One Step at a Time
By Miriam
By Carissa Potter.
“Take things one step at a time.”
One step at a time? What does that mean?
How could that help me? I feel terrible!!!
So just prolong my suffering?
Those were questions, thoughts, I had when I first heard (or read) the phrase “Take things one step at a time.” I honestly forget where I first read it or who I heard it from. But that isn’t too important to this post.
When I first heard that quote, I felt confused and angry. Taking things “one step at a time” felt far too slow to me, and it felt like it wouldn’t help me feel better, or help me get out of that emotionally/mentally/physically difficult situation quicker, at all.
I felt like applying that quote to myself would turn me into a tortoise, when I wanted to be a hare. I needed to be a hare. What else would get me to the Promised Land — aka just feeling better and being in a better emotional/mental/physical place — faster? Certainly not taking things one step at a time.
By Miles Johnston.
But I’ve learned, more often than not the hard way, that that phrase is, actually, helpful.
But does that mean that each step (or some of those steps) won’t absolutely suck sometimes? No. It will probably suck sometimes.
(Sorry.)
But I’ve learned that sometimes taking one small step, one small movement forward, whether that be taking a shower (after not showering for a few days for lack of caring), doing just one pushup, ‘bookmarking’ a job to apply to the following day, putting your phone away after doom-scrolling for one hour instead of three hours, not re-reading their text (whoever *their* is for you) and lamenting the entire relationship, or whatever that small movement forward may be for you, is something. And it often times is a very big thing, in the grand scheme of one’s path forward.
From a reel by Carissa Potter.
Now — especially now, when we are being inundated with just about everything that is going on in the world — taking one small step forward can sometimes be the most helpful thing for us to do.
Even if that small step is allowing yourself some grace and compassion as you try to take that step.
Take good care of yourselves. One small step at a time.
And, please enjoy the below comics/art pieces. May they bring some light into your day or moment, as they did mine.
Miriam
Art by Graham Annable - aka Grickle.