Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspires me, and should inspire you too.

He died a young man, just 39 years old, but his legacy lives on – because he fought hard for what he believed in.

We were all brought to this world for a purpose, and here’s a man who fought to bring his purpose to fruition.

We all have challenges in life, and many of us born with deficiencies or challenges which make us feel or look inferior. But that shouldn’t stop you.

Dr. MLK Jr. said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

That quote, is Pasuk in Tanach, where it states “M’halchim bein Ha’omdim.” A person was brought down to earth to be ‘Holech’, vs a Malach whose status does not change.

Upon waking up each morning, one must as him or herself, “What will I accomplish today? Who will I inspire today? What will I improve today? How will I make this world a better place? And if you are lucky enough to wake up each morning, you can make this world a better place, and can accomplish.

Will it be easy? Almost certainly not. But that shouldn’t deter you from trying to accomplish something in life. Because, as Dr. King said, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

Amputee athletes who thought they’d have nothing to live for, won marathons.

Challenges are inevitable, but they don’t define us.

Hashem never commanded us to bring our goals to fruition, or to ensure a job is completed. Our job is to be a Holech, and what happens, is up to the Almighty.

As King said, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

Two people could be standing near an elevator, but only the man who takes a step into it will reach to great heights. Our job is to take that plunge, and make the effort. The outcome isn’t in our hands.

But it’s not just with faith – Emuna – to which this applies. It’s with all challenges in life.

We often look at successful people and wonder, how did he do it? What was the secret? And more often than not, it was not overnight success. This man had a dream and a vision. He wanted to be successful. He wanted to leave a mark on this world. And he worked on it, day after day, week after week, and year after year. But it started with a dream, and taking the first step.

Mr. King had challenges. But he didn’t let those challenges define who he was. He used those challenges to change the world, and make it a better place for all. And despite being assassinated at the young age of 39, he left a mark on this world – because he fought for what he believed in, and didn’t let others deter him from his dream.

So dream, take that first step, swim against the tide, and never stop doing.