Life's Blueprint

One of my favorite speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is entitled "What is Your Life's Blueprint". I've made it a tradition to listen to this speech every January, both on his birthday and mine.

There's something about that speech that leaves me in awe, making me ponder: What is my life's blueprint? Growing up in poverty, surrounded by secondhand resources, battling identity crises, and more, my mind often became clouded by thoughts of what could be versus what is.

In the past, my blueprint involved fighting, arguing, and placing blame on others. I constantly found fault in those who hurt me, but that only made me colder and less open to vulnerability.

Yet, I've always held onto my connection with God, asking why He created me. Now, with maturity, I've come to understand that my life's blueprint was always designed for my prosperity.

For those who lacked mentors or parents to guide their development, or perhaps couldn't perceive them as such, I have news for you ...that was your blueprint. Your blueprint entails becoming what you didn't see for others and providing what you didn't have outside yourself. It's about facing life's challenges, identifying what you missed, finding areas for improvement, and creating solutions for those who need them.

Your life's blueprint is a treasure of wisdom derived from all your life experiences. It represents the pinnacle of your present self, ready to be a catalyst for radical and positive change.

Within your blueprint lies your values, your expectations, and your vision. It's a design shaped by both your failures and your successes. Your blueprint mirrors the dash between your birthdate and your burial. When you depart from this life, can your life serve as a blueprint, purposefully defining where your footprints have paved for others?

So, I ask you: What is your life's blueprint?