Baby Steps

Keep in mind that “baby steps” is a metaphor: It compares the initial stages of a new endeavour to the very small and stumbling steps of a child just learning to walk. But if you extend the metaphor, it becomes a significant concept. I’m slowly but surely learning to apply this concept to life in general…

It’s been a year since I last blogged. Not because I haven’t wanted to, and not because I couldn’t find the time to sit and write, but because, quite simply I’ve not known what to say. I’ve felt so exhausted, that finding the words to put to paper seemed like an impossible task. 

The last year has been one of the most significant in terms of personal growth, but also mental growth, and for those people who have struggled with any sort of mental lows, know that a creative block usually goes hand in hand. 

This blog isn’t intended to reflect and re-live those dark moments, but I wanted to write about the significance of progress no matter how big or small. 

As I scrolled through my image archives recently, I found these shots from a shoot I did last year before we moved into London. I realised that one year on, my life had completely changed and it made me realise that if you choose to, each day can be a baby step towards a positive, bigger picture. 

So, what has changed? Within a year we moved to West London for work (and boy did we work). Moving into London made the pace of life move ten times quicker and ten times more intensely. 

We worked, we partied, we worked out, we ate out, we networked before work and then we networked after work. Working around the clock was exhausting and left little room in my mind for myself and my thoughts, and my creativity. 

So with all of that working hard and playing hard, it left no room for anything else. I forgot what brought me joy and I wasn’t allowing myself to figure out what future me wanted or needed.

And then as March drew to a close, panic ensued and Covid-19 took over. We were impacted immediately. Our careers and our social lives all ground to a halt. It took about a week to adapt to the new pace of life, but before I knew it, I’d ticked off things that had been on my to-do list for years.

I even stopped doing intense HIIT workouts, and I began doing daily 5k walks, it was strange at first but the walks fuelled my thoughts and my mind, and I found myself having more creative ideas feeling inspired again. 

I guess what I’m trying to say, is that working and moving at one hundred miles an hour is great. For me, I can run off empty, and I thrive off the energy, but I’ve learnt during Isolation that time and space for the mind is almost as important as the fuel we put into our bodies. 

I know that in no time at all our lives will go back to being full-on, but I want to try and implement small adaptations from this situation where possible, including slowing down. I will, of course, always be someone who strives for productivity and achievement, however, I’ve come to realise that being constantly on, won’t always result in productivity. 

I’ve also learnt to enjoy the process and not to be afraid to take one small step forward each day because, over time, those baby steps will have all contributed to overall progress. 

After all, baby steps still move you forward.