The Path Forward

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There were plenty of times when I reached a crossroads. One where I was tasked with the decision of quitting or moving forward, trying to reach a goal that seemed impossible at the time.

I quit several times. Whether it was a stubborn bug or I was fed up with the amount of time the journey was taking, I stopped. Sometimes it was for weeks. Sometimes it was for months.

I quit at the crossroads, but I never stopped coming back. Eventually, after that time had passed, I was right back at those crossroads. And guess what, I solved that bug, got rid of the feelings of frustration, and pressed forward.

I stopped plenty of times and let doubt consume me, but I never let it swallow me. You have two decisions. You can either quit forever or come back renewed and energized.

And that, I've come to realize, is the real secret to achieving anything worthwhile. It's not about never stumbling, never feeling overwhelmed, or never wanting to throw in the towel. It's about the belief, deep down, that the goal is still worth pursuing, even when the immediate path is difficult. Each quit became less of a surrender and more of a pause. These are the moments that can change your life. They can be moments to recharge, re-evaluate, and remember why you started.

Or they can be moments of regret, and look back on it for the rest of your life.

So, if you find yourself at your own crossroads, don't despair if you take a step back, or even several. The journey to a significant destination is rarely a straight line. It's a winding path with detours, rest stops, and moments of doubt. The key isn't to avoid the pause, but to ensure you always, always find your way back to the road. Because the only way to truly fail is to never return.

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