Taking the first step is the most difficult part; for most people. But, as it’s said that a thousand-mile journey starts with one step, the first step can take you far. I want to share some personal experiences with an emphasis on the first step.
- My father was a victim of the Partition of India in 1947. After the partition, their family came to Delhi — from Lahore — with nothing on them. They stayed in a refugee camp for almost a year. There was no way to re-start a life but there was hope. He decided to come to Mumbai and start a new life. He brought his entire family to this new city and slow-slowly built a small empire of dreams.
- My father-in-law resided in a small hamlet that isn’t on the map of India till date. but he had dreams to make it big in the city of dreams — Mumbai. He came to the city, worked in the day, and studies at night. He gave an examination to join the Indian Navy and got selected. He retired a few years back as a celebrated officer.
- My dear school friend got a marriage proposal after college. This proposal came from a prosperous family in a small country; far from India. The proposal was exciting but the thought of starting a new life in a small country was dreadful. But she took up the proposal, and is now well settled and leading a much better life than most of us here.
In all of the examples, the people took a certain risk, what we can call the first step to make their life better. What’s in the future wasn’t known but there was a direction, faith, and perseverance. They’d faith in themselves, and maybe in their God.
I suggest to all those who are still waiting and thinking for the right time, take the first step. This is the time — right now.
