Dr. 
Martin Luther King Jr. had a great life because of the way he impacted the lives of other people. That impact was positive, focused, recognizable and long-lasting.
What He Did
Doctor King did different things to bring about social change. For example, he gave thousands of speeches, wrote books and articles, and led non-violent protests.
Obviously, he was really good at what he did. He applied his strengths to what he was passionate about to make a significant difference in the lives of many people.
What He Accomplished
Because of Doctor King’s work, the federal government passed civil rights laws prohibiting racial segregation. That’s a huge accomplishment!
It would be difficult to assess the full impact of his life’s work, partially because the impact of his work is so widespread. Just consider all the people whose lives were touched by Doctor King’s work. And consider the people whose lives continue to be touched by his life.
What If He Didn’t?
What if Martin Luther King Jr. did not engage in the fight for civil rights? What if he got too busy or distracted with life to do that other stuff? He could have poured his time, energy and money into a lot of things other than promoting justice and equality. He could have, for example, chosen to:
- work hard and save his money to have a more secure future
- focus on raising his kids and being a good husband
- go to a lot of parties and have lots of fun
- collect baseball cards or travel across the country in a motor home
0Would the government have changed public policy without Dr. King’s work? Most likely… eventually. How long it would’ve taken is hard to say, though.
All the people who benefited from his efforts are the very people who would not have experienced those same benefits if he had not stepped out and lived his calling. So many people would have gone through life without the opportunities that his work provided.
Even more, our society would have suffered without Doctor King’s efforts. We all have benefited from the contributions of the many people who were free to contribute to society because of his work.
What If We Don’t?
Who will suffer if we choose not to find our purpose and live our legacy? We may not have such a massive impact as did Doctor King. Our strengths and our passions may be quite different than his.
Nonetheless, the world needs our unique contribution. We, each as an individual, are needed. There are people who are waiting for us to step up and touch their lives. Let’s not leave that valuable work undone. It’s time for each of us to live a Simply Great Life!
