Ahwatukee Living’s Ask the Experts

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Take A Single Step

Confucius said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. How far away could a thousand miles get you? From Ahwatukee, it’s roughly 1,000 miles to Dallas, Texas. Wow! That’s far! And yet, you can start that journey, with a single step.

Does it have to be a walking step? Do you have to walk 1,000 miles to get to Dallas? No, of course not. The first step on your journey might just be deciding that you’re going to go.

Next, you would need to decide how much it would cost you for transportation, lodging, food, and entertainment for your trip to Dallas. You might realize that it will take you about 6 months to save the money required. Sure, six months is a long time, but it’s not forever and if you start today, next week you’ll be one week closer to taking your trip.

You may also need to figure out what the boss needs you to do before you leave so that your job will go on without you while you’re gone. You may need to start training a co-worker to fill in for you. That might take several weeks. Again, if you start now, your co-worker will have plenty of time to learn while you’re still here and he or she can ask lots of questions before you’re actually gone on your trip.

What other obstacles might you have? Whatever they are, it is very likely that they can be negotiated if you simply allow yourself to take that first step, the step in which you allow yourself to think about going, really going, on this trip. Most often we crush our own dreams when they arise with false excuses - not enough money being the worst of them all. Anyone can save for anything if they set their mind to it and stay on the path – one step at a time.

I knew a woman once who went to Australia on dimes. That is, she saved only her dimes. She told people she was going to Australia on dimes and people would laugh and dig in their pockets and throw 20 or 30 cents at her and wish her good luck. People kept emptying their pockets of dimes when they saw her and she kept adding her own. Eventually she had enough for her trip. Did it take a long time? Yes, but her long journey started with a single step, a single dime, and yours can, too.

Dr. Marlo Archer is a Licensed Psychologist who is treating the East Valley’s kids, teens, and families by providing common sense solutions to everyday problems. Her Down To Earth approach helps people set themselves free to fly. Contact Dr. Archer at 480-705-5007 or DrMarlo@drmarlo.com.

Posted on November 4, 2004