Several days ago I clicked over another year on the blockchain. June 13th marked the fifth anniversary of me beginning on Hive and began the sixth year. I really didn't think I'd be here for that long, but here I am.
My brother 
Thinking about my time here, I'm struggling to define exactly what it means, to me personally: A few crypto tokens that may not have much real-world worth, the ability to write what I think and feel and the engagement with people I might not have otherwise met. Sure, all of that, but I like to think it's been a little deeper than that.
No one here knows my story; yeah, there's a few who think they do but each only know snippets, or just their own perceptions. I know my real story though, I lived it and still do, and part of my story is the five full years I've spent here on Hive, writing about my story.
So maybe that's what gives being here real meaning...the fact that my life offline has been enhanced by it.
Whether I'm telling funny stories from my youth, writing fictions, engaging with the community through my contests and engagement concepts or just writing about my life, what I write is me; the only me I know how to be, and I know I'm far from perfect, indeed, I'd not want to be perfect even if it was possible.
I'm just me. My words, within the lines and between them, says so much, and yet people here won't understand anything but that which their perception tells them to believe, and rarely will people care enough to find out.
I don't care though, I do what I do here for me, for my happiness, to feel connected with my thoughts and to put them at arms length sometimes.
I don't care what people I don't know think about me. To some I'm a fool, a stubborn creature, even a Satan-worshiper, not that those who called me that will ever read this post...I've been called that and more though. I don't care however, because I know what I am. I know that I'll only ever be me, and I know that being me here is as important as being me in the offline world and despite my life not always going to plan I'm ok being plain old average me...here, and in real life.
I don't usually talk about my own statistics and figures but thought it might be relevant considering the milestone that has just passed a few days ago. So, here's a few.
Hive Buzz Ranking stats
Hive Buzz personal stats
These figures won't mean much to anyone and have no real relevance, they're just markers. I look at these figures and see consistency, persistence and an immense time-investment though.
It's interesting, I had someone tell me how easy it was for people with big investments - they assumed I had invested - but I came with nothing. I've earned almost 102,000HP directly through author and curation rewards and the rest was gained through trading...I'm proud of that as it shows a reward for the many thousands of hours I've put into Hive. But the HP I have is just another useless statistic really, I mean it doesn't matter to other people at all, just me. Hive Stats
I don't know where Hive is going, what may come of it. All I can comment on is the 1831 days I've been here so far, the 2,760 posts and 60,200+ comments I've made...What value has any of it had to others? I'll never know; maybe none. I'm just a small fish, not a large or high profile account, just a person a few other people engage with occasionally and that's ok by me.
What people truly think of me here doesn't really matter because those thoughts, good or bad, don't affect who I am or what I do. Who knows, in real life maybe they'd think differently...maybe the perception would be proven false, but then, maybe confirmed. It doesn't matter though because I find my own kind of value. I know the personal value I've gained here and am looking forward to rolling into my sixth year and finding more.
Thank you to everyone who engages with, and supports, me.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own
