I Showed Up: Week 2: The most impossible week yet.

I should share the story of why I started this experiment, but maybe in another article. This week, I want to share a very personal story with you.

Every day when you get up and think you’ll never be great
You’ll never be great, not because you’re not, but the hate
Will always find a way to cut you up and murder your faith (woo!) — NF: The search

The mind is a powerful place and what you feed it can affect you in a powerful way (Still from the same song).

A few years back, on a faithful day. My life seemed like an endless loop of failure, with no progress or growth in sight. I hit rock bottom — crying on the floor, contemplating ending it all. I even Googled methods to make it quick: poison, a rope, stepping in front of a moving vehicle, or jumping off my parents’ one-story building.

Amid all this, however, a text chimed in on my phone, and I thought to myself, “Another failure is notifying me of my progress” or “just another spam message.” I opened it.

The message was simple:

Bros, I just want to thank you for everything you do for me. I couldn’t have done this without it.

It was from my brother, someone I hadn’t seen in months and who was 400km away.

Every time I feel anything that may take me down, I think back to that day, and I will say to myself, “Even in my worst times, I was able to help someone.” What you feed the mind is powerful.

Note: I will try to always end these updates with the results of experiments

A Step Forward in Growth and Resilience

This week was a mix of small, obstacles, meaningful actions and notable moments that reinforced my journey of personal and professional growth through many obstacles. While not every plan went as expected, the wins and efforts made along the way were fulfilling.

I Planted a Tree

One of the highlights of my week was planting a tree — a simple yet profound act that symbolizes growth, patience, and sustainability. It felt grounding to take part in something that will outlast me and contribute to the environment in a small but meaningful way.

The Bug That Wasn’t Mine to Fix

One of the challenges this week came from a persistent bug in a project. After much investigation, it turned out the issue stemmed from a library dependency. While frustrating, it was a reminder that some problems lie outside our immediate control and require collaborative or external fixes.

I’m now considering submitting a pull request to address the issue in the library — turning frustration into contribution.

Starting a Fitness Habit: 10 Push-Ups a Day

I began incorporating a small fitness goal into my routine: doing 10 push-ups daily. While modest, this new habit is a step toward building a healthier lifestyle and maintaining physical wellness. Consistency will be key as I strive to make this a permanent part of my day.

Realigning the Team: Scheduled a Meeting

Realizing the need for better coordination, I scheduled a meeting to get the team back on track. Collaborative alignment is crucial for achieving shared goals, and this step felt essential in clearing roadblocks and ensuring everyone is moving forward together.

Exciting News: Moving to the Next Stage of an Interview

A highlight of the week was receiving an email confirming that I’d advanced to the next stage of an interview process. It’s a significant step forward in my career aspirations and a reminder to stay prepared and optimistic as I navigate these opportunities.

Eye-Opening Feedback

I received feedbacks from the form I shared, and the insights were unexpected. While I believed my biggest weakness was communication, the emphasis from respondents was on my lack of proactivity. This was an eye-opener, encouraging me to reassess my priorities and take deliberate steps to address this gap. It’s a humbling reminder of the importance of perspective and being open to constructive criticism.

Reflections and Results

This week had its challenges, including setbacks in personal projects. I wasn’t able to make significant progress in learning Rust, setting up my homelab, or advancing my goal-tracking project. Yet, the wins outweighed the setbacks, and I remained committed to taking small, consistent steps toward growth.

Key Takeaway: Obstacles — whether in personal life or work — are inevitable. Growth often happens in the small, consistent actions we take daily. From planting a tree to realigning a team or addressing feedback, these moments build a foundation for greater achievements ahead.

Let’s keep moving forward, one step at a time.