All glory comes from daring to begin.

Anonymous

Ninety-nine percent of life is showing up.

     Woody Allen

Whenever I need to take on anything new or focus on making myself better (heal the world, write a great novel or lose five pounds), I remember a teacher’s words from years ago. What he had to say comes up in every life situation that requires action (which sometimes is no action).

It was during my first-ever yoga workshop and it rained in torrents every day followed by peals of thunder and bright flashes of lightening followed by more downpours. I mention this because the weather mirrored the intensity of the workshop.

The teaching was rich and complex and was stitched into a formative experience for me. The lesson of the worthwhile: it is earned with sweat. Nothing heartfelt or worth having is gotten without toil. Ultimately, the greatest pleasures of life are earned this way.

At the end of the workshop a classmate asked our teacher how to practice, how to start and how long to practice once you get started. The teacher, a typical Yogi, was sitting cross-legged on the floor eating some dried fruit and nuts. He continued chewing for a few moments without saying anything.

After a time of complete silence he began speaking slowly and thoughtfully: “If you go out and try to pick up a big rock, or a boulder, you will struggle to lift it and to throw it any distance.” He paused and then went on:

“If you go out and pick up a small stone and toss it, you are able to throw that small stone a great distance; a much greater distance than if you tried to throw the big boulder.” A small stone we can throw far. Then we can pick up another small stone. And another. One by one these small stone throws move a boulder’s worth and more.

During the course of my life this idea of the small stone has become a boulder of strength, a very reliable rock. I think back to my son who was learning to walk when he was four, defying the prognosis that he might never walk. He finally accomplished this goal one small step at a time.

This goes for starting a diet. Learning a language. Learning to swim. Keeping a journal. Practicing to learn the flute or yoga or Bridge.

Take it one day at a time by tossing one small stone to begin.

Five minutes of journaling; ten minutes of swimming; ten minutes of practice. Setting a goal to lose three pounds.

No crash dieting; no tomes like Moby Dick; no cello playing like Yo Yo Ma. No swimming like Michael Phelps. Small stones to begin.

You will be moving mountains!