Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way.
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.
My source says that this quote is from William Hutchison Murray, but I have also seen it attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Well, whoever said it first, those words are extremely true, even today.
The reason for my silence of the past few weeks is also in a great way the reason for this post.
In the past year, everyone I know had their life upended in some way. In some cases, there was illness and even death, in others, maybe the loss of a job or a business, but no-one was left untouched by Covid-19 and its ramifications.
I was lucky. I kept my job, had lots of time off with no loss of income, and thought I had it good. Until recently.
Even before the lockdown started a year ago, the library where I work had become the target of theft and vandalism. The first few times, I didn’t think much of it. After all, it is in a bad part of town, where there are more drug dealers per square kilometer than high school graduates. (Sad, but true.)
However, that crime escalated over the months, with the last thefts being the airconditioners’ compressor units, on the outside of the building. All three of them. It has reached the point where I no longer feel safe at work, especially since there is no security for the building whatsoever. I have filled out my resignation form, citing this as my reason. Neither signed nor dated. I’ll do that when I am ready to let go.
While I was combating these extremely negative feelings, I downloaded some e-books and audiobooks from Scribd. That is one service that I don’t mind spending money on.
One of the first audiobooks that I found, was Don’t keep your Day Job, by Cathy Heller.
I always knew I wanted to do MORE with my life, but fighting against the stream of what polite society expects is not always an easy task. And people like to criticize what they don’t understand. Especially well-meaning people, such as parents. (I love my mom to bits, but there is a reason why I don’t share my dreams with her!)
What I really appreciate about this audiobook, though, is that there is a whole chapter devoted to building what Cathy calls a “runway”, to launch one’s new career on. If done right, that runway ensures that the dream gets launched well, and no-one has to return defeated for stupid reasons such as poor planning.
So…
Agterplaas is back on track. It simply took some time away from the project to develop some fresh eyes and a whole new positive attitude. The game plan also looks vastly different than before, but that was to be expected. What remains set in stone, is the goal itself. Living self-sufficiently on 2000 square meters.
Instead of powering this goal by writing novels, I am going to start making soap again. Seriously, this time. Going to my mom’s over Easter, and I fully plan to sort out my soap workshop while I am there. It may take more than simply a bucket of water and some soap to clean away all the dust and cobwebs, though, but that’s to be expected.
Getting my car fixed early in May also means that I can visit there often during my month off. If I can complete a few batches of soap and get them properly dried, packaged, and sold, I shall be happy. It’s just a matter of MAKING the time to do so.
And lo and behold, the moment I started looking at making soap as more than a hobby, some things happened that couldn’t be explained in any other way than as providence stepping in. Or stars aligning. Or whatever else you feel like calling it.
- I found interesting local (South African) suppliers of both the soap ingredients and packaging materials, the latter is exactly the size that I wanted.
- I found someone who could make me a soap stamp. And then I found a soap stamp-making tutorial online!
- I finally made myself a soap-cutting block. (Only need the guitar string and two buttons, then I am set!)
- I figured out a way to live extremely cheaply during my first year of not having a salary. (Yes, it involves a Zozo Hut. Or two!)
- I have also found a way to use that first year’s building stage as a good project for my Permaculture Design Certificate, with cool ideas to use to map out whatever piece of land I finally decide to purchase.
- I found a South African Online Permaculture Design Certificate Course that costs a lot less than the 10-day course and is offered by really credible people, on what happens to be my own terms. No vegan meals! Yay! (I like biltong!)
- And – finally – I am posting this post to my blog as opposed to the piece of vitriol that I was initially planning to write!
Good things may come to those who wait, better things to those who hustle, but the very best things happen to those who make a decision and follow up on it, working hard towards reaching their worthwhile, creative goals!