First Steps

There's something endearing and vaguely familiar about seeing toddlers attempt to take their first steps. For them walking seems such an awkward, scary, and difficult task. Seeing them struggle to remain standing or fall each time they try to walk is very cute and makes you smile as the tiny ones attempt to walk on their own. The other day I thought about first steps. I attempted to imagine what it must have been like as a child to take my own first steps and back then learn how to do what comes so naturally to me now.

When you make a decision to do something you've never done before and you commit yourself to accomplishing it, you have to begin with a step, a first step. Whether you're deciding to start a business, lose weight, choose a new career, go to school, reinvent yourself, find a new network of friends and business partners you must take that first step, regardless of what it is you're planning to do. So often it's the first step that is so intimidating and seemingly insurmountable. But in order to get to the end result, you must take it. And just like a toddler learning to walk for the first time, you must be willing to recommit yourself and get back up each time you fall on your face. You must choose to get back up. You must choose to take another step when you fall down, but you'll never have a chance to fall if you don't take that first step. And yes I know some might say well I don't want to fall, I plan on just getting it right the first time. For those people I say great, wish you much luck and hope you land in the category of being one of the few who are able to do it on the first take. For all the others (myself included), there has to be great pride taken in being able to fall with the first step but still have the tenacity and determination to take the second step, and the third, and the fourth and so on. You see, so many look at failure as the worst thing that could possibly happen, yet, it's what you learn from the fall that determines whether it was a failure. To fall and never learn from it is a failure. To fall, learn from it, and get back up to take another step is what I term a success story.

A lot of people don't have the opportunity or shall I say the complete freedom to take a first step; or to focus on taking a step they have chosen to take. Their life may be filled with uncontrollable issues that they have no choice but to focus on at the present moment. For all those who do have the choice to make the first step in whichever direction you'd like....TAKE IT. What are some goals, dreams, to-do's you've been holding on to for years that you've yet to take the first step towards. Take the first step to recommit yourself on setting out and accomplishing them. And yes, just like the toddler who falls when trying to walk for the first time, it may seem awkward, scary and difficult. But imagine yourself (just as I imagined) trying to walk for the first time. I'll give you a second to think about that. It's nearly impossible! Starting a task is one of the hardest things to do, just remember if you continue taking those steps they will eventually began to seem natural to you. And although some may remember what it was like when you took those first steps, once you've accomplished what you've set out to do even you will have no choice but to actually see where your “steps” have guided you, and applaud yourself for the journey.

Life is a journey, don't be afraid to walk it out  

~Dee