As I tucked my daughter into bed, exhaustion weighed heavily on me. The allure of sleep was intoxicating, yet I knew I couldn’t succumb. There was a chapter to read, words to write for My Medium, and my Replit 100 days of code challenge awaited completion. These tasks swirled in my mind, taunting me with their incompletion. With determination, I rose from the comfort of my bed, driven to push through the resistance.
Why bother, you might ask? Who’s watching? Who’s judging? The world won’t end if I skip a day. But it’s this insidious voice, this internal saboteur, that I’ve learned to confront. The whisper of “it doesn’t matter” is the same voice that would hold me back from realizing my potential.
In that moment, I faced my inner critic, silencing its doubts with a firm, “Enough.” I knew sleep was necessary, but so was this commitment to myself.
We all need this internal reckoning, a quiet rebellion against the voices that undermine our resolve. It’s essential to hone our craft, strive for excellence, and push towards growth.
So, I offer this advice: do the damn thing. Keep pushing, striving, and focusing on what ignites your passion. The endgame is worth it — the satisfaction of giving it your all, the pride in silencing that critic, and the peace from living purposefully.
When you’re on your deathbed, I hope you’ll thank that relentless voice that drove you to pursue your dreams. Not the one that whispered “why bother?” but the one that said “do it.” If you let the latter win more often, you’ll look back on a life well-lived, forged in self-discipline and determination.
Let the battle within you rage on. When the dust settles, ensure the warrior within stands victorious, its voice echoing: “DO THE DAMN THING.”
9/9/24
Conor Jay Chepenik
