March 12, 2023 | Issue #59

1 Quote. 1 Reflection. 1 Question.

1 Quote.

“you can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.”

 -From: Ernest Hemingway

-Source: The Sun Also Rises

1 Reflection.

Ernest Hemingway was one of the most influential writers in American history. In 1954 he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and many of his publications came to be known as classics in American literature. 

In this quote, Hemingway forces us to look within ourselves. Looking within ourselves is uncomfortable. There are demons there, lurking in the shadows of our consciousness. These demons come in one form or another: addiction, depression, self-doubt, unworthiness, you name it.

We think these things will go away if we just make another dollar, move to another city, drink another shot, or date another person. 

The truth is, if we want to overcome our demons, we must start from within ourselves. We can't run from it; we must face it head-on and expose ourselves. Unfortunately, we will get burned. But if we don't stop and face the demon, we eventually will be engulfed by the flames. 

I will leave you with some words from David Goggins, a bug terminator turned Navy SEAL and Ultra-marathon runner

“Most of us sweep our failures and evil secrets under the rug, but when we run into problems, that rug gets lifted up, and our darkness re-emerges, floods our soul, and influences the decisions which determine our character.”

1 Question.

Have you tried to confront your demon? If so, how did it make you feel?