I started getting into Bitcoin towards the end of 2019, and it completely changed the way I saw everything. It was such a big deal for me that it took three months to get used to this new outlook. I kept it all to myself, stacking sats like crazy, without anyone to talk to about this whole new world I had discovered.
My first purchase of Bitcoin felt like I was opening Pandora’s box—I was excited but also scared, like I was doing something I shouldn’t. It took me a while to get more comfortable, learn how to use a hardware wallet, and dive deeper into Bitcoin.
Back then, there weren’t many Bitcoin podcasts. Now, I listen to them on Fountain and earn sats while I do it—it’s amazing how fast things have changed.
After a year, I finally went to my first Bitcoin conference. I didn’t talk to anyone; I just listened and absorbed everything about the latest developments in Bitcoin. I was just a nerd in the crowd, feeling a bit less alone but still scared of my identity being revealed. That fear of being doxed? I’ve never been able to shake it off.
The world of Bitcoin has changed so much since I first got into it. The second halving is almost here, and weirdly, I can barely remember what I did during the first one.
Lately, I’ve been feeling down. The ups and downs of Bitcoin don’t excite me anymore—I just see the rest of the world in chaos and feel helpless about it.
Is anyone else feeling this way as the halving approaches?
I find comfort in the fact that I do not care about ups and downs. I am a miner so the halvening affects me a lot but I know that it really doesn't matter. I am just really grateful to be here. We are so early. We have knowledge that is going to be paying dividends for the rest of our lives. It's truly something to celebrate.
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I am not a miner, I run a full verification node with tx indexing, and I feel the same way about the price in fiat. I want to get a Bitaxe for the learnz. Curious, what kind of hashrate do you push with your rig(s)?
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I have 6 s19j pros So I can get up to 600ths. But I run off solar so I have then underclocked and they only run during the day. Small setup.
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Love the solar aspect of this setup!
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What you mean to say is that money isn't bringing you joy on its own. No shock there.
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For me Bitcoin has been one of, if not the most important tools I have come across, that allows me to feel financially secure. It has been powerful in the sense that I no longer worry about money constantly because I am confident in bitcoin (the asset) and Bitcoin (the network) to keep my monetary wealth secure and it's an amazing feeling to have sovereignty over your own money and wealth. Thus, now because I no longer have to worry about how I need to protect my money and wealth through traditional fiat ways, but instead simply stack and hodl sats, I have opened up bandwidth, and therefore, time and energy to use on the things in life that truly give me meaning. These include improving my performance as a footballer, spending more time with family and friends, writing on SN, reading more books, analyzing more football games, optimizing my overall health, etc. I still continue to increase my knowledge on all things Bitcoin, but also even then I make sure to spend more time on things in life that are far more important than money. Because if I'm constantly focused on Bitcoin at the expense of spending time on the things that bring value and meaning to my life, I'll just be going back to the same life I was living pre Bitcoin where my mind was always occupied by money, money on my mind.
There is a unique amount of proof of work time required to come to understand the profound value of Bitcoin, and everyone's "aha" moment may come at different times, some fast, others a bit more gradual, but after you go through the proverbial Bitcoin rabbit hole and see the light, essentially, I feel you can spend less time on Bitcoin and start thinking and using time more for yourself and working towards reaching your true potential.
TLDR: Bitcoin is not life, but is a tool that can definitely help enhance your life immensely. Maybe focus less on everything Bitcoin, and go experience the many wonders of life that cannot be bought with money, Bitcoin or otherwise.
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This is a normal part of life. We all go through seasons. Even The Bible speaks of this. Nothing wrong with feeling this way. Ask God if it still for you. Maybe He has a new passion on the horizon 🤗
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"Bitcoin & Chill" - Jack
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I am still excited when it is going down, I still feel smart by buying during this time. However when I put it into fiat terms I question if I am richer or poorer so my joke is to count bitcoins in terms of horses. I feel more tired to see others excited when newspapers push Bitcoin. Yet another one who got excited at the top, without truly knowing why. In this case to me the excitement with Bitcoin can feel as tiresome as the fear behind the corona virus.
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without anyone to talk to about this whole new world I had discovered
Now you have a lot of people to talk to about this whole new world. And it is still very new. Welcome.
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Depressed because it's Fiat-valuation may experience a sudden uptick, yielding you less sats on the $?😜
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Depression! Why? Is halving a bad thing?
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Watching price go up and down is like mental masturbation – will be exciting for 3 seconds and then depression sets in.
You need to busy yourself with something. Try a project like setting up a Bitcoin node, or organize a meetup in your area. Or go do something entirely non-Bitcoin related (ie. learn to wind surf).
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Halvening is a great aspect of Bitcoin. It's not such a thing that should scare you, in fact it should excite you in a way that it will add another milestone to Bitcoin.
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Price in fiat may go up and down, but gainings in freedom are always up.
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I arrived more or less at the same time as you and my story is quite similar, I don't care about the ups and downs either, but I see that the ecosystem has changed a lot and has lost a certain essence, luckily we have SN to get back to the spirit of a true sovereign and empowering bitcoin.
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