“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” True. Yet before that first step, prudent travelers prepare. Food, water, footwear. Maps, way stations, lists of things to do or see. Sometimes getting ready takes longer than the actual journey.
As I get older, I find myself becoming more and more “prudent.” Often to the point of paralysis as I carefully examine everything before I do it. Then, I am often surprised at how simple and rapid the actual journey, task, or project turns out to be.
I think such prudence used to be properly reserved for the elderly, aware of their increasing limitations and frailty. Now it seems that the young have also become somewhat risk-adverse, planning and thinking and not just insouciantly bounding off to adventure good or bad. A loss for such individuals, robbed of spontaneity out of fearful visions.
Even as an old man, I try to fight my sensible inertia. Weather forecasters command I stay inside. Dietitians clamor I must eat only water and leaves. Doctors want “moderate” exercise, hopefully in a nice safe hermetically sealed gym. I ignore most of it.
A journey of one mile requires little more than the gumption and effort to get off this couch.
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 