Spending a little time in the South over the last few days has reminded me of the ideas of this daily attitude email from a few years ago.

The soul that is within me no man can degrade. – Frederick Douglass

I’ve been listening to “Twelve Years A Slave” lately in the car and the stories of slavery in the South are brutal, shocking, uplifting, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time.

The stories remind me again of the soul within each of us that no man can degrade.

It’s also a great reminder of the part we have yet to play today in this saga as old as time.

How do we treat others?

How do we show kindness and love and grace in all circumstances and to everyone?

How do we stand up for the downtrodden and forgotten among us?

Most of us won’t be faced so directly with something as cruel and inhumane as slavery.

But we do have a chance to be a little nicer to someone in need.

To judge a little less harshly those around us.

To give and support generously to those organizations working for those who need it in our community locally and abroad.

Make it a great day.

Jake