And by 'Happy' I mean let's take a minute (or more) to honor what the man did, and what we can do in turn.
We all know the history lesson, mentally at least - but I invite you to tune in to video footage of one of his many speeches. Listen to the raw passion in his voice, the sheer power of his convictions and his hope... and let that resonate within the deeper parts of you.
In one address, King famously said, "the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice."
We live in a time of great injustice, in many ways. Just look at the environmental state we're in: We live in a time where money is valued over the health of our shorelines. We live in a time where speed and convenience is valued over air that is safe to breathe. We live in a time where our very home, our planet, is continually damaged by our cultural habits.
But look at where we've come from, look at what other injustices we have emerged from. A mere 50 years ago - not even a lifetime - we had massive institutionalized segregation and racial mistreatment. Through the passionate, hopeful efforts of civil rights activists, we as a culture bent the arc of justice towards equality, compassion, and inclusiveness.
And we can do it again. We are doing it. But we need more hands and hearts to push. The 'moral arc' does not bend on its own, but only through our actions.
Today, please, take action.
Take action in whatever way rings true to your heart, small or large, quiet or loud - it all matters. The world needs help in many arenas, and they're all interconnected - progress in any area helps to heal our world as a whole.
If you need inspiration, you can look to King's speeches, the 'Solutions' section of my manifesto, or any source of compassionate, proactive inspiration you can think of, whether social, economic, environmental, or spiritual.
So go. Bend the arc of justice with your hands, heart, and mind. Help to make the change today.