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A fellow blogger brought up a concern about the difficulties faced throughout the year. They discussed how they met those challenges. Sometimes those challenges are so big they pull one down. Making life’s trials more meaningful is the person one becomes by succeeding.

There’s an old Christmas song. It starts with the words, “Put one foot in front of the other.” Soon, you’ll be walking across the floor. It’s always been a pick-me-up for me this time of year. While it’s meant for children, I believe the child in us all still needs lifting up occasionally.

Hard times in life often seem to arrive when we’re already struggling, or at least that’s how it feels. Looking back on my own experiences, those moments have pushed me to become a better version of myself. Overcoming our shortcomings during difficult seasons speaks quietly to others who are watching. This happens even when we don’t realize we’re setting an example. Sometimes, it’s deeply needed.

Sometimes our hardships end up serving others just as much as they serve us. This response wrote itself, and I’m not entirely sure where it came from—but maybe that’s the point.

I’m curious. What song, moment, or quiet reminder has helped you? How did it help you put one foot in front of the other when life felt heavy?

For a lift of the holiday spirit ~ here is the instructions on putting one foot in front of the other.

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The Great Name-Calling Open

The morning was sunny on the golf course. A group of doctors noticed a team of nurses playing a round a few holes over. One of the doctors cupped his hands and hollered across the fairway:

“Hey! When you walked by the gate, the watchdog said WOOF! WOOF!”

The nurses froze, glaring back. One of them raised her club like a microphone and shouted,

“Oh yeah? When you all walked by the pond, the ducks went QUACK! QUACK!”

The golf course grew quiet. A couple of retirees nearby peeked out of their carts to see what the commotion was. The trash talk had officially begun.

Just then, a police officer—off duty but still in uniform for reasons only he knew—wandered up and added his grievance.

“That’s nothing! I went into a restaurant today and a bunch of teenagers started going OINK! OINK! OINK! at me!”

Back in the day, the slur was meant to show resentment toward police officers by labeling them as pigs. Still, many officers suggested it represented [Pride Integrity and Guts]!

The doctors and nurses nodded sympathetically, but before long they were all laughing. It seemed no profession was safe from ridicule.

“Well,” said one of the nurses, grinning. “If we’re going to keep score, I went to a rock concert last week. The singer stopped mid-song, pointed straight at the crowd, and called us every name in the book. I felt like I’d paid extra for the insults.”

By now, the golfers had abandoned their shots. The officer had parked his cart. The conversation had spiraled into a full-blown “who got called what” competition. Farmers chimed in about “moo” jokes. Teachers griped about “boring” chants. A barber also complained about being called “clip-clop” at the horse races.

The sun dipped lower, balls went unhit, and nobody remembered the score of the game. One thing was certain: the Great Name-Calling Open had been played on that course. Every profession—dog, duck, pig, or otherwise—walked away laughing.

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Life Lessons: Putting One Foot in Front of the Other

The Idiocy Of Name Calling – Woof Whistles And Such!

The Great Name-Calling Open