Category: holidays

You may have heard the expression “once in a blue moon” which references something that occurs infrequently. Its origin is from the astrological blue moon, the second full moon to appear in a given month.

While blue moons are rare, leap years are even more uncommon. When I went to write today’s dot, I went back to see what I had written on previous leap years and realized that there have only been two of them in the 12 years I have been blogging. Contrast that with blue moons where there have been ten. Maybe we need to change the expression to “once in a leap year!”

I invite you to use your bonus day to pause for a moment to reflect on what you’d like to see happen in your life or organization before the next lunar catch-up day occurs in 2028. What’s on your bucket list that you can accomplish in the next four years? Can you become a beginner at something now and be a pro by then? Is there an experience you’d like to have that you can plan for now? Is your name going to be on a ballot in the next election cycle? Take some steps starting today to cause you to leap for joy — now, and in the leap year to come.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Young George Raveling was asked to be a volunteer security guard during the March on Washington and was next to Dr. Martin Luther King during King’s famous speech. Like most who heard it, Raveling was moved by the speech, but unlike anyone else, he asked King for his copy. And received it!

Raveling has been offered up to $3 million for the original copy of the I Have a Dream speech but has turned it down. Instead, he temporarily loaned it to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and has bequeathed it to his alma mater, Villanova University, to shepherd into posterity. King would be proud that Raveling has focused more on the dream than the monetary gain he could have received by selling the document.

As we celebrate Dr. King’s birthday today, follow his example and do something that benefits others more than yourself. Take a moment to acknowledge the holiday and the sentiment behind it to contribute one action fostering unity in your community.

Today isn’t the only day that people hide behind masks. On many days, people shield their authenticity, light, or fears when they fail to express their true emotions. Others hide their insecurities and feel like imposters even though they have many gifts to share.

It’s fun to wear costumes and disguises today but save those filters just for this holiday. On all the other days, let your true self shine through.