How Has Steem Impacted My Life: an unstructured journey

in LeoFinance4 years ago (edited)

What was the impact of Steem in your life ever since you became part of the Steem family and why you would recommend it over a similar project?

 
This was the question @theycallmedan asked in his How Has Steem Impacted My Life initiative. Honestly, I am not even sure where to begin, but perhaps it is where it started.

In the beginning...

I will only tell this briefly as a recap, but I came onto Steem through someone who knew the financial problems my family faced, and also knew that I could write if motivated. My daughter and wife were physically struggling and I was working all I could while still caring for both of them, living in a haze on about 2 hours of broken sleep a night. We had just found out that my daughter would need a special formula due to her allergies that would not be covered by our private insurance or social services and was twice the monthly cost of our mortgage.

You know those times where you just need a break in life? After a complicated pregnancy, a disaster delivery and 6 months of incessant work day and night - life wasn't going to give us that break.

Along came Steem...

It started here with this post.

Human

 
And I didn't know it at the time, but I think that the sentiment of that first post is why I have found my place on Steem. For most of my life I have been searching for what makes me unique, what separates me from the person next to me as I have never been skilled, never had a party trick that was my own to differentiate me from the group - I have always been average at many things.

Which seems to be my thing.

That first post led onto another and then another and after predicting that I would post once a week, soon it became daily, then multiple times a day. And they got longer and the topics more varied. I do not read, I don't watch the news - all of my content is me, my experiences, my observations and my thoughts about this world in which we live. At one point, I commonly had over 40 posts active at a time, and I think only once in nearly four thousand main posts have I added one without words - an image.

I am a private person, a reserved person, a person who has never taken the spotlight.

I have a fear of success and we live in a world that is increasingly and perhaps always controlled by the confident, the ones who will take the proverbial bull by the horns regardless of their ability to act well, to act in the best interest of anyone other than themselves, no matter the cost. That is not me, nor will do I see it ever being me - but I have to grab a horn because if I don't and we don't, we have no right to complain about where we are in the is world, or where we end up.

Responsibility...

Despite many challenges, life has been one of largely looking after myself and from a very young age my future was in my hands - and I wasted the opportunity. Freedom reigned over by an immature is unlikely to reach potential. With no guidance, I suffered a lack of focus, couldn't find my thing and had no one there with the sensitivity to observe and support my areas of interest.

While I had overcome many things before I reached Steem, once I got running here, I couldn't stop. The potential to explore, learn and most importantly create our own world on Steem is enormous. When people struggle here, it isn't because of the payouts, the community, the UI or the UX, it is because they don't have a fucking clue who they are yet. You are not defined by anyone other than yourself - wake up and take responsibility for your shit.

The creatives...

Being on Steem made me realize how much of my life was being wasted consuming while I am a creator by trade, like every motherfucking one of us in this world. Our purpose is to create. Yes, we consume also, but past the needs of life, our consumption diet is there to support our creative mind and body and, everyone of us has an artist inside, no matter our background, education level or economic position in life - we are creators.

We talk about censorship in the world and what we fail to realize is that the largest case out there is the suppression of the free artist within each of us, hidden from the world because we believe ourselves inadequate. Instead, we have been convinced to give up on our imaginations and consume the creations of others, but make no attempt ourselves because we can't compete with the best the world an offer.

As if competition is the point of our creative imagination.

SMTs and communities are coming to Steem and with them, the possibility to rediscover who we are as creatives across a plethora of topics and niches that may be insignificant to all others in the world, but a narrow few or even perhaps, a minority of one. Us as the individual. It is funny how many think this is all about economic value - this is about taking ownership of our world and the power to not only reimagine it, but rebuild it into something that nurtures and encourages us to create, not consume. Creation takes many forms.

Control...

I do not want to control anyone, but I do want to have control over myself, my actions, my emotions, my reactions, my outcomes. Not everything can be controlled and a lot lays outside of my grasp, but I have learned a great deal more about myself on Steem through interaction and reflection through writing than I have in the walking world that gives little space for anything other than chasing survival.

Survival is no longer making ends meet, although that has to be factored in. Survival for me is now freeing the self to be the creative force and whilst doing so, help others along the way. It is incredible how many waste this opportunity laid out in front of them as they complain and moan about their immediate desires not being met. Your blog is yours on Steem in a way that it is like nowhere else on the internet - your experience through it is yours as well. You want ownership - own your own damned experience.

Community values...

Having a childhood spent largely alone meant that I looked after myself a lot and this meant that I also rarely relied on people for my existence, if I needed or wanted something, I had to find a way to get it. This meant that community for me was largely absent. But, I knew it was important to me and as a result, I was a social butterfly, never painting myself into one group, one genre, one background or perspective. Instead, I learned all I could from all I could.

Some people have wondered how I can write so much across topics and the answer is simple. I do not spend much of my time consuming engineered content, I spend my time listening to people, their stories, their challenges and the things that motivate them to act or remain passive. While we all want to be discovered for a talent we hold, we all fear being discovered for what we truly are and the internet has given people a space to drive one and hide the other. In so doing, it has segmented what was once community and turned it into the world's largest pissing contest, no matter how augmented the reality.

A life of real...

And perhaps this is where I should start to end this - AUTHENTICITY I am not the smartest cat or the sharpest tool, but Steem has provided me a space to be me unreservedly, even though my identity is known. It is a risk, it is a gamble that the future will treat what I have done immutably in the past kindly, that those who read this in the years to come will understand that all of it was written in a volatile and ever-changing world, from the eyes of simple man that changes along with it.

Steem is more than a place to shout into the void to find some semblance of relevance as a person, it is a place to have my voice heard by those who may find solace in the struggle, motivation in between the lines and solidarity with a mind and heart that is not so different to their own.

One day, I want my daughter to be able to read through this mountain of text and find herself as she connects with a father that she will have never known, because like it or not - we hide ourselves the most from our children as we do not want to be lesser in their eyes.

The risk of it all...

We talk about the risk of Steem failure, the risk that the value of the token will never raise, the risk that the competition will overtake us, the risk of development stalling, the risk of users leaving, the risk of government interaction and the risk that we are all wasting our time.

Time is never wasted doing what is loved and trying to build a better world.

If Steem hasn't impacted upon your life -

You are doing it wrong.

 
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]

Onboarding

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I still remember the moment when, at the closing dinner in Krakow in the salt mine, you stepped up to the table in the middle row and asked if the seat next to me was still free. I said yes out of politeness, but at that moment I thought, who is this guy? After a short time it became clear that the top author of Steem is sitting next to me. It was a great honor and I will never forget this evening. Steem On :-)

the honor was all mine. Steemfest was great as it allowed me to put real people to the names that I had admired on steem for a long time. Thank you for letting me sit down :)

its amazing to read this. I imagine the real honor sitting next to him myself!

Easily the best thing I've read this year :P

Connected with me on numerous points, but this one probably takes the cake:

I want my daughter to be able to read through this mountain of text and find herself as she connects with a father that she will have never known, because like it or not - we hide ourselves the most from our children as we do not want to be lesser in their eyes.

I know I've said it before, but aside from my greedy self, I want good things here for you and yours the most. Thanks for being here :)

Easily the best thing I've read this year :P

Since you haven't been around much the last 13 days... I'll take it! :D

And as I have said before, if it happens for me, it happens for all of us, literally thousands of lives changed globally by Steem. I hope we don't screw it up.

I’ve been around a lot, just spying more than anything else.

Yes you have, I just like hearing the potential we have here 😬

I reckon there are many lurkers creeping at the moment.

Decentralize apps make everything more distributed... Hopefully the world can heal by this means...

the apps are going to be the funnels in, in the same way that they drive people to buy phones.

Tweet Impact

Your freaking tweet wordplays are as entertaining as the posts XD

!ENGAGE 10

Yay!

what do I do with these

I will run out of Tweet puns eventually.

A likely story.

A tweet as old as time.

See. SEE.

I just looked up when Twitter launched to see how old the tweet as old as time would be and it's the same age as my daughter x_x

wow... you are old!!! ;D



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It's been a long while since I last had such a good read.

Thanks and thanks for supporting the initiative as I think it is one of those that when people take part, they will be grateful for more than they think here.

Man I'm glad we have users like you on this platform which for the most part brought, retained and rewarded the wrong kind of people. I'm certain that will change over time, though.

It really is appreciated. One of these days all of the BS of these early years will be long gone history, along with many of those who have caused it :)

Remember how I wrote a year or so ago that you will be top 10 Steemian in 5 years or less. Now you have reached the top in my mind. I know genius when I see one.

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Humbled by the undeserved praise :)

5 years from now this place has the potential to unearth and reward the real talents of the world, and I want to be part of that future.

Hope you are doing well, mate.

Thank you! Like you, creating every day. Something is wrong with me if I don't do anything creative in a day.

It has become part of my life process now I think and if I don't create something, it feels like my day has not been used well enough. Strange in a world that encourages avoiding work at all cost.

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Your story made me cry I don't know why, but I think I identify myself at some point ...
Although I am professional, I still do not feel satisfaction or recognition but it is not about the economic.
Very recently I started on steemit although in parallel I write in a blog.
I think that by getting a vote or a comment you usually lift the mood and that's good
thanks for sharing

Although I am professional, I still do not feel satisfaction or recognition but it is not about the economic.

I have the sense that this is becoming more and more common. Perhaps in the past we turned a blind eye to being content by filling our world with material things - but now the emptiness of it is too obvious to turn away from.

I hope that you find peace in what you do, or at least some balance :)

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Hi @tarazkp, I've been following you for a while now, and even though I speak Spanish I take the time to translate your content.

I have been struck by the amount of content you generate, but I found the explanation when I read you, you only flow apparently without filter to express what you feel and think and that is what makes you unique.

I'm new to steemit and I've never experienced what it was like to create content, I just limited myself to facebook and getting here was something similar to your story, the need brought me to steemit, I still find it difficult to express myself with agility because I think a lot about what I'll send to the world and I'm afraid of making mistakes, hurting, and leaving nothing positive behind.

But this contest has motivated me to participate, and I will also make a post because as you mentioned if steemit has not changed your life you are doing it wrong. Greetings from Venezuela.

I still find it difficult to express myself with agility because I think a lot about what I'll send to the world and I'm afraid of making mistakes, hurting, and leaving nothing positive behind.

I wonder how many think the same and what they are actually doing is limiting the world by not adding their voice into the fray. Like anything in this world, small steps lead to the greatest of revolutions.

If we're human anyway, we're allowed to be wrong, right.

It is part of the human condition. :)

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Hello, thank you very much!

This has been an impressively inspiring post. I glad I started following you recently, you are enriching my daily reads.

I resonated with the most of the content, but this quote impacted me the most.

We talk about censorship in the world and what we fail to realize is that the largest case out there is the suppression of the free artist within each of us, hidden from the world because we believe ourselves inadequate.

I learned about steem over a travel blogger. Yes, I want to do that too. However, as I spend more time on the platform. Interest has shifted quite fast. Motivation for the post rewards, into truly having a space to share ideas with are not likely to be censored. Ironically enough, I'm my first censor. Dreaming about a high quality content, and then preventing me from trying due to the high expectation.

You are not defined by anyone other than yourself - wake up and take responsibility for your shit.

Enlightened by your posts, I'll work on getting some content out. Through self expression I should arrive to the point where I know myself. If it happened to you that way, I should reach the same place following your footsteps.

Interest has shifted quite fast. Motivation for the post rewards, into truly having a space to share ideas with are not likely to be censored.

It seems to be a common effect on the platform where people come in expecting to add and take from one area, but spiral out fast. Definitely one of the benefits here.

Ironically enough, I'm my first censor. Dreaming about a high quality content, and then preventing me from trying due to the high expectation.

It is one of those just start things. Once started, it can develop very fast and expand wider.

Through self expression I should arrive to the point where I know myself. If it happened to you that way, I should reach the same place following your footsteps.

I believe that it happens for us all this way, it is just that much of our time is spent avoiding the self-examination. I wonder if we are scared by what we will find or, scared we will find nothing of value.

Good luck and enjoy it all!

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The fear that steem fails still hunts me...but I feel every passing day makes it less likely. The way I see it, steem only fails if the whole cryptoverse fails

The way I see it, steem only fails if the whole cryptoverse fails

This is part of what I am counting on as I think if Bitcoin gets adopted, Steem is highly likely to join the ranks of supported coins and blockchains. We have a lot of power over this outcome.

Jesus...who the fuck asked?

Will you make a post about how Steem has impacted your life? I think it would be pretty interesting since you are one of the first users and one of the only ones still active from the very early days.

I have, and do everything I could want in life. That doesn't require a post.

Glad to hear that you are doing well mate.
I am not there yet, but it must be nice to have that kind of freedom available.

I apologize, I copied the wrong hive tag.

🤪

need to get my shit together... though it was late at night :)

Downvote incoming.

I deserve it.

What a wonderful post. You definitely belong here and we need more members like you!

Thanks, it is appreciated.

Being on Steem made me realize how much of my life was being wasted consuming while I am a creator by trade, like every motherfucking one of us in this world. Our purpose is to create.

Here here! Our society places so much value on passive consumption, it turns people into a lot of mindless drones. Creative endeavors give people purpose, and having a purpose reduces all sorts of societal problems like depression.

it turns people into a lot of mindless drones.

While we are still able to cherry pick the best globally, things look relatively creative, but I believe that the average is lowering as we all consume from the same sources.

Creative endeavors give people purpose, and having a purpose reduces all sorts of societal problems like depression.

I believe so, especially those that encourage collaboration.

I have always been average at many things.
Which seems to be my thing.

Oh, my friend. You are anything but average. You are one of the few that sets the bar here. I was impressed and intimidated by your writing, what you wrote, how you got there and the passion in which each post is delivered.

And that trend continues today. You are such a prolific writer, I actually have to make an appointment to read yours. That is a good thing and I jest a little. Maybe.

You are full of good advice and always willing to answer all of your comments,no matter how big or small. You remain one of my favorite writers - I know I keep saying that, but, it is true and I am so glad you found Steemit and took that step. I hope all things good for your family and that things continue to do better.

Have a great week ahead!

!tip .20

I am really glad that you enjoy my writing and stop by often, especially considering how busy you are on the platform :)

You are full of good advice and always willing to answer all of your comments,no matter how big or small.

It is something that I found is very important for the experience here. A lot post and run, not caring about what happens for the audience as long as they get enough reward for it. Part of the reward on Steem is being able to engage with the audience and vice versa in a way that many other medias don't seem to encourage as they are set up for celebrities to take the limelight.

Definitely looking forward to better family situations and I hope you have a great week also :)

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Your story is very inspirational, makes me glad that you found happiness and hope writing in this world called Steemit 😊

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It is a great place to explore, write and meet people. Have fun :)

I hope I’m doing it right. Are 8 year olds allowed to join Steem

Well, technically anyone can join, but countries have laws I think. If I remember, it is 13 in the US.

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Thank you for sharing this post. Being yourself and do what you really want is the way to be happy. Your thoughts touched me.

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Thanks for stopping by. I don't comment often, but I have enjoyed your watercolours :)

I was assuming that this would be two-three lines of text and this image:
image.png

I will edit it in later.

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@tarazkp Heya, according to me this is the story of every dedicated steemian. It has helped all of us to be a better person... Being on steemit is made me very responsible and gifted me the skills!!! undoubtedly beginning is always difficult and being consistent helps us to deal with problems and give us potential!!!
Good luck for your future articles!!! Keep steeming and one last thing that I would really appreciate and feel good if you go through my content and give your review!!! Thanks 😊

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Awesome content to say the least. Enjoyed every second of it...

Thanks :)

We are creators.

All of us.

@tarazkp. You story did resonate well with me. Thanks for sharing.

No worries.

Awesome 👏

Conmovedor. no pense que encontraria publicaciones de este tipo aqui. Has llegado a donde tenias que llegar

Me alegra que lo hayas disfrutado.

That's really full of inspiration, thanks for sharing your best one.

Will you write one of your own?

Steem has a great impact in my life, and i try my best to share it in my blog, Hope you will love to read it.

I'm @jonwrites and recently started a Steem account. I hope to get the same impact made available through Steem. My writeup also aim to add impact and rhythm to the society. Thanks

Good luck with your endeavours. A large part of success here is consistently producing engaging content and interaction. It generally takes time and many give up before they have put enough in.

Thank you.

All the best for the future!

Follow me please

Well done, I've listened to your post via MacBook and text to speech :D, I'm impressed :D

Did I have a pretty voice? :D

Congratulations @tarazkp!
Your post was mentioned in the Steem Hit Parade in the following categories:

  • Comments - Ranked 5 with 79 comments
  • Pending payout - Ranked 1 with $ 112,35

steemit should launch its own exchange

I think in time there will be several more launched on Steem.

The feel good article of the year already.. Except for that one part where it's dictated that those "struggling" here are less self actualized than "successful" steemians and need to "wake up and take responsibility for their shit"..

I would contend that as you eluded to in your conclusion that ones enjoyment is the watermark of success here and I did enjoy this post. But, felt the judgemental holier than thou bit stole from the actual value of your heartfelt and intimate post..

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Everyone struggling in whatever they do in the world, needs to take responsibility for their life. You might not agree, that is fine.

Enjoyment is always personal, which is why there are some pretty strange fetishes in the world.

I can agree with that. It just came off a bit harsh the way you injected that bit in regards to steem. As a macro perspective or philosophical stance that life is what you make it I agree. Your stance in relation to steem essentially cuts off all developing people from enjoying the fruits of steem. (we are all growing)
Different strokes for different folks..

Not at all, unless you take it that way, which obviously you do. Just remember that your experience is not everyone's experience on Steem or in life. Regardless of how happy or bitter you may be, someone else doesn't have to live your frame.

It's amazing all the talent that can be found here on Steemit, your story really is very moving! and even more, it is motivating! really your talent is amazing, many times we believe to be invisible, that the world sees us as one more number, but people like you show that with talent and dedication everything is possible! Congratulations! Greetings from Venezuela!

$trdo

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For readings like these, I am slowly getting involved in Steemit. I really congratulate its author. It conveys hope that is just what most people need today. Congratulations once again.

Getting involved is easy, post and comment. Have fun :)

Very nice 👍

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Let steem impact my life also in this 2020! I need support from you all!

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It is a game of give and receive ;)

Very impactful! I was doing it wrong until I was not in this platform. ie Steem.

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