As an aunt, one of the most exciting and intriguing things I get to experience is watching my nieces take their first steps. It always amazes me how such a small being who can't even talk yet can mask the courage to let go of the coffee table and wobble a few steps. It's definitely not the most graceful movement and I want to just reach my hands out so badly and help my niece find her balance. But I don't. I want to see if she has the determination to keep trying even when she falls flat on her butt 9 times out of the 10 times that she lets go. It doesn't happen in one afternoon, but eventually she gains her balance, starts walking more stable, and eventually she has no problems running around the house. Thinking back on this life event, it makes me wonder do we ever really stop taking baby steps? Literally yes, however figuratively I don't think so.
I have a wise mentor who has a very famous motto that goes, "Life isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.". Well I think the strides that make up that marathon are made up by baby steps: little things that may not seem important at the time, however over time the little things come together for the big race. Whether it's school, finding a career path, meeting new people, falling in love, showing animals, or competing on a team we all start by hanging onto the coffee table. Somehow we still find that courage we had as a tot to let go and try something we have never experienced before. Success does not happen over night and sometimes we fall flat on our butt too. But just like learning how to walk, we keep trying and eventually it becomes second nature to us. It's not easy and sometimes is down right scary, but we still keep trekking.
Now I will admit, not everyone can handle the baby steps. Sometimes, the fear or falling holds people back from ever letting go. They simply hold on to the coffee table the rest of their lives because they are too scared to let go, or they get so frustrated from falling that they decide it's easier to just quit trying. I think there is absolutely no excuse for that. If your 1 year old self hadn't found the courage to take those first couple steps, you wouldn't be walking now. You weren't afraid of stumbling or falling then, so why are you now? You took some of the most important steps in your life without knowing hardly anything about the world around you. These baby steps you're taking now should be a breeze.
Take a chance, and let go. I'm not saying you won't stumble or fall, but I am saying you can't make strides if you don't take the baby steps. They may seem insignificant and you may feel like you are getting no where. But after about 10 baby steps you'll realize how big of a stride you've taken. I'll admit, at times I get frustrated with the baby steps too and just want to quit, however I look at my niece and decide I don't want her to show me up. If she can find the determination to keep getting up and trying again, there's no reason I can't. It'll take time, but eventually you won't even realize how hard the baby steps are anymore. Success, like walking, does not happen overnight, and it's critical to understand how important baby steps really are. So what are you waiting for? Let go of the coffee table and start working on your strides!
I have a wise mentor who has a very famous motto that goes, "Life isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.". Well I think the strides that make up that marathon are made up by baby steps: little things that may not seem important at the time, however over time the little things come together for the big race. Whether it's school, finding a career path, meeting new people, falling in love, showing animals, or competing on a team we all start by hanging onto the coffee table. Somehow we still find that courage we had as a tot to let go and try something we have never experienced before. Success does not happen over night and sometimes we fall flat on our butt too. But just like learning how to walk, we keep trying and eventually it becomes second nature to us. It's not easy and sometimes is down right scary, but we still keep trekking.
Now I will admit, not everyone can handle the baby steps. Sometimes, the fear or falling holds people back from ever letting go. They simply hold on to the coffee table the rest of their lives because they are too scared to let go, or they get so frustrated from falling that they decide it's easier to just quit trying. I think there is absolutely no excuse for that. If your 1 year old self hadn't found the courage to take those first couple steps, you wouldn't be walking now. You weren't afraid of stumbling or falling then, so why are you now? You took some of the most important steps in your life without knowing hardly anything about the world around you. These baby steps you're taking now should be a breeze.
Take a chance, and let go. I'm not saying you won't stumble or fall, but I am saying you can't make strides if you don't take the baby steps. They may seem insignificant and you may feel like you are getting no where. But after about 10 baby steps you'll realize how big of a stride you've taken. I'll admit, at times I get frustrated with the baby steps too and just want to quit, however I look at my niece and decide I don't want her to show me up. If she can find the determination to keep getting up and trying again, there's no reason I can't. It'll take time, but eventually you won't even realize how hard the baby steps are anymore. Success, like walking, does not happen overnight, and it's critical to understand how important baby steps really are. So what are you waiting for? Let go of the coffee table and start working on your strides!