One word

If you had to pick one word to live by what would it be? Maybe it is a virtue you want more of in your life, maybe a challenge you want to overcome, or maybe something you are passionate about. I stumbled upon a service project online that asks this question. What’s your word?

I had to give this some thought, there are so many words that are perfect! Immediately the words love, hope, dream, breathe, pray, and wish popped into my head. Picking one word out of all the glorious, interesting, provoking, meaningful, wondrous, and reflective words out there can be downright intimidating!

So how do you go about picking one word?  Drive deep into your soul and list your qualities. Is there something you could benefit from focusing on? This will help you nail down your personal motto – the word that captures your purpose and passion. This word defines you and your mission. It will be your focus, your mantra, the word that will guide you. Choosing one word makes it easier to remember and to put into action. It will help give you meaning, mission, passion and purpose. And your one word can change, it doesn’t have to be the same forever. Start with one and see how it goes.

After much reflection, I chose INSPIRE. It is one of my favorite words. I am lucky enough to have had many inspirational people in my life that put a fire in my heart to inspire others. I want to be a positive influence capable of inspiring others to become better versions of themselves. Of course, as I am constantly continuing to work on myself to be the best version of me.

Understanding the difference that positive inspiration can make in a person’s life gives me the motivation I need to make every moment count as an opportunity to inspire others. Inspiration is powerful. I take opportunities to inspire others through my words and actions during everything that goes on in this hectic world we live.  I try my best to be cognizant of how I act and react in situations.  But I am human, I need to remind myself to be authentic and true, to be kind and to not judge others so harshly.  By trying to be the best version of myself I hope to inspire others to do the same. My one word -inspire- I believe, challenges us all to live purposefully.

So, how did you do? Did you choose your One Word?  You can now put that word to use, that’s my wish for you! Keep it where you can see it, and let it inspire you each day.

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

http://thewishwall.org/desideri/one-word/

www.girltalkmarlton.org

www.thewishwall.org

Dream…Wish…Hope.

Give your dreams a chance, I did. I clearly remember watching the news broadcast of Simonetta Lein, the Wishmaker being interviewed with the Philadelphia Wishwall in the backdrop and its purpose was being explained.

As I stood in front of the TV, I listened attentively trying to gather as much information as I could about this project. “A Wishwall in every city where people can express their wishes and we, the Wishwall Foundation, grant those dreams that are most meaningful”, Simonetta said in her beautiful Italian accent. When the segment concluded, I exclaimed loudly, “I want one!” No one in my house knew what I was talking about, but I was now on a mission.

I googled the Wishwall Foundation and found out all I could online, I followed them on all social media, emailed Simonetta and let her know that I was interested in a Wishwall in my town of Marlton NJ. To my delight and amazement, she answered me almost immediately and by the end of the week we had spoken several times on the phone discussing the many facets of the Wishwall Foundation. My head was spinning thinking of different ways that my mentoring chapter of Girl Talk Inc could collaborate with her.

So, during the next leaders meeting of the mentoring program I spoke to the girls about the Wishwall. I showed them the news report along with a few other you tube videos and articles I found about actual wishes that Simonetta helped to make come true! The girls were in! We decided to make a mock-up of a small wishwall to explain it to the rest of the group so they could get a better understanding.

At our next general meeting when all the members of our chapter gather together, we revealed our mock-up wall and the leaders invited the girls to write wishes and come post them on this wall. We explained our desire to bring the Wishwall Foundation to Marlton with a permanent physical Wishwall where wishes can come true. We also discussed the online wishwall and that Girl Talk would be getting our own page and will be writing for the women’s wishwall every week! The girls were very excited to hear this and wanted to learn more. We let them know that we were heading to meet with Simonetta at her home the following week and we would have more information after that meeting.

So, fast forward to today, we are in full swing planning our event. It will be Saturday, December 10^th from 12:30-4:30pm at the Evesham Library in Marlton, NJ and YOU are invited to see my wish come true. This is my wish, for YOU. Please come with your meaningful wish and bring it to our wall in Marlton. You do NOT have to be resident of Marlton and the wish does NOT have to be for you. The wish need be a meaningful one and the Wishwall Foundation and the board members will review all wishes. The event will be spectacular with vendors, food, fun, music and plenty of love and smiles so please come and share in my wish come true. Girl Talk Marlton members and the Wishwall Foundation are very excited about this event!

As I am writing this I must admit, I do have another wish. I am wishing for a physical space for my girls to “hangout”. I would like a place where the girls and our volunteers can call our own. Where the girls can decorate themselves and we can have some of our meetings. Ah….I can dream can’t I?

~Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall

www.girltalkmarlton.org

www.thewishwall.org

Unconditional Love & Acceptance

Unconditional love is something that can be difficult to explain to those who have never experienced it; but on the occasion that you have been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of such an act of thoughtfulness, you are loved without restrictions or conditions. Loving unconditionally is one of the bravest things you will ever do.

Unconditional love means, “I love you no matter what happens,” not “no matter what you do to me.” Unconditional love does not mean “I love you if you hurt me.” You must love yourself unconditionally first. You are worthy.

Life is hard more often than we’d like it to be. Life is by nature, conditional. The idea that love might be unconditional sounds unrealistic. Is that even possible? Too often, the affection of others comes at a high price to even consider the possibility that love might be unconditional. It is a string-less gift of the heart. But it IS all around us!

Take a mother and child’s relationship. This is one of the most beautiful forms of unconditional love and sacrifice. As a mother, or parent, we sacrifice our own wants for the benefit of our child without thought for ourselves. This is love without conditions. This month will be 18 years that my mother has passed, I long for that feeling of unconditional love I felt from her.

If you have had a pet, especially a dog, they love their masters unconditionally. No matter if you get upset with them or don’t play with them when they want to play, the pets do not seem to mind, because they know that somewhere within, the master loves them.

In marriage or any committed relationship where there is unconditional love, there are hurdles. Remember to be accepting, love them with their flaws and imperfections. Forgiveness is also necessary to create a healthy long term relationship. Unconditional love is not petty. Love honor and cherish your partner who loves honors and cherishes you. By no way should you ever stay in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Treat each other with kindness. And when you argue with your significant other, because you will-fight fair. 

How can we bring more unconditional love into our lives? The best way to receive it is to give it away.

Unconditional love is caring about the happiness of another person without any thought for what we might get for ourselves.  It could be as simple as smile or handshake or as complex as raising money for a specific cause. Whatever it is, we must recognize that we have the capacity to show unconditional love to others.

If you think carefully about those closest to you, there is likely at least one person in your life that understands and practices what it means to show unconditional love toward others. These people are out serving others. They aren’t waiting for the future to make a difference; they are making a difference today.

Unconditional love heals the broken, empowers the timid, affirms the hesitant, and elevates those who have been overlooked, forgotten, and silenced. There is a power that comes to those who show and to those who receive unconditional love. Those who show this love are released from being consumed with themselves. Those who receive this love are released from limitations others have placed on them. You have everything you need right now to show unconditional love toward someone else. It is within you, but you must first love yourself unconditionally.

To love unconditionally takes courage. It is hard, I know, especially when your heart has been broken. It takes courage to keep trying. But never give up! Don’t let another person ever define your sense of self-worth. You can change the world one person at a time.

My wish is for you to spread your unconditional love around the world, we need more of it.

 

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

“To be brave is to love someone unconditionally without expecting anything in return.” Madonna

Welcome Spring!

Spring is the season of tremendous beauty, it is a time when flowers bloom and trees begin to grow. It is a time of new hope, new dreams, rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and regrowth. We welcome spring and rejoice in the longer days filled with visions of growth all around us after the cold depressing winter. Open your windows to allow the breeze to come through the curtains and let the sunlight fill your home waking it from its winters long slumber. This instantly lifts our mood and energizing us. Sometimes simply noticing the change of seasons is enough to bring a change within ourselves. We must learn to enjoy the simple things in life. Just observing the beauty of God’s creations and enjoying them gives us a sense of renewal.

“A prayer in Spring” poem is beautiful poem by Robert Frost and one of my favorite. Robert Frost is known as one of the best poets of the 20th century, his poems have been a source of inspiration to the young and old. In this poem below, he reminds us it is important to not overthink the future and live in the moment while enjoying the gifts God has given us.

Learn to be present and be grateful for all the beauty around us. Stop worrying so much about the future but instead love and embrace today. Use the visionary beauty of spring as inspiration to bring your goals and creative energy to fruition. Use this time to renew your commitment to your goals and replenish your motivation.

Spring is a perfect time to stop, reassess your life, and make changes. What better time than spring to re-group and re-prioritize, and even re-invent ourselves! My wish for you is to embrace the change of the season and take the time to enjoy the beauty of it. Welcome Spring!

 

A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

 

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

 

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in midair stands still.

 

For this is love and nothing else is love,

To which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends he will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.

 

 

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

http://thewishwall.org/desideri/welcome-spring/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mentor. Inspire. Empower.

I am a strong believer in mentoring, inspiring and empowering others, especially young girls. Research confirms the importance of having a quality mentoring relationship and shows it has a powerful positive effect on young people in personal, academic, and professional situations. Mentoring for me has always been first and foremost a relationship, I meet an extraordinary young woman and I think how can I help this person? How can I open doors for her and be supportive, encouraging and nourishing?

In 2013, I started a chapter of Girl Talk Inc in my town-Girl Talk Marlton.  Girl Talk Inc. is an international non-profit peer-to-peer mentoring program with a very simple premise: high school girls mentor middle school girls to help them deal with the issues they face during their formative early teenage years. Our mission is to help young teenage girls build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the value of community service. The girls develop confidence, leadership skills and compassion. They learn that they are not alone in the issues they face and that understanding, kindness and compassion can be the foundation for better relationships with others. This helps women become stronger leaders in the work place and more effective as parents. Since 2002, the Girl Talk Inc. organization has served more than 40,000 girls in 43 states and 7 countries. My group in Marlton, NJ has grown from 1 girl in 2013 to 107 young girls ages 10-18.

Why the need for female mentors? Statistics consistently demonstrate the alarming incidence of dangerous behaviors in middle school aged girls, as well as the positive impact of mentoring.

2009 data suggests that, of the middle school girl population in the U.S.:

9% are pregnant

22% never make it through high school (drop out)

27% have been or will be suicidal

34% have eating disorders

55% experiment with alcohol, drugs or tobacco

and, of those with low self-esteem, 25% resort to self-injurious behavior and 75% report engaging in activities such as disordered eating, cutting, bullying, smoking or drinking

 

The good news is that data also suggests that youth who are mentored are:

27% less likely to begin using alcohol

37% less likely to skip class

46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

52% less likely to skip school, are more confident in their academic performance, and get along better with their families
So, why NOT mentor, inspire and empower! Inspiration is all around us in everything we do and see. We need to mentor our young females to be inspired by the positive and not listen to the negative. And always empower them to aim high.

Young women often talk about the self-doubt that holds them back, that little negative voice inside their heads. We all have it, we all make mistakes, we are all human. Of course, sometimes even our role models get things wrong, or disappoint us, but this is also a useful reminder especially to girls that no one is perfect, and that anyone can survive both failure and error.

As women, we need to learn to build each other up. Women of different generations, colors and culture need to ensure that the progress we’ve made towards real equality continues.  We need to trust each other enough to share our power, knowledge, strength, talents and innovating solutions together. The women that do this are true role models and mentors and this is what I strive to be. They are the women who drive our motivation and imaginations, merely by their example. If we’re lucky enough, we count them as friends, and they are what we call our mentors.

My wish for you this week is to find a mentor in your life and become closer to them, learn from them and be empowered to inspire others.

http://thewishwall.org/desideri/mentor-inspire-empower/

~Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?- Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”

Persistence is the Key to Success

Courageous persistence is the one quality more than any other that can guarantee success. And success is something we all want, isn’t it? But to be successful takes persistence. Whether you want to lose a few pounds, get an A in a class, or any goal that you want to succeed in, you need to be persistent. It is the difference between a successful outcome and a failed one due to giving up.

The definition of persistence is the quality that allows someone to continue doing something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people. This is not something you do with external goals, but it is something you do internally. And I know all to well, in the face of pain, agony and defeat, it is difficult to stay persistent.

When getting starting on your vision to success, identify your wants and desires. It is when you know the WHY, you can get a source for inspiration and keep yourself motivated. Next, figure out HOW to get what you want. This makes it easier to achieve it. Make your goals actionable daily and follow through.  All your goal-setting and planning will go to waste if you won’t be able to develop discipline and good habits. Be confident in your work that you WILL achieve what you want.

Know and accept that there will be obstacles and setbacks; then prepare for them. Nothing important was ever accomplished without adversity, setbacks and difficulties. One of the ways you can prepare for setbacks and obstacles is to anticipate potential problems and have a contingency plan.

If things do not work out the way you hoped, then review the steps you took and the process you followed. Reevaluate by examining what went wrong and where. Be very flexible and experiment to see what techniques and strategies worked best to get where you want to go.

Think of Michael Jordan, a former American basketball player who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and won the Most Valuable Player Award five times. He was cut from his high school basketball team for not being good enough! “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I am so successful.” Mr. Jordan tells us in plain English that the key to his success was persistence.

There will always be people who will tell you something can’t be done, your product or service won’t succeed, you aren’t good enough, and so on. Stay away from naysayers; instead seek advice from those experienced in your field of endeavor and those who want you to succeed. They can assist you by making suggestions and recommendations based on their experience and expertise. You will still have to do the hard work, but there is nothing more encouraging than having positive reinforcement.

The key attitude to achieve great achievement is to be persistent on making progress. You will face challenges and obstacles, but the payoff comes when you refuse to give up. If your goals are not achieved today, tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year – persist, because being persistent will pay off after a while. Success will come to those who have the courage to want it.

My wish for you is to have the courage to take that first step toward your dreams and be persistent in following that goal to success.

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

http://thewishwall.org/desideri/persistence-is-the-key-to-success/

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it -Michael Jordan

We all judge each other, and it is OK

You always hear DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS, but I think it is a part of human nature. No matter how subtle, most of the time we judge unconsciously or by intuition.  I judge others all the time, and you do, too. You are judging this article right now, and that is okay.  From the moment you meet someone, you are judging their clothes, hair, makeup, and so on. You don’t even notice it, but we do it all day long.

Judgment is nothing but evaluation of evidence or facts to help us decide.  It is that little voice inside our heads that tells us to ask that sweet looking woman for directions instead of that young teenager because you judged him that he wouldn’t know.  Or when you decide to not pick the checkout line with the young chatty girl because you assume she will be too slow. We judge or evaluate life experiences, situations, things, opinions, thoughts, and people based on the values, emotions and logic we were taught. As human beings, we are blessed with touch, speech, hearing, taste, smell, common sense (most of us-lol) and intuition. These senses help us to evaluate every person or situation-in other words, judge.

Accept your urge to judge, it will help you make good decisions. Assume everyone else judges everyone else (because they do).  Ask others to share their judgements of you. Listen with an open heart and mind.  Embrace your judgements and be willing to learn from others judgements of you. Every person you meet has something special to give you—that is, if you are open to receiving it.

Merriam-Webster defines “judgment” as “An opinion or decision that is based on careful thought. The act or process of forming an opinion or making a decision after careful thought. The act of judging something or someone. The ability to make good decisions about what should be done.” Many people don’t use the “careful thought” part of the definition and that is where I think good judgment and bad judgment come into play.

Judge when it is right to judge, and know how to judge. That’s imperative. There’s a thin line between judgment and ignorance, which leads to injustice. Knowing when to judge is also very important. Discretion and calculation in judgment is strength, for it shows wisdom and maturity.  Gossiping, ridiculing, or wanting to cause harm to someone by judging shows only your immaturity and ignorance.

People fear being judged because they fear being evaluated. Don’t fear it, instead embrace it! We must recognize that we are all imperfect and it is okay. People are going to judge you regardless of what you are or are not doing, so just do whatever makes you happy. And when you choose to step out and walk into the things you have been called to do, you can and should except judgement. Prepare for it and it will not come as a surprise. We cannot always help what happens to us, but we can help how we react to these things.

 “If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.” ~Pema Chodron

My wish for you is to Live Courageously!

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

 

http://thewishwall.org/desideri/we-all-judge-each-other-and-it-is-ok/

Stand up & Do Your Part to Help Others by Mary Beth Iannarella

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in fixing your own life that you forget about helping others and being kind. And while it’s important to put yourself first sometimes, it is also important to help others whenever you can. People are usually good-hearted by nature. They want to do good things; they want to help other people whenever they can. Some will even go beyond their means to help someone in need if they’ve been deeply touched by the circumstances of the needy one. But sometimes, we just forget, it’s okay- we are all human.

There is scientific evidence that kindness can improve our lives. Helping others and showing kindness is not only good for those in need, it also makes us happier and healthier too. Kindness and caring for others also seem to be very contagious. When we see someone do something kind or thoughtful, or we are on the receiving end of kindness, it inspires us to be kinder ourselves. Kindness really is the key to creating a happier, more trusting local community. And kindness doesn’t cost a thing!

And it’s not all about money – we can also give of our time, ideas and energy. We all have special talents that make this world a richer place. Serve people by showing them how beautiful life can be when you live passionately exploring it with your talents. This may be in writing, painting, singing, or any area of life. Or maybe you could listen and be present to people and just show them respect. Or just try to appreciate people for who they are, not just the behaviors they display.

Whatever you’re doing to help others, no matter how small or unimportant it may seem to you, it can make a huge impact in someone else’s life. Don’t think what you’re going to get in return, that ruins the good deeds. Just do “it”, whatever it is, from your heart. People may not have noticed what you’ve done, people may not compliment you for it but the good has been done. That’s when the blessing you didn’t ask for is bestowed upon you. That’s when the good amplifies and comes back to you.

It’s a beautiful circle, when helping begins with you and you inspire people to practice kindness and pass it on to others. Helping others in my opinion is no way selfish, rather it is a “win win” situation. The person you helped is much better off now and you have raised your self-esteem, feel happier, more motivated and super confident. You can achieve almost anything you want if you believe in yourself and you put your heart and mind to it.

I believe our true purpose in life is to give our lives away to others, and that we receive happiness, fulfillment, and meaning in return. Why not stand up and do your part to spread happiness and kindness in the world? Start small, in your community or neighborhood, or the man you see every morning on the corner. There is always someone that can use your help. My wish today is that you just give it a try.

Here are just a few suggestions from me to get you started:

What can I do to help others?

• Smile and be friendly. You never know what someone is going through.

• Call a charity to volunteer your time and talents.

• Donate something you don’t use to an organization that doesn’t sell!

• Make a monetary donation to your favorite local charity.

• Stop to help someone in need.

• Buy someone a cup of coffee.

• Comfort someone in grief.

 

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

 

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” – Charles Dickens

 

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank, diary of Anne Frank

The Wishwall in Marlton, NJ Update

As I wrote previously, the event for the Wishwall in Marlton NJ on December 10^th was a huge success. We had over 200 people in attendance posting their wishes and reading other wishes of those in the community. It was a beautiful day as we dedicated the Wishwall in honor of the late Christina Grimmie, who was from Marlton and represented herself well on the NBC show the voice. Pictured left, Mark Grimmie, Simonetta Lein- The Wishmaker, and myself. What an amazing day, you could just feel the love in the room. Pictures tell only part of the stories heard with so many wishes of those in attendance. My heart was filled with so much love and joy that day, I cannot even explain it in words.

As some of you may be aware of, the Evesham Library decided that once the event was over that they no longer wanted to hang the sign permanently in their location because they didn’t want holes in their walls nor liked the size of the sign. So, as of now, we are still looking for a permanent location for The Wishwall- in Marlton – where we can come together to view what our community needs are and maybe help one another. The Wishwall is good-hearted international mural project that is made by the people and is a point of attraction for all to see. Also, with this wishwall being dedicated in the memory of Marlton’s own Christina Grimmie, who was taken from us in an act of violence, it is a sign of love and hope for peace. I hope someone from the community of Marlton will step up and embrace the message The Wishwall Foundation & Girl Talk has brought to the town. I thank each person and business that has helped along the way thus far.

The Wishwall Foundation board members have been working very hard going through each wish that was submitted for the December 10^th event. What a hard task to pick the wish to grant that will make the most impact on the community. Once the wish is picked, it is not over but only just begun. The Wishwall Foundation and the board members will get to work to make that wish a reality. There is much planning that is involved and I can’t give too much away to spoil the surprises but I can tell you that there are 3 wishes that will be granted from this wall. Each of these 3 wishes are ones that will impact the community the most. I am so very excited! Be sure to stay tuned to get all the details!

The Wishwall Foundation also has a huge online and social presence. People post wishes every day on the website www.thewishwall.org and The Wishwall Foundation spends many hours and dollars to help others. Please consider continuing to donate to this wonderful organization, this is my wish this week. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact The Wishwall Foundation or myself at any time.

 

“Confidence is not ‘they will like me’. Confidence instead is ‘I’ll be fine if they don’t’.”-Christina Grimmie

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

http://thewishwall.org/desideri/the-wishwall-in-marlton-nj-update/

What are you doing for others?

Yesterday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr day and answered his question, “what are you doing for others”, by coming together on the King Holiday to serve with our neighbors and communities. How did you celebrate? I unfortunately was home sick in bed, but many people took part in not only celebrating and remembering Martin Luther King Jr and his message of non-violence but also a day of service.

There was a school in my town that turned their gymnasium into assembly lines for creating chew toys for local animal shelters, making hats and headbands for kids who lost their hair due to medical treatments, writing cards for senior citizens and even assembling treat bags for chemotherapy patients. How amazing, and this was just one school’s actions!

Believe it or not, it took 15 years to create the federal Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. It was first introduced into legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968 by Congressman John Conyers. Congress passed the holiday legislation not until 1983, which was then signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Several states resisted celebrating the holiday. In 1989, 44 states adopted MLK day as a holiday. Finally, in 2000, South Carolina becomes the last state to make MLK Day a paid holiday for all state employees.

What an extraordinary (but short) life Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived! Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929, he never backed down in his stand against racism. He dedicated his life to achieving equality and justice for all Americans of all colors. King believed that peaceful refusal to obey unjust law was the best way to bring about social change. At 33, he was pressing the case of civil rights with President John Kennedy. At 34, he mesmerized the nation with his “I Have a Dream” speech. At 35, he was the youngest to win the Nobel Peace Prize. And sadly at 39, he was assassinated. But his legacy will live on.

On this day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing, you are part of the great dream this extraordinary man had for America.  No other day of the year is like this or has this message. This is not just a black holiday; it is a peoples’ holiday! And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream. So, what is it that you will do? What will you teach your children? If you want to see the change in the world, you must start to be the change. He left us his legacy of hope and inspiration that continues today thru us that we must continue in our everyday lives. We have the power to change the world we live in, one dream at a time. Martin Luther King Jr had a dream…..what is yours?

 

“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.”

Martin Luther King Jr., Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., August 28, 1963

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation