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Many of us come from humble beginnings. We make something of ourselves with hard work and a bit of luck and have every right to be proud of our success. But it's important to remember where we came from. It keeps us down to earth and doesn't let us take anything for granted.

A recent trend online is dedicated to just that. It has people making "How It Started vs. How It's Going" posts, sharing photos before and after they succeeded. Some are revealing their own roots, some are showing where their role models began their journeys, but all of these posts are 100% wholesome and inspiring.

#1

Woman holding branded box outside, then standing proudly in front of her own store, showcasing business success.

atiralyons Report

Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

everyone now googles Atira Lyons..... (I know I am!!)

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It's easy to feel like crap in 2020. The deadly pandemic, police brutality, civil rights protests, conspiracy theories, political crises... In most parts of the world — especially, the United States — it seems as though every 10 minutes yields another dire post on Reddit or Instagram.

Scary news puts our brains on high alert. As Rebecca Renner wrote in a wonderful piece for National Geographic, it was an advantage to our early ancestors, guarding them from predators and natural disasters, but now it leaves us “doomscrolling” through endless social media feeds to stay abreast of the latest threats.

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    #2

    Young soccer player with a toy trophy and as an adult with the World Cup, showcasing a wholesome "How It Started vs. How It's Going" story.

    ESPNFC Report

    Our hearts race, and our minds keep looking for the next big catastrophe. We want to feel prepared, so we become addicted to the updates, coming back for more until the world seems far worse than before.

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    In Western culture, people usually tend to interpret present events negatively and often prefer the past, according to the research of Carey Morewedge, a professor of marketing at Boston University. That is because our autobiographical memories are highly programmed toward positivity -- when we think about the past, we mostly remember positive experiences. This is called "rosy retrospection," or "nostalgia bias."

    Even historians fall victim to this trap as well. It might lead to glittering terms like the "Gilded Age," says Erika Harlitz-Kern, a historian at Florida International University in Miami. In American history, for example, the Gilded Age refers to the period between 1870 and 1900, when the Industrial Revolution resulted in huge advancements in technology, culture, and the arts.

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    "But this time period was also a time of social inequality, great poverty, and the continued genocide and displacement of Native Americans," Harlitz-Kern pointed out. Nonetheless, the term Gilded Age refers to the period in an obviously positive light.

    It looks like we will always be facing one issue or another. Or a few really big ones at once. So we really need to learn how to deal with them and not let them crush us. To quote Ernest Hemingway, "Man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated."

    If making posts online in honor of even the slightest achievements gets us closer to persevering, let's do it.

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    #7

    Child basketball player growing into a champion in adult jersey, illustrating a wholesome 'how it started vs. how it's going' story.

    espnW Report

    Zoe's Mom
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Boy oh Boy J. Kony; you are a very unpleasant and unhappy person. Really too bad because the world isn't as ugly as you are.

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    #8

    Man with packages showing progress in humorous "How It Started vs. How It's Going" post.

    _vonnn8 Report

    Pseudo Puppy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is Von8... creator of VCN Clothing. (Vision. Create Network Clothing) https://vcnclothing.com/

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    #10

    UConn Women's Basketball coach evolution, old black and white photo versus recent with championship rings.

    UConnWBB Report

    Troux
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He's been playing women's basketball ever since he was a young boy...

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    #11

    Teenager with a broom vs. athlete holding a trophy, showcasing 'How It Started vs. How It's Going'.

    Falana_Dikana Report

    Ben Smith
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Plus that amazing statue in between... haha

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    #12

    "How it started vs. how it's going post with tweets showing music success growth milestones."

    LilNasX Report

    Rick
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Was he famous back then or was he known for something else? 13.5k likes is high for a ‘normal’ person tweeting, isn’t it? EDIT: oh, or did the likes come after when people went back through his timeline?

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    #13

    Wholesome start vs. going post: M.S. Dhoni as ticket collector to having a stadium section named after him.

    Ahir_belivess Report

    M O'Connell
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For those not in-the-know, he's an Indian cricket player now.

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    #14

    Two boys in track uniforms, then as part of a winning team with a trophy, showing progress and success.

    KingKTown1 Report

    Jamie S. Martindale
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    First there were two of us, and now due to secret cloning technology, there's an even dozen!

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    #15

    "Wholesome how it started vs how it's going post with contrasting music performance scenes."

    YonceVocals Report

    LittleMissLotus
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I personally think that Beyonce's music is ok, my problem is just how overhyped it is

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    #16

    Three friends sitting on chairs; later, they appear on a large billboard for "Top Boy."

    hopeikpokujnr Report

    Pseudo Puppy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If my google search is right - these guys are all from Government Housing in the UK (the british equivalent of the ghetto, in the US), and had never acted before they got their roles in The Top Boy (Netflix show, in its 4th season). One of them is named Hope Ikpoku

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    #17

    "How it started vs. how it's going post featuring a person on a bike and a building with their name illuminated."

    iamsrk__junior Report

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    #20

    "CD cover on left shows early career; right shows award as Billboard's Female Rapper of the Decade."

    ONIKALIVE Report

    Pseudo Puppy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    in between: totally changed her style, her styling, and her target audience.

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    #21

    San Antonio Spurs players in a 'how it started vs. how it's going' meme, showing their growth over time.

    spurs Report

    M O'Connell
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did you ever give his nose back?

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    #22

    Young athlete with sports bottle, progressing to winning trophies in 'How It Started vs. How It's Going' journey.

    _spill_the_tee_ Report

    Gill Case
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For me this is the best one

    #23

    "How it started vs. how it's going: Basketball player in uniform, then clapping and smiling in a suit."

    warriors Report

    lailyfnoor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the picture looks like a father gives a support to his son on basketball game

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    #24

    Washington Capitals players' journey from early days to winning the Stanley Cup, capturing a wholesome transformation.

    Capitals Report

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    #25

    Wholesome progress image, starting with colorful folders in a bin, growing to stacked boxes on a shelf.

    jess_ma22 Report

    Yvonne Blau
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who and what am I looking at? Some of these entries need some more info, for the lazy pandas that don't want to open another tab to google...

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    #26

    Basketball team members posing in 'How It Started vs. How It's Going' format, showing growth and leadership.

    CoachDawnP Report

    Lilly Rose Poppy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love seeing all the women’s basketball things on this list. It gives me hope for future girls who want to play basketball professionally

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    #27

    "Wholesome transformation from TV performance to grand concert stage, showcasing evolution and success."

    dwaholic Report

    KoalaOfDragons
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sorry but that stage looks like a toilet with someone's balls hanging

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    #29

    New York Rangers announcement and player on ice for 'How It Started vs. How It's Going' post.

    RangersNic Report

    Kayla J
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can explain this one!!! The Rangers sent out a letter a few years ago admitting to the fans they were going to go into a rebuild mode. They won the draft lottery this year and chose Alexis Lafrenière. One of those I get it but a bit meh compared to some of the others imo.

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    #31

    How-It-Started-vs.-Going-Career-Achievements

    Fosudo Report

    Maya Jones
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He looks like the reading rainbow dude. Upvote if you know what I'm talking about.

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    #32

    How-It-Started-vs.-Going-Career-Achievements

    i_stanKohli18 Report

    RJ
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He actually holds the world record for being the fastest batsman to score 8,000, 9,000, 10,000 and 11,000 runs in ODI cricket

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    #34

    How-It-Started-vs.-Going-Career-Achievements

    salmanfredi Report

    Pungent Sauce
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The hat’s not big enough for Doug Dimmadome, but there’s a definite Col. Sanders vibe as well.

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