Another New Year. You sigh, “Yeah, right, sure. Who you kidding? More fun and games, more wars, lies, and BIGLY court cases dragging on and on.” And then you bring it on home, realizing that the hardest challenges are usually the ones right in front of your nose or the ones staring at you in the mirror. Fun way to start 2024! NOT.
Heck of a way to start the New Year being stuck in the same ruts that you were mired in 2023. But like my wife is always telling me, “You need to get out and walk more.” OK. This week in Milwaukee it’s 0 degrees +/- a couple degrees either side of the 0. And that’s not wind-chill with the wind coming off Lake Michigan. Great time to be out there walking. But it did get me thinking about taking those first steps – even if it meant breaking the ice. (Don’t worry, I’ve no intention of going out ice-fishing. For that you’ve have to be born here in the Midwest! At least that’s my theory.)
For the last ten days I’ve been thinking about this essay – “Take a Step” – and putting if off for one reason or another. Always lots of excuses: too busy, too tough a topic, who cares, I can’t get off my own duff so why tell others to get off theirs, and best yet – for which I felt bad – hey, listen up – most of the readers of Havok are VETS, probably some of them can’t get up and take a step. Sorry for not being PC – no joke: shot myself in the foot (or higher up) on that one.
Stopped me cold. Made me sad. At first I thought the very real physical challenge that some have taking a step makes mine pretty skimpy. But mental challenges are real to those who have them. In many ways as least as tough as any readily recognize physical challenge since society tends to dismiss them with a wave of the hand, “Come on, get over it already!”
So I was pretty sure I could learn a lesson if I started writing and explored where it would take me. I’d keep it too the physical and take it as originally planned: a step at a time.
That’s partly what this is about: a step at a time. First there’s the first step, then the second, and the third. But then I stopped. The second step is really the first step now. And after I take that, then the third step becomes the first step. Pretty funny. Both good news and bad news.
The good news is that it costs almost nothing to take that first step. Come on, it can’t hurt you (apologies – I’m not a vet, I know it can hurt bad however I’m thinking we can keep this in a civilian context and I’m not talking about stepping into traffic or worse) and we’re only putting one foot forward to test the waters. Too hot – of course pull it back. And it does get me or you moving, unstuck if indeed the seat of our pants was glued to the chair. If I were writing this in the summer, I’d add, be brave, be daring – unzip those pants glued to the chair and take that first step in your underwear. Get some attention that way anyhow. But we can wait until the weather is more favorable before stepping out.
That’s what I want for myself this year – to get out the door and take some of those shorter walks in the ‘hood or within a short drive’s distant. I need to get out if I want to smell those “roses” and the ones that are out there still growing smell the best. I’m telling myself I should see with fresh eyes, walk a little or a lot slower: less is more. Take a good look around: at the clouds, the trees, the shape of things. Stop and ask yourself what do you hear, what are the ambient smells, from what direction is the breeze coming. If you’ve been there before – what’s different this time? Sun and shadows, new leaves and old leaves?
My wife shared some pictures from her walks and even one small video – she has a smart phone. One she pointed out was taken when she was walking backwards. Pretty neat when a first step can be taken walking backwards. Might even write about that next time.
But for now, take that first step and keep walking. We all can do that. There’s so much to see and so much joy we can share in the New Year!
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Ken was a Professor of Mathematics, a ceramicist, a welder, and an IBMer until downsized in 2000. He taught yoga until COVID-19 decided otherwise. He continues writing, living with his wife and beagle in Shorewood, Wisconsin. He enjoys chamber music and mysteries. He’s a homebrewer and runs whitewater rivers. Ken is a writer and his literary works can be found at https://www.kmkbooks.com/
He welcomes feedback on his articles and can be reached at havokjournal@havokmedia.com.
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