In therapy, I often ask people to think about achievable next steps, especially if they feel overwhelmed, powerless, and uncertain about the future. (Sound familiar, anybody?) Identifying an achievable next step can promote a sense of control and hope.
Here and now, my achievable next steps include
- asking for more help in planning a high school reunion on Zoom,
- going for a socially distanced walk on Day 2 of my 17-day staycation, and
- writing my next blog post.
Do you see any achievable next steps in my photos from yesterday?


































Those last four photos show my son Aaron taking some initial steps to explain category theory to me. He took some prior steps of describing category theory while we were stepping out on a neighborhood walk (pictured above).
My comprehending category theory
- will take many next steps over my staycation and
- is definitely achievable, because my son is an excellent teacher.
An achievable next step is to choose a YouTube video for today’s post. Here‘s one explaining John Coltrane‘s Giant Steps, “the most feared song in jazz history.”
Here‘s Giant Steps with somebody taking steps to add animated sheet music (but not for the piano solo):
People took the achievable steps of posting these comments on that YouTube video:
luis Bazan
5 years ago
It looks like I was watching a Tom and Jerry chase sequence, I like it.
Skippy the Magnificent
1 year ago
“What key is this in?”
“Yes.”
Does leaving a comment here feel like a giant step or an achievable next step to you?
Expressing gratitude is always an achievable next step, so thanks to all (including YOU!) who helped me take achievable next steps to complete this achievable next blog post.
