Life is a series of baby steps along the way and if you add up

The words of Hoda Kotb shine with patience and quiet heroism: “Life is a series of baby steps along the way and if you add up these tiny little steps you take toward your goal, whatever it is, whether it’s giving up something, a terrible addiction or trying to work your way through an illness. When you total up those baby steps you’d be amazed over the course of 10 years, the strides you’ve taken.” This is no mere encouragement; it is a law of the human journey, a truth written into the very nature of progress. For greatness is not built in a single leap, but in the countless small movements forward that, taken together, reshape destiny.

Since the dawn of time, men and women have longed for transformation—whether to overcome weakness, to defeat sorrow, or to rise toward triumph. Yet too often, the vision of the end blinds them to the power of beginnings. Kotb’s words remind us that every mountain is climbed not by the boundless stride of giants, but by the humble steps of mortals. The baby steps that seem insignificant in the moment, when added together, become mighty strides across the span of years.

Consider the tale of Mahatma Gandhi. He did not overthrow an empire with a single speech, nor with one protest, but with years of baby steps—acts of nonviolent resistance, fasts, marches, and the gathering of people one by one. Each action seemed small, perhaps even fragile, yet when measured over decades, they became a force that bent history itself. His life embodies Kotb’s wisdom: persistent steps, rooted in courage, can move even the heaviest chains.

Her words also speak deeply to those who suffer. The one battling an illness may feel crushed by the immensity of the path ahead. The one bound by addiction may despair at the impossibility of release. But Kotb teaches that freedom and healing are not reached by sudden conquest. They are won through daily choices, small victories, and the courage to take the next step—however tiny. And though each step may feel insignificant, together they form a bridge leading out of despair.

History offers another mirror in the story of Florence Nightingale. During the Crimean War, she did not cure the wounded with a single miracle. Instead, she took baby steps: cleaning, organizing, introducing sanitation practices. At first, these changes seemed too small to matter, but over time they saved thousands of lives and reformed the practice of medicine forever. Her life shows that even in the darkest times, one steady step after another creates light.

The lesson, O seeker, is this: do not despise small beginnings. Do not wait for the day of sudden transformation, for such days are rare. Instead, honor the small choices you make each dawn—the decision to persist, to improve, to resist despair. For when years have passed, and you look back, you will see that what once seemed like nothing has become the very measure of your triumph. The river carves the canyon not with a single strike, but by flowing drop by drop, year after year.

Practical wisdom follows: break down your goal into the smallest steps you can take today. If you seek healing, take the medicine, rest, or walk a few paces. If you seek freedom from addiction, embrace one sober hour, then another. If you seek greatness in craft, write one page, practice one scale, draw one line. Record your progress, honor your persistence, and trust that the accumulation of days will build a monument of strength.

So let Kotb’s words live in your heart: “Life is a series of baby steps.” Remember that each small act is sacred, each choice a brick laid upon the road of destiny. And when ten years have passed, you will see not the fragility of baby steps, but the majesty of the strides they became—proof that perseverance, however humble, builds a life of victory.