Take Another Step

Reposted from my January 2019 Books & Inspiration newsletter

“The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This past weekend, I was privileged to get to cover a local TEDx event for my job as a magazine writer. The topics inspired, provoked, and moved me. But the biggest takeaway I had was how every one of these speakers, whether I agreed with their ideas or not, were doing their part to make a difference in the world.

The great thing about my job at Move Up is that the focus is unerringly positive. I get to write 8-10 feel-good stories about people in or from my area every quarter. After two and a half years, it is easy to see the common theme about the people I interview—they are doing their part to make a difference in the world.

Some of the people have influenced hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of others. Some of them have made a difference in only a single small community. But whether their impact was small or big, each person started their journey with one thing: a single step. And then kept going.

This is nothing new, is it? We've all heard the quote about a journey of a thousand miles starting with a single step. In fact, we've probably heard it a thousand times! But I think sometimes we underestimate how far along the road we already are. Or how the next step is just as important as that first one was.

Last summer, Jimmy Lefebvre of Grande Prairie, Alberta walked 5,215 km (3,241 miles) across Canada to the grave of the father he'd buried the year before on Prince Edward Island. He did it to raise money for cancer. And he did it with his entire family following him in a motor home for four months.

In his speech on Saturday night, he told us to not become overwhelmed by the entire length of the remaining journey.

"When it's hard, focus on the next step," he said. "Remember your goal and keep working towards it. There are going to be challenges and problems, but if you take the next step, you can get past them. The momentum that comes from taking the next step builds and grows and carries you to your destination."

Sometimes, I get worn out from the steps I've already taken. I forget that I'm on the long haul and that the reason the next step seems hard is because I've already taken so many steps to get to where I am. But I'm not at ground zero, though it might feel like it. And even if I am, even if I am starting something new, that next step is the only step I need to focus on right now.

The next step—whether it's my first or my five thousandth—means I'm taking action. I'm working to improve my life and the lives of others.

In other words, I'm doing my part to make a difference in the world.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by the road you are on, remember you are only one step away from being one step closer to your goal.

So take a moment to pause and see how far you've come. Notice the view from here. Realize that if you've made it this far, you can make it that far again.

Then take the next step.

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken towards its achievement.”

— Bo Bennett