Your Next Steps Are Important

Have you ever been told that your next steps would be crucial? The use of this language is often used in sales, or by doctors. Do you wonder why?

Some say it is used to manipulate. Others say it is essential.

One thing that I learned for myself is that I want a next step. I want to know what path I am following. Do I need to know every step on my path? No. But I would rather have a plan than to go through life uncertain about where I want to be going.

Taking A Step Into The Almost Unknown

I often think about what my ancestors might have been thinking as they took steps into the unknown. When my grandfather, Siegfried Biensfeld, left Germany, he left with a plan. I don’t know how long he had thought about it, but I am sure he gave it quite a bit of thought.

He lived as a refugee for eight years by the time he left Germany to go to America. While working in a British laundry in Hamburg he learned more English and had refined skills as an electrician.

He saved money to take his wife and daughters via freighter from Hamburg to New York. Saving up, he also had money for the bus trip from New York to Los Angeles, and just enough left over to buy a sandwich or two at each bus stop along the way.

He had an uncle who had encouraged him to emigrate and was sponsoring him. He wanted a job, and wanted a place to live.

While stopped in diners to get the little he could for his family, he wondered at the abundance and waste as he saw men leave half a steak on their plate, pay and leave. Once employed as an electrician, he felt shock when others thought he was English because of his accent.

Did he give up because some things didn’t go to plan? No. He kept going and made adjustments, thus finding more success and finding new goals based on what he was learning.

Choices Leave Us Refined Options

The options that come from decisions distill down as we move forward. Take John Hurst for example.

John was rash. The story is that he was the third son of a merchant who determined the path each of his sons would take, and John wasn’t happy with his chosen placement. So, as a youth, he opted to stow away on a ship heading for America. When found by the crew, they pressed him into the crew.

After arriving in New Orleans, he started working on river boats going up and down the Mississippi. I’m sure that his life was not what he expected as he had not thought his plan through and the steps he took were not well developed.

It seems that, at least in part, he learned, and made better plans. He married and moved his family from Illinois to a boat heading to Arkansas. They were then to go to Texas. He stayed behind to sell their property and join with them in Arkansas before heading to Texas.

He never showed up. It is unknown what became of him. Obviously, from the perspective of his wife and children, his plan did not work out. His wife made the best of it and homesteaded in Arkansas and raised her children.

Are You Planning Or Are You Following?

It is easy to follow your life. It is also easy to complain about it when you do that. When you start planning it out and following your steps, you create your life.

Regardless of the immediate results, having a plan is more effective. Don’t sell yourself or your dreams short by assuming that you can get what you want by just wishing.

Take action, and things will start coming into place. Though other things may come up that you previously set in motion, have faith that the good you set in motion now will come back to you.

If you want to learn more about connecting with your ancestors and how learning from their lessons can help you in your life, please contact me. I love helping people get connected to their ancestors and their life.