Bring on the fifth

It was January 2017 when I first started ignoring my brother, @tarazkp and his suggestions I start blogging on hive, [called something else at the time.] I wasn't interested but didn't have the heart to tell him to bugger off and leave me alone...So I just kept saying, ah ok, sounds interesting, I'll take a look. But of course I did not, that was simply code for bugger off with your talk of blogging for magic internet money nutbag!

To his credit he persisted, I guess because he cares about me and saw potential benefit in me being around on the platform. He continued to harangue me for another six months before finally I relented, more to shut him up than any real interest in hive, and I joined. I waited a week or so for my account to activate [I don't know why it took so long] and I wrote my first post - An introduction post I guess it was...And the rest is history...Because it happened in the past you see. 😁

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The journey begins

June 13th 2017 was my first post and I have posted, on average, 1.5 times for every day since - Posts of some 600-2000 words usually, and covering a lot of different topics - A glance through the 2200+ posts I've done will show you that. It has been enjoyable, the only reason I'm still here. Sure, it's been tough at times, I have to apply some effort to what I do here, but the overriding feeling is one of enjoyment and in my opinion that's what's required to be consistent on the blockchain.

So, I'm into my fifth year after four solid years of blogging here, commenting, engaging and building relationships, supporting people and communities, and generally applying my knuckleheadiness to the blockchain in my own, probably unique, way.

A few days ago my start-date, or anniversary I guess, occurred and it came and went largely unnoticed, hence my post today. Another dumb happy-hive-birthday post you say? Yeah probably, but my reason for doing it is a little deeper than that, or so I hope.

My reason

I'm still here because I enjoy it and the moment I stop doing so I will be gone - No ridiculous I'm quitting posts like some do, just gone never to be seen again.

Enjoyment keeps me here but what do I enjoy? Well, it's the ability to say what I want to say, what's on my mind, or just simply throw something down on a post to get it out there at arms length, see it from greater distance.

In doing so I've dropped many personal things here although only the smallest amount of me appears in the written word. To see me, the real me, you need to read between the lines - Some do, most do not and that's fine by me. Even for those that see it more clearly can only speculate or have perceptions mostly but that's ok right? I'm here for me and my own enjoyment so I don't mind. A rare few know me well though, and I cherish them.

I remember looking at my post rewards as a way to keep score in the very early days but soon decided that wasn't going to keep me around; It was the writing, the enjoyment of it, the relationships with people I met and engaged with and the ability to put my words down with relative impunity, a record of my thoughts at that time; Like I said earlier, putting the words out there so I may make better sense of them or the emotions that made me think them. I do it for me, not for advice from others. At times the blockchain becomes somewhat a place of catharsis for me and that carries great value. It's also a place I could drop my stupid stuff knucklehead stuff too...And I do.

The community

I do a few things to help support the community, have created three topic-specific communities, delegated HP to those who need it, promoted and supported individuals and have created a few concepts that are designed to inspire engagement and relationship-building. I'm certainly not the most active or powerful account around but I feel I help in my own small way and work to give a little back to a community that has been supportive of me over the years. It feels good to give a little and I hope it helps.

There's a lot wrong here, just like in the real world, but that's ok because there's a lot right to balance it out. It's like a mirror of the real world - People out for themselves, others happy to give a little, some wishing to game it and others wishing to support it. Upstanding people and bad actors; All are represented, as in real life. But there's only one me...Just as there's only one you. Combine all the me and you's together and it spells community. We're a community folks, like it or not. We're in it together.

The reason for this post

The reason is that I don't need a reason, it's the blockchain, my own blog and I can do as I see fit, just like those bad actors I mentioned above or the good people, the community-minded folk who actively work to support the community. But having said that...

I had hoped that a few words here, a demonstration that one can stay in one's lane, blog, have some fun, get involved, find enjoyment and a little financial reward also may help others see that they could too.

Sure, we could all make it about ourselves, the what's in it for me ethos, but I feel there's more to be gained by becoming a more integral part of the community, by engaging with others, building relationships and supporting one another. It's possible you know, I do it, others do it...We all can. Being humble and kind becomes a habit and ripples outwards.

So that's about all I wanted to say; Another mindless hive-birthday post maybe, but I hope one that comes with a message that someone finds as a a little inspiration from. Let's look for ways to better-engage, get on the radar of some other users and build relationships. We won't all get along, I'm not an idiot, but we can all be a part of the community nonetheless and I'd like to think everyone could give it a try...Maybe it's you writing a four year hive-anniversary post someday?

Enough said...Bring on year five.