They say that a fool and his money are soon parted...
This is often the case. Far too often in this world selfishness and greed consume people until others are simply seen as opportunities to be taken advantage of. If you've ever been taken advantage of, then you know the feeling. It's a very common problem the world over these days.
Personally, I'm done with taking advantage of people. I love being opportunistic and seeing value where others don't, but I'm not going to try to talk someone out of something that they feel is valuable. Sure, I'll let a giver give a gift and bless me, but I'm not about to try to swindle. Thankfully, it seems that a lot of people aren't exactly excited about the things that I am anyway.
OPPORTUNISTIC FIGS
Three months ago, a neighbor pruned his two fig bushes and was going to throw the cuttings away. Thankfully I caught him in the act and he was more than happy to let me clean up his mess and take the cuttings. He already has his two bushes and is not interested in any more. He knows that these cuttings could make hundreds of more fig trees, but he's not interested in that. To him, they have no value.
To me, I see free food for my family and possible some home-based income as time progresses. Did I take advantage of the person? Not even close. In fact, I actually helped him by cleaning up the cuttings. Did I take advantage of the situation? Absolutely! And that is what I mean by being opportunistic.
OPPORTUNISTIC CEDARS
On my homestead, I like to view everything as serving some sort of purpose. From rocks and trees to wild edibles, it all serves a purpose. Many may not care much about it, but to me, everything that I can use on my land is one less thing that I'll have to buy. Since the cedar trees here can negatively affect apple trees, I plan on removing the cedar trees from my land. If you saw this video that @mericanhomestead and I did together, then you already know that cedar is a great wood for other uses.
Additionally, @mericanhomestead has a really nice cedar pergola that they use for growing their Achocha Fat Baby Cucumbers in their garden. After seeing it in person a few times, it's inspired me to create a few on my homestead to grow a variety of vining garden plants.
When my neighbor @jaguarlife was bulldozing some trees on his land and when we cut a few down for the power lines, people were mostly only interested in what made good firewood. That means that the cedar trees were more of a nuisance. Again, I could step in with an opportunistic attitude and take advantage of this situation too, offering to clean up that portion of the mess and gaining more cedar posts in the process. It's another win/win situation.
Not only that, but the goats will actually strip the bark off of the cedar trees while I prepare to use them. By the time that I get around to building what I'm going to build, my animals may have taken care of some extra work me too! It's interesting that they too can help out and get what they want from a situation while helping someone else in the process!
OPPORTUNISTIC ROCKS
One more recent situation that we ran into was that at some point in the future this pile needs to be moved. It's basically a dump pile of concrete and rock that provides some habitat for snakes and such. Since I've got some uses for the rock, I offered to start getting that moved out of the pile. That way, when it comes times to move the rest, there will already be less. Also, since I know that the folks around here don't care for snakes and since I have a really good suspicion that there are some in there, I can "help" again and not only save them the trouble of encountering snakes, but most likely spare the lives of those snakes in the process and have some wild-man @papa-pepper fun while I'm at it!
We've got a lot of uses for stuff like these rocks moving forward, and soon enough I'll have more to share. I just wanted to share this "opportunistic" mentality with you all and inspire you to be encouraged to take advantage of situations, but still refrain from taking advantage of people. I think that if more people behaved this way the world would be a much better place. After all, one man's trash is another man's treasure!
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-an-opportunity
Until next time…
Don’t waste your time online, invest it with steemit.com
FOR MORE PAPA-PEPPER CONTENT, CHECK ME OUT ON SOLA
A man love of nature that know no bound. Taking advantage of the situation helping nature and helping people and animal in turn
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That sounds good to me!
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You just need an opportunistic snake charmer, now!
I'm sure you'll take care with the snakes and know what you're doing. Making a heck of a lot of noise as you go about removing the rocks would probably help. They'll probably detect the vibrations and scarper as you go about your work.
Great read and good luck in the land of opportunity! Though it hardly sounds like you need it.
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I can't wait for snakes again. Milking goats is somehow less edgy.
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Very impressive! Is there no end to your talents (goat milking aside)? ;)
Your last line in the video, you state you won't be using the jar again. Snake venom's just protein, or at least the active ingredients are. Boiling water would render it safe to reuse, I would say. Of course, if in doubt - throw it out!
I think the lab coat / safety specs certainly put your snake at ease. :D
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LOL - Good to know about the venom and protein.
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One mans trash is another mans treasure and reusing is saving from the landfills...
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Good point! I love preventing waste too!
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haha I like this little board with Steemit on it in front of your house.
It's a new idea btw :D
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Yeah, we had some fun with that!
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yes nice.
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hmmmmmm @papa-pepper, wise words.
Your words sparks responsibility in me.
If we can only deal with greed and selfishness then would our lives be better off.
I love that shade on your eye. lol
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I love the way you think. It such impressive that you can see and grab every opportunity. I have to admit that myself can't usually see that opportunity from someone else 'trash'
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The egoist does not think about the feelings of others.
they do it all, they never look down, they just look up always.
But someday such a person will fall also friend @papa-pepper.
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Hmmm, always make the good about of any situation we may find our self.
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That we should!
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Thanks for sharing i will done upvote..A very good post
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Good afternoon! Again, excellent reflection. I believe that on many occasions, unfortunately, many of us have felt used by other people and, in those cases, we still have a feeling of sadness in our soul. I believe that this happens, because of the mentality of utilitarianism, to see people many times as objects, as things, that we can use and then discard.
Hence the importance that I see in this reflection, since it is very different when faced with a situation that solutions are sought to win/win, rather than seeking to take advantage of people, that is, I believe that the key is to do good to others and ourselves, taking advantage of the situations that arise in life and not taking advantage of others. Logically, for this it is necessary to overcome selfishness and individuality, as is clearly expressed in the valuable reflection that @papa-peper has shared with us. Thank you very much for that!
https://steemit.com/life/@lauraac/being-opportunistic-taking-advantage-of-situations-not-people
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great one post sir....impressive
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Beautiful
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creativity is just connecting things. when you ask creative people how they did something they feel a little guilty because they didnt really do it they just saw something. it seemed obvious to them after a while..
stay blessed and keep posting really like you posts
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Hopefully your neighbor doesn't let his figs go to waste.
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I'm glad we have poeple like you in this world. What a lovely idea turning someone's bushes into new life. Mother nature thank you for that. And you've got your outcome too. Thanks for sharing. Love& Peace from @motherearthist
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I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
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We call this our barter system. The neighbours have something they don't need or want and we can use, we find something they need and then trade. Nothing goes to waste here! Tree limbs, leaves, rocks, dirt and even manure. Everything has value.
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wide nature many perhasilan, good post.
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Thanks for all you've done to new steemiams @papa paper for all the contest.
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The next post today is another easy and fun contest.
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What Time @papa-pepper
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Cool
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With you Papa, nothing is a waste. Why wouldn't i admire you. Hahaha. Well done sir.
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You know what @papa-pepeper, I wouldnt say you are opportunistic, that has all kinds of negative connotations, I would say you are grateful for the provision of the Lord. Also seems to me that wisdom finds answers to problems others can't and does good with that those solutions; that's what I see.
Blessings.
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Yeah, I just looked up the actual definition... Good point. And thanks!
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Have you ever heard of ecovillages?
Because I think those and homesteaders liek you could learn a lot from each other.
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Yup, heard of them, but never visited one yet.
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Nice point of view.
But how do manage to plant everything in your place? Those hops, now figs. Must have quite a big land?
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We have some acres, and are working at maximizing it.
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we all are humans so at some point we take advantage of others,am happy you have stopped. (selfishness and greed consume people until others are simply seen as opportunities to be taken advantage of) this is true.
BR
JAVAPOINT
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Good post
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Great reminder of how life is supposed to have a purpose for good and how easy it is to get things upside down and use people instead of the opportunity.
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Your right @papa-pepper ,greed and selfishness is the major reason for the underdevelopment in my country, Nigeria. Our do called leaders don't care about their people all they want is money from oil, because oil is pays well they abandoned other sector in the economy and channel all the resources to the oil sector so they can enrich themself. I stated it in my last promoting steemit in Nigeria post.. Thanks for sharing
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Thank you for checking it out!
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That is great idea and perfect outcome. Making this world beautiful is very nice. Thanks for your work and also sharing with us. Hugs from Spain. Upvoted and followed.
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You have done a great job!!!!!! And I think that we need more and more people like you!!!! People who think differently in a creative way and who make a change in the society!!!!!! Appreciate your work!!!
-cheers-
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Hopefully this will encourage others to do likewise. Thanks!
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What can't goats eat? At least they know to stop after they eat the bark. :)
And those figs trees are going to be sweet! (pun intended).
How do the cedars negatively impact the apples trees? Soaking up the water?
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Supposedly some sort of disease. I've heard a lot of hearsay, haven't fully researched it yet.
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That's exactly the way to do it. Once several years ago I bought some forest land in Belgium. Since we needed to build a house on it, we needed to free up some space and cut some trees. Since I was working full-time I was looking at some professional people to do that.
A bit later a neighbour came and said that he only had a wood fire place and could really use the wood. He proposed to help me out cutting the required trees and in return he would get all the wood for himself. And since he was retired he was happy to have some work to do, since he said he was often getting bored, just sitting at home.
That was really a win/win situation. We were both happy and it was the start of a good relationship between us as neighbours. Since we were new to that area that was nice for us too, to have some reliable people close by.
It's always good to find ways to help each other. It makes life so much more interesting and exciting.
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What a nice deal indeed! Very cool to be able to be in situations to bless others like that and then benefit yourself in the process.
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Hmmm this is really nice @papa-pepper ... I suspect you are an entrepreneur because being an opportunist is one of the many unique characteristics of an entrepreneur, seeing 100 where others see zero,, that's a good quality ... it actually hurt that some people try to take advantage of people , selfishness and greed are the main force of this action, I will advice anyone in this dreadful category to desist from the act !!!! Karma exist !!!!
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My dad always taught us to find a positive in every situation. No matter how bad something may appear to be, there is something good in it to take away mentally. This is a way of life I have tried to see all my adult years.
As with you, you saw people tossing something and made good from it. True values of a person with integrity and deep soul thoughts.
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A good lesson for your dad to teach you!
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Nice post my friend @papa-pepper
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Will you keep all the fig trees or will you sell or gift or trade some of them? I'm just being nosey.
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I'm sending a few out today or tomorrow as gifts for @buzzard and @tamaralovelace.
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very funny bro,hahahaha
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Resteemed because your such a cool guy. Btw after i shut down @vandalizmrecordz I donated Vegas relief fund to the maim Vegas Go Fund me. Anyways. I have invited a facebook friend to steemit n he want to do a Facebook rapper cypher. This will expose steemit to 200k people given the groups he is pulling the artists from. Once his profile n post are ready please support. This is an effort to invite more memebers!
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Excellent approach to the use of opportunities. Perhaps you are a good example for your children. You work all the time, and you get joy from it. It's worth it to imitate you.
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I try to do a good job and set an appropriate example for my little ones. Thank you.
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Since the world is a world, that is what we have seen, the struggle of man for man. In these times we must be visionaries, live from the moment and the opportunity that life presents to us without harming our neighbor, thus opening up more opportunities for his and our well-being and assuring a profitable future for all.
https://steemit.com/life/@irisalfonzo1/being-opportunistic-taking-advantage-of-situations-not-people
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Wow Cool ...@papa-pepper... an awesome adventure ... I also love adventure ...
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Hello. Hi,
I share with you the concept and vision of opportunist, which reminded me of the story of an old friend who arrived in Venezuela fleeing the dictatorship implemented after the overthrow of President Allende in Chile.
My friend Oriana A. arrived in Venezuela alone with her luggage and accompanied by her husband, both were totally alone in this country without family or friends.
She told me, with astonishment, since they didn't understand how objects were thrown into the dumpster in good condition, it was that her first table in the small house they managed to rent, she had found it in a garbage dump and she turned it into her big table for years, so much so that she took it with her to her new home.
I believe that my friend was always an example of the opportunist, the one who takes the opportunity and takes the best of the moment at the right time, respecting the essence of the human being.
https://steemit.com/life/@aiskelzurita/being-opportunistic-taking-advantage-of-situations-not-people
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I take the point you're making and agree whole heartedly. Where we are in rural Queensland, Australia there is a common exchange in large rock for land fill. You can hardly drive down a road without seeing a hand written sign that says 'clean fill wanted'.
Because we are on volcanic rock based mountains (well you would probably call them hills) some home builders need fill and some need to get rid of tons of rock they have to cut out to get a level site to build on. So rather than pay to dispose of the rock they give it to the someone that need the fill.
Then everybody is happy! Usually some beer is exchanged, (it's an Aussie thing). So the recipient of the fill would buy what's called a 'slab' of beer for the dumper of the fill to say 'thanks mate'.
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A very cool arrangement indeed. I'm glad to hear that it is a common practice.
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Very cool. This is a good way of doing things. I was the same last night - with opportunistic water.
I wanted to wash my car, but I waited until the cyclone arrived and got it washed without any effort ;-)
It's a win/win - I get my car washed and the cyclone get some cudos for doing some good, instead of just for flooding everyone ;-)
We ended up being quite lucky in that most of it passed us by, so my car is only mostly clean ;-)
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LOL - Free car wash!
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wow..i like the way you think..you always try to do something worth enough even from the things that others dont make use of sir..i really like that attitude of yours..keep it up :)
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Nice! So often, we get caught up in the negative connotation of words rather than the actual meaning! Opportunistic is not a bad thing to be as you so clearly demonstrated in your post... But be careful with the goats. Ours were more than opportunistic when they busted out of their pen and decimated 10 brand new fruit trees! 😆I can laugh about it now, but man, we almost had goat stew that day!
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Interesting to see how much you're knowledgeable about nature and animals! That's really cool and handy.
Where'd @papa-pepper learn all of this from? I'd guess it runs in the family - grandpa teaches dad, dad teaches papa? ;)
Also, taking advantage of people sucks. Valuable message indeed!
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I guess I'm just simple and creative, and I don't mind hard work. Thanks!
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