Foot by Foot - my mantra of the day

I once read the book "Bird by Bird" by Annie Lamott. If I remember correctly, she talks about someone waiting until the night before a school project on birds is due to start. The person cries "How will I ever get this done by tomorrow?" And the answer was "Bird by bird."

I thought about that today as I was slogging through mud and snow to get to Roncesvalles. I asked myself "How am I ever going to make it all the way to Santiago?" And of course my answer was "Foot by foot." So, as I took each agonizing step on the trail with a grade that would not meet Forest Service standards, I said, foot by foot by foot....