During the past few winter months, I’ve written about fresh starts and embracing change. Today is the first day of a new month, and my focus shifts to the next steps. I write more about this topic in chapter three of my book, The Other Side of Organized. Recently, I had a funny conversation with my husband that relates to the next step theme.

Steve was in the kitchen having a snack. I was working on my computer. He called out to me and asked, “These honeys don’t have to be out here, do they?” Something about trying to decipher what he was referring to and the way he phrased it made me go into a tears-rolling-down-the-cheeks fit of laughter.

The Takeaway

Here is my takeaway. The “honeys” he was referring to was not him, because I call him Honey, but the two jars of honey that had been sitting on our kitchen counter since December when our girls were home from their college breaks. The honey is normally stored in the pantry. As our girls enjoy putting honey in their tea, the jars were left out as a convenience for them. On this particular evening, Steve looked at those jars and thought, “Why are they still here?” After identifying the issue (the girls were no longer home. Therefore, we didn’t need to keep the jars out), he took the next step and returned the honey back to the pantry.

Your Next Step

That’s what the next steps are often about. We can easily go through our lives not thinking about what our goal or the bigger picture is about. Therefore, we don’t know what action to take because we aren’t thinking about making changes. Things end up in places they don't belong, or we continue habits that don't really serve us. We get complacent and stop questioning. However, once we give ourselves the space to become aware, these actions or next steps become very clear. The honey jars no longer served a purpose by being on the counter. What unnecessary thing is getting in the way of your bigger picture or goal?

As you try to figure out what to do next, perhaps Steve’s question will not only bring a smile to your face but also prompt you to question and act. “These honeys don’t have to be out here, do they?”

What next step will bring you closer to your goal? I invite you to join in the conversation and share your thoughts.