Every December, our family makes a pilgrimage to Georgetown’s iconic Martin’s Tavern. It’s a tradition that feels like stepping into a living postcard—warm lights, garlands draped across wood-paneled walls, and the unmistakable hum of holiday cheer. Martin’s isn’t just a restaurant; it’s history served with a side of nostalgia. Presidents have dined here. Proposals have happened here. And for us, it’s where the season truly begins.

But this year, something struck me—not the Welsh Rarebit or the perfectly poured Guinness…but the staircase up to the bathroom.

If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. That staircase is steep, narrow, and only wide enough for one person at a time. There’s no way two people can pass without someone backing up. And yet, in that tight space, something beautiful happened. People smiled. They stepped aside. They backed up—sometimes all the way down—just so someone else could get through. No one complained. No one pushed. Everyone worked together because the atmosphere inspired them. The spirit of Christmas was alive on those stairs!

And what if we carried that same attitude into our work and personal lives?

Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes

On those stairs, you have no choice but to think of the other person. You can’t just barrel ahead. You pause. You notice. You adjust. Imagine if we did that more often in our everyday lives. At work, in traffic, in line at the grocery store—how often do we think, “What’s it like for them right now?” Instead, we’re usually focused on getting where we want to go.

But when we step back—literally or figuratively—we create space for grace. We make room for someone else’s journey. And in doing so, we make the whole experience better for everyone.

Think about our team. Projects, deadlines, meetings—they’re all staircases of a sort. Narrow spaces where only one idea or one priority can move forward at a time. Too often, we push ahead without considering who’s coming the other way. We forget that collaboration isn’t just about working together when it’s easy; it’s about adjusting when it’s hard.

What if, instead of insisting on our way, we backed up a few steps? What if we said, “You go first”? That doesn’t mean abandoning your goals. It means recognizing that progress isn’t a solo climb—it’s a shared path. When we accommodate others, we build trust. And trust is the foundation of any high-performing team.

Everyday Life Lessons

The Martin’s Tavern staircase isn’t just a quirky architectural feature—it’s a metaphor. Life is full of narrow passages. Parenting. Relationships. Community. We’re constantly navigating spaces where only one person can move forward at a time. And every time we choose patience over impatience, empathy over ego, we make those spaces wider.

The truth is, the holiday spirit we felt at Martin’s isn’t seasonal—it’s a mindset. It’s the decision to see others, to value their journey as much as our own. If we carried that beyond December—into January boardrooms and February school runs—imagine the difference.

What’s Our Next Step?

We all need to find our staircase moment. The next time we feel squeezed—by time, by pressure, by competing priorities—pause. Smile. Step back. Let someone else through. Not because we have to, but because we choose to. Because that’s what resilient people do. They don’t just climb; they create space for others to climb too.

Martin’s Tavern will always be part of our family tradition. But this year, it provided more than a great meal and holiday memories. It created a picture of what life could look like if we all worked together—one steep, narrow staircase at a time.