Why Progress is so Important

Progress. The older I get, the more I realize not only how imperative it is, but also which kinds of progress are truly the most meaningful.

It isn’t the progression of collecting things that matter. It isn’t the progression of measuring up to the people around you (at work, in the neighborhood, at the gym). It isn’t the progression of having the ‘best of’ or the ‘most of’.

It is the progression of self that is the most important to me. It is the progression of spirit, mind, heart and soul.

When my time walking on Earth is over, I don’t need or want people to remember how much I’d collected over the years, or how well I measured up to those around me. Instead I hope they remember how much I progressed in loving and being and sharing. In spirit and heart and compassion.

Instead, I hope I am remembered for progressing through pain and hardship to live a story worth sharing. 

This picture is the range of weight I’ll be attempting to lift next week in Vegas at the Worlds competition; lift one, two and three for both deadlift and benchpress. That starting weight listed for Deadlift at 220 lbs…it’s the max weight I lifted at my first competition last April. The opening bench press weight? More than my max weight in April. Both represent progress.

The picture shows progression in numbers. And it represents progression in the amount of weight I am able to lift. But to me, it means so much more. It reminds me of the pain I use as motivation when I lift. It means I’ve overcome pain. Both physical and emotional.  It reminds me that I can do hard and heavy things. Hard on my heart, heavy on my spirit.

This little white piece of paper – it is progression. It is a symbol. One that I use to quiet the voices that tell me I’m not worthy, capable or strong.

When I feel stuck, I remember, I am progress.

And when in doubt, pick heavy.

Because I am a fighter. And I can overcome.