Today, many schools, businesses, and government agencies are closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Sadly, I still hear many people debate the necessity of such a day, as if all prejudice were gone from the world.

If prejudice were truly gone, we would not have Americans assuming all Muslims are terrorists or that all African-Americans are criminals. Nor would gay marriage be the hot topic item that it is. People would live and let live. If you truly want to honor the man who gave his life so that others would know equality, strive every day to be color blind. People are people–no matter their race, creed, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, IQ, disability, etc.

I love the phrase ‘creative altruism.’ It is during times like now, when humanity squabbles over the necessity of helping others, that I realize how creative we sometimes must be in order to be altruistic. It’s like the signs held up by the homeless—“Every little bit helps!” And it’s true. No good dead is meaningless. Even if it is giving a blanket to someone cold on a street corner, that moment of kindness is not forgotten in this universe.

Go out today and love your fellow human. Helping others is how we love–be creative in your altruism.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only LOVE can do that.”