The Stairway To Your Goal

Envision your goal at the top of a stairway and yourself at the bottom.

Identify the steps, all the way down to the very first one, the one that's right in front of you. That is the step you can take today. Stand up tall, focus on the top of the stairway, and take that first step. You're on your way! Now all you need to do is just keep taking those steps, one after one.

Don't waste your time waiting for the stairway to turn into an escalator that will carry you effortlessly to the top. It won't happen. You've got to take those steps yourself.

It will take some effort. The higher the goal, the more steps there will be. Take one step at a time, and you are certain to make it. You may occasionally slip, and you might want to sit and rest every now and then. The important thing, though, is to keep on climbing. Every moment, every day. Each step will carry you closer to the top.

And on that happy day when you take the last step, give yourself a little break. Relax for a moment, and look down the stairway at how far you've come. Squint your eyes and see if you can make out the people down there, the ones who are just now starting to climb.

Then take a deep breath, pat yourself on the back, and go look for the next stairway.

-Ralph Marston