So I had a random thought (oh no, -- not another one!) while swimming laps this morning.  What is the difference between progress and success?  This led to another thought- Is there actually a difference between progress and success?  I swam for another 20 minutes while pondering those two questions and decided to continue that line of thinking by looking up dictionary definitions of the two words.  Here goes according to Webster’s dictionary:

Progress - a forward or onward movement as to an objective or to a goal, or a gradual betterment

Success -a favorable or desired outcome

I have stared at those two definitions and come to the conclusion that it is progress I desire in my life.  I choose to be moving forward daily toward the objective of living the best life that I can and in the process I am experiencing a gradual betterment of that life.

How do I measure that progress?  Is it by a number on a scale?  That is only one measure and that is what lets me know I am maintaining that forward movement.  There are so many other measures of my progress that speak to my goals of living the best life that I can.  I decided to look at them here and share them with you. 

PROGRESS

• Getting up each morning and getting out of bed looking forward to the day
• Automatically preparing my gym bag for the next morning when I change into my “evening attire” of sweats
• Going to the gym every morning and looking forward to it most of the time
• Being able to work for 30 minutes on the elliptical when 5 minutes used to exhaust me
• Planning my meals a week ahead so I know what I need at the market to avoid poor choices
• Swimming laps for an hour and wanting more but running out of free time, or should I say ME time…
• Raising both the weight and the number of reps when strength training
• Seeing actual muscles on my arms, shoulders and back in the mirror
• Feeling muscles as I move
• Being able to get up from the floor in one fluid motion
• Wearing clothes I bought 4 and 5 years ago and having them still fit
• Having only one size clothing in my closet
• Wearing a belt with my jeans and my T-shirt tucked in
• Thinking about what the protein is going to be for my meal and then figuring out the rest
• Asking for the rice or potato to be left off the plate in a restaurant and substituted with steamed veggies
• Going on a hike with my husband
• Going scuba diving
• Spending a day or three at an amusement park and wanting more
• Starting my days at 5am and ending them at 11pm and being on the go the entire time
• Getting dressed, looking in the mirror and being happy with the person looking back at me
• Looking at my before, during and now pictures and actually seeing the difference
• Calling my grandkids and taking them to the beach on a warm day just because I can
• Taking no medications for any chronic conditions
• Enjoying a day out shopping
• Wanting to share my journey with the world

There are many many more indicators of my personal progress.  These are but a few that come to mind quickly.  All fit the category of non scale victories.  All speak towards my personal goal of making each day the best that I can so that my life is the best that it can be.

In a nutshell then, on my journey to good health there is actually no difference between progress and success because, as you can see, each measure of my progress is a success in and of itself.

Enjoy your journey, measure your progress, every step forward is a step into the life you have chosen.  Make it your best life possible.