Mastering the Ascent: Why Wilde Thayer’s “Step by Step” is the Antidote to Modern Burnout
Step by Step
Wilde Thayer
Suppose a man should wish to cross
A stream, and in his pride
Should with one frantic leap attempt
To reach the other side;
Suppose he did this foolish act,
When stepping stones were nigh;
He then would meet his just reward
If he should sink and die.
Suppose a man should with a leap,
While standing on low ground,
Attempt to reach on ladder tall
The very highest round.
Suppose–suppose–why, I will speak
The truth without deduction:
He’d surely fall, and break his neck,
And merit his destruction.
As you read this poem, ask yourself:
“What ‘stepping stone’ am I currently trying to skip in my rush to
reach the other side, and what would happen if I chose to stand firmly
upon it instead?”
In an age of instant gratification, we often try to leap across oceans
only to find ourselves sinking in the shallows.
Wilde Thayer’s “Step by Step” serves as a stark, rhythmic warning against the
“foolish act” of bypassing the natural progression of life. Through the metaphors
of a treacherous stream and a tall ladder, Thayer illustrates that pride often
blinds us to the “stepping stones” and “rounds” right in front of us. To leap for
the “highest round” from low ground isn’t just ambitious—it is a recipe for
destruction.
In contemporary society, we are constantly bombarded by the “quantum leap”
narrative. Social media showcases the finish line while hiding the race,
pressuring us to achieve overnight success. Thayer reminds us that skipping the
process isn’t a shortcut; it’s a hazard. True growth is incremental. By honoring
the stepping stones of education, patience, and practice, we secure our footing.
In our rush to arrive, we must not forget that the “just reward” for arrogance is
often a fall, while the reward for the step-by-step approach is a reach that
actually holds.