Baby Steps

Great big, innovative, world-changing ideas are plentiful don't you think. Everyone seems to have the latest and greatest idea or is busy chasing the latest and greatest idea. But people who take tiny little baby steps toward them are rare.

If you are one of those who are taking baby steps you are so acing this life.  There is a quote from the Chinese Philosopher Laozi (604 BC) which says a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  In this quote, Lao Tzu is trying to express the idea that great things start from humble beginnings. For many of us, this is common sense, but in our everyday quest to solve the problems of our world, we forget this idea. For example, if a person is lonely, it is hard to make new friends, but it is a small step to smile every time you see someone, just say hi and/ or smile when you see the same person every day. If you repeat this small gesture, over time a relationship may build and a friendship may be forged.

My grandson was frustrated that he could not do a particular flip on his trampoline at home, but he started small and continued to work at it each day until he could do it. Small steps toward a goal are just as important as the big leap, and I sometimes think that slow and steady progress is easier on us than chaotic and rapid change. We are creatures of habit and although we say we like change, or we say we believe that the only constant in life is change; change and progress bother us if they are done too quickly. We prefer to move slowly toward a future or a destination that creeps up on us, rather than one that jumps out at us. By moving slowly we can see how the change or the journey will change us, and we can begin to adapt to that new version or the new way of doing.