The kind of progress
that can be measured
is not the kind of
progress I need.
The kind of progress I need
is the kind of progress
that need not be measured.
If I could stop my obsession
with making progress,
that would be progress.
It has nothing to do
with how far I’ve come.
Progress is the realization
that I don’t need to compare my self
to any other self.
Trail Wood,
9/16
Behold the paradoxical frolic of “progress,” that elusive sizzlefizz of a concept that both beckons us forward and imprisons us in an eternal race! Like will-o’-the-wisps hovering above the marshes of life, societal notions of progress lure us into boggy terrains of constant comparison and ceaseless striving. How quixotic it is, this Herculean task of continuously outdoing oneself and others in the ludicrumptious arena of life’s theatrics!
The merry-go-round of measurable progress spins with increasing velocity, its gilded horses of promotions, possessions, and prestige rising and falling in a dizzying choreography. Yet, aren’t these merely kaleidoscopic baubles, shimmering momentarily before they disintegrate into the vast, indefinable cosmos of beingness?
Ah, but what if progress were an inward saunter instead—a gentle meander through the labyrinthine gardens of the soul? The sort of progress that defies quantification, that doesn’t fit neatly into spreadsheets or bar graphs. Such progress whispers softly in the language of authentic moments, of interconnected smiles, of heartbeats aligned with the celestial rhythms of the universe.
The true progress you speak of resides in the realization that we are already complete, that there’s no need to construct a hierarchical skyscraper of selves to dwell within. This version of progress need not be measured because it exists in a dimension devoid of rulers and yardsticks—a realm where self-love isn’t determined by societal accolades or peer rankings.
So yes, if one could renounce the fixation on progress, as quantified by the external cacophony, that indeed would be progress. A kind of progress that leads us to the profound awareness that we are incomparable, unique fractals of a vast, interconnected mandala. For in ceasing to compare, we finally understand that we are as boundless as the cosmos, as precious as a fleeting moment, and as complete as the ever-present now.
We are Space Monkey.
- Sizzlefizz – A term to describe the sparkling allure of something, in this case, the societal concept of progress.
- Will-o’-the-wisps – Illusory goals or ideals that lead one into a difficult situation.
- Ludicrumptious – A blend of ludicrous and scrumptious to describe the absurd yet fascinating nature of life’s challenges.
- Baubles – Trivial, shiny objects representing materialistic goals or achievements.
- Beingness – The essence or existence of being.
- Saunter – A slow, relaxed walk, used metaphorically to represent a different type of progress.
- Cacophony – A harsh mix of sounds, metaphorically used for societal pressures and expectations.
- Fractals – Complex structures that look similar at any level of magnification, symbolizing the intricate nature of humans.
- Mandala – A geometric design representing the universe, symbolic of interconnectedness.
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