Crawl Before You Walk

The Wisdom in Old Sayings

Ever heard the old saying, "You must creep before you walk"? Growing up, this was a phrase my mom and older family members often repeated whenever we started something new and quickly complained about how tough it was. As a kid, I found this phrase downright annoying—it sounded like nonsense. Crawling before walking? That’s for babies! I used to think it was just "old folks' talk" designed to stifle my youthful energy and enthusiasm. Or so I thought. But as I’ve matured, the value behind this old saying has revealed itself in ways I never expected. I now see its truth in every new endeavor I undertake, and if you pause for a moment, I bet you can recognize it in your life, too.

The Frustration of Slow Progress

A few days ago, I embarked on another "new thing" in life. I researched, laid out my plan, and stayed consistent—so I was off to a fantastic start. But after two weeks, I found myself impatiently staring in the mirror, searching for results. I kept asking my family for feedback, hoping for some validation. Their consistent response of "things look the same" was a dagger to my motivation. My dreams of quick success started to crumble.

An Unexpected Reminder

Then, one day, while listening to a video from the fitness program I had started, the instructor mentioned babies and how they crawl before they walk. Coincidentally, the exercise she introduced that day was a literal crawl. She encouraged us to move around our space on all fours throughout the day. Her reasoning? "Crawling builds core strength," she said, her words sinking deep into my heart. Instantly, I was taken back to my childhood, hearing that familiar phrase: "You must creep before you walk."

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Realizing the Process

That’s when it hit me—I had approached this new fitness routine expecting to start at the walking stage. Without realizing it, I had assumed that after just two weeks, I would have built enough core and arm strength to see noticeable results. But life doesn’t work that way.

Learning from Babies

I had to think about it. The once-babies in my home took about six to eight months in the crawling stage to build the core strength necessary to start walking. And even before that, they spent months as pre-crawlers—practicing tummy time, pushing up on their hands and knees, and rolling over. Every stage was crucial for their development. I had completely forgotten how important those small, incremental steps were.

Applying the Lesson to Life

My goal of increasing strength and movement was no different. And neither is any goal, dream, or desire that we pursue.

We all must creep before we walk because crawling—literally and figuratively—builds the core strength we need physically and mentally. It prepares us to face challenges, setbacks, and the inevitable mistakes along the way. Without the foundation built during the crawling stage, we risk losing our balance, falling, and struggling to get back up.

So, next time you start something new and feel frustrated by slow progress, remember that crawling isn’t a setback; it’s the very thing that prepares you to soar.