You can look in a dictionary and find many definitions of progress. But you cannot truly define progress until you see it for yourself. We can be progressive in our thoughts, as ProgressiveU encourages us to be. We are sharing ideas about the future, about things that are not necessarily part of the mainstream. And we can be progressive in our studies, trying to incorporate the newest information and methods. But progress is really an action.
Progess is a baby's first steps. A young life suddenly becomes coordinated enough to stand on its own. It sees something it needs or wants and it makes its first tiny journey towards self-sufficiency.
Progress is a child raising their hand in a classroom. A student starts to acquire knowledge. A developing mind is now aware of itself and the power it possesses. An individual can answer a question and is proud of their knowledge. As a result they want to share what they have learned with others.
Progress is a teenager choosing to study instead of drink. The teen makes an educated decision to improve the quality of their life. The teen can look ahead to the future and see two paths. They understand the abstract nature of predicting what will happen. They learn to stand up for themselves and what they believe in.
Progress is a young adult volunteering at a local foodbank. A man or woman who has established their own life starts to help others. They take pride in making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. The young adult can now look outside of themselves and have a desire to improve their entire world.
Progress is a seasoned professional making a ground-breaking discovery. After dedicating time and energy to a new idea, someone makes a discovery that could change the lives of the masses. Education and confidence move an individual to their goals.
Progress is a grandparent teaching their grandchild how to bake a pie. A lifetime of experience and knowledge is passed down. Children learn important skills and traditions from their elders in order to both continue and further our culture and society.
Progress is present in so many small things. We as individuals and as a society want to do things that will shake the world, shape our future, and make our lives better. We grow physically, we grow mentally, we grow emotionally, and we grow spiritually. And as we grow we see things that need fixing, that need to be challenged and changed. The action we take to improve ourselves and the world, from the first step to volunteering to the sharing of knolwedge, is progress.
