"Put One Foot in Front of the Other" is a song featured in the 1970 Rankin/Bass Christmas special Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. It is sung by Kris Kringle to help the Winter Warlock change his nasty ways and become a nice person.
The speech/song between Kris and Winter Warlock goes as follows:
[Speech]
Winter: I really am a mean, and despicable creature at heart you know. It's difficult to [sniff] really change.
Kris: Difficult? [chuckles] Why, why look here, changing from bad to good is as easy as taking your first step.
[Chorus]
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking 'cross the floor.
You put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking out the door.
You never will get where you're going
If ya never get up on your feet.
Come on, there's a good tail wind blowin'
A fast walking man is hard to beat.
[Chorus]
If you want to change your direction,
If your time of life is at hand,
Well, don't be the rule, be the exception
A good way to start is to stand.
[Chorus].
Winter: If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn...
Kris: Oh, you do.
Winter: You mean that it's just my election?
Kris: Just that.
Winter: To vote for a chance to be reformed? Woo-hoo!
The Winter Warlock says, "It's difficult to [sniff] really change." The Winter Warlock was very honest in his declaration, It's difficult to really change. Changing is not something that comes easy to all. Some people have the inate ability to relocate, change jobs, and start something new without seemingly batting an eye or being effected by the change. However, I have never been a fan of changing and/or change itself, no matter how big or small, unless I can control it (ok ok I have control issues, but I will get to that later). It is the uncontrollable change, like loosing a job, finding a home, or having a baby, that causes all kinds of fear and anxiety in me. In my almost 30 years of life I have come to the conclusion that it isn't the change I do not like it's the journey to change that I despise . In the journey to change is where I find is the most pain....perhaps growing pains, but it's still pain. My dad once told me that I needed to enjoy the journey-hmmm-what does it actually look like to enjoy something? I think to enjoy the journey, is to appreciate the fact that I am journeying from one situation to another for reasons I do not yet know. I have always heard the scripture,"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) which has always bothered me until recently when I realized that God's good for me may not be the good I want or know I need. God does work out all things for my good but that verse does not say according to my purpose, BUT according to His. Therefore, since I do not know His exact purpose, I have to trust that no matter how much pain the journey to change will bring it will work out for HIS good in the end and in turn will be my good. Even though I continually struggle with "enjoying" the journey to change I do have hope in the fact that God has a much bigger plans for me and my situation, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) My hope is that through writing I can help myself and others through various types of change, by putting one foot in front of the other...
