“I’m gonna knock on your door, ring on your bell, knock on your window too.” Like an opportunity knocking once, this classic commercial jingle (which only baby boomers and Gen Xers could most likely relate to), knocked some sense into the core of my being from every angle. Not like some “knock knock joke” I’ve heard many times over but a new perspective on people’s knack for opening doors...
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| "Knocking on my door" ~ Saw this worn-out blast-from-the-past vacuum cleaner in our storage room and voila! Lightbulb moment for an upcycling project to preserve this "now-classic artifact" and turn it into a portable lampshade/spotlight kind of an accent piece... |
This COVID-19 pandemic banged our doors to our surprise much like an unexpected guest. It barged into our actuality as indeed an unwanted intruder. Though the heavy knocking served as a warning, it certainly caught us off guard. Yet, as resilient and tenacious our natural tendency is predisposed for us to pull through under such trying times, other opportunities and possibilities came knocking as well. Together with varied reactions and dispositions, may it be for the procurement of the most basic of necessities to that of our essence of sanity, our survival mode have been invited to come in. Undeniably as we were on lockdown, the inability to go out enabled us to make do of what’s ‘in’...
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| Opportunity knocked for scrap wood, old newspaper and magazines to be upcycled and "E"nter(n) into this... |
“No work, no pay” as an alarming twist, online searches for a work-at-home possibility for an alternative quick-fix must have been an “outbreak” in itself. Similarly, an upsurge in social media usage as window of opportunities and for information dissemination among other things has been a click away and likewise a link as we transition into normalizing anew our subsistence with necessitated adaptations. Adjustments have been put in place and “new normal” is in. The idea of hearing a knock on our door was a sound of welcoming hope. Even
“ayuda” became a wonted, as much as, a “wanted” term. A knock from a barangay official is greeted with “Hey, what SAF (Social Amelioration Fund)?” And that message tone of notification was a scope of possibilities knocking...
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| More scrap wood knocking and the "upcyclist" carpenter in me opens... |
Amidst the old “normal abnormality” yet deeply rooted within our social media consciousness, there are still those who either thrive or are gullible still from the proliferation and effect of fake news/unverified stories and trolls knocking on our social awareness though as well as shaping our contentions and assumptions. Thus, this ‘new normal’ setup is knocking for our common sense to live up to being rather common. Come on, let it come in.
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| "LETTUCE" all sow seeds of growth... Our own farm-to-table "eats-perience" |
For prudence to likewise be welcomed, we have to knock off our usual inclination towards the “old normal” along an overly opinionated and politically inclined society. In a time there’s a call for unity and oneness of which are likewise key constituents knocking on our conscience (if only to heal as one), isn’t it ironic for someone with that “key” (factor), still knocks nonetheless... Yes, ironically, there will always be those who’ll take advantage and undermine opinions and solutions other than his own; politicking is yet apparent. Consequently, we’re all in this together. Our every “knock” should rather be for something welcome at least. Accordingly however, our knack for a good cause, gave (many among us) reason to stay sane regardless of that “stay home” subjection - that “quarantined predicament” to however stand for relevance still...
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| If there's a WILL, BORROW time with an opportunity to upcycle something useless apparently and turn it like a wheelbarrow easing the load... |
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| Upcycled as well a "green footPRINT" |
Welcoming realizations allowed the entry of survivalism in every potential form triggered by every probable cause. It came knocking in a time we all thought we’re dependent of what we’ve been normally used to all this time, however, rationality and perception came knocking on:
- Talents have been (re)discovered
- Creative juices seeped through
- Butterfingers turned into handymen
- Even silent ones ticked and talked (“TikTok?”)
- “Kwentong Barbero” isn’t as intriguing and juicy when you are your own barber but it’ll more than undercut your expenses
- Green thumbs grew out of green horns. Lemonade out of lemons is sweeter with one’s own farm-to-table produce
- Canned sardines “can” (pun intended) be prepared in a variety of ways; as much as it’s the “new blue marlin” (can “salmon” please tell me, “ISDA’t” so?)
- Face mask/face shield is now a fashion statement (needless to say as mouths are covered, there’s statement still)
- The introvert or the timid has social/physical distancing for an excuse
- Whereas the outgoing ones have reasons to post a different scenario
- In view thereof, it gives “Instagrammable” (Instagram-able still) a new meaning
- The self-entitled are being taught a lesson or two about hard-earned dues
- DIY, more than a practical approach, it’s actually a fulfilling accomplishment that you can Do-It-Yourself
- Conspiracy theories abound
- FREEdom is priceless, however, free-will could be costly...
- You boot up to go online and to stay connected, avoid getting “booted out” by going out of line with your uncalled-for rants and whatnots. It’s social media, not an anti-social medium...
- Needs will always be more justifiable than wants
- Reek of suspicion (more so) while on home quarantine, “It’s not you, it’s me” line of candor doesn’t apply among family members as to who farted
- Laughter is indeed a medicine to be taken seriously and “respond-sibly” regardless of “those age” (dosage) - Get it... I mean, get it, laugh. Choose happiness over high blood-inducing reactive temperament
- Reinforce faith with sensible precautions
- Regardless of stature, we’re all susceptible to the inevitable...
- There’s more to life than just the promise of the sought-after earthly desires drummed up as the optimum objective
- Based on how people interpret things and the varied reactions and comments it elicited, The Last Dance should have been “The Last Say”
Much like that documentary, although far from that of His Airness knocking down the most celebrated last shot, this isn’t saying “lastly” for my final points...
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| FYI, DIY! Y not, right? |
These realizations/takeaways and more actually are manifestations that learning is a continuous process. True enough, home schooling is possible and perhaps, it’s an option to know what’s practical, realistic, up to date/workable and what really matters. For me at least, I hope that this corona virus thing deserves its “crown” if only for the opportunity it knocked into our senses. All the same, I also hope that it gets eradicated. I, as a believer that “everything happens for a reason” for one, believe that this is but a reminder that opportunity may knock only once (as they say) and it probably does the knocking for temptations and risks as well but positivity accompanied by discernment and caution knock the heck out of whatever’s in store behind that door.
Knack knocks...
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This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia’s “Write to Ignite Blogging Project”. The initiative is a response to the need of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crisis. Igniting and championing the human spirit, “Write to Ignite Blog Project” aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities to inspire the nation to rise and move forward amidst the difficult situation. This project is made possible by ComCo Southeast Asia, co-presented by Eastern Communications and sponsored by Electrolux, Jobstreet and Teleperformance.
