It's January 20th. What will you focus on today?

I focus on the message from Martin Luther King, Jr.

NPS photo from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial site

This morning, as with every morning, I stretched in the pre-dawn light of my living room, playing soothing music to calm my soul and lift my spirit. I then poured a cup of coffee and sat by the window, watching the sky turn to light. I listened to bird songs greeting the day and pondered the beautiful connection of all living beings as the birds flew from tree to tree, the branches swaying and leaves shimmering from a light breeze.

Then, from my neighbor, came a reverberating sound of pounding drums with an infusion of electric guitar, the voice of a punk rock singer entering the fray with a call to action. I knew why. I know my neighbor. It’s inauguration day and he’s not a happy camper. I get it. Many of us aren’t. It’s a day filled with foreboding.

But today is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is where I choose to place my focus, despite–or rather, all the more because of–the other impactful goings-on in Washington D.C.. I will remain steadfast, always, in adhering to King’s humble yet powerful message of practicing peace and non-violence.

The King Center’s theme for 2025 is “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365.”

I’ll share a screenshot from The King Center website for elaboration:

The King Center’s strategic theme for 2025, as outlined on their website

“Beloved Community.” I like that. Yes. We’re all in this together. Let’s focus on love.

I’ll close out my honoring of Martin Luther King, Jr. by sharing two of his famous quotes (and a link to more):

Engraved quote at the National Park Service’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (South Wall) . Quoted from his book, Strength to Love.

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

(From his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, 1964)

I invite you to visit the NPS website to read all of his quotes at the Memorial site. I invite you to focus on those today.

❤️ ☮️ 🙏