A Long Journey
Some people write literature, compose music, create art, or are content simply existing in relative peace. I am not one of those people. I’ve tried my hand at everything from flying aircraft and pushing through extreme physical challenges, to indulging in marathon sessions of Lord of the Rings (yes, the extended editions!). Yet when I code, there is simply nothing else like it. The chance to bring an idea to life on an infinite binary canvas is unmatched. Often, I fail hundreds of times before I see progress. But the fulfillment when things finally work is beyond compare.
In Latin there is a phrase: Dulcius ex Asperis “Sweetness Through Difficulty.” Its modern echo: what is worth doing is rarely easy. This feels true in every keystroke, every bug, and every small victory of software craftsmanship. For a long time, I was only a consumer of digital media: games, apps, endless content. And don’t get me wrong, I still partake when I can. But when I code, I contribute something back to the vast datasphere of our existence. I add code that is useful, inspiring, sometimes even fun.
At heart, people are creative beings, no matter how often society tries to convince us otherwise. Coding is how I let some of that creativity spill out into the world. It brings me joy, purpose, and meaning.
This is why I code.