
Nine years?! How could it be?
My origin story will forever be emblazoned in my memory. I caught wind of a blockchain-based blogging platform in a Facebook self-improvement group, ChooseYourself, I belonged to in 2016. I had no idea what blockchain even was at the time. I’d heard about Bitcoin around the time of the Housing Crisis but didn’t own any myself or even know anyone who did. I mainly was just looking for another place to promote my writing.
Around late May of 2016 I joined the waitlist for the platform. A week later I received my invite, and then promptly locked myself out, got super frustrated, and forgot about it. A few weeks passed and a friend from Facebook asked if I had ever joined. This prompted me to send an email to the devs on July 5th to get my account unlocked and I did. I began blogging that same day, and I’ve never really stopped.
A few weeks later, around mid-to-late July, my posts started to gain attention and over the course of the next few years a succession of dreams came true. Sometimes I still can’t believe how profoundly this community has changed my life. For better, and sometimes worse, for once in my life I can say that I know what it feels like to win.
As I’m typing this I’m in a state of shock that almost a decade has just vaporized. I was a completely different person when I began my journey here. I didn’t have many wrinkles, my hair was still dark. I was working a dead-end cubicle job keeping track of every penny and squirreling away as much as I could for my “golden years”. My days were fueled by faith and vague dreams of that might writing would, someday, somehow be discovered.
Back then I was a tad more optimistic but I was also still blissfully naive about how the world actually worked. So many great and memorable characters have come and gone from this platform. I miss each and every one in different ways. But if this place has taught me anything it’s taught me that nothing stays the same and that is a good thing. I’ve become a better writer, a better person, and my worldview has changed completely since starting this journey.
The past nine years have been such an incredibly wild and rewarding ride—full of excitement, chaos, education, despair, friendship, growth, treachery, debate, frustration, and sparks of euphoria. Name an emotion and I’ve probably experienced it here, the whole gamut. During this time I've come to truly know myself and started actively working on the things I saw and didn't like.
Even more valuable, I’ve gained the kind of genuine optimism that a person can only have when the veil has been parted and you catch a glimpse of truth. I’ve grown up. This can be disorienting and a little painful at first but the truth does change us, makes us stronger, and it makes us whole—it’s a true superpower. I have Hive to thank for that as well.
No one knows what the future will bring but we can all be grateful for the here and the now—and that I truly am.
I could go on and on but I won’t bore you. I mainly just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who’s supported me here over the past nine years, your friendship has meant the world to me. A special thanks to @steemed who saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. If you're reading this I still owe you that beer, by the way.
Opening the laptop nearly every day and posting has become such a part of my daily routine. Writing here has been my anchor and my constant. According to the stats I’ve written over 20,000 posts (can that even be right?) in the past nine years. Interacting with friends here has gotten me through some incredibly tough times and made the good times infinitely better.
In honor of this nine year anniversary I’d like to repost a link to the article I recently wrote Nine Reasons Absolutely Everyone Should Be Blogging on Hive. Much love to you all and, remember, make the most of your days and the years will take care of themselves.
All for now. Thanks for reading.

I remember the first texts of yours that I read. I told my friends about them. It was normal that your reflections came up in some conversations I had with my friends, even with my students. Now I don't remember which poem it was, but once I read one of your poems to my students and at that moment I said: a friend wrote this text. A friend, I said. One of the many things that HIVE has left us are the friendships we have made around here, which otherwise would have been impossible. Life is not wrong: I had to meet you. I send you a congratulatory hug, which symbolizes all the gratitude and admiration I feel.
That means a lot Nancy! Thank you so much. How humbling that you read one of my poems to your class! I consider you a friend as well.
Muchas felicidades por este nuevo aniversario en @hive.
Yo acabo de cumplir 3 años y me parece mucho tiempo. Imagine usted que lleva ese tiempo multiplicado por tres.
Para mí ha sido un placer haberlo conocido y hacerlo parte de mi familia digital. Aprender de usted, leer sus poesías, participar en sus iniciativas y ser parte de los que queremos seguir mejorando este mundo.
Gracias por todo lo que ha hecho en todos estos años.
Escribo en español porque no tengo conexión ni corriente y no puedo utilizar traductor.
Feliz cumpleaños en el ecosistema.
Salud y saludos
Gracias y agradezco tus amables palabras. Ha sido un placer conocerte a través de la iniciativa Lunes de Memorias. Hive realmente une a las personas y la cultura. ¡Que tengas un buen día!
Congrats! I am glad you stuck it out and I am glad our paths crossed here. I wish I would have gotten started sooner. I really miss not being able to get that growth out of the first two years when things were really pumping here.
Thank you man. I'm glad our paths crossed as well. Those early days were incredible. Sometimes, when I think about it, it still doesn't seem real. How did you find your way here?
My wife's cousin @robrigo was one of the earlier adopters and he was running a witness node for a while. He was in the process of powering down when he got me onto the platform. It's too bad too because he had a pretty big account and it would have given me a good boost assuming he had voted for me. Instead I had to do it all the old fashioned way! Probably makes it a bit more sweet, but those early upvotes would have been nice!
I remember him! Getting the attention of the whales was the difference between success and obscurity in that first six months. There were account-holders working with the whales to actively scout out talent that they felt might give the platform visibility. It's good that we have more of a meritocracy and rewards are evenly distributed now.
Yes, it is good that things are a little different now.
Awwwwww congratulations @ericvancewalton this was so heartwarming to read. Showing up here every day for nine years is amazing.
Well done friend, we are all happy to have you here🥰🥰
Thanks Tammy! Those years have gone by in a blink but so much change has happened.
I can totally relate. I've been here for two years plus and I can say that a lot has changed.
Congratulations Eric, and you have certainly been around the block on Hive.
Well done my friend!
!BEER
Around the block and then some! Lol. Thank you my friend.
I know that you will just add many more years on.
Congrats again!
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It's obvious that Hive has been more than just a platform for both you and us; it's been a life changing experience. Thanks for sharing your story. Congrats!
Thank you!
And we're all better people for having known you! I am delighted you are here. Congrats on your nearly-a-decade on Hive.
I appreciate that @owasco! You and I have had a lot of great discussions in the comment sections over the years. I always get a tinge of excitement when I see you've posted because I know that it'll make me think or see something from a slightly different perspective. Thank you!
Wow, nine years! Happy Hiversary Eric, that's just awesome.
To think you were still working at a boring job back then It is simply amazing what youve done.
I cannot imagine this place without you, we are blessed indeed.
Thank you Lizelle! I really appreciate the kind words. I'm blessed for having met people from all over the world, like you. I somethings try to envision what my life would be like without this place and it makes me shudder. I remember being so fixated on saving for retirement and hitting the 25 year mark at the insurance company. Employees who worked there for 25 years became part of the "Northstar 25 Club" and were invited back for an annual dinner every year. A new CEO was hired the last few years I was there and started "restructuring" the company during my last year of employment. Most of the tenured employees were offered buyouts or were let go so I doubt I would've ever made it to 25 year anniversary anyway. More likely, I would have been nearly 50 years old and jobless with very little to show for it if I had stayed on that path.
Your story is so very inspiring Eric!
What a lucky escape, life would have been so mundane!
Yours truly is a Hive fairytale. You should write a book (autobiography??) about what a change the world of crypto blogging brought to your life!
Have a wonderful weekend my friend!
Thanks Lizelle. Sometimes it still doesn't feel real and I don't think that feeling will ever really leave me. Maybe someday I'll put this story to "paper". It's weird having such an unconventional path to success! A lot of folks probably wouldn't even believe it. Thank you and I wish you a wonderful weekend too! It's Independence Day here today so everything is closed and it already feels like the weekend. : )
More reason to write the book😉
Happy Independence Day!
Oh, this is so beautiful. I should ask you how the clouds feel like over there after being here this long. And I could relate deeply to feeling every emotion there is in your nine years here. How's it going to be for me? Eagerly anticipates...
You're a gem on this Blockchain, Eric. Happy 9th anniversary.🥳🥰❤️
Thank you very much!
Congratulations! That is quite a milestone! I wish I have found out about Hive earlier...
Much appreciated! I'm glad you eventually found your way here. How did you discover Steemit/Hive?
I discovered it via Splinterlands. My account is almost 4 years old, but I did hardly anything on Hive the first three years! Basically I started about a year ago.
I'm not far behind you. Similar story. I could write tens of thousands of words.
Where do you see us in nine years?
Oh yeah, August of 2016! That was still super early and got to ride that initial wave (more like a tsunami). I don't think the platform saw its first real dip until after the first SteemFest in November. I remember people were legitimately panicking when the tokens took that first plunge. That was most peoples' first experience with a crypto bear market. A lot of folks quit then thinking it was all over.
Where do I see us in nine years? Hmm, that's a tough one to predict. Barring any massive cryptocurrency regulatory changes, I think the answer to that question depends on all of us. If more people realize the true value of Hive as a virtual community and not just look at it as a way to make money then it will survive for decades to come.
I had a similar start to you. I joined, then abandoned my account for a few weeks / months, then started, and never really stopped. :D
I will write a similar post on my hive-avesary, and it will be heart felt, honest, and rambling. Hive has really helped me achieve a lot.
I'm happy to hear it's worked out so well for you!
Hello dear friend @ericvancewalton, good morning
I'm as excited as you are to read your post. I remember all those moments you mention. In a few days, I'll also be celebrating nine years with this wonderful company, which, like you, has changed my life.
Thank you so much for all your writings that you give us daily. You are a true inspiration.
Happy anniversary, my dear friends, may you continue for many more years on this wonderful journey.
Enjoy it!
Thank you Luis! I'm so happy that you've stuck it out for nine years. Sometimes patience and consistency really pays off. You've done well! How about we stick around for another decade or so? Cheers to you my friend!
Congratulations and great job on staying consistent!
Thank you!
Congratulations Eric!🎉 20K posts is impressive! You light up this place with your inquisitive posts, and I'm very grateful to have gotten to know you.
Thank you Krisz! I think that 20k includes comments as well. My actual posts might be closer to between 2-3k if I'm doing the math correctly in my head. I'm glad our paths crossed too! How did you find your way to Hive?
Congratulations to you, you have been working on blockchain technology for a long time. When we first came to know about it, we also did not believe it. A friend of ours told us about this technology. After that, I have been working regularly on this platform for three to four years. I also worked at the time of Steemit. There was a platform called Steem Hunt. I worked there for a long time. We will always remember all these memories because here we have found many special and sincere friends and even today we are happy to read their posts that they are enjoying their lives.
Thank you! I wasn't aware you were on Steemit as well! I remember Steem Hunt.
Congrats! You were here about a month ahead of me and it does seem amazing that it has been that long. Did we meet at a Steemfest? I've been to four of those events now. We have a great platform and a cool community. I am just waiting for the world to learn about it. Things will certainly change if millions join, but I'm up for the challenge.
!BEER
It's gone so quickly, hasn't it?! I think I do remember meeting you at the first SteemFest in Amsterdam. I presented at the Tobacco Theater and was only able to stay for two days (because I was still working) so that first one was a blur. I still have the photo from the closing dinner, I'll have to look for you in the picture. Did you make it to SF2 in Lisbon?
I wasn't at that first one. Lisbon was my first, then Krakow, Amsterdam (second one) and Split.
Oh, I must've been thinking of Lisbon then! I do remember meeting you. SF2 was a similar whirlwind because we were promoting the HardFork Series there. I'd love to actually go to a fest and just be a spectator and be able to focus on meeting people and hanging out. Unfortunately I won't be making it this year. If HiveFest '26 is somewhere within an 8 hour flight I think the odds are pretty good that I can make that happen. Krakow looked amazing.
I thought I remembered you in Lisbon. The whole thing blew my mind as so many people knew who I was. I probably won't go this year, but I will look into some European ones. I would rather not do long flights, but trains can be expensive.
Didn't you play guitar there? It was so much fun to meet everyone face-to-face and the food was incredible at the dinners. My wife and I took one day to do a side trip to Sintra to tour the town and the castle. We also took a day to see the presentations at the LX Factory. Yeah, anywhere in Asia is problematic for me. Western Europe is far more doable when flying from North America.
I played my ukulele and we had some other musicians there.
I wouldn't be keen on going to the US for now. There are a few events around Europe though. I went to HF in Amsterdam by train.
Time flies, eh? I didn't join till a year after you. Though I had heard about Hive earlier, the waiting list was long by the time I applied to join and my application wasn't granted for several months. Too bad I missed that wild first year, but oh well, it's been a great time since.
Too quickly, man. I think it took a couple of weeks for my membership to be approved. I don't know if they were actually vetting potential members at that point or just controlling the amount of people who were opening accounts. That first year was very chaotic, in both good and bad ways.
Happy Hiversary to you :-)
I got that achievement recently too, I even had a plan to write something about it but... as always; because of Hive I don't have time for that ;-)
Thank you! I'm sure helping to run this place can be very time-consuming. I've considered getting a node up and running. Maybe I'll look into that in the coming months.
Happy 9th anniversary
Thank you!
Woohhooo 🥳🥳 congratulations with your 9th year here.
A great milestone. To many more years!
!PIZZA
Thank you!
You are welcome 🤗
200,000 posts?! Wow. If that doesn't bring this milestone home, what does?
Happy Hiveversary, Eric. It's been such a tremendous pleasure knowing you and getting to interact with and learn from you down the years :) I was just thinking earlier today about my own (8th) anniversary coming up next month, and realizing as old as that sounds, all the people I looked up to when I first came here, yourself included, must be even older.
A whole decade almost. Who would've thought.
💯
So much here that rings true <3 I'm glad you're around. What a pleasure this has been to read. Cheers to you tonight, and hoping for at least another 9 :)
Thank you my friend! I'm thinking that 20,000 must include comments I've written as well because the math doesn't work out otherwise. : ) I've enjoyed watching you blossom into the awesome writer that you are, among the best here. You have something special, never forget that and try to preserve it as much as you can. Cheers! Let's hope this place continues to chug along at least for another decade, the world would be missing out if it didn't.
A happy congratulations to you, @Ericvancewalton! 9 years is such a long time to spend on a space where you barely know the people you interacted with. But you did, stuck by #Hive through these years with determination. I hope to achieve similar milestones in the future 🙏.
Thanks! After nine years you do get to know people pretty deeply.
I can’t imagine what nine years must feel like. Your story reminds me why I started posting here to share my thoughts and connect with amazing people.
It's had its ups and downs but has, overall, been very rewarding.
time flyes, ain't it?
Sure does!
Congratulations, 20,000 posts is too good, I barely have 1000 posts :)
Thanks! I think it's more like 2-3k posts, that 20k includes post comments I've written as well.
Nine years ... wow it is hard to believe we have been around that long.
It's crazy!
Seven years for me ... I would have placed it at 3. Very crazy:)
Wow, so much can change in 9 years. 20,000 posts is some serious commitment, very inspiring. Congrats on your anniversary!
Thank you!
Congratulations… 9 years blogging is a long time.
Thanks, it sure is!
Waoh, nine good years on the Blockchain, Bravo my boss. As you have rightly said, the nine years is not as smooth as one might imagine when looking at your achievements, it's been rough, smooth, fight, criticism, disappointment and all the rest one might think of, but above all, you are still here, consistency is the key no wonder you can be an example to others today. You have more years to go and the Blockchain still need your contributions, keep being a force for uplifting others.
!ALIVE
!INDEED
Thanks!
Great job 👍
Congrats on 9 years! I’m not even at 5 yet, and I took a long break myself (over a year), but seeing stories like yours definitely reminds me why I came back. Hive really is something special when you stick with it, it's more than a blogging blockchain.
I appreciate that! Yes, I've taken breaks myself. I think the longest break was about twenty days. I always ended up missing it though.
Haha 20 days sounds like nothing compared to my break 😅 but I get what you mean, once you’re away long enough, you really start to miss it!
9 years? Wow. Happy anniversary
Thank you!
$WINE
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Congratulations on 9 years. It's an a amazing feat. I'm just 2 months shy of 8 years myself.
Congrats to you for sticking to the platform till now, its a long journey which still continues. Keep sharing those fantastic posts.
Wow this is a really long time!
Wishing you lots of more years to be well and active 😇🌷
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