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Have you ever wondered why when as a child you were fascinated to climb up those flights of steps even when they somehow scared you?

I have noticed how little children are so drawn to stairs, always wanting to climb up and down seemingly like it’s all play. They do it without fear, too. There’s always a smile on their innocent faces, sometimes, coupling it with giggles and bursts of laughter.

For us grown ups looking on to this simple spectacle, we would worry and would often call out words of precaution. We would hold on to their small hands; hands that often, if they had the strength to break free, would prefer that you let go. They want to do it on their own.

Now, grown-ups often view steps only for their function. Gone are the imaginings of their childhood. Those moments that brought them inexplicable joy. We no longer need a hand to steady us. We’re confident of our own ability to go up and down those steps. We’d take them with ease on good days, with quickness of feet; with much effort for days that aren’t.

“What wisdom and value can be found in these steps anyway?” We would rhetorically ask ourselves.

Aged with time, we then would need railings to help us. Steel, wood, or rope. Every step will be tiresome. Then we will find ourselves back to that moment when we need a hand to hold as we take these steps. This time, it would be us who wouldn’t want to let go.

I reckon there is wisdom and value to be found in these steps after all.

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