoes, I may need them…Can you dig it!!!