I don't know about you, but about this time of year I find myself looking back and thinking about my goals and my accomplishments. And what I'd like to achieve in the year to come.

To be very honest, it can become quite depressing! Why so? Well, it appears that my focus is all too often on those things I haven't yet done, rather than those I have.

In our culture "success" and "excellence in achievement" (if not acquisition!) are synonymous. It is all but mandatory to have a true sense of purpose, a clear vision, well defined goals - and an armful of plans to help us "get there"!

What if we don't? Do we feel inadequate? Filled with unanswered questions? Fearful of our future? Unable to move forward?

Well, this morning - long before the crack of dawn, I set out to take our German Shepherd, Barent, for a walk. It was very dark, very cold - and the fields behind the house were strewn with frozen lumps of upturned sod. It was all I could do to be out there.

My mind was on some of those unanswered questions when I stumbled on another of life's truths....that even a single step is progress.

The path ahead may be dark and hazy. We may not be able to see far into the future. But even in the most difficult, dark and dangerous of circumstances, it is always clear enough to take that one next step.

And taking that next step is progress.

Regrets for the things we did can be tempered by time. It is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.