Monday, January 19, 2009

Hold on to Your Dream

I listened to Martin Luther King, Jr's 'I Have a Dream' speech today and I smiled while tears rolled down my face as I thought about how many people had to die, be jailed, and beaten for us to get as far as to see Barack Obama elected as president.

I think about Langston Hughes' poem 'A Dream Deferred' as well because our people have gotten so festered, dried up, and rotted that we have turned into monsters that will kill our own people and even our own children and leave them in dumpsters.

Each one of us has got to have a dream like Martin and we have to think about what happens when that dream is deferred. If you are reading this post, I want you to think about your dreams. I want you to hold onto that dream and never let it go. Hold on to it like your life depends on it. Take that dream and work on it everyday. Everyday give it all that you've got. Try to do a little bit more than what you did yesterday. When you wake up to a new day, it's another day to work on that dream.

What is your dream? Are you living each day to reach that dream?

10 comments:

Sunshine Sisterlocks said...

Beautiful post!

Carmennc said...

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! I appreciate it!

Anonymous said...

Thank You...

Carmennc said...

You're welcome, Meikmeika!

Laquita said...

Hey Carmen,

They played the speech in it's entirety on CNN on Monday - and we all watched (my sister -16, niece, and stepdaughter both 11). It was the first and last time that the house was in total silence :o)

We also tried to get tickets for the Martin Luther King concert at The Kennedy Center that evening but of course due to the huge crowds they were all gone.

Camille said...

Thank you for your post Carmen. I just finished posting about the meaning of this election and the impact that it has had on my children. Beautiful.

Jewels said...

Thanks Carmen. With the new year, the new president, and just the overall fresh start, it's time to realize the dreams we've lost in the struggles that history and even these tough economic times have caused us to put aside. Your post really touched me and helped me put things in perspective.

OEBooks said...

Carmen, this is definitely an inspirational post. There were a few efforts I have worked in the past where I recall people telling me, "if you just reach one person, it's worth it." I often didn't see it that way, but looking on the other side -- that is, letting your words resonate -- seeing what King's dream has amassed, it might be worthwhile for me to look back.

Thanks for this inspiring message.

Now on another note, who do I see to get my hair in the twists you wear. I want those twists!!! And then I want the jewelry ;-)

Carmennc said...

Laquita, Martin's speech is very powerful and it means a lot to see where we've been, where we are now, and where we can go in the future. We just have to believe and keep our dreams alive.

Mooski, you are most welcome. Sometimes I feel like I need to sugar coat my posts. I'm tired of reading about parents killing/molesting children. Folks getting shot in the back. It's because people lack dreams and the resources to fulfill them. I'll check out your post.

Jewels, you're a welcome. Sometimes when we are in our lowest moment all we have is our dreams, faith, and hope. Never let them go because that's when you're defeated.

The Way I See It, thank you for stopping by and you're welcome. Yes, we might not be rich and have money to give. We might not be strong to lend a helping hand. But something as simple as a few words of encouragement can go a long way. - and for the Twists - www.tomokastwists.com -

Unknown said...

Dearest Lady, Very powerful words you write. Hold on to your dream, for dreams are the corner stone to every true love of the heart. My Kupuna (Hawaiian Elder) is a healer, who went to Afrika to meet with his Afrikan healer freinds who had planed on doing humanitarian work by setting up traditional healing centers for Native People, those in need. For all peoples in need. He passed 5 years this April. Thank you for bringing his message to me. Follow your dream and the heart will lead and find a way. You are dear Girl.

Aloha and Mahalo Puakea