Martin Luther King Jr.: More than a Day Off

Yesterday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day. Having a day off to honor Martin Luther King Jr. is great. We all love having off from work but this day off means so much more than just relaxation and time to ourselves.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader, a family man, and a promoter of peace. When we think of what a good citizen is, we can use pieces of the life of MLK as examples for ourselves. We devote a day every year to this man and his accomplishments. As people in recovery, we can look up to him and what he did as a way to integrate some of his character traits into our own lives.

Here are some of Martin Luther King’s character traits that you can strive to have for yourself as you continue on your journey of recovery:

Courage
- King showed great courage by challenging authority through protests and marches.
Integrity
- King was committed to his beliefs and nonviolent resistance.
Empathy
- King focused on the well-being of others.
Confidence
- King carried himself with self-assuredness, which inspired confidence in others.
Intelligence
- King was a phenomenal leader.
Determination
- King was determined to achieve equal rights for Black Americans.

Courage, integrity, empathy, confidence, intelligence, and determination are all traits of MLK that we can bring into our own recovery process. It takes courage to ask for help to stop the endless cycle of addiction. Integrity, in the form of honesty and accountability, allows us to build trust with ourselves and others. Confidence allows us to believe in our ability to overcome challenges, stick to our treatment plans, adopt healthy behaviors, and resist relapse. Emotional intelligence helps us manage our emotions, understand others, and navigate the difficulties of our personal growth. Determination helps us to persevere through challenges, setbacks, and difficult moments.

We can look up to Martin Luther King Jr. and use him as an example in our path to recovery, serenity, and peace. He made a big difference and we can also make a difference in how we want to live our lives. Here are some resources to learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. and his life:

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