“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
Small things matter and big problems are just a bunch of small steps lumped together. Life can be overwhelming at times and problems when you first see them, can cause that momentary paralysis of what the first step should be. Once you take that first step though, things become a little easier.
For me, my life has been a bunch of big problems, and sometimes I’ve seen the size of the problem and just simply gave up. Decided that this was one area that I couldn’t achieve, and I should just let it go, and let me tell you now that I’m older, hopefully a little wiser, it’s those big problems that I didn’t chose to tackle that haunts me the most.
And so, let’s take this journey together, one step at a time.
When I was younger, my mom used to say that eating an elephant is easy. “One bite at a time, Andy,” she would say with a knowing smile, trying to teach a very young me about the power of breaking things down into manageable parts. I’d roll my eyes, failing to comprehend the depth of her wisdom. It wasn’t until I got older and faced my own “elephants” that I fully understood what she meant.
In life, problems often come at us like a tsunami, towering and threatening. They seem insurmountable, and we find ourselves paralyzed, much like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. But the reality is, big problems aren’t one massive monolith. They’re more like a mountain range, made up of thousands of smaller problems or steps, if you will.
The journey to overcome these mountains in our lives always begins with that first step. Yes, it may be small and seemingly insignificant. You might look up at the towering peak and think, “What difference can this one step make?” But remember, even the greatest of journeys start with a single step.
When I think back to the times I gave up on problems, I realize that I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the issue at hand. I was staring at the mountain and forgot that mountains are climbed one step at a time. Each time I gave up, I was haunted by the what-ifs, the could-have-beens. But with age, hopefully, comes wisdom. I’ve learned to look at these mountains differently now.
Today, I tackle my problems head-on. I take that first step, no matter how small it might be. Each step is a victory, a sign of progress. And as I take step after step, I realize that the mountain isn’t as scary as it seemed. It’s just a lot of small steps put together.
So, dear reader, the next time you are faced with a mountain, remember to take that first step. It doesn’t matter how small it is. What matters is that you take it. And once you do, the journey of a thousand miles won’t seem as daunting. After all, as Lao Tzu wisely put it, it does begin with one step.
Here’s to taking that first step, one problem at a time, one day at a time. And remember, no matter how small that step might seem, it’s a step nonetheless, bringing you closer to your goal, closer to the peak of your mountain. Keep stepping, folks!
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