Two days ago, November 14, 2020, was the 60th anniversary of the day 6 year-old Ruby Bridges entered first grade as the first Black child in a formerly all-white school. Four federal marshals had to escort the young child for her safety as she walked to school with the weight of integration on her shoulders.

The anniversary and photos made me think about the various walks people need to take.

Do you need to walk IN somewhere and be a trailblazer, like 6 year-old Ruby? Your walk IN might not be quite as significant to the whole world. Yours might be a walk IN to meet a potential new client or IN a new direction for your career.

Do you need to walk TOWARD someone to begin a relationship or make amends? Or, do you need to walk TOWARD innovation in your line of work?

Do you need to walk UP to someone and offer to help their company in a truly unique way? Or, walk UP to another colleague to tell them to stop repeating ignorant jokes, like a friend did recently?

Do you need to walk AROUND someone because they are not going anywhere, doing anything, helping anyone, or serving anyone?

Do you need to walk OUT like a friend who gave two weeks notice after putting up with an abusive manager for two years?

The article about Ruby Bridges inspired me this weekend. If the little girl can be so strong and dignified while carrying such an important burden, maybe the rest of us could be too. We are not always carrying big burdens. We need to walk in, toward, up, around, and out toward opportunities to make a difference in our own way.

Take a walk today, clear your head, and discern what kind of walking you might need to do. Then, WALK ON, like the commercial says.