Today

Today, I have a "win / win"

Today, "project lone star" was put into action

Today, I am full of gratitude

Today was a GREAT day!

Okay now this is funny!!

So True

I'm sure he means women too ;)

15 Things To Give Up

8 ways to spot great leadership

Came across a really great article in Forbes: 8 ways to spot great leadership. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2013/10/24/8-ways-to-spot-great-leadership/

If you ever wonder why we’re in a crisis of leadership all you have to do is to watch and listen to those in positions of leadership. While there are clearly many aspects of leadership that must work together in harmony in order for leaders to be effective, everything breaks down when leaders don’t understand how to engage effectively.

Let’s start with what leadership is not: Leadership is not a monologue, a speech, a lecture or a filibuster. Leadership is not talking at or over people. Leadership is not sequestered, does not live in a bubble or operate in a vacuum. Leadership is not exclusive or arrogant. Leadership is not about the leader.

What we see all too often in today’s leaders are little more than egocentric talking heads. They are so enamored with seeing themselves on camera or listening to themselves talk they have forgotten it’s their job to solve problems not create or exacerbate them.

History’s best examples of leaders are of those leaders who were/are highly engaged, very inclusive, deeply caring, and highly empathetic. They don’t fear being proven wrong, but are deathly afraid about the thought of being wrong and not knowing it.

The best leaders are not interested in who is right, but what is right. They not only embrace dissenting opinions, but they seek them out at every opportunity. Real leaders are just as at ease when unlearning as they are when learning.  And perhaps most importantly, they never pass up an opportunity discuss, converse, dialog, or debate. They know that their leadership is only as good as their ability to engage, listen, discern, and to act.

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Here’s the thing – what politics and business would like us to picture as the perfect image of a leader bears little resemblance to the genuine article.  Following are eight ways to spot real leadership:

1. Not about the platform: I’ve always said, but for the people there is no platform. You don’t lead a platform you lead people. It’s easy to spot real leaders – they focus on people not things. They understand without great talent and a vibrancy of culture even the best strategy will fail. Productive leaders understand platforms don’t solve problems, people do. Any leadership problem is a people problem at some level, and any leadership victory is a win for the people. As my friend Jim Kouzes says, “Love ‘em and lead ‘em.
2. The art of and not or:  The best leaders don’t fall into the trap of either/or thinking. The best leaders realize there’s rarely a good reason to juxtapose one option against another in a vacuum. This is simply a false paradigm created by intellectually dishonest rationalizations. The use of A/B frameworks as a decision making model unnecessarily limit opportunity by impeding creative thought and innovation. You will time and again observe the best leaders think and not either/or. The job of a leader is to create, expand and preserve options – not limit them.
3. Ubiquity: I’ve often said the only place an army of one exists is in a movie. There is no doubt a good leader can accomplish much, but there’s also no doubt a culture of leadership can accomplish much more. Leadership that can’t be scaled isn’t really leadership. You can always spot great leaders because they don’t overshadow others –they elevate others.  When in doubt, think ubiquity not scarcity. Leadership isn’t, or at least shouldn’t be, a scarce commodity. Far too many companies wrongly treat leadership as an esoteric role reserved for a privileged few.  However healthy organizations realize leadership must be a ubiquitous quality that pervades every aspect of day-to-day operations. They understand every person must lead; even if people are only responsible for leading themselves, they must lead.
4. Not tone Deaf: You’ll rarely come across successful leaders who have a tin ear. The best leaders are tuned in to the emotional needs of those whom they serve.  They engage, they listen, they empathize, and they acknowledge. They treat you as a colleague not a subordinate. They seek to understand not direct. They are the not tone deaf – they are relevant because they show they care.  Anyone can add value to your world if you’re willing to listen. How many times have you dismissed someone because of his or her station or title when what you should have done was listen? Wisdom doesn’t just come from peers and those above you – it can come from anywhere at anytime, but only if you’re willing to listen. Expand your sphere of influence and learn from those with different perspectives and experiences – you’ll be glad you did.
5. Willing to take the hit: Real leaders are not afraid to give credit, nor are the fearful of taking blame. They are more than willing to admit their faults and mistakes. Nobody is flawless, blameless or perfect, so why even bother pretending that you are (nobody will believe you anyway). Let me be clear – I appreciate savvy and finesse as much as the next person, but not as a substitute for courage. We have too many people in leadership positions who can’t or won’t accept responsibility for anything. Sane people don’t expect perfection from leaders, but they do expect leaders to be transparent and accountable. Accepting responsibility for your actions, or the actions of your team makes you honorable, and trustworthy – it also humanizes you. People don’t want the talking head of a politician for a leader, they want someone they can connect to, and relate with. Put simply, leadership is about accountability, and not only being willing to take the hit, but also being capable of surviving the hit.Leadership IS ownership…
6. Understand Compromise: A my way or the highway attitude is not an attitude that serves leaders well. Choosing a side is not as important as understanding both sides in a way that finds common ground and brings people together by closing positional gaps. A leaders job is not to draw lines in the arbitrary lines in the sand, but to get people to step across lines and continue the journey. Remember this, compromise that doesn’t create forward movement is little more than useless gamesmanship. Real leaders understand they don’t have to compromise core values in order to reach a compromise. You’ll never see a great leader who is not highly skilled in the art of meaningful compromise that moves the needle.
7. No paralysis: Leadership begins at the end of your comfort zone. It’s not hard to spot good leaders, as they’re the ones who not only live outside their comfort zone, but they inspire others to do the same. They encourage and empower others to challenge institutional thinking, dominant logic, and conventional practices. If your organization is always finding reasons to manage risk and not opportunity, to fear change rather than embrace it, or to rest on your past accomplishments rather than create new ones, your leadership may be suffering from the paralyzing effects of stasis.  The best way to spot real leadership is to look at the scoreboard. As much as some don’t want to hear this, leadership without results is little more than a charade.
8. Alignment: I’ve often said, managing expectations is gamesmanship, but aligning them is leadership. The best leaders inspire a one company, one agenda mindset. They don’t create internal competitors, but rather they focus on creating an ethos of internal collaboration. The best leaders are those who operationalize values, vision, mission and strategy – this only happens through an understanding an alignment of a shared purpose. No purpose = no passion = no leadership.

Feeling Content

Nothing really profound or exciting to post today except that I have been in a GREAT mood all day which is awesome!! My mom is staying with me for a couple of days and I like having her around :) I also got to hang with my niece last weekend and she sings all the time...non stop. She sounds great!

I think another reason I am in such a great mood is because I have finally made some decisions about some open issues in my life so that feels really good :-)

Why the giraffe? I failed to solve a riddle correctly so had to change my profile pic on Facebook to a giraffe. Apparently my answer could also be correct according to some articles on the internets but have to admit...these giraffes are cute! And it is fun seeing everyone change their profile pic.

It's the little things...

I was just discussing this the other day!

I like this

FaceTime Concerto

My super cute niece is soooo into music and it is so fun for the rest of us! She FaceTimed me last night and played several songs on the piano (including one she taught herself how to play by watching YouTube videos), sang the songs and showed me what she learned on the guitar. It was awesome! So proud of her and so happy music is making her so happy :) 

Succession Planning Stalemate

Me: I really would like to live in Eville and do a, b and c for the next couple of years

Company: That is something to consider but we'd like you to live in Bville for a little longer and then move to NYCville for a few years and then maybe move around to a few more cities so you can do x, y and z. Forget about Eville and a, b, c.  

Me: So...I'd really like to live in Eville and do a, b and c for the next couple of years and I'm open to your plan in the future but right now, this is what I would like to do.

Company:  You should be moving upward and onward. Living in Eville and doing a, b and c won't do that for you. You will have to go to NYCville and do x, y and z.

Me: Totally understand what you are saying and that this might be a bit of a detour from your plan for me but..I'd really like to live in Eville and do a, b and c for the next couple of years and I'm open to your plan in the future but right now, this is what I would like to do.

Company: But we don't think this is the right thing for you. You will love NYCville and doing x, y and z. It will be the best role you have ever had and you will learn so much, blah, blah, blah (more selling)

My internal voice kicks in: "Negotiators Tell. Sales People Sell"

Me: I agree with what you are saying... that the role will be the best thing ever but...for the next couple of years, I'd really like to do a, b and c and live in Eville and THEN let's plan the next 5-7 years. "Negotiators Tell"

We shall see...all I can do is ask for what I want right?

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 30 (continued)

Also grateful for getting upgraded to first class!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 30

Finally! The longest 30 days ever counted ;-)

Today, I am grateful for:

1.) Much needed time off

2.) Perfect weather on my vacation!

3.) CALIFORNIA!!!! 

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 29

Today, I am grateful for:

1.) California Wine Country

2.) Burke Williams Spa

3.) Power Pilates 

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 28

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Vacation!

2.) Vacation!!

3.) Vacation!!!

If it's going to be it is up to me!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 27

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Pilates!! I freaking love it and I am so happy I have found a workout that I love and makes me feel so good :-)

2.) Living in a safe, clean and free country (even if our government is a bit if an embarrassment at the moment)

3.) Fall weather...georgeous outside!

Amen Sister!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 26

Man...this 30 days of gratitude thing is taking me way longer than 30 Days!

Today I am grateful for:

1.) New life! So many friends and a couple of family members have brought new babies into this world in the last couple of months and it is so awesome! I love babies and I am very happy for my friends! So grateful the kind, thoughtful and smart people I know are procreating :-)

2.) Dependable teammates at work. 

3.) Vacation time next week!

At least Speaker Boehner is working hard for one party...even if it is not his own. YES SHE WILL!

Be informed!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 25

I am grateful for,

1.) Being a confident person and believing in myself. I have my insecurities like everyone else but overall, I am secure in who I am!

2.) Being relatively engaged and informed on how our government really works and key public policies.

3.) Opportunities I have been fortunate enough to receive 

Watching the clock...

Only 98 days...what is even better is that I think it is only 50 or so business days with holiday and vacation time. Then I will be free to take a long vacation :-)

On to the next one

B Walker

While in Orlando on a family vacation, we had to cross a street primarily used by Disney buses and shuttles to get from our hotel to downtown Disney. There were not any crosswalks near by but we decided to take our chances and cross anyway. Bailey declared, "take my hand because this B walker don't like jay walking!" Bailey, Age 10

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 24

Today I once again find myself grateful for:

1.) My super cute niece who played the piano and sang for me over FaceTime. Love her!!

2.) My garden soaking tub

3.) My hilarious friends :-)

Easily the title of my autobiography

Well said!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 23

When I decided to embark in this 30 days of gratitude thing, I thought it would be easy to come up with 3 things I am grateful for daily. I also figured it would a be a good way to get into the habit of blogging. It was not as easy as I thought...there were definitely days I had to really just state the obvious things one should be grateful for but today I really DO feel sincerely grateful for the people in my life in general and for the little things they do that let me know they care. I am really lucky and blessed by so many great people in my life!

One of my favorite bosses and just one of my favorite people in general moved on to a new role and has moved out of the US. I will definitely miss interacting with him. He has such a great energy that not everyone appreciates or understands and he was far from perfect but a great fit for me during this time in my life. I've got a pretty stressful job and besides the day to day business stuff, there is a TON of politics and frankly...a TON of bullshit. I was lucky to have a boss I respected, trusted and who never let me down. It was just what I needed to weather the storm over the last 18 months. 

He gave me this key chain with "keep calm and carry on" logo on a British flag (He is British). A bit of an inside joke so a perfect parting gift:

I was sad to hug him goodbye. I am not normally a weepy person but I had a hard time fighting back the tears today. I was unchararistically speechless and not able to even say "goodbye" outloud so I just waved as I couldn't find the words to properly express how grateful I was to have him in my life during a very difficult time but I am pretty sure he knows how I feel :-)

Cue #2 awesome person in my life: my intern. I just love her! She is smart, thoughtful and has a pretty rad sense of humor as well. She wanted to cheer me up so she brought me this delicious cupcake: 

There were even more announcements today of people moving on so lots of changes! Change is good. 

Even the Zodiac knows about Gratitude!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 22 - Bits and Pieces

One of my favorite managers I have ever had is moving on to a new role. I am so sad he is leaving but so happy he came into my life. I learned a lot from him and am a better person and professional for having known him. He was supportive of me during a very difficult time both personally and professionally. I will miss him a great deal but am thankful to have known him and glad we will be able to keep in touch. Today, I am grateful for him, his support and for all that he has taught me. He once joked with me that his biggest fear for me in my career was that I was too much like him. That was the greatest compliment he could have ever paid me :-)

Even though I am still exploring which higher power I subscribe to, I do believe there is something in the universe moving people and circumstances in and out of your life and that all things happen for a reason. The below poem is special to me and I felt was perfect for how I feel now: 

Bits and pieces

Bits and Pieces ~

People ~

People important to you ~

People unimportant to you ~ cross your life

Touch it with love and carelessness and move on~

There are people who leave you and you breathe a sigh of relief

And you wonder why you ever came into contact with them.

There are people who leave you and you sigh with remorse

And wonder why they had to go away and leave such a gaping hole. 

Children leave parents ~

Friends leave Friends ~

Acquaints move on ~

People change homes ~

People grow apart ~

Enemies hate and move on ~

You think on the many who have moved into your hazy memory

You look on those present and wonder ...

I believe in God's master plan in lives ~

He moves people in and out of each other's lives,

and each leaves his markon the other.

You find you are made up of bits and pieces

Of all who ever touched your life,

And you are more because of it

And you would be less if they had not touched you.

Pray God that you accept the bits and pieces

With humility and wonder

And never question ... and never regret

Bits and pieces

Bits and pieces

---

This was written by Lois Chaney in the book of poems "God is No Fool".

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 21

Today, I am grateful for:
1.) My cousin being safe and sound. He works at the facility where there was a mass shooting today and 13 people died (including the shooter). He was in the Navy for 20 years (mostly during peace time so he saw very little combat). He probably saw more violence today in his civilian job at the Navy Yard than he did his entire time in combat. Dr. Janis Orlowski, Chief Medical officer at MedStar Washington Hospital spoke out against the senseless trauma caused by guns. She makes some really great points that we must change. View her statement here. Even though this was all over the news today, it seems like social media (at least my FB friends...gun control advocates and pro gun rights folks alike were relatively silent about the shooting...way less interest vs the trayvon martin case or Newton shooting or shootings from last year in that movie theater in colorado). Maybe we are just used to it by now...another day, another mass shooting, 13 more dead. That is the way things are in the US I suppose....very sad. Anyhoo...I'm just very grateful my cousin is safe and is home tonight with his family. Very sad for the victims who lost their lives today. May they rest in peace.

2.) On a more positive note....Pilates! Love my new studio so far :)

3.) For my friends and family for their acceptance, support and love for me and for each other. Seems cheesy I suppose but I am so grateful for all the true friends and supporters in my life.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 20

Today, I am grateful for:
1.) Ability to save money
2.) Financial Freedom (at least for now)
3.) Books & my Kindle

Working for the weekend

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 19

Today I am grateful:

1.) that I live in a free country 

2.) for the people who protect us, keep us safe and enable our freedom. Military, government employees, police, fire fighters, diplomats and everyone who sacrifices to keep our country safe deserve our gratitude 

3.) to remember where I was and how I felt on 9/11/01. I will never forget. 

Truth

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 18

Today I am grateful for:

1.) First Pilates session! Going to be sore tomorrow but I like this new place :-)

2.) Meeting several new people today with great energy and excited to be getting to work with them for the next few months.

3.) Eating healthier today...not perfect but gotta start somewhere.

Word

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 17

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Finding a new Pilates studio I really like!

2.) Swimming pools and sunblock

3.) Frozen custard with Reese's peanut butter cups. So Yum!

Do Something!

I have the best niece in the world! She is smart and has a great sense of humor. I am starting a new series in honor of her so that I can archive her awesomeness! I may have to go back in time and capture some of my favorite quotes and stories. Today she said something hilarious so I had to share:

After being told it was time to leave the school garage sale fundraiser so she could have some downtime before her cousins came over to spend the night tonight, she defiantly said:

"I don't need downtime! I don't take naps. I'm not a 'do nothing' Bailey. I'm a 'do something' Bailey!" - Age 11

BOOM!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 16

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Delicious and surprisingly fresh sushi right down the street from my house and right smack in the middle of the country. The closest ocean is thousands of miles away yet their sushi is somehow the most consistently fresh sushi I have ever had and this is coming from someone who loved 5 blocks from the Pacific Ocean for several years. This sushi restaurant shares a wall with a gas station so it has been nicknamed "gas station sushi" of course! Charming right? Not only is the sushi fresh and super yummy, it is a creative and they are constantly introducing new menu items. The owners  are so nice and they know the vast majority of the customers who walk thru the door. I love coming in and as soon as they see me, they get my regular order going. "You wanna go where everybody knows your name!"

2.) Very mild summer we have had this year. The weather has been awesome and I'm loving it!

3.) New possibilities...more to come on this ;-)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 15

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Healthy breakfast choice I made today

2.) Power Naps

3.) My Mom's support and willingness to listen 

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 14

Today I am grateful for:

1.) I've said it once already but I am so grateful I have awesome dental care. Went to see a periodontist today and tooth #30 (one of my molars on the bottom right in layman's terms) has been examined, X-rayed, 3D imaged and the latest today was a pulp viability testing or some test where they tapped, had me bite down and then tested sensitive to hot and cold. The pulp is viable so that is good news. 3 dentist and 3 assistants have now reviewed it and they are all fascinated but have no idea why this tooth is unique and are not yet sure of a course of treatment or no treatment at all. The dentist today suggested maybe a tooth within a tooth or even excess growth of this bone like material in my tooth. He seemed intrigued by the film of my tooth and wants the oral surgeon to send over his 3D images so he can take a look at those. Anyhoo...I'm just glad I have great coverage because this would be expensive! 

2.) Being in a better mood and feeling lighter today

3.) My new meditation app. I am only on Day 2 but I really like meditation so far! Check out the web page:

http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/

You know what they say about a man with big feet....

So the latest far right wing fundraising effort...err...outrage is that President Obama is disrespecting the Presidency and the Resolute Desk itself by putting his feet up while conducting his POTUS business. It was started by the Blaze and now the Tea Party is pulling out all the stops to collect donations on this phony controversy. The Tea Party fundraising page failed to show President George W. Bush and President Johnson striking a similar pose in the Oval office. I still don't understand why people are duped  and baited by these phony controversies but that's 'merica I suppose....

On a much more serious and important note. You wanna know what really caught my attention with these Presidential feet on the desk pics?? Check out the size discrepancy between President Obama and President Bush shoes:

 

I wondered if there is a correlation between shoe size and intelligence or shoe size and presidential performance but first I had to find some basic shoe size info for previous Presidents.

I know what you are thinking. Is there really a website that compares presidential shoe sizes?? And sure enough, there is! Check this out: http://www.shoesofthepresidents.com/footwearfacts.htm

• President Teddy Roosevelt: Size 9.5D
• President Hoover: Size 11.5AA
• President Truman: Size 9
• President Kennedy: Size 10
• President Reagan: Size 10.5
• President George H.W. Bush: Size 11
• President Clinton: Size 13D
• President George W. Bush: Size 10.5E
• President Obama: Size 12

Now..someone with more brains and more time and more statistical know-how will have to figure out if there is any real correlations between shoe size and presidential performance or shoe size and intelligence but in my very unscientific and unresearched opinion, I think there may actually be some truth to this hypothesis based soley on the President who wore the largest shoe.

The President with the largest shoe size is....President Lincoln who wore a size 14 shoe!! Incredible! He used those size 14 shoes to stamp out slavery, pass the 13th Amendment and to hold the country together during the Civil War. He wore size 14 shoes, big socks and ran this country Like a BOSS!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 13

(un) Lucky #13!!! A bit fitting today is unlucky #13 because I am incredibly grumpy and not feeling grateful at all today. In fact...I have been having a bit of a pity party so today I am going to be grateful for just one thing...for keeping it real...I'm not in the mood for a full gratitude list and I'm not going to fake it for the interwebs. Hoping tomorrow is a better day :-)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 12

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Ibuprofen...sore muscles and sore head today. Still not feeling so great today.

2.) Much needed downtime 

3.) Cody 

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 11

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Massage therapy...I have some serious stiffness and knots in my left shoulder and neck which has been giving me aches, pains and headaches the past couple of weeks. Had a deep tissue massage today. I'm a little sore but hoping it will help!

2.) Books

3.) My momma who took care of me today when I wasn't feeling well 

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 10

Today I am grateful for:

1.) A very compassionate dental hygienist who cleaned by teeth today. She was awesome! Going to the dentist causes me to have this weird anxiety for whatever reason...maybe because I always feel vulnerable laying in the chair with all the instruments in my mouth and awful noises coming from the dental tools on my teeth. So grateful I had such an awesome hygienist today :-)

2.) Cruise control...much needed for speed racer ways!

3.) a safe place to live...

 

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 9

Today I am grateful for:

1.) My job. It is sometimes stressful and sometimes, it drives me bonkers but I like the people I work with, it pays well and it is exciting and fast paced. Plus I am always learning and there has been really great professional development and leadership opportunities.

2.) Tawny Ports...guilty pleasure but I just love ports and can't say no when I find a great one on a menu.

3.) Opportunities I have been given in the workplace. Climbing the corporate ladder one step at a time...

50 Year Anniversary of "I have a dream speech"

The following is the full text of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at the March on Washington, Aug. 28, 1963.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro till is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.

One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.

One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize the shameful condition.

In a sense, we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

This note was a promise that all men, yes black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating “For white only.” We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, even tough we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice and sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its Governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. 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!"

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 8

Today I am grateful for:

1.) Coffee

2.) So You Think You Can Dance - it is pretty much the only show I watch on TV and I love it!

3.) My best friends...even though we only get together a couple of times each year, it is like we have never been apart.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 7

Today I am grateful for:

1.) No major issues with my tooth the dentist was worried about! I have one more appointment on Friday to get another opinion but so far so good. And still very grateful for excellent dental insurance.

2.) Making the final decision on a new hire for my team. I know she will be great!

3.) My Mom just for always being there for me all the time no matter what. She's the best!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 6

Today I am grateful for:

1.) My boss understanding I am not a morning person (especially on Mondays).

2.) My mom having a flexible enough work schedule so that she could come to town and go to my surgeon appointment tomorrow.

3.) I've said it before but worth saying again...living so close to family. Had a really nice dinner with my mom, aunt and uncle tonight :-)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 5

Today I am grateful for:

1.) My dad who recently celebrated another birthday and taught me, "If it's gonna be, it's up to me!" Looking forward to another 50+ years with him :-)

2.) Red Wine...especially when shared with good friends.

3.) Highway Patrol who are not afraid to stop me and remind me to slow down...even when they give me a ticket :-/