Me vs. The Link: A Battle I Didn’t Know I Was In

We have all done it. Stared at our screen, tabs open, YouTube tutorials paused, using chatgpt asking questions on how you do something, yet you are just stuck! That was me creating this website. I just knew this would be a easy process, which it was. But I have a special talent for overcomplicating simple procedures and that is exactly what I did creating this website.

I had a vision, a simple website that would be earthy and minimalistic, a user-friendly portfolio. I wanted it to feel effortless for the user. But for the life of me I could not figure out how to connect pages, add a blog and lets not get started over the many tears I cried trying to set up the portfolio. I just wanted to make a homepage button go to another page. Basic stuff. But that’s where the spiral began. Just know it took me DAYS! I finally started making headway but the only hold up was the portfolio. I had to swallow my pride and independence for help. Of course, the usual happened. I was told and shown how I am making things way more difficult than it needs to be.

It wasn not the program’s fault. It wasn’t even the process. It was me. Just Kim being Kim. Overcomplicating things with a dramatic response

I must admit, there is something special about learning things the hard way. Of course, I can only say that now but during that self-appointed trial I was stressed! But once I figured out how simple it truly was I could not help but share what I have learned with my group members as well as family and friends. Look what I did, and yall can too. Let me show you so you don not waste time like me.

There is not enough talk about how we are our own worst enemies and biggest obstacles. I skimmed, I didn’t fully read things, nor did I understand what I read. Once I slowed down, took a deep breath, took a break to watch Mobland and reset myself I realized one thing. I am much bigger than the problems. Suddenly, I started looking at buttons that wasn’t there previously. The links I was trying to upload my assignments to I saw why it wasn’t working; they were for pictures only. Duh. I’m the problem.

Now I’ve got it figured out, I am so very proud proud. I have to show off my trophy of look what I did and accomplished. I was delayed, I may have overcomplicated things, I may have made a mountain out a link. But I finished it!

I know we all have these moments when something feels massive and overwhelming because we are in our own way. But as an educator we all live for that aha moment and I definitely had several creating this challenging but fun website.

With me being in education for 12 years I have learned a few things that I live by. Progress over perfection and celebrate all wins, no matter how small they seem. What I’ve learned from building this website is that I am smarter than I have myself credit for and give yourself grace!