Beginnings
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
- Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu
I was walking in a park the other day and happened to notice this Mile Zero marker at my feet. This naturally got me to thinkin’ (sound of grinding gears) about life’s journeys, and how a person can end up where they are. (What can I say? I was in a pensive mood that day.)
If you take the time to think about it, where you are in life right now is the result of a rather long series of events.
For instance, take the leader of any given organization. I mean, whoever it is didn’t just decide one day to be The Top Dog, you know. Nope, they had to learn what it took to handle the role, make planned and skillful career moves, perhaps take advantage of opportunity as it arose. Eventually, if all the cards fell into place, they made it to the top.
Oh, sure; sometimes a leader gets the role by accident. But that doesn’t mean they’re not qualified and have the characteristics needed to lead. It takes time, effort, and sometimes luck to get there, no matter who you are or what your goal is.
Now think about where YOU are right now. Is it anything like where you thought you’d be when you first started out however many years ago? I’d be willing to wager – probably not! No, what characterized most folks’ journeys is the unpredictability of ‘em. You can make your plans, learn the ropes, identify the goals or whatever. But sometimes it’s still a surprise.
Despite that, setting goals and makin’ those plans is certain worth doing. I mean, if nothing else, it’s good training for wherever you end up. But there’s one more thing you need to get where you’re going. And without this one last thing, you might as well give up now.
Take the First Step
Sometimes that first step is the hardest one, isn’t it? You’ve spent a lot of time planning, scheming, working, hoping and, depending upon who you turn to for help, praying. Now all that’s left is the doing.
So today’s question is pretty simple: What’s keeping you from takin’ that first (or maybe it’s not the first, but the next) step?
__________________________
No responses yet
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Here’s the price of you being pensive. You ask the toughest question. Okay, hear this. How about the fear of making a fool of yourself? That’s a nasty deterrent.
@Jan – I think we have a winner with that one, Jan! Definitely a BIG one – and one we can all relate to as well.
(By the way, I’m the one with the easy part: I just asked the question. Notice I didn’t volunteer an answer!
)
Hi Robert, Maybe I’m weird this way, but I enjoy taking the first step. It’s finishing that trips me up sometimes!
@Brad – Yeah, I’ve discerned that about ya, Bubba, and I gotta say, I admire your spunk! Me, I’d rather finish something than start it. I think.
Another thing is for certain: you can never retrace your steps, so you just might as well begin again. When one door shuts, another opens.
I am thinking more about doing the first step than actually doing it. For some time I have been thinking about beginning to use my watercolor pencils and try to paint/draw something, but I think it is the fear of being completely useless with it that keeps me from doing it.
@Terro – You raise a great point, Terro. It’s something we tend to forget: if we get off to an, er, “less than optimum” start – we can always start again. But the key to that is to keep lookin’ forwards, not backwards.
@Ulla – That exactly the kind of thinking that’s kept me from trying lots of things. Perhaps the hardest part of doing anything new is the fear of failure. Nevertheless, all good things are worth trying. I never knew I could write until one day – I did!
My problem is that I take too many steps at once, in different directions. Kind of hard to gather up the body when it’s scattered like that.
@Karen – I think I know what you mean. Sometimes it ain’t the doin’ - it’s picking something to actually do.
Interesting blog.
I took the first step 2 years ago to live a healthier
life and I am enjoying the journey.
Poutine
@Poutine – Glad to hear it; I’ve done the same thing myself.
Hi Robert,
I really like Lao-Tzu. I would add something to his statement though, you need to enjoy every step along the way.
Life is a walk. If every step is a means to something else, you loose yourself in that process.
I think the Vietnamese Monk Thich Nhat Hanh expresses this best through his art of walking meditation. I’m sure you heard of him.
Just my 2cents, great blog BTW !
Matt
@Matt – I’ll go along with that one, Matt. Without any enjoyment life can get pretty tedious. Hey, a tip o’ the hat for joining the conversation, Bubba!
Lately we have actually had rain here in LA so some of the smog has been washed away. So, gazing out my window, I see the mountains that I so often miss because they are hidden by grimey sky. Makes me think, “Wow, they’re not that far. I could go play in that snow or climb there.” It just takes that small step of clearing the path a bit to see where you are going.
In Canada, there is a place called 0 mile near Vancouver, one of my friend biking from there to east coast twice, he said that was really wonderful journey, and love the sun rise when he was crossing Rocky Mountain.
@Tody – Wow, clean across Canada? I’d rather read about it, I’m afraid… :-\