One at a Time, Baby!

I went out to eat with a friend today. Sitting there perusing the menu, deciding what I was gonna get...including deciding how on plan I was going to eat. And it hit me.

Yes, this journey takes staying power. Yes, it takes focus, and dedication, and commitment. And yes, it certainly takes time! It's easy enough to say, "It didn't pile on overnight, so it won't drop overnight." And it's also true, no doubt.

But that doesn't help when you're dealing with the day-to-day, the real life choices. Because delayed gratification doesn't stand up so well against what you are considering, in the here and now....losing half a pound a week later isn't exactly inspriational when you're faced with something you think you want, right this minute. Right?

But the thing that was perfectly crystal to me at that moment is my journey isn't made one year at a time, or one week at a time, or one day at a time, or even one meal at a time or one pound at a time.

This journey is made one choice at a time. One choice won't make or break it, for sure. So when you make a choice that doesn't work, long-term, let it go...but realize, that's definitely how it's undertaken. One foot in front of the other, you know?

The baked potato or creamed spinich? The sandwich or the salad? The sugar or the Splenda? The carby dessert or no? Whatever. It's different but it's all the same, too.

One. Choice. At a Time.

Next time I'm making a choice, I'm going to think about that. I'm going to think to myself, "Here I stand, right now in this moment. I move in whatever direction this single choice takes me. Which way do I want to step?"

The journey of a thousand miles does start with a single step. But so does the journey of a single mile. And the length and nature of the journey is determined in large part by the direction of our steps. The short journey can be harder and more grueling than the long one, if you don't consistently choose the forward motion.

Today, I made a choice I feel good about-one that support my long term goals. It wasn't anything amazing. But I don't have to be amazing to get where I want to go.

The ONLY thing I need to do is make my choices and thereby guide my journey...one choice at a time.