The prompt for Sunday Scribblings this week is forward. It fitted well with a piece I was thinking about writing.
'It doesn't matter how slow you go as long as you do not stop'
- Confucius
To move forward is often largely a matter of taking those first steps. Working out a baby step you can take and then doing so. The way it often works for me is that I worry a lot before those first steps then commit to taking a first step, telling myself that's all I need to do at that moment. More often than not that first step leads to another and another and another.
In the past year or so I have moved forward in many ways. There have been my blogs. I never imagined what the first step of looking into how to begin a blog would blossom into and how rewarding it would turn out to be. It was the same with gardening. Planting a few seeds and seeing some success led to more and more.
Often lots of preparation goes into deciding what a first step will be and how to take that first step. I was familiar with other people's blogs before that decision to look into starting my own. I started my gardening adventures with some radishes because they are easier to grow and I was more likely to experience success which would encourage me to try more.
Taking the first step can set you in motion and help dramatically with moving forward with whatever you wish to move forward with. I observed this yesterday. My ten year old daughter really wanted to read a poem at a poetry group I attend. She was very keen beforehand and had definitely prepared. When it came time to begin though stage fright set in. She just couldn't seem to get started. Someone suggested to just say one word. She still couldn't do it so everyone else read and then we returned to her. She managed that first word and kept going, very quietly at first but then gradually she got louder. At the end someone asked if she could read it again in a louder voice. She did. Making the effort to get over the difficult starting point really paid off and she moved forward in a huge way.
Of course, things don't always work out so wonderfully. I am remembering the time when I was thirteen and ready to dive from a diving board for the first time. I was so nervous but told myself that once I left the board I would just have to keep going. My style was not the best, however, and I hit the water with the hugest belly flop. In that situation I could have done a little more research before taking to the board.
Usually though I can be prone to keep researching how to do something rather than actually doing it. This week I bought a new camera and really don't know how to use it. I could keep stressing about that and try and learn more or I could choose to begin. I chose to take some photos and experiment with some of the settings. I ended up taking some photos that I was quite pleased with and posted my first contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday. Having a go gives me the chance to learn more and keep moving forward. Sometimes moving forward is fast. Other times slower. Sometimes it even feels like going backwards. Sometimes it might involve pausing for a while. It is certainly okay to stop too for something you decide you no longer wish to move forward with.
Amongst other things, this week I want to move forward with my photography skills. How about you? What would you like to move forward with? Is there a small step you can take to propel you forward?
