Carlos had spent most of his life chasing the immediate. Raised in a world of credit cards, instant loans, and one-click gratification, he thought little about the future. His life was a blur of impulse purchases, late-night takeouts, and fleeting relationships. The idea of saving for tomorrow seemed distant, even irrelevant. "What’s the point?" he often thought. After all, life was for living, not planning.
But then came the crash—the financial one and his own.
The Beginning of the Shift
It started with a friend handing him a book about Bitcoin. Carlos was skeptical, brushing it off as some get-rich-quick scheme. But curiosity got the better of him. As he read, he was struck not by the promise of wealth but by the philosophy behind it: the idea of limited supply, self-sovereignty, and a system that rewarded patience over haste. It was like staring into a mirror that reflected all his shortcomings—his lack of discipline, his disregard for tomorrow. He felt exposed but also strangely hopeful.
So he bought his first Bitcoin—not much, just a small amount to experiment. At first, he checked the price obsessively, watching every tick of volatility with anxiety. But over time, something changed. Carlos began to see Bitcoin not as a quick profit but as a long-term store of value, something to hold onto and nurture. It wasn’t just his finances that began to shift—his entire perspective on life started evolving.
Lesson One: Health
The first wake-up call came when Carlos realized he couldn’t enjoy his wealth if he didn’t have his health. Years of neglect—junk food, sleepless nights, and sedentary habits—had taken their toll. He saw his doctor for the first time in years, and the numbers weren’t good.
"Do you want to be around to see your future?" the doctor asked. The words struck like a hammer. Carlos thought about Bitcoin, about how it rewards the patient and the disciplined. He decided his health deserved the same respect.
Carlos started small. He walked every evening, traded processed snacks for fresh meals, and even took up strength training. It was painful at first—his body rebelled against the sudden change—but as months turned into years, he grew stronger, healthier. And with every milestone, he felt the same sense of accomplishment he got from watching his Bitcoin wallet grow.
Lesson Two: Family
Carlos hadn’t spoken to his father in months. They’d had a falling out years ago, and both were too stubborn to reconcile. But as Carlos dove deeper into the world of Bitcoin, he stumbled upon the idea of generational wealth. It wasn’t just about money—it was about legacy, about passing down lessons and values.
One night, Carlos picked up the phone. "Dad," he said, his voice shaky, "I want to talk." The conversation was awkward, but it opened a door. Over time, they rebuilt their relationship, sharing dinners and stories like they used to. Carlos even introduced his father to Bitcoin, and together they planned how to secure their family's future.
Carlos also started thinking about building his own family someday. The idea of being a father scared him, but it also filled him with purpose. He wanted to be someone his children could look up to—a man who embodied the values of patience, responsibility, and love.
Lesson Three: Life
Carlos used to live paycheck to paycheck, spending on things that brought fleeting joy but no real fulfillment. But as he embraced the philosophy of Bitcoin, he began to see the world differently. He downsized his life, selling off possessions he didn’t need and focusing on what truly mattered.
He started investing time in things that gave him lasting satisfaction: learning new skills, helping his community, and pursuing passions he’d long ignored. Carlos even began playing the guitar he’d bought years ago but never touched, finding solace in the quiet strum of strings.
One day, he looked around his modest apartment and realized he was happier than he’d ever been. His life wasn’t filled with flashy things, but it was rich in meaning. He had a growing savings, a healthier body, a renewed relationship with his family, and a vision for the future.
The Man He Became
Carlos often thought about the man he was before Bitcoin—impulsive, aimless, and trapped in a cycle of short-term thinking. That man seemed like a stranger now. Bitcoin hadn’t just changed his financial habits; it had rewired his brain, teaching him to value the long term in every aspect of life.
He began sharing his story, hoping to inspire others. He spoke about the lessons he learned, not in abstract terms, but in the raw, emotional journey he’d lived. People listened, not because Carlos was wealthy but because he was real. He’d walked the path from chaos to clarity, from consumption to creation.
And as he told his story, he always ended with a smile, saying, "Bitcoin taught me that the best things in life take time—whether it’s building wealth, strengthening relationships, or becoming the person you’re meant to be."
Carlos knew the journey was far from over, but for the first time, he was looking forward to the road ahead.
The best ideas are always obvious in hindsight
The next version of #noStrudel now has a support page that shows the top zappers and the zap messages
It supports images and note mentions, so go crazy 😀
The next version is on nsite (until I finally release it)
https://npub1wyuh3scfgzqmxn709a2fzuemps389rxnk7nfgege6s847zze3tuqfl87ez.nsite.lol/#/support
Great idea! Quite reminiscent of pubpay live. I guess great minds think alike :)
Zaps really are something revolutionary. Have you considered adding payment tags to kind1s so people can request zap payments on notes? We're trying to come up with a coherent set of tags with that finality. You're welcome to help!
As seen in nostr:npub1qf9pur8yz8e8w78ap6255fx9x6xrakm2jgmqyv063l9365p7sdcs5fauu5
Before and After payment:
I used to think I had it all figured out. I was the kind of guy who measured success by the numbers in his bank account, the recognition of peers, and the comfort of feeling in control. My ego was my compass, steering me toward what I thought was power, status, and security. But deep down, I was restless. Something was missing, though I couldn’t put it into words. That’s when I discovered Bitcoin.
At first, it was about the price. I saw the headlines, the promises of wealth, the idea of being part of something revolutionary. Like so many others, I came for the gains. But Bitcoin doesn’t let you stay shallow for long—it challenges you, humbles you, and teaches you lessons you didn’t know you needed.
The first lesson came fast: control is an illusion. I watched Bitcoin’s price swing wildly, from euphoric highs to gut-wrenching lows. At first, I thought I could outsmart the market. I made trades, confident in my “skills,” only to lose more than I gained. Bitcoin didn’t care about my ego or my plans. It was a mirror, reflecting my arrogance and showing me just how little control I really had. Slowly, I learned to detach—to stop chasing the price and start appreciating the protocol for what it was: a system bigger than me, beyond my control, and yet profoundly fair.
Then came the lesson of responsibility. I’ll never forget the day I transferred my first significant amount of Bitcoin to my hardware wallet. The weight of it hit me like a ton of bricks: there was no help desk, no “reset password” button, no institution to call if I messed up. It was terrifying, but also liberating. For the first time, I realized what true sovereignty felt like. But with that sovereignty came a humbling truth: I had no one to blame but myself if I failed. Bitcoin forced me to take accountability for my actions—a lesson that spilled over into other areas of my life.
As I dug deeper, I started to understand Bitcoin’s incentives. Miners, Lightning nodes, developers—all acting in their self-interest, yet somehow creating a system that benefits everyone. It was a revelation. I began to see how my own ego had often blinded me to collaboration, to the idea that aligning individual goals with collective good could create something far greater than the sum of its parts. Bitcoin taught me that self-interest doesn’t have to be selfish. It can be channeled toward something meaningful, something that uplifts rather than tears down.
The hardest lesson, though, was letting go of my pride. Bitcoin doesn’t care who you are, how much money you’ve made, or what titles you hold. It operates on math, consensus, and immutable rules. The protocol humbled me in ways I didn’t expect, showing me that my worth wasn’t tied to external accolades but to my values, my integrity, and my ability to grow.
And grow I did. Bitcoin’s ethos of long-term thinking seeped into my mindset. I stopped chasing instant gratification—not just in investing, but in life. I began valuing patience, discipline, and the kind of legacy that takes years, even decades, to build. It wasn’t just about stacking sats anymore; it was about building a life rooted in principles that would outlast me.
Along the way, I started to see parallels between Bitcoin and life’s deeper lessons. Just as the protocol acknowledges human imperfection and channels it into something productive, I began to accept my own flaws. I learned to forgive—myself and others—because, like Bitcoin miners following incentives, we’re all just doing our best with the systems we’re in. I learned to love more openly, to let go of the petty need to always be “right,” and to find joy in contributing to something bigger than myself.
Today, Bitcoin is still part of my life, but it’s no longer just about the technology or the wealth it can generate. It’s a philosophy, a teacher, a constant reminder that while I’m only human, I can strive to be better. It taught me to let go of my ego, to embrace responsibility, to think long-term, and to align my self-interest with the greater good.
Bitcoin didn’t just change my finances—it changed me. And for that, I’m grateful.
We are all human, shaped by the beauty and frailty of our nature. Each of us is prone to mistakes, imperfections, and moments of weakness. Sin—whether seen as moral failing, selfishness, or harm caused by our actions—is a part of this shared human condition. We stumble, sometimes intentionally, other times unknowingly, driven by our desires, fears, or ignorance. This is neither unique nor shameful—it is what makes us human.
Bitcoiners, perhaps more than most, are deeply familiar with this truth: humans will act in their self-interest. Bitcoin mining, as a system, brilliantly acknowledges this reality. Mining creates a set of incentives and rules that align the self-interest of participants with the broader health of the network. Miners follow the protocol not out of altruism, but because doing so aligns with their interests. Attempting to deviate from these rules—cheating or breaking consensus—comes with costs. Cooperation is the most rational path.
This system mirrors something profound about human nature: while we are prone to selfishness, we can build structures that encourage and reward better behavior. In the same way that mining incentivizes honesty and adherence to the protocol, religious teachings have long sought to guide people toward transcending their flaws, seeking forgiveness, and striving for love and compassion. Both systems acknowledge that humans are imperfect but capable of aligning their actions with higher principles when motivated appropriately.
The beauty of Bitcoin is not that it assumes people are perfect, but that it works because we are not. It aligns incentives in a way that mirrors life’s larger lesson: while we are inherently flawed, we are capable of choosing paths that lead to greater good. Whether through faith, systems like Bitcoin, or personal growth, this striving to transcend our limitations is a testament to the resilience and potential of the human spirit. It is in forgiveness that we find peace, in love that we glimpse the eternal, and in systems like Bitcoin that we see how imperfect humans can still create something profoundly just.
we need a karaoke client, you all are obsessed, maybe tidal can provide the songs to get stream counts up, its nostr compatible already, right? nostr:npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m (is this the right one, because fifteen jacks just popped up)
connect it to hivetalk.org for nostr group video rooms or something
Nostr Karaoke Bar client :D
working on something like that :)
zaps are cool but have you tried public payments? 😎
💜💜
nostr:note10lsrhss2tv2870v0clm4pc2mfdh7kqzl4ftmm5kft7r6vwgeyk8s9dz8c2
there is people that get into Bitcoin because they love money.
there's people that get into Bitcoin because they hate money.
GM
Thank you God for blessing us with the beauty of life
when I'm in a good mood: "actually I only pay attention to bitcoin"
when I'm in a bad mood: "gtfo of my booth!"
Being here again after 10 year.
No man ever steps in São Paulo twice, for it's not the same city and he's not the same man
GM 🇧🇷
November on a t-shirt 😎
GM
time to spread Bitcoin by playing nostr:npub1kd3nlw09ufkgmts2kaf0x8m4mq57exn6l8rz50v5ngyr2h3j5cfswdsdth and using nostr:npub1qf9pur8yz8e8w78ap6255fx9x6xrakm2jgmqyv063l9365p7sdcs5fauu5
