You’ve probably heard the ancient Chinese proverb that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This tidbit of wisdom was written by the philosopher Laozi, a contemporary of Confucius, and it still resonates with us today.

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by a large task or difficult challenge ahead of us, yet Laozi reminds us to keep our focus only on the first step. The rest will come, one step, one inch, at a time. The folks in AA have a similar saying, “Do the next right thing.” As we celebrate Earth Day with this series of beautiful glass beads, we are reminded too that Nature formed herself over millions of years one tiny drop at a time. When you are faced with a scary task or a big job to do, just touch this bead on your bracelet, breathe, and take that first little inch forward. You are on your way!