Taking the first step

Have you ever seen a child trying to take their first step?

Everyone around them is cheering them on and urging them to get up and try again if (when) they fall. The effort alone is applauded and the successful first step is celebrated and talked about and remembered fondly.

The experience of a child taking their first few steps is filled with the little person's desire to try something hard and new and support all around them for simply taking chances until they figure it out.

So then, it's curious that we as adults we don't seem to be as valiant in our efforts to take first steps towards hard and new things. We get in our heads. We second guess. We stand still with analysis paralysis. We lose that burning desire to take chances and figure things out somewhere along the way.

In June 2013, I purchased this domain and put up a "coming soon" page. It took me over three years to get this website up and running. Why? Because I also go into my head, I second guessed whether I might have anything good (enough) to contribute alongside the billions of blogs online, I got stuck on the what if? wheel until I decided to take the first step right now. After all, I make things happen, right?

As with any other thousand-mile journey, things can change a lot after taking the first step. For now I plan to simply share the learnings, lessons, and insights I receive from the work I do, the places I go, the people I meet, and the life I live through these notes.

Is there something you've been wanting to try or do?

Want to write a book? Start with writing the first paragraph of the first chapter and see how it feels to have your words on paper.

Want to run a marathon? Start with walking for ten minutes and see how it feels to get your heart rate up.

Want to improve your relationships with people? Start by being very present during your next conversation and see how it feels to take in every word being shared.

You can do hard things. You can try new things. You can make (fill in your blank) happen. Just start. It all begins with taking the first step.