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Small steps! As I watched the recent journey of the astronauts to the moon and back, I was reminded of where I was on July 20th, 1969, when Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, uttered what have become immortal words for me: “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” I believe those words ring true for all of us. Life and recovery both involve learning to be satisfied with small steps. I want to reflect on this in the rest of this article.
The bottom line is that few of us have the opportunity to take BIG steps, like walking on or traveling to the moon, developing a drug to cure cancer, or hitting a home run to win the World Series. The great majority of humankind go about our lives in relative obscurity, and very few people have any idea what we did. We do many things without being recognized or acknowledged.
What I love about Armstrong’s words from the moon was the connection he made between the small steps we take and how they can create something much larger, even a leap! One of the ways I understand this is to find others with whom to work and share. I always return to those words from the beginning of the Hebrew Bible: “It is not good for humans to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) A community, and it doesn’t have to be hundreds of people, can make a difference and have a sizable impact. This might mean finding ways to share our gifts and resources with people who are less fortunate than we are.
I deeply believe we need safe places to live our recoveries beyond the times that the group meets.
I see this taking place in the 12-Step group that I have been part of for over thirty years. In becoming part of such a group, I have found that we connect with each other and are able to support one another in our recoveries. My contribution is multiplied by belonging to such a group. Not only am I helped and supported, but I am also able to help and support others. I believe in the importance of two-way streets, where not only am I able to help others, but others are also able to help me. This exemplifies how a number of small steps, each of us supporting each other, can often lead to a leap and a giant step for all group members. From these meetings and the support we receive, each of us can then reach out and help others, our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and more. I deeply believe we need safe places to live our recoveries beyond the times that the group meets. I see this as one way to look at Step 12 of the 12 Steps: “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to all others who are part of our lives and to practice these principles in all of our affairs”—translation mine. My 12-Step experiences have focused for me the value and power of taking small steps, like joining and being part of a recovery group. This step flows into my life and the different people who are part of it. I love the imagery of an equation where 1 + 1 can often equal 3! When people connect, unexpected things, even leaps, can happen.
I am also struck by the use of the word “steps” both in the sense of small steps leading to giant ones, and in the wisdom that comes from working the 12 Steps. How central the act of taking steps is to both living and recovery. We can always ask: where are the steps, and the Steps, we are taking leading us? Toward what we are hoping for in our recoveries, or further away?
My experiences have affirmed the words Neil Armstrong spoke many years ago from the moon that small steps can lead to leaps and giant steps. For me, this has meant looking beyond myself and recognizing what the groups I belong to are able to accomplish, both individually and together. Recovery and contributing to society require being part of groups that support one another, like 12-Step and recovery groups around the world. If you don’t belong to one of these groups, I would encourage you to find one, where hopefully you will see small steps leading to giant leaps beyond ourselves.
Mark Scannell, an avid 12-Stepper, has been working the Steps for over 30 years and sees them as foundational for healthy and sane lives. His translation of the 12th Step can be found in his recently authored book, Affirm & Nurture: A New Look at 12 Steps.
