Inspiration for a dreary day

"When you know within yourself that there's something you want to do, and I believe all of us were born with a purpose -- that all of us have something that we are supposed to do, that all of us have some goodness within us -- and that goodness gives us a responsibility to manifest our greatness.

"Not only is it possible for you to have your dream, but it's necessary. It's necessary that you have it, that you work on it, that you develop yourself [and] that you go for what is yours in the universe."

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Having recently read this inspirational quote from Dr. King, I have tried applying it as much as possible. From staying late at work to turning off the television, I've discovered that pushing yourself a little harder isn't necessarily a bad thing -- an obvious understatement, I'm sure.

And sure, we all want to do our best; we all dream of meeting life goals and pursuing happiness -- but it's exactly what we DO that determines whether we are actually trying, or not.

Dr. King not only spoke against racial inequality, social status and civil rights -- he also emphasized that, whoever you are, we all have a "goodness" within ourselves, and we have a responsibility to realize it.

If we start to see this as a responsibility, rather than a virtue, I feel that our unemployment rates, our national debt and other social issues would be lessened, if not completely wiped out.

Pointing out so brilliantly is Dr. King when he says "it's necessary that you have it, that you work on it, that you develop yourself . . ." because, what I believe he means, is that it is crucial that we constantly improve ourselves, lest we run the risk losing what we have.

Without such effort, I feel that it is impossible for us as a nation to realize our dreams and better ourselves; I believe that to turn away from such responsibility is the true tragedy and will lead to even further sadness and dispair.