Once you start your journey, there is no turning back. While it may be easy to celebrate the beginning of the journey a.k.a. taking that first step. Here is something that many do not want to admit.
The 197th Infantry Brigade of the United States Army uses the motto “Forever Forward!” which most accurately symbolizes taking the second, third, fourth and every step thereafter. Why is this important?
Personally, I abhor when celebrations are made at the start of a journey. Anyone can declare they want to sail around the world and set a date of embarkation. Soon parades are held, keys to the city given, heroes are made long before they even drop a single oar in the water. Then come to find out they never intended to launch in the first place because they lacked everything it would take to succeed.
The real celebration, the real victory comes in going all in and getting it done. It being whatever it is you set your mind to do. The only way to get it done is to go beyond that first step. Sure, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step but you still must walk those thousand miles. Then the journey is over. You have arrived at your destination. You took more than that first step. Now comes the celebration. Not one step before.
If you have ever heard about Charles Lindbergh, the first person to fly a solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic, in 1927, then you know this is what I am talking about. Of course, some people knew about Lindbergh’s attempt at fly across the Atlantic. However, there was almost no type of media coverage on the date of departure, no keys to the city, no fireworks show. However, on the other side of the Atlantic it was a completely different story. Once he landed, he made it. He did it. There he was an American having just flown the Spirit of St. Louis across the North Atlantic and successfully landing in France. Parades! Accolades! Celebrations! It was also the same when he returned stateside. Ticker tape parades and instantly he was an international hero. However, had he gone down in the icy Atlantic Ocean, his name would have been added to the countless others who tried but never made it. I bet some of them had parades and fireworks before departing.
I expect you to celebrate your victories along the way. You should celebrate embarking on any journey or adventure. However, do not get so hung up prematurely having “over the top” celebrations. Rejoice in yourself and the journey you have taken to get to the point that you are ready to go further and farther but save the key to the city until after. Because what if?
So, what if you do not complete the journey? What if there is no one around to throw you a ticker tape parade? Then, you get back up and do everything you can to complete it. Do not see it as a failure but see it as an opportunity to learn from what caused you to not reach the goal, then adjust, and act. There is no rule that you get one shot at anything. You can keep trying and adjusting and you will succeed.
It is those that stop trying, stop trying to get back up that will never succeed. You have it in you as someone that wants to lead themselves first then lead others.
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