"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" This quote always reminded me that something great begins with something small. But what it doesn't tell you that the first step is the hardest. And, well, how can it? It is a quote; that too by an ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. Quotes are meant to inspire action, not instruct you towards it.
So how does one take that first step? We have all had our struggles with great endeavours we wanted to complete, good habits we wanted to inculcate, virtuous qualities we wanted to imbibe. I have had my own share of 'trying to gain weight' and then 'trying to shed it', of 'practising to play the piano' and then 'wean myself off the music obsession', of 'starting a blog' and, well, 'sticking on with it'!
There is however no bigger challenge than when you cannot even make a start: a start that has truly switched you from one state to the next. Not just of exercising but of going from being dormant to active; not just of practising the piano for 60 minutes each day but of going from being indifferent to passionate; and not just of writing a blog 3 times a week (contracted the number for myself using the Habit app) but from being stagnant to flowing in thoughts.
I am trying to get myself to care enough to lift that foot to take the first step. And if the cramps of apathy can be relieved from my mental leg, hopefully I can care enough to make a beginning each day and take that illusive last step of the thousand mile journey with the same zeal that I took the first one!
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