The oft quoted line is “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step”

What’s conveniently ignored is the subsequent steps. The ones up hills, through blizzards, rain and so forth. Inevitably our mythical mystic would have encountered these but they are brushed under the metaphorical mat unless pertinent to the retelling. 

A better narrative might be the one that admits such adversities and encourages progress and learning in spite or through the challenges. 

The trick is to maintain momentum, use easy moments to help carry over the harder ones and to accept that all things must change, all things have an end. 

In a running race, use the down and flat to recover, in a lifting competition, tactics, in the pool, don’t fight the water when tired and in life, take delight in the simple pleasures before the fading light. 

Semper Pergendum Sine Timore

Forward without fear!