PEBBLE
Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
from his “The Drum Major Instinct” sermon, Ebenezer Baptist Church, February 4, 1968
BOULDER
I want to suggest some of the things that should begin your life’s blueprint. Number one… should be a deep belief in your own dignity—your worth and your own somebodiness. Don’t allow anybody to make you feel that you are nobody… Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
from “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?” to students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967
PONDER
Because Ripples always arrives on a Monday, it’s become a meaningful tradition to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. each third Monday in January. I thought this pair of quotes, each delivered during the last year of his life, might inspire us to recognize Martin Luther King Day 2026 in one of two ways: a humble act of service (how we show up for others), or an appreciation of our own somebodiness (remembering and protecting our own worth).
Service
I’m pretty sure most folks in the Ripples community are already on board with the idea of community service, and I’d bet many of you are generous with your time and money in support of people and causes you care about. How about we up our service game this week by keeping our eyes and ears open for a single, unglamorous act of service—picking up a few pieces of trash, or bringing an extra dose of patience when someone is inconveniencing you?
You could also extend this by finding a way to support someone whose work often goes unappreciated: write a review, tell a supervisor, or offer a brief, sincere “thank you” to a custodian, support staff member, caregiver, volunteer, or service worker. What’s one small way you could help the world breathe a little easier this week?
Somebodiness
Dr. King famously coined this term to remind us that we are all somebody—and that we have an obligation to ourselves and to the world to cultivate our somebodiness, even when others may be inviting us to be a nobody. Does your somebodiness need some attention right now? Is there a way you’ve been shrinking, apologizing, or over-functioning? Is it time to say NO to something that’s been eroding your dignity, so you can find a stronger YES to something that affirms your awesomeness?
Either path is an excellent way to honor Dr. King, so pick the one that feels right for you this week. Just keep in mind that service without somebodiness can lead to burnout, while somebodiness without service can ultimately feel hollow. Choose wisely.
Peace,
Paul