Four years ago, there were rumors about a new virus spreading across the world with dire predictions of death. We were told we might need to "flatten the curve" by lying low for a couple weeks. This expanded to months and even years of scientifically unfounded totalitarian restrictions. It might be a few days early, because it felt like everything hit on St. Patrick's Day in 2020, but I hope to be writing about less somber topics next weekend.
Additionally, at the same time, Steemit was imploding with the aftermath of Justin Sun's purchase and soon-to-be-proven concerns about his misuse of the corporate funds. HIVE came to be through a hard fork in response to his coup using the ninja-mined stake to install puppets as witnesses. Remember this? Also March 17th. I wrote about it on the 18th. Maybe I should celebrate by having a bonfire with any leftover Steemit stuff I can find. What do you think?
In the time since, we have had global repercussions from the virus (to a small extent) and political responses to the virus (to a far greater extent), ballooning money supply inflation, massive supply chain disruptions, protests against police abuse turning into modern race riots, war in Ukraine, war in Gaza, a Canadian declaration of emergency used to justify unprecedented punitive measures against peaceful protesters, an "insurrection" at the US capitol where the only people with guns were the government, and God only knows how much else I can't think of right off the top of my head.
It's been a period of escalating partisanship, a growing social media divide between generations, technological advancement, authoritarian political regression, and honestly it's felt like a decade worth of stress and effort gone in such a short while. The looming anniversary of COVID and HIVE allows me to reflect on one of the worst and one of the best changes that started about the same time. I'm still taking steps toward making changes and growing as I confront how all of this has affected me. What are you reflecting on, changing, or rebuilding? Remember, baby steps you take are better than leaps and bounds that never occur. Celebrate even small progress.
