“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.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’m sure that I’m not alone in saying that a few weeks ago, I was looking forward to closing the door on the dumpster fire called 2020 and anticipating the hopes for the next normal. Then January 6, 2021, happened. As I’m writing this, I’m not completely sure that I know everything about the incident. I do know that it’s being investigated and I’m confident that the right people will be held accountable for their actions. I will have to be patient in the meantime.
Being patient is hard. Really hard. When we see things that are wrong and unjust, we want to fix them. And fix them now. Completely. That’s when I’m reminded of the Dr. King quote at the beginning of this article and the importance of continuing to move forward, even if we’re doing it with baby steps.
I’ve been a member of SHRM for a long time. One of the first activities I got involved in as a volunteer leader was government affairs. Initially, it was simply to stay current with pending legislation, which is important. But I didn’t stop there. Later, I was able to visit Capitol Hill and talk with my legislators about issues that were important to me, my organization, and my industry.
Over time, I realized that learning how to build relationships with my legislators allowed me to make a difference and help to shape better workplaces. That added a lot of value to my SHRM membership.
I understand that many people are sick and tired of politics. They’re tired of wearing masks and not seeing family and friends. They’re just plain tired. There are days when I’m right there along with you. But then I’m reminded of the words of Dr. King and how important it is for me to continue to move forward, even if I only take it one baby step at a time.
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