The moon was so bright the other night, it looked like daytime in the sky!

Never stop learning!

Adminisk8or

10/03/2023

This is a very special week on the back end; why? Because, you are seeing this website as it's being relayed from my new server!

Back in... oh, I can't quite remember, but I want to say somewhere between the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2018, I was taking college classes on network engineering and started finding a stronger interest in the topic. I started thinking it would be cool to be able to access my own files from home on the go; as such, I was starting to really get into the idea of building my own homegrown FTP server... but running it from my sideways old computer tower just wasn't cutting it. So, I found a server chassis someone was selling locally, and went and bought it. And that, I would say, is when my learning curve really began.

Obviously it's too long to tell, especially since I'm still learning, as we all are in each our own fields. But as of today, that server is finally DONE! On the one hand, it's a little silly to celebrate, because yes, the chassis I've had for a good few years, now- but the innards? Yeah, those have been replaced on more than one occasion. But it just feels so nice to have everything now installed on a better piece of hardware with a concurrent version of the OS. Ah, little chassis, we shall miss thee... though... thou wast not so little.

And honestly, that's been the main big thing that happened this last week. And where it kept me up til 3:30 AM two nights ago trying to figure out a PHP/SQL database problem, it's been more than enough. But if there's there's one point I would harp on this week, it's one I always try to preach by action more than by word, but occasionally, I think it needs to be said, because it's becoming all too common: you CAN (and I repeat that, CAN) teach an old dog new tricks! Why do I say that?

Like I said two paragraphs ago, I'm no master of knowing all problems and solutions when it comes to what I know. Even this last week, there have been a handful of issues at work that eluded my grasp of understanding. And that's okay, sometimes, to just not understanding something, yet. Notice I said yet. Therein is the fun problem- it is easy to say that, but then forget about the last word. When we start accepting mediocrity as a permanent companion, we invite ourselves to stop learning. "Oh, well I don't really get that" it a fine thing to say, but the addendum of "and I probably never will" is where the sword runs through you.

Don't accept that kind of thinking! I'm seldom so adamant about a point, but here is where I make the exception- don't accept permanent defeat! Just because you don't understand it today doesn't mean you will never get it! Whether it takes two days, like it did for me in the case of fixing my PHP/SQL problem on my server, or if it takes five years, like it did for me to go through college, find what I wanted to pursue and learn how to be basically competent at it, you can, too! To quote one of the most random websites I've ever seen, "The only limitation is... yourself!"

At this point, I'm afraid my feat are finding their way onto the soapbox, so I'll say no more about it, expect to invite, just one more time- if you have said something before like "oh, haha... yeah, I just don't really understand technology" or "The science behind that is just impossible to understand", don't worry, you aren't alone. My wife cuts hair for a living, and I've become frustrated on multiple occasions when I try to braid her hair, but just can't even seem to begin. In those moments, I think "yeah, this isn't for me, my mind can't grasp it". But you and I can repent! You said that to yourself before, but now is the day to apologize and say, "You know what, I don't understand it today... but maybe one day soon, I will!"

Yep, my feet definitely hit the soapbox. Well, until next time, see ya!