Today we celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.mIf you attended a rally for justice, then I hope you are spurred to take action against any injustices in your community. If you snuggled on the couch in front of the television, then I hope you got the much-needed rest that has escaped you since the start of the year. Whatever way you’ve spent today thus far, here’s one of my favorite King quotes for you to chew on before the night is over:

“The dignity of the individual will flourish when the decisions concerning his life are in his own hands, when he has the assurance that his income is stable and certain, and when he knows that he has the means to seek self-improvement.”

King made this statement during his 1967 "Where Do We Go From Here?" speech to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. I love this statement because King makes clear the human need for income stability and certainty. It is hard to do any good work without the income to support your desires. As you gear up for your YEAR OF ACTION, having income stability will be important for you to take advantage of other opportunities such as investing or staring a business.

This Week’s Action

In the spirit of ensuring stable income, have you spent time with your parents to check in on their financial situation? I know – tough topic, but a critical one. My mother and I are having in depth conversations about retirement and what life looks like when she takes the plunge and joins my father. With the stock market still trending downward, make sure you ask your parents how they are preparing for (or living through) the market woes. Our parents’ financial state will affect us, for better or worse, so make the time to start asking questions. Leave a comment below and let me know what you will ask your parents.

Keep Fighting

This year’s MLK day is particularly meaningful for me because when my husband and I went to Memphis this past December, we stopped by the Lorraine Hotel, where King was murdered.

I can’t describe the feeling eloquently in words, but I will say that King’s spirit is alive and nudging us all to be better, to keep fighting, and working toward economic justice for all.