Is This Maybe The One Good Thing That Came From Covid?

The One Good Thing....png

"What? How can there be any good thing that came about as a result of Covid? Are you crazy?"

I can already hear that...lol.

But bare with me...

First of all, just a few months into Covid, I started seeing things in the news about how nature is busy healing itself as a result of the absence of human activity in many areas.

Now, although I love nature, I'm no expert in climate change and the effect that various industrial activities have on nature. But surely, I can at least notice that there is a difference... Maybe we should pay at least some attention to it?

But there is something else...

Something that I think I don't need to be an expert in to realize this. It's just a matter of paying attention to what is happening around us.

The One Good Thing...

It is something I've noticed for quite some time, but I have never really (consciously) paid much attention to it...until this weekend. You would hear about it somewhere today, and maybe pick up on it somewhere else next week...and you'd think... "ah, that's nice. I'm glad it worked out nicely for that person."

But this weekend it really hit home.

We've had many things going on here by us over the last few weeks...even months, and I have to admit, I am a bit on the tired side...lol.

So by Saturday afternoon, I was just plain exhausted and I decided to take a break. I sat down with my wife and decided to just do nothing on purpose for a while.

We ended up turning on the television just to see what's on.

It was a reality program and it has just started. They announced how they would be talking to a few new entrepreneurs who have just started their own new businesses.

It sounded interesting and I decided to watch it.

And it was while watching this program that it struck me and I consciously started thinking about it.

I've heard similar statements and remarks over the last couple of months already, but I think hearing it now several times within less than an hour...made me consciously think about it.

They spoke to three individuals who have recently opened their own new businesses and entered the exciting world of entrepreneurship.

Without it being pointed out as fact, I did pick up on one thing that all three of these individuals had in common.

Due to the lockdown which was caused by Covid, they were presented with the time and opportunity to start working on things they were passionate about.

It was as if the same scenario repeated itself in every case... They never did anything about what they were passionate about, or at least didn't pay much attention to, and didn't spend any time on it before.

Why?

They were too busy with their full-time careers. They were too busy working.

And suddenly...LOCKDOWN!

Suddenly they had all the time in the world and nothing else to do... And businesses were born from this.

Even here on Hive, I have heard similar statements over time. People found part-time employment for doing online work because they couldn't perform their full-time careers. Some of which I witnessed right here on Hive.

Recently I've heard a very successful (in my opinion) author here on Hive, saying that even though he can now perform his full-time career again, Hive "has become like a second job" to him.

Turning Something Bad Into Something Good.

First of all, I am not trying to deny the horrible reality of Covid. And for many of us, it was way too close for comfort...

But for many, it presented an opportunity!

How often do we hear that we should do what we love...do what we are passionate about.

Yet, how many thought it would always just be a dream. We failed to see the possibility of how we could do what we are passionate about and actually make a living from it. It was just too risky.

Yet, when you were presented with time on your hands, you just did it...until you saw there is a demand for what you do and people are willing to pay money for what you do. It started to generate a little bit of income which was re-invested and it started to take the form of a business...

Maybe, others wanted to take action before, but everybody was pointing out how irresponsible that would be and "the risk is just not worth it".

Yet, you were presented with time on your hands and not really anything else to do. So, you started doing what you love doing and the results started showing.

Now that things are getting back to normal and people return to their workplaces, nobody can argue with your results. You are running your own business (or whatever you are doing) and you are earning an income from it.

Another thing that everybody obviously also has in common is the fact that there is at least some form of online activity or engagement taking place.

Even though in some cases, some of these people are also now opening physical shops, they started by taking online orders.

But the foundation has been laid. The way you go forward mainly depends on what type of business it is.

Conclusion.

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Image by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

The one thing we all had, was time.

Some started complaining out of frustration, claiming they didn't know what to do with all the time.

While others got absorbed in that which they never had enough time for before...until now.

Even though we all got frustrated with lockdown and all the rules and regulations and not being to physically go out and socialize with friends and family, there were those who made the most of this time by creating something which they are passionate about.

And many can even make a living from it now. Some might not be able to make a living from it yet, but they have done enough to know the potential. They know it's nothing to be scoffed at. They can work toward their dreams with confidence with no concern about "what someone else would say or think"...

What have you done with your time? Were you creative? Did you give expression to that which you are passionate about?

Let us know in the comment section.

Thank you for reading my post. I do appreciate it.

Note: Images used in this post are my own unless stated otherwise.



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(Edited)

WARNING - THIS COMMENT IS HUGE I HAD TO COME BACK UP HERE AND WARN YOU HAHAHAHAHAH

  1. I've missed you.

hahahaha
I don't know why - cuz I feel like we are still in contact and talking and all that?!?!?! but I just feel like you're farther away lately? or maybe its me??? I can't tell - but - yeah - I've missed you! hahaha

  1. I was talking to joe about this other day. I saw someone talking about it on a litte news clip or something and they're calling it "The Great Walkout"??? or something like that

just people realizing after this lockdown - that their time is worth much more. and they never had that break to really think - what IS my time worth?!?!?!

you know??/ i know EXACTLY what you're saying - because before this - I had a job that I enjoyed. I didn't love it - but I enjoyed it. itwas partially fulfilling to me at one point but then it started to become mundane and I started feeling a bit... hmmm I don't know - a bit... not trapped?? but like I was settling.

and I had a great boss - and what I was doing mattered!!!

but - there were aspects that werent really me - but it was a job. and I made money - and you know, you think... "hmmm do I really have the right to just shoot for more - when so many people are just bringing in money to survive and make ends meet and all that"

you know - we have never lived off my money. It was a choice that Joe and I made very early on - to live on his money -and mostly, I would teach the kids/take care of them - do the house wife stuff so that they always had a parent at home. If i made money later - then it was icing on the cake (so that we would never depend on it - and if for whatever reason I needed to quit - and be home with the kids again - i could)

I homeschooled them from 1999 to just 2020. all three. and I was always blessed to be in a position to mostly work from home - or work in a way that allowed us to still have them home and stable. and all that.

i'm rambling hahaha but the point is... when i started to work 2 years ago - they were mostly independent at the end of highschool - doing homeschool through a Christian dvd course (which was amazing!) and here i was - with a job.. bringing in money.. and then covid.

and it made me pause.

like it did to everyone.

is there something else? something better. somethig more suited to WHAT I BRING.

not just what anyone can do - but my gifts that God has given to me... WHAT is that?

and now... when I do NOT have the burden of bringing in money... and no longer HAVE to just go in to work cuz that's what i'm expected to do... but now that we have this mandatory time where we are off... and the freedom to think - and explore...

what CAN i do??

when is the last time that the world was allowed to ask this? ever?!?!?! LOL

on a global scale - and people are RECOGNIZING that they are worth more.

I remember when my boss asked me to come in to help for a few hours - and I did. but i volunteered the time.

you know why???

because giving my time was ok.

but charging my old salary for those hours - was NOT WORTH MY TIME.

and I didn't want to get sucked back into that "here is your pay for those hours" mentality anymore. I started to tell Joe - I'm not going back - because my time is worth more than that.

And i think we have all started to realize this.

Just the other day - there was this huge walkout of a local restaurant.

Now - funny enough - the newspaper spun it into this weird covid thing. but i kept asking Joe - but why did they leave? did it say why they left? and he had to keep reading and reading... finally he got to the bottom and it said all the reasons why people left - and it had NOTHING to do with the title of the article... interesting right???

they all CHOSE to walk out on the same day - but the title made it seem like it was covid related - when it was NOT.

it was all about them doing what was right for them!

and I really truly believe that this covid thing is being spun all over the world - to keep us all in a VERY specific mindset.

and lo and behold - look at what's happenign instead. our minds are being FREED.

I think you can see i LOVED this post you made. hahahahaha and... i think this comment is a POST in and of itself hahahaha

and interestingly enough - I have a spin-off on it... kinda of what happened to us yesterday - and I'll tag you in it - so you can come read and add in if you like hehehehe

but yeah.. hahahahaha wow.. I really love what's happening IN SPITE of covid. and like you say - MAYBE BECAUSE of it!!!

I noticed last year - so many relationships of people that i met - that i would not have. very important people in my life that came BECAUSE of covid hehehehe

reminds me of Joseph and his brothers, right? hehehe
What satan intended for evil, God intended for good :)

sending hugs to you my friend!!!!

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WARNING: A HUGE COMMENT NEEDS A HUGE REPLY...LOL! I appreciate this comment of yours more than you can imagine!!!

First of all, thanks for the warning, but there was actually no need for a warning because I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment!

Not only did I enjoy it, I appreciate it, as I do the hugs, thank you!

You've missed me...?? I've been here all the time...lol!

No, I don't think it's you... I think it might be on my side... I just really have a lot on my mind lately. Even when Lucinda and her husband were here recently, she asked... "Helloooo, Dad? Where are you? You are here but you are not here"...LOL.

So, this is a wake-up call for me, thank you. I really didn't want it to come through here on the platform...but it seems that you are picking up on more than what I anticipated...lol. It actually amazes me...Only my immediate family is normally able to pick up on these things when I get a bit "preoccupied" with things and that's it. But here you are...you haven't even met me in person, yet you sense that something is different...lol.

But it's nothing to be concerned about...just things I think any dad sometimes would give some thought to regarding the future and how things will affect the family etc...

So, here I am! And absolutely delighted with the amazing comment I received from you!

I totally get what you are saying about your previous job. And as you say, you get so caught up in the general "this is how it should be" kind of mentality, that you feel like "who do I think I am to want to do something else...or do it differently?"

I hate getting caught up in that! Yet it happens so easily. But it feels so limited...almost a kind of prison...I don't know exactly how to describe it...But I'm sure you'll know what I mean...

I love how you started to value your time though! That's awesome! It's also amazing how things change for the better the moment that money is not the first (or even the only) priority for what you are doing.

We have a famous Afrikaans musician (also Christain) here in South Africa, Joe Black. He started a men's group for men to meet once a week. I listened to an interview with him once where they were talking about this group and he said "when I ask you what you are doing for a living, I don't want to know how you make money. I'm not asking if you're a lawyer or a businessman. I want to know what you are doing to feel alive".

And yes, I really do think Covid gave many of us that opportunity indeed to think about that for a change.

And what you say about your kids and homeschooling them, while you are living on Joe's income...it sounds so familiar. When our kids were little, we also decided that Elmarie will stay at home to be there for the kids. They did go to primary school though, but their high school years were also done through homeschooling.

Even though the kids are not in the house with us anymore, I still want to get it back to where Elmarie doesn't have to work, but only if it is something she wants to do.

I'm so glad you enjoyed my post and I can't wait to read your spin-off! I'll be on the lookout!

I think your example of Joseph and his brothers is spot-on!

Once again, thanks for this amazing comment. I appreciate it so much!!

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Ok just tagged you in the post hehehehe

And ..by the way...

I LOVED your cover image for this post heheheh

And what you said about me sending something was on your mind...hehehehe yeah... I can do that sometimes online!

Actually...quite often online 😂😂😂😂. I'm just very sensitive to things like that hahaha

And yes I knew you were here!!!! Cuz we actually have been talking!

But you weren't "here"
Just like your daughter said! Hahahahaha

And I do remember the things you've shared in dm... believe me...I know what you mean.

I want to say "don't worry...it will be ok"

But that is such a trite saying... Even when we know ultimately it WILL be ok!! But in th meantime, I just want you to know that what you're feeling is completely valid....but at the risk of sounding trite...I KNOW it will be ok. I have faith that more is coming. I want it now and I get impatient...not just for me but I often find myself saying .."Lord...for the sake of everyone involved... Please soon?"

But He knows my heart and He hears and I believe the plan is already in motion and...I'll share a verse with you in dm that He just laid on my heart just now...cuz I wanted to talk to you in dm anyway!!! Hahahaha

We have our meeting today so maybe right after that, you and I can talk in dm too...

Anyway. .thank you for your big reply back! Hahahaha

Hope you like the spinoff post! Lol

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Thank you for the tag, I appreciate it!

I'm glad you loved the cover image I've used. It was taken right next to the Umkomaas diving school.

Thank you for your encouragement and support. I don't take it lightly what you say and I am standing on it with you and I also believe it will be okay!

And I know that feeling of being inpatient all too well!! I constantly have to remind myself..."not my time but in His time! Because His time is always the perfect time!"

And "for everyone involved"...Amen to that!!

But as you say, I also believe (I know) He hears and I agree, the plan is in motion!

Don't forget to share that verse with me that you mention here. I've checked the dm but don't see it yet...

Oh...and I really loved your spin-off post. It is so accurate and so true. The bigger chain businesses and restaurants normally just bull-dozer over everything and everyone and it's just cold hard business. Then in times such as these...yes, they take a knock and feel the pinch, but they normally stand a better chance to survive.

But once it's over, they just steamroll ahead again. And the employees hardly ever get treated like human beings, they are just numbers in a moneymaking machine! And as you say, they must take the flack from both ends.

Whereas with the family business and restaurant, there is that warmth and friendliness. There is more personal interaction and caring.

It is like you say, you don't want to see them going under...but it's just different. I've been telling Elmarie on more than one occasion when we hear about some of these big corporations getting into trouble of even going under... I feel so sorry for the employees who will be affected by this, but the main "peanuts" sitting at the top...I often can't get myself to feel anything for them...

May I be forgiven if I'm wrong? It's not that I wish anything bad on them or that I enjoy their misery...not at all. I just don't feel anything for them for I know how they often mistreat other people. So to me, it's more a matter of "when it's your turn it's your turn". It's about reaping what you have been sowing.

It might come back in a different form, but if you sow misery into other people's lives, somewhere, somehow, it's going to come back...

Wow, now I'm going on even more than in my actual comment in your post...maybe I was tired last night...LOL!!

But like you...I suppose you can see I really enjoyed your spinoff post...lol!

Speak to you later in dm today...

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What have you done with your time? Were you creative? Did you give expression to that which you are passionate about?

Recently I started to write and post more and more about my life and about my Harris's hawk. I also write about other things, for example playing various (nowadays mostly mobile) video games, and the plan of buying and living on a sailboat.

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That's awesome! I find people love it when you post about your life. And games seem to be a very popular topic too!

And I think when you buy that sailboat and start writing about that, you are really going to have a breakthrough!!

I wish you great success! Thank you for your input and for sharing this great information about yourself with us.

I really do appreciate it!

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Yay! 🤗
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