My Teeth Were Decayed

They were severely decayed -- even the optimistic dentist kept saying they were extremely decayed and even used the word "ruined" multiple times.

Six years ago, when I visited the dentist because of tooth decay, they told me the decay was severe. I went through extensive treatment and probably walked out of the dental office vowing never to come back. And I probably brushed my teeth diligently for about three days after that.

But here I was, returning six years later with teeth in a dismal state.

Don't Sweep Things Under the Rug

Back then, I was advised that I needed to get a crown. I must have ignored that advice and just lived my life. When you half-do things and move on, they very often come back to bite you later.

What's the Problem?

I lost a memory game to Minu, and work didn't feel like it was going well either. Even after studying AWS and Kubernetes, I found myself not understanding and having to review things multiple times. Doing things without thinking, not concentrating, not listening to what others say, procrastinating until the last minute -- these are major weaknesses of mine that I haven't tried to fix, and haven't been fixed. Let me definitely break the habit of focusing only on the surface and trying to gloss things over. Let me dig deep, write code and documentation with care even when no one is watching.

Looks Fine on the Outside, but Serious on the Inside

It's Not a Big Deal

One thing that has changed a lot between when I got treated before and now is my attitude toward dental treatment. Back then, it was scary, frightening, and nerve-wracking. After going through treatment, I realized this is nothing compared to other problems I'll face. I guess that's how people become tougher.

I'm starting to think that compared to the countless problems and situations I'll face in the future, the ones right in front of me might not be such a big deal after all. Japanese, English, HBH, lucky escapes -- the things I was fortunate enough to dodge were really nothing in hindsight.

Challenge yourself and push through. People who solve difficult problems are the ones who get recognized and valued.