SubscribeDo You Remember How You Learned to Walk?
Do you remember how you learned to walk when you were a toddler? I believe no one could ever remember how one learned to walk when he/she was a toddler. I couldn’t remember a thing or two of it even if I tried to think hard. According to an article in American Baby Magazine, February 2000, p.36 entitled Total Recall, a baby’s long term memory can be for as long as twenty-four hours at six weeks old and up to four months time at sixteen months old. When I took a ride in the time machine, I could only go back to as far as when I was about the age of 3-4. Anything before that was like a blank piece of paper; the blank could only be filled in by the memories of our loved ones who watched us grow.
The inability to remember how one learned to walk could be a very important reason why some gave up so readily when they faced with challenges in life. Had they remembered the time when they were learning to walk, they would not be so ready to give up without a fight.
If you would allow me, please moves back in time with me to about one year ago when my twin nephews were learning to walk. Even before they learned to walk, they had to learn to fall on their bums while trying to stand up on their own legs. Most time when they tried to stand up, they fell. Sometimes they cried when falling down hurt. The other times they learned to giggle and to laugh at themselves. It might take them a while to want to stand up again after they fell, however, they never waited too long to give it another shot.
There were times when we were around to catch them when they fell, to cheer them on and there were also times when they picked themselves up silently, without us watching. The numerous falls did not stop them from wanting to rise on their legs. Did they hurt when they fell? I do not know. But their determination to rise up every time they fell was what we could see.
The question is, if everyone has been through this stage, shouldn’t we have this same determination to rise up every time we fall too? I believe everyone has this determination - when we remember how we had stood up every time we fell.
Of course the story did not end there. After learning to stand up on their legs, it was time to take the first step, which was also one of the most important steps in their lives. Did the first step end well? On the contrary, just like everyone else, they fell down again on their first step. Did they try again? What do you think? Just a hint, if they had stopped trying then, I wouldn’t have the chances to chase the two of them around the house now and a day will come when I have to catch my breath while chasing them.
One may say, “they had all the encouragement and cheering when they were taking those steps.” I do not deny the fact that we were giving them a lot of encouragement and cheering along the way. However, they had to be the one who wanted to keep on trying even after endless falls. What did they know about falling? Nothing? Maybe they knew much more about falling than you and I because - they knew nothing about falling to begin with? They did not think too much of people laughing at them or teasing them or no one supporting them; in other words, they did not find reasons to justify their fall. They just knew they can walk when they kept on trying. All the other reasons were not important anymore.
The next time round when you are facing some challenges, do try to remember how you had learned to walk.
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising up every time we fail.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
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by maria, on August 28 2008 @ 10:20 am
i love this post. this is a very good reminder, when i’m facing a lot of challenges i get too busy thinking how to go about it that i forget to go back to the basics. thanks for the reminder
by Symphony of Love, on August 28 2008 @ 4:18 pm
@ Maria, thank you.
We need to remind one another sometimes to always keep on going especially during tough times.
by Brandie, on August 29 2008 @ 4:42 am
Great post! It doesn’t matter how much cheering or help one gets — you have to do the hardest part yourself. No one can do these things for you. As much as a parent would love their child to walk, they can only support their efforts. Determination is key, and if you keep at it, you will succeed!
Brandies last blog post..Anheuser Busch Weekend (Pics!)
by Symphony of Love, on August 29 2008 @ 7:41 pm
@ Brandie, it is always easier to have people cheering one on when the going gets tough. And yet most times one has to depend on onself to make the hardest move.
by Renee, on August 29 2008 @ 10:11 pm
You know I have never really thought of struggle from that point of view before. You are right if you can learn to walk there are many other things that can be achieved in life.
Renees last blog post..Code Pink Protestor Faces Police Brutality
by daisy, on August 30 2008 @ 1:42 am
my little girl is at that stage when she’s learning to stand on her own. She can already stand and walk but she has to hold on to something.
babies are risk-takers and are very determined. they also want to mimic what the adults do; so i guess it helps them with their struggle to do things. it’s like, if everybody’s doing it, why can’t i?
very great insight BK!
daisys last blog post..surviving my first year as a new mom
by Symphony of Love, on August 30 2008 @ 4:30 am
@ Renee, indeed we can achieve almost anything and overcome challenges in life if we can sometime look at things from different angle. I have to thank my nephews for teaching me that.
@ Daisy, little C is simply adorable. In a way babies are great risk-takers by nature. They did not think if they can, they just knew that they could and they did it. Of course things are not so simple as we grow up or is it we that make things ‘complicated?’ I have to thank my nephews for giving me this new insight.
by Elaine, on August 30 2008 @ 9:57 pm
Very cool post!! I’ve never really given up. Some think that’s a major flaw in me. Maybe they should remember learning to walk!!
My daughter was just cruising the furniture at a year old. The day after her birthday, she had surgery on her feet. She didn’t walk again until 18 months. However, she got up and walked across the room to me. She never fell and never crawled after that!!
by searchingwithin, on September 1 2008 @ 5:36 am
What a wonderful article. If only…
The glory of being an infant is that they have not yet discovered the fear of failure, only the determination to succeed. For fear is our largest obstacle.
~Best Wishes~
searchingwithins last blog post..Resentment - What Are The Implications?
by Symphony of Love, on September 1 2008 @ 8:27 pm
@ Elaine, sad to say that there are a lot of negative or pessimistic people in this world and naturally to them, you may be seen as weird. However, I understand that there are many reasons that lead to their negativities in life. Just wish that they too can remember how they learned to walk someday. How brave toddlers are right? For they never knew what failure is.
@ searching, I couldn’t agree with you more. Perhaps, it is a blessing that they know not what fear of failure is. Otherwise, it could be near impossible for an infant to learn to walk.
by Maria, on September 1 2008 @ 8:47 pm
This is a very good way to look at things. Perhaps the feat of walking is like trying for something that you really want. Even if you fail, you know that you can still stand to do it again. Determination is very key and encouragement is always a plus.
Great post!
by Siddharth, on September 1 2008 @ 9:23 pm
Hey, I m kinda funky, cool dude…….but your article was really applaud able…though it took really hard out of me read it out..
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by Symphony of Love, on September 2 2008 @ 7:37 am
@ Maria, I agree with you that determination is very key and it can make or break a person; encouragement is a bonus, it may not always be there. One has to depend on oneself when supports are not there.
@ Siddharth, thank you.
by Becki, on September 2 2008 @ 7:36 pm
How very true and well written
Along the same lines, it makes me think about how much more patient I am with my toddler daughter trying new things than I am with myself in the same situation…
Beckis last blog post..Some More Pool Fun shots
by charlala, on September 3 2008 @ 9:19 am
I love this post!
Talk about memory, I can barely remember anything from childhood because of adulthood pushing ahead! You mentioned going back to the age of 3-4. Better than me because I muster up a complete blur! You are right though and I have so much patience for little ones when they are in the beginning stages! They are so cute!
charlalas last blog post..Respect and Trust
by Symphony of Love, on September 4 2008 @ 11:11 pm
@ Becki, thank you. Sometimes we do have to be patient with ourselves too.
@ Charlala, it is hard to remember anything from childhood for most. I can only remember a few things but not in details.
by Chelle, on September 15 2008 @ 4:45 pm
Great post - My daughter started walking at 8 months old (way too soon for me!) Now at 1 she is zooming all around and climbing stuff too! I wrote a post awhile back on this when she first started - there’s a lot we can learn from kids learning to walk - to get back up when we fall down, etc. etc.
Chelles last blog post..Romantic Picnic Ideas
by Symphony of Love, on September 15 2008 @ 6:49 pm
@ Chelle, you are right, it was early. For my nephews, they didn’t start to walk until they were about 1 year plus. There is certainly a lot we can learn from toddlers learning to walk; how determine and persistent they are.
by Allure, on September 26 2008 @ 7:11 am
Thank you for posting this article. It inspires me to stand up again when I fall.
Allures last blog post..Depressed
by Symphony of Love, on September 26 2008 @ 8:53 am
@ Allure, you are most welcome.
We help to inspire one another along our ways in life.
by nick lee, on November 3 2009 @ 11:28 pm
recently i wrote a related post on this relating to the grown up version of facing challenges, Most easily give up after a few tries, instead of preserving to the final fruitful ending.
nick lee´s last blog ..Eating And Drinking is Not Allowed On MRT
by Symphony of Love, on November 4 2009 @ 6:31 am
@ Nick, if only they remember they were once unafraid of falling; that they picked themselves up every time they fell.
by Ben, on February 3 2010 @ 3:40 pm
Very interesting. I suppose learning to walk is the perfect description for how we ought to face today’s challenges. And you’re right. It’s too bad we can’t remember that far back.
Ben´s last blog ..Cambodia Motorcycle Diary #3
by Symphony of Love, on February 3 2010 @ 9:25 pm
@ Ben, if we remember how we have fearlessly learnt to walk and picking up ourselves from falls, then we ought to be in a better position to face today’s challenges.