Street Sweeper

Today we celebrate a great man who was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in. He was intelligent and charismatic and convinced hundreds upon hundreds of people to follow him and fight for equality. Everyone recognizes his “I have a dream” speech, but it is his less well known speech called “The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life” that I find to be my favorite because it’s not just about equality, it is something that everyone should listen to, regardless of race.

In this speech Martin Luther King Jr. talks about how you should be the best at whatever you do. Even if you are a simple street sweeper you should be the best street sweeper you can be. Too many people today see their job as just a job. It is just a stepping stone to the next, hopefully better one. So they don’t care if they do their job well, they won’t be there long so it doesn’t matter. But how can you expect to find a better job, get a raise, or be promoted if you aren’t an outstanding employee? Every job is important. No job is so low that it should not be done well.

“What I’m saying to you this morning, my friends, even if it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, go on out and sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures; sweep streets like Handel and Beethoven composed music; sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry;” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. wanted everyone to be the best at whatever they do. He wanted them to work hard and earn what they receive. He wanted them to treat everything they do as important and meaningful, because it is.

Even if you are just flipping burgers at McDonalds, be the best burger flipper you can be. If you are just a street sweeper, “sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, "Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well."

 

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A day to celebrate a great man who continues to inspire people long after he is gone. 

 

Many Hats

Today is National Hat Day. I have many different hats, both literally and metaphorically. Literally I have over twenty different hats of all different styles, colors, and for all different occasions. I have fedoras, some for every day wear and some for when I'm a spy. I have sun hats of all the colors of the rainbow for at the beach. Then, if that wasn't enough, I also have a classic pirate tri-corner hat for when I'm a pirate, a few Santa hats for Christmas time, and some top hats for being the Mad Hatter. Then I have three or four real, statement hats, two of which require a very special occasion to wear. Each of these hats calls for a different occasion, a different outfit, a different costume, a different identity. This brings me to the metaphorical side of things.

I am a writer, I am also a swimmer, I am a college graduate with my associates degree, I like to decorate cakes, and I like to create movies, I am a collector of knee high socks, and apparently a collector of hats. I am many different things and am proud of every single one of them. As I continue to go through life I will continue to collect hats, hobbies, occupations, labels I will go by. One day I hope to add author to the list along with many more including wife and mother. Some of the hats will be lost or forgotten over time, while many more will be added. Each one will be used for a different reason.

My mother gave a speech with a similar hat centered theme at my graduation celebration last month. The thing that stuck out to me the most was that she said some hats will be difficult to wear, but that God would always give you the right hat for the situation. I believe that this is true and I look forward to seeing what hats He has in store for me in the future. Whatever hats you wear, whether literally or metaphorically, wear them proudly today and every other day.

Happy National Hat Day!

Saying Goodbye

A good friend of mine left recently. I knew it would be a long time before I would get to see him again and I was having a hard time saying goodbye. Then I started really listening to what he was telling me and what I have told many people in the past. It’s not good bye.

In many of the stories I have written, the characters have to say goodbye with a good chance they will never see each other again. However, they always seem to find strength. They know that it doesn’t have to be goodbye for good. But sometimes it is just so easy telling someone what they need to hear, but then when you’re in the same situation, it is so difficult to believe it yourself. I was in that situation when my friend left and I found myself looking at my own stories for encouragement.

It is hard when someone you care about leaves. Especially if you know you won’t see them for a very long time, or possibly never again. But that is just how it is going to be; it is going to be hard, even if you are prepared for it. Sometimes you just have to open yourself up to what is being said. Sometimes it will be what God is telling you, sometimes it will be through other people, sometimes even through your own subconscious like I found in my stories. You have to believe that, if it is meant to be, your paths will cross again. I know from experience that it is easier to tell someone that than to believe it yourself, but I also know from experience that it is true. I know that I will continue to have a hard time saying goodbye; I know that you probably will too. However, if we remember that it’s not good bye, just farewell until next time, then parting ways might be a little bit easier.

What do you do to make saying goodbye a little easier? Tell me in the comments! Farewell until next time!