The journey of a thousand miles...

You know that old adage. Our parents told us when we were facing some big task. We generally just shut our ears and sulked away, sure we were fated to spend the rest of our lives slaving away at this one thing, never again to have any fun.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

WhatEVER.

On the face, it's one of those "duh!" things -- of course it takes a first step to get to a thousand miles, oh Dr. Obvious.

But it's really saying that, often, that first step is the most difficult. Once in motion, the rest of the task or journey takes care of itself. Inertia takes over. You know, a body at rest tends to stay at rest. And a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

I've had the opportunity to hear a particular wealthy man speak several times, and he's fond of saying that the best thing a person who is wanting to start an exercise program is to do this: get dressed, go downstairs, stand on the treadmill, then go shower. EVENTUALLY, he says, you'll actually turn it on.

And as humorous as that is, it's true. Taking that first step is often the hardest part of getting the task done.

I would guess that most of my audience here doesn't have so much difficulty getting out the door for a run or ride. In fact, it's likely one of the parts of the day that we most anticipate. That and meals. Unless you're like me and "mealtime" starts about 30 minutes after waking and is a continual ebb and flow of grazing until about 30 minutes before bed... But that's a subject for another time.

But even if you don't have any issues getting out the door for that run, I would bet there's something related that is daunting, that needs a kickstart, a first step to get the journey started. Running a particular distance. Maybe one of those bucket-list events that has been waiting until the time is right (kind of like waiting to have children until the time is right -- it's never "right").

Take that first step. Whatever it is that is going to get the journey started. Because that first step is going to be the hardest part, and then the rest of the journey will take care of itself.