"Most of the time the hardest part of any long journey is the first step. There were many days on my run across the U.S. when I was sure that I couldn't run half a mile, much less the 30 miles I was

hoping to cover that day. My body ached, and the thought of battling the elements out on the open road made tears come to my eyes. So I told myself that I would run for 30 minutes and then I could quit if

I wanted.

Once I got started I realized I could run half a mile, and then a mile, and then fifteen miles. Soon I had reached my goal for the day, or at least got pretty darn close to reaching it. I was happy to be done, but even happier to have completed my daily quota of running, knowing I was that much closer to reaching the Pacific Ocean.

The mentality I used to cross the country can be used for any large task that needs to be accomplished. If I had thought of the thousands of miles I still had to run every morning, I might have given up in despair. Instead, I focused on 30 minutes of running, and then took each step at a time.

Whether your goal is completing a project for school or work, renovating your house, or creating a healthy lifestyle of activity and healthy foods, it is that first step that is the hardest. Once the ball gets rolling, it is better to focus on that one moment and the smaller goals met, rather than get overwhelmed by how impossible the final result may seem at the time."