Steemit Philippines - Steemit Engagement Challenge Season 8 (Week 3) || “Silver Lining"

^{My daughter and her kids looking for that silver lining}

One of the first proverbs I got to learn as a child was, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

Little did I know that it is also the proverb that I will experience more than once in my life as difficult situations follow us humans wherever we go.

Our brains work in peculiar ways. If I look back the bad memories I’ve experienced over the year are those moments that I remember the longest. Can it be that it is a sort of a survival technique? A reminder not to make those mistakes again?

It is a proven fact that if you ask your family, friends, or your colleagues to tell you about their day 80% of them will tell you about the low they experienced and not the high. You will get to hear about a mobile phone that fell in the water, getting stuck without petrol, waking up with a headache… and more.

What they forget is that billions of people on Mother Earth still don’t have phones like them, millions cannot afford the luxury of a car that they are driving, and they woke up while others die in their sleep.

Turning the pages of my diary I can with all honesty say, “Yes your honor, I’m guilty. I often forget that every cloud has a silver lining”.

My first story to tell

Growing up in an “Afrikaans” household our parents were very strict and also very protective over us. On the flip side, it was also our parents that supported us and that gave us only the best of what they could afford.

We were not rich but I always said that we were one of the richest families when measured in love.

When I was to start my second last year of school my parents decided that we were going to move back to the town where they grew up and the three of us children were born. They decided that I had to go to boarding school to start schooling right at the beginning of the school year. Once they have sold the house they will be moving and then I can leave boarding school.

^{My boarding school - "Ons Hoop - Hoer Volkskool" (We hope)}

Oh, I hated boarding school. It was just not for me. I missed my dad covering my school books and drawing my pictures for me. I missed my mom’s food and the effort she put into getting us ready for school. Believe it or not, I missed my brother and sister. There was no one to fight with. I wanted to go home!

The day that I could close the hostel door behind me was one of the most joyful days of my life.

I was cross with my parents. I was frustrated with the hostel rules. I cried when I could not go home over weekends. The living conditions were not as comfortable as what I had at home. Oh yeah, I had to eat green beans, baked beans, and bean soup. Urggh!

Looking back now I think that mentally it had a huge impact on me.

Deep down I have to admit that hostel life prepared me for my adult life. I become more independent and more assured of myself which contribute to me being the strong person I am today.
Today, I love eating green beans, baked beans, and bean soup.

“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

My second story to tell

I just started work, a girl from the country in the big wicked city.

I worked during the day and studied after hours. Very soon I made friends at work and college. It happened that one of my friends asked me to consider moving in with her. We earned enough to afford a nice three-bedroom townhouse in an upmarket suburb.

Within a few days, I moved out of the college residence. I was now staying in a luxurious apartment with my friend. Let’s call her Carol.

Carol and I worked together. She also worked at one of the racing courses cleaning the stables early in the morning. Soon I was also there working alongside her earning an extra income. Now, the Durban July is the biggest horse racing event in my country.

^{Clouds with silver linings at the horses}

It seemed that the dream of attending this event was mine to be as she got us two tickets.

I was designing fashion when I had a free moment and all I wanted was to watch the fashion parade.

Carol told me that some of the jockeys asked her to drive down to Durban with some of their belongings as they didn’t have enough space for everything and in return, they will pay for our petrol and accommodation. Now, what more can we ask for?

Two days before the event I was told that I had to attend a seminar on the complete opposite side of the country. I tried everything to get out of attending this event but to no avail. I had to go.

I was so disappointed and yes, I threw a tantrum. All of a sudden a heavy and dark cloud was resting on my shoulders. It was with tears in my eyes that I waved Carol goodbye as she left that Thursday morning.

Hours later and there was no word from Carol. I had no idea where she was. A day passed, two days that I have not heard from her. In the meantime, I could watch the event and the fashion from a television that was in my room where I was attending the seminar.

Monday morning and I had to discover that they arrested Carol at a roadblock for drugs. Those “belongings” she had to take down for the jockeys were not just any belongings.

It could have been me!

I was very sad. Sad to think that people can actually do this to other people and get away with it. Although it affect me emotionally at the time I could learn from it and move on.

This whole episode taught me that when something is too good to be true, there is a far deeper meaning to it. I was not caught with drugs plus I got to watch the fashion I so wanted to see. Sometimes Father Luck is on our side.

“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

My third story to tell

For 7 long years, I prayed for our house to be sold. I had 10 items on my prayer list and one by one I ticked them off. This is within months of each other. Selling our house was a different story.

Our house was situated on a hill from where we overlooked the city of Johannesburg as far as the eye could see. Often the clouds over the city were dark and mysterious. I told my husband that it is these clouds that are stopping us from selling our house.

First, we had a buyer but at number 99 he decided to cancel. Then we had two buyers and Covid-19 came along. Little do I need to tell you what happened.

Altogether, 8 potential buyers and no sale.

In the end, we had to sell our property for far less than what it was in the market for and also under the market value just to get rid of it. Financially it left a big hole in our pockets.

This whole episode of selling our house and the financial impact thereof left not only me but also my husband mentally and emotionally drained. It was indeed 7 long years.

At the time we sold our house, had to move, find a new home, and start all over again in a town where we know nobody it felt like a gigantic task. I truly didn’t know how we were going to do it.

On our first morning in town, we went to the beach at sunrise. I looked at the sky and saw this thick black cloud. It was my husband who said. “Look at that cloud. It has a silver lining.” As the black cloud moved away it left a cloud in the background with a silver lining. I immediately took a photo of it and add a message to it.

^{We found our silver lining in the town of Ballito, South Africa}

Now nearly 10 months later we are so happy. We still have a way to go and I think that for years to come it will be very difficult for us to comprehend how it felt when that silver lining was handed to us.

“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

My message

Regardless of our financial stress, the mental stress we go through, and the political turmoil the fact remains that somewhere in the world there is always someone worse off.

Some countries are going through war. There are countries where kids are dying of famine. Countries where there is no water to drink and countries where the usage of drugs and human trafficking is increasing minute by minute.

For those that are going through difficult times… Open your eyes, look around you, and start a gratitude journal.

"You got this!”
“Keep on keeping on!”
“All you need to do is to give it your best!” And…
“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

My outlook for 2023 and my plan

One thing is certain and that is that the problems of the world are not my responsibility. Nobody can keep me accountable for the crime, the poverty, the stealing of funds, or the shortage of electricity in my country. It is up to me to look after myself.

Take it one day at a time!
This is my motto and my plan for the year. I know that by doing this 2024 will be the year of happenings.

How do I want to achieve this?

• I want to stop complaining and whining instead I can choose gratitude, go down on my knees every day, and thank my Heavenly Father for my daily bread.
• I want to get rid of negativities and fill my life with positivity.
• I want to open my purse and experience the feeling of giving.
• I want to turn prestige down and look for modesty.
• I want to walk away after I have turned the other cheek.
• I want to put my priorities last and those of my family first.

In the end, every dark cloud has that silver lining that can blind us if we stare at it long enough.

^{Keurboomstrand, South Afriva}

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I invite:
@jesusjacr
@nahela
@inspiracion

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