Today marks my 84th day on Steemit, and to be honest I learned from scratch. I had minimal knowledge of tokens, alternative coin, or blogging. I am a true beginner in everything and that has been an interesting experience.
With the help from a contest here and there I have made some friends and that led to others. (We all love a good contest!) I have been fortunate to have found some very nice people who have upvoted my posts on a regular basis, along with encouraging my writing.
Initially, I felt that writing, community, and the no drama aspect was my main attraction to the Steemit platform. As mentioned, I never wrote on a blog before but I have written short stories, won scholarships and enjoyed writing creative non-fiction. I love photography too, so this platform seemed to fit.
What made me stay on Steemit
My answers have changed over the past few months, and after seeing whale flagging wars, people acting like high school kids, bullying and acting as if their wallet meant more than integrity or principles I have now progressed past the point of feeling that I am here for the community.
As much as I would love to say that I want to be here for the community and the very few people that I trust in this whale/dolphin tank --- I would have to say at this point I am staying on Steemit to improve my writing. I have found amazingly talented people who have guided me to open up my soul and improve my writing skills. I love them to pieces.
I am sort of beyond posting who these people are that I am interacting with all the time. Maybe because I barely got a response from my last posts from some, but also I really do not feel I want to go through a long list of people that may not really care. I have posted every day for 84 days, anywhere from two to four posts, and have raised no more than $2 USD each. For some, that is the typical and they may be discouraged but I encourage you to stick with the platform. I am a fighter and I have the belief that this momentum will change for the positive.
I may not ever get the attention of a whale, although I have for a second and then that one disappeared. So let me rephrase, I may not gain the attention of a whale again, but if this platform changes I am definitely sticking around for the rewards of all the work I have poured in, even if it has only been my time and endless writing.
Through my writing I have found my mental state improve, because I am not polluting it with television or constant social media on my iPhone. I actually think of ways to be creative by cooking, photography, or the next subject I will be writing about. My mental faculties are quicker and I am able to communicate more efficiently. Overall, Steemit has been a great platform in personal growth and expression.
What is driving me
I would like to say that Steem is driving me, and my hope that this funding would take me to the stars. In reality, a part of me still feels that this product is funny money. I would like to blow smoke up my own butt and say that we are all going to be millionaires. Yes, some of us may be and most likely that will be the ones that got in early like the whales and fatty dolphins. If the money comes my way, I will be grateful but there is that nagging feeling that for someone who lives in the United States this may not become a reality.
That said, I feel that I can help others through this platform and support those who live in a sustainable community or in a third world country. I would gladly devise a plan to combine forces and give to those in true need. That sounds a bit unselfish and maybe unlike the capitalist society I am programmed to live and breathe in. I honestly have the hope that whatever may come for all of us, I will be there to help those in dire need.
If I do strike it rich then I will have some amazing meet-ups with the people who helped get me here, and assist those that need help. I will not throw a clear win of investment profitability away or consider huge payouts a bad thing. However, I will not sell my soul or harm anyone in the process. I will always hold my integrity.
My goal for the near future would be to win a major writing curation and maybe that will take me a bit to figure out, but I am up for the challenge. The bottom line that truly drives me is improving my writing skill-set to the point where I may write that book everyone (most of my life) has told me I should write. Ultimately, that is not a bad goal to have on a blogging platform. Peace.
For more information on this contest, click here.