Among Dr. King’s many commitments, he was profoundly committed to community and service. To this end, Dr. King encouraged us to ask ourselves: What are you doing for others?

During the past ten years, I’ve hosted tributes to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.–the icon and the man. Each year, a lovely community gathers in the Seattle area at a place called Third Place Commons.

Each year is different yet connected to previous years by the bond of community. One year I featured videos of Dr. King’s remarkable speeches and marches, and I led the audience in singing civil rights songs, call and responses style. Everyone beamed—children, elders, and those in between. Another year, we drew on our collective imagination to create a gigantic moving sculpture to reflect our vision of the Beloved Community. A few years ago, I recruited teachers and students in local schools to create a program featuring student work. They sang, danced, read their own poetry, and to our utter amazement constructed a marvelous oversized portrait of Dr. King before our very eyes. Using 8.5 x 11 “tiles,” each with some part of Dr. King’s face, the students silently positioned their tiles into a frame, creating a lovely mosaic of Dr. King. for several weeks, we left in on display. That year, in addition to creating their wonderful program, I invited the teachers and students to extend their learning about Dr. King and the many other warriors of the Civil Rights Movement. I invited them to commit to learning about this vital aspect of our nation’s history as a living, enduring part of their day-to-day curriculum.

There are so many ways to serve. Mine is to do what I can with I have where I am… to build community—through poetry, conversation, singing, laughter, art, dance, encouragement, and education.

Tell me, what’s yours?

Pass It On!

“On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—nine ladies dancing.”

In this season of blessings, I’m celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas by sharing some of my blessings with you. Yes, I’m still giving away copies of my books and CDs, and free coaching sessions as a way of saying THANK YOU for your abiding faith and support.

Today, December 21, the first nine people who send an e-mail with the subject line “The 9^th Day of Christmas” will receive a complimentary copy of my best-selling book, Legacy Living and a CD of Journey of the Rose. Please use this address: Day9@gloriaburgesscom.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and wondrous New Year!

Pass It On!

“On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me–three French hens…”

In this season of blessings, I’m celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas by sharing some of my blessings with you. Each day for the next 12 days, I’ll give away copies of my books and CDs, and a coaching session as a way of saying THANK YOU for your abiding faith and support.

Today, December 15, the first three people who send an e-mail with the subject line “The Third Day of Christmas” will receive a copy of my best-selling book Legacy Living. Please use this address: Day3@gloriaburgesscom.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and wondrous New Year!

Pass It On!

“On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me–two turtle doves…”

In this season of blessings, I’m celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas by sharing some of my blessings with you. Each day for the next 12 days, I’ll give away copies of my books and CDs, and a coaching session as a way of saying THANK YOU for your abiding faith and support.

Today, December 13, the first two people who send an e-mail with the subject line “The Second Day of Christmas” will receive a copy of my best-selling book Legacy Living. Please use this address: Day2@gloriaburgesscom.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and wondrous New Year!

Pass It On!

Most of us remember the lovely song “The 12 Days of Christmas.” It begins, “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.” On the second day, two turtle doves and on the third day, three French hens, and so on.

In this season of blessings, I’m celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas by sharing some of my blessings with you. Each day for the next 12 days, I’ll give away copies of my books and CDs, and a coaching session as a way of saying THANK YOU for your abiding faith and support.

Today, December 12, the first person who sends an e-mail with the subject line “The First Day of Christmas” will receive a copy of my best-selling book Legacy Living. Please use this address: Day1@gloriaburgesscom.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and wondrous New Year!

Pass It On!

If you’re like me… & most other folks, you want to make a difference… you want to leave the world better off than the way you found it. In short, you want to make your life to count for something. But how? Especially when you’re up to your ears with the many demands of life–your job or trying to find one, raising children, tending to key relationships, caring for aging parents, & on & on. Not only are you exhausted at the end of the day, but you wonder, “what can I possibly do to make a difference?” First, take a deep breath & know you don’t have to find a solution for world peace. All you have to do is express yourself in a way that works for you. Here are a simple things you can do… ask yourself:

- Who has supported me this month or this year?

- Have I called or written a note of gratitude to him or her?

- Who has said “I believe in you” to encourage you?

- Have I passed this blessing of faith on to someone else–to a child, a peer, or an elder?

- What did I do to support the environment today?

- Have I forgiven someone today who has hurt me?

- Did I pray for someone else’s spiritual, emotional, intellectual, or physical wellbeing?

- Did I dare to say Yes to myself today… to be fully me… to wear my soul on the outside?

If you said Yes to any of these small acts of compassion & kindness, you made a difference today. And by reading this post, you also made a difference… in yourself. And that’s always the best place to begin.

Learn more. Join me for my free teleclass—Legacy Living: Make Your Life Count: Tuesday, November 10, 6pm PST (Pacific Standard Time).

During this hour of power, I’ll show you how to shift your focus from “me” to “we” I’ll also discuss practical steps you can apply today to make a difference one step at a time, one person at a time, one day at a time. If you’re ready to transform your ordinary life into an extraordinary one, join me. To register, just click this link: http://www.globalteleclass.com.

Share this special opportunity with others… tell a friend!

Be one of the first five participants to call or log in to my teleclass, & I’ll send you a complimentary copy of my best-selling book-Legacy Living: The Six Covenants for Personal & Professional Excellence. You’ll also need to send me your contact information, so you can receive your free book.

Gloria’s web site: www.gloriaburgess.com

Pass It On!

If you’re like most people, you want your life to count for something. But you wonder, “what can I possibly do to make a difference?” Here are a few simple things you can do… ask yourself*:

-  What did I share or give away today—love, a wink, a warm smile?

-  Did I say thank you or appreciate someone today?

-  Did I see joy in someone else’s eyes… did I share their joy or pass them by?

-  If I saw sadness or terror, did I ease someone else’s sorrow or fear?

-  Did I hurt someone’s feelings… if so, did I say I’m sorry?

-  Did I correct any negative thoughts or actions?

-  Did I pray for someone else’s spiritual, emotional, or physical wellbeing?

-  Did I dare to say Yes to myself AND reach out to others?

-  Did I dare to be fully me… to wear my soul on the outside?

If you said Yes to any of these small acts of kindness & mercy, you made a difference today. By reading this post, you made a difference… in yourself.

Learn more. Join me for my free teleclass—Legacy Living: Make Your Life Count: Tuesday, November 10, 6pm PST (Pacific Standard Time).

During this hour of power, I’ll show you how to shift your focus from “me” to “we.” I’ll also discuss practical steps you can apply today to make a difference one step at a time, one person at a time, one day at a time. If you’re ready to transform your ordinary life into an extraordinary one, join me. To register, just click this link: http://www.globalteleclass.com. Share this special opportunity with others… tell a friend!

Be one of the first five participants to call or log in to my teleclass, & I’ll send you a complimentary copy of my best-selling book—Legacy Living: The Six Covenants for Personal & Professional Excellence. You’ll also need to send me your contact information, so you can receive your free book.

Gloria’s web site: www.gloriaburgess.com

* Big hugs & hallelujahs to my dear friend Joan, a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Kasane, Botswana. Thank you, Joan, for sharing your great big heart & these questions as we learn from one another to be the difference that makes a difference.

Pass It On!

What is legacy?

The heart of legacy is captured in a wonderful African Wisdom Saying that says, “The world was not given to us by our parents. It was loaned to us by our children.” Think about it.

When someone else’s future becomes more important than your own, you make different daily choices. That what it means to live a life of service, to live you legacy–now.

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“Hey, are you almost done?” I ask my 4-year old friend Emma as she polishes off the last of her Cheerios. “Today is Earth Day. Time to celebrate… what are you gonna name your tree?” As she scrambles down from her chair, Emma looks up at me & asks, “Why isn’t every day Earth Day?”

What would you tell Emma?

Pass it on!