Ahhh, 2022 is coming to a close! I don't know about you, but I've changed so much this year, and for the better! I was sitting here thinking back to when my current journey started...August 11, 2021, the day I was fired for refusing to mask up. For refusing to believe the lies. For refusing to bow down to the madness and mandates.
I remember the sadness because I worked for my church and was fired by, you guessed it, my own pastor. I never thought it would be so difficult to find another job. Boy, was I wrong! As weeks turned into months, I was still unemployed. I tried finding ways to create an income for myself since I'm a creative person I remember the beginning of the year vividly. I remember making wall prints and candles. I remember creating designs to open my Spreadshops. I remember creating flyers to post so I could share all of my products just to get some type of income coming in. Nothing worked. I remember having to sell my heat press that I was trying so hard to hang on to because the bills were still coming. I remember thinking I needed to find new ways to promote and not having a support system. I tried Etsy for my digital prints. I tried PowerPoint presentations with everything listed, photos and all...still nothing! I have sold the little bit of gold and silver I had just to stay afloat.
Some may know I've been following @SantaSurfing for years now because she's always so happy and upbeat. When she got booted from one platform, I would search until I found her on the next. I was never one to comment on posts or videos, just always in the background watching. I didn't think I had anything worth saying, and then she started promoting her SantaSurfing.Locals.com Community. Becoming a supporter was big step for me because, although it's very inexpensive, I'm still unemployed but I found I wanted to engage in conversations. May I just say, that's one of the absolute best things I've done...I love my Ohana! Because of that platform, I found my voice. I found many like minds, tons of encouragement, and many more with my off sense of humor. That was my first step to opening up.
In the meantime, I was still trying to find ways to promote my products. I remember thinking fleetingly that maybe I should make videos but had no clue how to do that. Not even two weeks later, Santa started encouraging people to use their voices and make podcasts and such. This lit the spark a little brighter but I also knew I ddin't want to report the news. There are many people doing that who are very good at it, not to mention, I still had no clue how to make videos. However, I did know that since I had such difficulty gaining traction for my own sales, perhaps I could find others like me and give a helping hand, if you will.
I spent a month trying to find the RIGHT tutorials to start doing them to no avail! Frustrated, I asked my 15 year old son if he knew how to do it. He said, "Uh, yeah." So, I gave up my desk chair and within a short bit of time, he had the CORRECT app downloaded and had a test video complete so he could show me what to do. In my mnd I'm like, "You have GOT to be kidding me!" All that frustration for nothing! And so, at the end of this past August, 2022, I recorded and uploaded my first video and RandomMayhem was launched. I will say, the hardest part was talking to the computer. I also don't edit. For one, I don't know how and rwo, in my opinion, it's a waste of time. I figure, if people can go live and be authentic, what's the point of editing? It's almost the same thing, right? Anyway, at this point, I had no businesses yet to hightlight, it was more of an introduction and an explanation of what direction I wanted to go. Same with the second video. Still, no responses. So, the search was on! I started seeking out different small businesses and crafters, people with great new concepts and giving my own insight along the way. And guess what! I found that this is something I completely enjoy doing!
Some may ask why I enjoy it when I don't get paid for it?
My answer would be because all it takes is knowing you may have given someone the exact encouragement they needed at that exact time they needed it (and that has happened), or directed someone to a site to give that one more sale needed, to give someone a different outlook or viewpoint or idea that they may havie been missing to move forward. A missing piece of their own puzzle some could say. Even though I don't have a big following, I have been able to do these things for other people. This tells me I'm on the right path and that brings me great joy...something money cannot give. These are the exact reasons I started this particular Locals Community. I wanted a platform for people who are silent, like I used to be not so long ago. A platform for people who are creators or crafters or small business owners to have a place of encouragement and communication to take that next step. To engage with other people who will welcome their thoughts and ideas and not think they are living with their head constantly in the cllouds.It is my hope that at some point this community will grow and be just that for those that are of like mind.
So what else has happened this year?
Well, as you know, I started writing articles just like this for my Locals members. Some of them I shared on other social media sites which is how I "met" Noah from @paralleleconomy. He gave me yet another opportunity to get my voice out there by contributing articles, mostly revolving around small businesses and community building in a parallel economy. I will say, Noah is very patient! He took the time to make tutorials for me because, not only had I never written for a website, (I mean, who knew there were special formats to follow! Certainly not I!) I am not a techie and had no clue how to even go about this. With his help, I'm getting a little better each time I write. Remember! You are never too old to learn new things!
So as 2022 comes to a close and reflecting on this last year, I've come to realize now more than ever, the struggles, hardships, and learning processes were needed. I needed to take that first tiny leap of faith to find my voice and to move out of my comfort zone. You cannot move forward when you're stuck! It just doesn't work that way.
My advice...Give it to God! Yes, you have to put in the work, but you also have to leave the rest in God's hands and let Him direct you. I'm still unemployed even though I've applied for too many jobs to count. I have not been able to find what the matrix calls "gainful" employment, and yet, I work just about every day doing all the things listed above. I have had low points, I have had times where I didn't know how me and my son would get through the next week. You know what? God never let me down. He came through each and every time just as He promised He would do for us if we just asked. After this past year, I feel like I may be on the precipce of something. Of what that may be, I don't know yet. I just feel that God has been preparing me for what's to come.
I, for one, cannot wait to see what see what will happen in 2023!
What about you?
Love you all!
@Be_