This is an answer to "Who Do I Follow on Steem & Why" by @theycallmedan. It is hard to choose for only top 3, since there are more than three people who I follow and have changed my life for the better.
I strongly believe that the solid friendship that is forge here in SteemIt Community is the reason why we want to stay. And the friendship I have formed with the friends here is the reason why I chose to stay and be connected with them. I will have never met these people had I not joined in this community. And I never regret a bit!
I believe that friendship is not based on fleshly relationship. Though friends here in this community is virtual, but it is based upon my appreciation of the true worth of the ones I have befriended here.
@dswigle - Denise. She is the top of my list, because I have never met someone who is as kind-hearted and selfless person as her. As I keep telling her, her generosity always and always overwhelms me. She is the first person (whom I knew) who use @tipu to show some appreciation and support to the ones who gives comment to her musings and blogs. Once, when I host a contest, she reblogged my post and even tell it out to friends and followers so that it can gain some exposure. She also granted some donations to the prize so that my contest can continue. She is the most supportive friend that I can find!!!
Denise also writes musings and stories that can touch my deepest core. I remember crying while reading her blogs! Her musings often moves me to make an honest self-examination. 'Do I have a selfless spirit? Do I see people past their negative traits?'
I can really write on and on by how trully beautiful Denise is inside and out. She really is one of the precious gems in this community. This community will never be the same without her.
@atongis - Mark. I really found a friend in Mark. He is not very, very active now, like he used to be, because he just got married about two months ago. Well, I understand, we have priorities at some point in time.
Mark is one of the most patient individual I have met. If I have questions that I don't understand on Steem, and I have to call a friend, it would almost be automatically be 'Mark.' He patiently guides me with each step I have to make, sending screenshots to make sure that I can follow every single step of the way.
I knew that he is a friend when once I called him "sir" out of respect and politeness. But then he brought it up, "why sir?" For him, "sir" is too formal and too distant. It's not a friendly gesture. I laughed at his statement, and realized that he is a friend to the truest sense of the word! Him and his wife, el-dee-are-es, are in my topmost list of people who I want to cross the bridge from virtual friends to personal friends. Someday, I know we will.
@ninahaskin - Nina. She is one of the people I noticed in my early days on Steem. But recently we have formed this connection that we even personally messaging each other on Discord. She is one of the people who leaves not just "nice blog" or "great post" comment, but a comment that really would want to foster friendship. We can talk about anything from work, raising kids, and healthy drinks, and all that. I can't imagine Steem without this beautiful fellah!
I know it only has to be three, but can I really stay here on Steem with just three persons? Hahaha! 馃槀 Hardly! This is also a chance to say "thank you" to those friends who supported me along the way.
@hangin - Angelo. A very talented individual who would dumbfound me with his photography collections. We basically have the same set of friends, or same contests that we join, so we always bump into each other, and eventually become virtual good friends. He would visit my post regularly and show appreciation, and would talk about bits and tidbits about life.
@wakeupkitty - Kitty. She's a single mom and is battling with a sickness which I cannot comprehend. She is a strong warrior and her fighting spirit can be reflected in all of her post.
Most of the time, she tags me to contests and posts she feels I am capable of doing. I feel indebted to her willingness to support the minnows and others who are new and doesn't know what to do here on Steem.
@melinda010100 - Melinda, whom I fondly call Mel. She is a great support to almost all of us here on Steem, with her #ShadowContest, which runs as old as my stay here, and #FeatheredFriends, which is quiet new but has a lots of supporters as well. Without Mel's dedication in creating these contests which turned into little community, with people who shares the same passion, I will surely lack the support and inspiration I need to be motivated.
I can go on and on and on. But there are still some more.
There is also @purepinay who is a constant support. She is a fitness enthusiast, and I learned to take an extra care of my myself through her food blogs and exercise routines.
I also find support and inspiration in @olivia08. She is a mother who left her family to earn a living at a country far away from home. She is a hardworking woman who balances her time with work, blogging, and family. She really is an inspiration!
So, this is my list. I know, I will meet more beautiful people if I spend time to get to know more of them. Hence, it is my personal goal to engage and reach out to more friends, so as to form a strong friendship and connection that would all make us stay.
