top of page
rileysoloner

Tiny Victories

Remember these quiet moments. A rare alone in the apartment day. Seated at the dining room table. Intro to JavaScript lab, Modifying Objects. 1 test passing, 6 failing. I’ve been stuck on Question Two for a half hour.

This developing awareness of my body/mind connection is like a delicate compass in the woods. I’ll feel the hot weight in my chest like I’m in a math test from half my lifetime ago. That's when I know I'm taking myself too seriously. I can catch myself now. I can block the old familiar flood that comes after the first warning. I can remind myself this pain is actually a beacon. Don’t give in.

I’ve looked at the prompt for question 2 over and over. I’m looking at it twice simultaneously in a split screen. The Terminal on the left, the TestIndex in VSC on the right. I’m exhausted. I switch back to Chrome and reread the instructions. I’m drawing a blank. I don’t even know where to begin. Time to click back a page and reread the examples. Humiliation. Entitlement. I shouldn't have to read this again after it took me so long to get through it the first time. Not even skimming it, just speed scrolling a blur of what I haven't absorbed yet. Don’t give in.

Go slower. Resist apathy. Give yourself a chance. Find the example that most closely resembles what the lab prompt is asking for. Ah, here's something I haven't tried yet.

Switch over to VSC. Two lines of code.

{employee.streetAddress = “12 Broadway”;

return employee;

} ;

Switch over to Terminal. "Learn Test" + return


2 passing, 5 failing.

I lean back, my hands raised. I laugh, I pat myself on the back. I got another one. On my own! Tiny victories, few and far between. They’re sweet and they’ll start to pile up one day. I feel like a toddler marveling at a small bag of marbles. It ain't much but they’re all mine.

15 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Stop Hiding

As soon as the hiding stops, things get better. Or at least, new possibilities present themselves. Not writing has been a hiding tactic....

Why Take A Clown Class?

Hi. It's me, Riley Soloner! In January 2024, you have two different opportunities to play with me as I lead some clown classes at...

Unplug

Hello! This is me checking in to say: this is all I'm going to write today. And now, I will hit 'publish.' And then I will close my...

留言


bottom of page