One of my favorite stories is how MLK's famous "I Have a Dream" speech came about.
"What most of us don’t know," Stuart Strachan Jr. writes, "is that the 'dream' part of the speech almost never happened." In fact, it shouldn't have happened. Because it was not part of the prepared speech.
"As King inched towards the climax of his speech," Strachan continues, "he seemed to hesitate, perhaps unsure of whether his prepared remarks were as inspiring as he had hoped." Mahalia Jackson, sensing the moment, spoke up. “Tell them about the dream, Martin! Tell them about the dream!” she whispered.
And so he did.
What I love most about this story is this. Although unprepared on paper, Mr King had spent hours upon hours preparing for this moment because he was constantly telling people about his dream. He shared it on bus rides, in hotel lobbies, and wherever else he could because he was so passionate about it. Because he cared about it and believed in it. The Dream was shared in a moment, but it was curated over time, refined by conversation, kept alive through conviction. The Dream was made real, in word and in deed.
One of my favorite lines from the band, My Morning Jacket is, "Don't let your silly dreams, fall in-between, the cracks of the bed and the wall."
As you prepare for this coming year, what is your dream? What are you passionate about, excited for, and anxious to share with your students? Your fellow staff members? Your family and friends?
Whatever it is, share it loud. Share it confidently. And share it often. So much so, that if ever you were to pause in a moment of confliction, someone nearby could lean over and whisper, "Tell them about the dream, (insert your name). Tell tell about the dream."
Speak it into reality.
That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week.
#doGREATthings!
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