Here's To The Journey
Tags: beginners
Published: 2021-02-14 06:18:05

Henry David Thoreau once said "The path of least resistance leads to crooked rivers and crooked men" and similar sentiments were floating in my head as I kicked up my feet after another thoughtless month of work documenting construction projects. 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3f3jSQEA-WPURgTp2S65Tohd8RGrG7uNWySfsMvVxFkO0MNxDCcSwz_pV7CLjMwo8gXbY3ber_Fc5yrcP7Zx70JWaBePGhhQbuQ0PRwSYf2yHKo3C58cPl_XIefRxDKZrV4ZFJQdaEqpEWH1qGaW6AUfQ=w1168-h876-no?authuser=0" alt="Bonneville Shoreline Trail, SLC">

Much like 16th century French monarch, Lord Montaigne suggested; my mind stewed in the 'vague field of imagination'... yearning for a 'definite subject to bridle' my mind with.
 
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3fvInHe0PPY9hnyIttebRvDCgizGW515X29GKTFBl1UD8XTI2IDf2rWppPLoBoxhT4UzVUjQecednLuzQ8kSrm24OSi05b4U0rxMCTmM_w_Wy6fc28S24e9w8bRg1FofvLgE3IIv8KDWRr1QyGPGmFRyg=w1314-h876-no?authuser=0" alt="Moonstone Beach, California in the fog">

Enter coding. I have had an on-and-off  relationship with basic tutorials in javascript and ruby. While I always enjoyed learning about them, I never found the time to properly commit myself to the time and energy required to learn them beyond a very basic level. 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3fa-Xvgo5ROT5iSGC2S7a9r66v97c_q6tV6uMAS9c7YQitnFv2pGS5kPGmP89FuX8zTQVa4gqbIi7BvaewuprTLVg1wQ0okrHSLtcJByOihsdpe9UadnF2B4WCd32Xfo2-ATlLLB0DSr53paOjOXsMbzA=w1314-h876-no?authuser=0" alt="skin track on Mt. Tuscarora, Utah">

The economic uncertainty in 2020, mixed with the timing of my biggest projects at work coming to a close blended with little work on the horizon created a volatile concoction ready for a spark. That combustion came in the form of an opportunity to spend more time with family, and finally get serious about pursuing coding. So I left what had been an easy and stable job to pack it all up and start over. Again. So it goes. 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3eLeQVUfEYolY6VQKo1o9nLteEzvV457pjHYXM0J-e679HYAK7of85U1tg6ixxVlEG4dfiGYIGdtDKxKJ6hmgB-VEMzG7jIY5vwQKqfMDahJson3V049cjcchcf6_f8MiWXvJpEzrIr5ZRAYBM7aeou5Q=w1168-h876-no?authuser=0" alt="a rock climber watching the sunrise from the top of a cliff after getting stuck out overnight">

One month later, I have found myself wrapping up my first two weeks at the Flatiron School. It has been a challenge, but I know the hardest part was deciding to make a change. The famed jazz trumpet player Miles Davis boldly told his bandmates: "Do not fear mistakes. There are none." as he pushed the boundaries of jazz; setting the standard for the shape of jazz to come. 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3eUJ695mD-j9-pAZ6NmUoosSo2BmACMDXJmvGbcsO-0crQbUcHk4OjTt_liAh0Gv5_fKrya6bS282WXUgwmOhYKc74jeiYwuoXxhNyWR-M_7xMGTUodvqc6ZBkFCGt85sOppmpROt6kk3QmYdzK-2wthg=w1315-h877-no?authuser=0 alt="A snowy volcano rises above the clouds to meet a blue sky in Oregon">

In the past two weeks I have worked harder than I have in years, and it feels good. It feels good to keep walking after the difficult first step. As I continue to grind my way through the curriculum, I know that once I stop myself to turn and look back to were I started, I will be surprised to see how far I have traveled. And that, I am looking forward to! 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3cqTwv87NdLZc4vXwyPb0qDX_lZbzLCAFOEZE1EaGFjPE9LgntL-uPuLvsTlw5dQFXwRcB26Huq0dkKW5UQKz9JWGE5xIDJw-5mrxlnbP8M38W-GogiOJ9STxPUVjpzDKeNytbQ5OQWFYGknFMVrw07Ng=w1315-h876-no?authuser=0" alt="sunset over snowy mountains on the Olympic Penninsula">

So here is to the journey! 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3ct0sUF0PkwrkxprB4a47GSZrGPkKiJ-cO0AFLsb3wrDImwhIXwnC8xbFgLEGjjEPQnZBVQDxyhX9WvwASc1d86SioHicqtldPTCQ56gJJv1Cb4jQeT4P3kYAZZLGhKoSh6vqcC_xtj3h-pMPGt247dQw=w1314-h876-no?authuser=0" alt="a man watches the sunset on a ferry on the puget sound">