Sometimes I am impatient with myself when I can't accomplish my goals immediately. Often I can see where I want to be, but I haven't gone through the necessary steps. In those moments I falter. I forget that it is often necessary to take baby steps toward a goal.

" I  L O N G  T O  A C C O M P L I S H
A  G R E A T  A N D  N O B L E
T A S K ,  B U T  M Y  C H I E F
D U T Y  I S  T O  A C C O M P L I S H
S M A L L  T A S K S  A S  I F
T H E Y  W E R E  G R E A T
A N D  N O B L E "
Helen Keller




" W E  M U S T  N E V E R  S H I R K
T H E  P R E P A R A T I O N
I N  T H E  W I N G S ,  T H E
 P R A C T I C I N G  O F  T H E
 O L D  S E L F - H Y P N O T I C
T O  T R A N S F O R M
O U R S E L V E S  C O M P L E T E L Y
B E F O R E  W E  S T E P
O N T O  T H E  S T A G E "
Laurence Olivier




" D U T Y  I S  W H A T  O N E
E X P E C T S  F R O M  O T H E R S -
I T  I S  N O T  W H A T  O N E
D O E S  O N E S E L F "
Oscar Wilde




" I T ' S  A  W R O N G  I D E A
T H A T  A  M A S T E R  I S  A
F I N I S H E D  P E R S O N .
M A S T E R S  A R E  V E R Y
F A U L T Y ;  T H E Y  H A V E N ' T
L E A R N E D  E V E R Y T H I N G
A N D  T H E Y  K N O W  I T "
Robert Henri





" G O  O N  W O R K I N G
F R E E L Y  A N D  F U R I O U S L Y
A N D  Y O U  W I L L
M A K E  P R O G R E S S "
Paul Gauguin

One of my favourite movies is "What About Bob?" Bob learns that baby steps are the way out of his neurotic prison. He literally takes baby steps into an elevator or out his apartment door and into a world of happiness. Once he embraces to concept of baby steps he applies it with a fine discipline.

My son, David once said he knows how to play hockey; he just can't skate. Sometimes I too want to skip the practice of essential skills because I understand intellectually what is required. I delude myself into thinking that I can move directly to mastery. Yet when I when I am willing to practice I find great pleasure in the process.

I have learned a lot recently from my granddaughters who are interested in learning to make quilts. Four year-old Sullivan talks about making quilts as she sorts through my scrap bag. She selects fabrics and colours that appeal to her. She admires the pieces she chooses. Sometimes she asks me to sew something with them, but at other times she happily stashes the bits in a bag and carries them around. Her older sister Josie is interested in stitching. She has recently acquired an embroidery hoop that she uses when sewing fabric scraps to a foundation or practicing her running stitch. They both view themselves as making quilts.

I notice that I whistle when I am happily practicing. Even though I concentrate on my work I don't feel fatigue or stress. Rather, I experience a sensation of "humming" in my body. When I achieve that state I am not in a hurry to get anywhere and I have nothing to prove.

It is my arrogance that makes me think I don't need to take baby steps. When I become invested in looking good or smart I forget that my goal is mastery. If I become overly focused on achievement then I become competitive. My body tenses and I lose sight of the pleasure I take in learning new skills.

Like Bob in the movie I need to embrace the discipline required to take baby steps.