It seems a fitting enough title. To be more honest, I would say this week hit both a high and a low in two consecutive days.
In recent months, I've taken a couple of certifications for Sophos brand products (they're big on firewalls). Having done pretty well on both of those, and with some encouragement from my higher-ups, I decided to go for one of their higher-ranking certs: Architect. Although I've become more familiar with the basics of the firewalls in various forms, I decided to go through all the lectures this module entailed, spending some days immersing myself. Then, when the time came, I went to take the final exam. With a total of three attempts, I began the first one- failed. Frustrated, but undeterred, I went at it a second time that same day. Failed again. Feeling more nervous now than before, I decided to dedicate more time to reviewing the materials. I put this off for probably about a month, but finally revisited it again on the last day of March. I spent 5 hours or more that day studying in depth the parts I was shaky on (and spent some hours beforehand anxiously trying to face the fear of doing so). Indeed, I poured over the materials quite a bit, and learned a lot. And, I'll note this first, because what follows will sound contrary, but I actually like Sophos' products a good deal. The amount of features pack inside both their hardware and software is pretty awesome, and if you and your business is looking for a good professional firewall solution, I'd recommend taking a look.
And then it came time to face the third attempt. As I began it, I felt surprisingly confident in the answers- and not in an overconfident way, so much, either. As I went through the 50 questions, I got to the end, and began going back through and re-reviewing my answers. I almost decided not to, but I'm glad I did... well, I think anyway? Once I clicked submit, I was greeted by a familiar face- it was the demon that plagues me and loves to pull the rug out from under my feat just when I think I've won the race. The passing score was 80- I got 76.
Naturally, I was pretty distraught and depressed. But I was also upset; and when I took a moment to review a few things, I discovered it may not have been without just reason. Indeed, there was at least one question that I answered in the way it was shown to be taught in the lecture materials- and it got marked wrong. And then there was another question whose answer was both subjective and not particularly intuitive that I felt ought to have been correct. So, this story does not yet have a happy ending, but stay tuned, and it may yet.
But in better news, I found myself the next day going at the same issue I've been trying to solve for weeks- migrating an onsite Exchange server to the cloud. On paper, it's a little confusing, but it's the kind of things you can plan out and do. In reality? Well, if you've ever had the joyous occasion of migrating mailboxes from a 2013 Exchange server to Office 365, I don't doubt you, too, know the fun of it. In fact, if you recall my last week's post, it was the cause (to be fair, it was all my fault, but still-) of much frustration and despair last Friday. But this Friday? I finally cracked the code and managed to get the connection setup between the two, and migrated a mailbox! It was such an accomplishing feeling! The humorous part is, in terms of getting rid of that onsite server altogether, it's still a bit far from over, but to me, this was a hurdle of large proportion, and I just leaped it.
And a thought to leave you with this week? Well, if you feel difficulties pressing down on you- whether it be an accumulation of small stresses, or large building problems you know will need to be overcome, or even just the residue stress of such things, I would point you to an allegory in which, when a certain people who had traveled long and far had found the prize they had been looking for, they suddenly noticed an immense, innumerable host of people laughing them to scorn, and mocking them for their quest and their endeavors. But one beautiful, and yet simple line is written of this account, which offers immense illumination and help- "But we heeded them not."
It sound plain and maybe almost downright dull at first hearing, but if you think about it, fear comes from our minds paying heed to uncertainties, anxieties, and pressures from things and people in our lives. I am reminded of one of my favorite books of all time, Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury. (NOTE: SPOILERS). If you haven't read it, I won't spoil more than have to, (though I will tell you the book is BY FAR better than the movie, if you've happened to see it). There's a moment in which a character is held captive by a witch who tries to kill them by slowing down their heart to a stop. And at first, it works, and the character finds himself so easily giving into how easy it is. But then something happens- he laughs. In that moment, he wonders why he laughed, and laughs at the idea of it. Soon, he's laughing and laughing, to the point that the witch, desperately trying to finish the job, now finds herself powerless and defeated.
I am a strong believer that laughter from the soul is some of the strongest medicine in life. Call that silly if you will, but I've seen a true, heartfelt laugh dispel darkness so fast, you almost wonder for a moment why you were even afraid to begin with. It's because in that moment, although it almost seems the exact opposite, your mind becomes clearer- just clear enough, anyway, to break through the clouds of darkness for a moment, and see things for what they are. It's so easy when we're constantly trapped under the clouds to forget the heavenly view just on the other side. So, remember, if you find yourself afraid in the darkness this week, allow yourself a moment of laughter from the soul- and let that be the moment when you remember to "heed them not"!
Signing off, until next week.