next | the most important step a man can take?
not the first but the next
next
adjective
coming immediately after the present one in order, rank, or space.
I’m currently reading with my ears (or cheat reading as my mum calls it) Brandon Sanderson’ Stormlight Archives series. I’m on the third book of four, and the fifth one comes out in December. They’re fantasy epics and I love them.
Dalinar Kholin is one of the main protagonists in the story. To do a horrific summary of his storyline, bro read a book that changed his life. One of the questions from that book is ‘What’s the most important step a man can take?’
His answer to that question earlier on in the book is ‘the first one.’ When I heard that on my way home one evening I thought ‘that’s not true.’ The most important step a man can take is the next one, I thought. What happens if you take the first step but then you don’t take the second? The next step is always the most important. Dalinar isn’t as smart as me, clearly.
The story is nearing its climax and Dalinar is on the battlefield clutching a burned up copy of his life changing book. He’s at the point where evil is trying to break him, make him quit. That question comes to his mind and he realises the most important step isn’t the first one. Dalinar catches up to my supreme intellect and realises the most important step is the next one. Evil doesn’t break him. I vocalised a ‘brap’ when he said it.
Recently I’ve been feeling a little flat. I’ve been in my Bruno Mars bag, not feeling like I want to do anything. As nice as spending all day in bed might feel, life won’t afford me that luxury. I still have work I need to get done. Life isn’t particularly fussed about my feelings.
For me at the moment, the next step being the most important one is really resonating. Brandon Sanderson was really in his bag when he delivered that nugget of wisdom. As someone who excels at taking the first step, but doesn’t much enjoy the rest, it’s a pertinent reminder.
I’m really trying to focus on just taking the next step. Yes I feel flat, but that’s ok. I’m flat footed, so feeling flat and taking the next step really fit together for me. Even if it doesn’t, I’m going to take the next step. I encourage you to do the same. It’s the most important step a man can take after all.