I am self-taught in many of my interests. I have poured hours and hours into reading, seeking inspiration, and putting hard work into my pursuits. This year, I have pushed myself to obtain Comptia Security+ certification, ISC2 CC “Certified in Cyber Security,” and I am diligently working on studying for their CISSP “Certified Information Systems Security Professional” with a goal to complete before winter this year. I consider these pursuits a necessity to ensure I am staying current with the changes in the IT landscape.
Drawing, painting, and playing guitar and bass are hobbies I pursue on my own time and at my own pace. Along with my writing they offer me the chance to decompress, funneling any stress into positive pursuits. I also like to read and I have collected an assortment of books I want to read, which I have to figure out how to work into my schedule. Between technical books, art books, philosophy, and even a few fiction books; I struggle sometimes to balance it out.
That leads me to the path ahead, how to get organized in my pursuits and balance those pursuits, yardwork, and housework with the hours in which I am not working. As I sit here writing this, I realize that I need to build out a schedule for my time outside of work just as much as I need to balance my work between daily tasks, emergencies, and project work. The hard part will be finding that balanced schedule without taking the enjoyment out of my hobbies.
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.