I started out being fascinated with cryptocurrency since ever since bitcoin exploded. I always kept thinking what if I bought a couple back in 2010. I have already heard about it back then in 2010 and didn't pay much attention. I was busy playing games and running our small video store. Who would have known and no use kicking yourself for it. Since the explosion I kept my eye out for in the crypto world. Although I could not gamble any money to it. Being a dad with two kids makes us very cautious on our spending. Every little bit of money was budgeted just to get by.
Then I found about dogecoin thru reddit which pretty much is social media where you get tips. To the moon! Throwing away tips here and there and mined a little got me around 50,000 dogecoins. Some I converted over to GNT and still have around 6,000 dogecoins left. But it didn't really actually took us to the moon.
I was looking for something else. I searched one day for the top popular cryptocurrency and stumbled on Steem. I took time to find out what it was. To my surprise it was a blogging site and in return you get rewarded with Steem. Immediately I signed up with my wife. We waited for days and no email confirmation. I researched and found out that it may take a week or more before you get an email. After a week we finally got our confirmation and immediately signed in our accounts. From there I didn't know where to start, what to write, how to get noticed and what to share.
My first post is not worth showing which consists of one photo and tagged under funny. Earned $.02 with three comments I said to myself "I need to do better than that." Then I shared one of our past trips with a couple of photos and not much writing effort. From that post I earned $0.00 which didn't get me frustrated..... maybe just a little bit. I decided to do my introductory post with no photo with the date of confirmation with just three photos and not much effort I got $0.12 but the welcome was warm. I felt truly welcome as people were commenting on my post. I felt like it was the start of something big and realized that you need to interact with the people in the community.
I planned my next post and thought what is it that I really love. Movies, movies movies since we ran a small video store it is something that I love and would be great to share. I started the episode which is a review of an anime movie.
Watersnake101 pop corn munching time ep. 1 - 'The Red Turtle'
I got $.15 from it and with more comments which got me excited. I kept on doing movie reviews and during that time I also joined minnowsupport thru discord which got me an upvote of $0.65 on my posts and also I noticed that 
Months passed kept posting random photos, music videos and quit doing the movies reviews. I wanted something else as I did not feel fulfilled in what I was doing, seeing post reaching up to hundreds of dollars. I kept thinking how in the world did they get so much value on their posts. Maybe I should join challenges and contests. I revived my college passion in photography but with only a point and shoot camera. I said to myself I'll just try to find a good angle and let's see what happens. A new drive fueled me armed with the point and shoot camera we went out and took as much photos as I can and just share them.
Time came when we got a little money and asked my wife if we could invest on a mirrorless camera. She knew my passion and said yes. I searched for the best budget entry level camera that fits our budget and went for the Panasonic Lumix GX85. I was like a kid with a new toy and the moment we got home we immediately went out and and tooks some photos. The angel is one of the first photos that I took and felt I needed to shoot more to get more practice. One of my best buddies 
I met 
Days passed we now often go out and plan ahead what to cover for my post. One of the passion that grew is my love for church architecture and art. This is the first church we visited for the purpose of taking photos. It took me maybe an hour or two before we wrapped it up. This post and cover photo is something I would never forget. I did some effort to create the post and also did a little research about the church. My way of thinking changed after this post and that is to love what you are doing win or lose. Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! and love every moment in creating your content don't think about the payout.
Night outs with the family also gave me a chance to snap some photos for a content. Like hitting two birds in one stone which is spending time with the family while creating some contents for a blog. Be careful though as sometimes you might get too involved with your photos and forget that it is family time. Keep things in balance in that way everyone is happy.
Now this is one of the most important changes that happened this year for me. Bonding time with my daughter, getting practice with portrait photography and having fun with my daughter at the same time. This post was the start of our 
On this post I met 
Months passed and I was addicted. Posting everyday no matter what the payout was. I was caught in a different world and I would consider a secret world where not a lot of people knows about yet. I invited my close friends from the office to join in as I wanted them to feel what I was experiencing. It was a bit difficult to convince some of them as they kept asking where the money was coming from. I kept telling them that it is not easy in fact it is really hard starting from a minnow. Well that is the truth it is no overnight success but it takes hard work and devotion creating content. As for me it took me around 3 hours and up to sometimes the whole day. Sorting photos, researching, going out, thinking of stories and ideas. There are times you need to be a little bit crazy and be weird to get out what you want to express.
Then came the time with the great pump of the value of SBD. At first we were happy that the value is around the ratio of 1 SBD to 1 USD. We would never forget that morning on the kitchen table when my wife told me that the value rose up to $3 and wanted to cash out right away. I told her just to leave it as it is for now then thru the day it dramatically rose up to 7, 10,11 and 13 USD. That was the time we decided to cash out and enjoy what we worked hard for. What we bought a new refrigerator that was long overdue. I you would have a look at my post below you would see the old refrigerator that we had which is embarrassing. But money is hard raising a family the salary is just enough for food and utilities. Steemit made life a little bit easier to bear for a lot of people. A refrigerator may not be a big thing for a lot of people but to us it was a blessing. Something I could not imagine is possible by doing the thing that I love photography and blogging.
Life during that time was full of hope. With the earnings that we were getting I felt that if things go well I could quit my job and just focus on Steemit. Doing something that I really love doing, working yet you would not feel that you are working. You know what I mean. So many ideas ran thru my mind like traveling around places funded with the earnings. That would be the perfect life for us, enjoying while creating content.
With some of the SBD I bought my daughter a bear sweater that she always wanted to have. We decided to have a little fun with a photo shoot. We went to the park and on the way also brought some snacks to have a little picnic. As I took photos some scenes and a story was formed in my head. We we got home I gave life to the character of 
Engaging with the community is also a very important factor for growth. Here I met Steemians in our country just by reaching out thru discord in the 
Talking about bayanihan earlier which is a local curation team that promotes unity in our country. They helped me grow and in my earlier months I received much support from them. I used to wait every night for their upvote which never ceased to amaze me back then. A curation team that will always have a space in my heart. Until today they help other steemians grow in the community. Much love to the team.
Travel was part of our agenda and some of our earning we used to fund our travels. It was an unbelievable experience. Having a budget to take the family out on trips without touching my salary. I could live this life and share more and more. But all things comes to an end. The value dropped and dropped and some of my post didn't earn much anymore. Somehow the attention and upvotes disappeared. Sometimes with earnings that was the same when I first started. I got frustrated and a bit depressed hoping that I was on my way to a good life. Good thing I did not quit my job. My wife told me "We did not have this before and life went on. From the start you only wanted to take photos and write. Just keep on doing it and enjoy." These words woke me up and realized that from the first place I just need to love what I'm doing and don't expect anything. Rewards comes if they come and so I kept going not missing a day just sharing what I love.
One of the best gifts we received is a Valentine's dinner from our earnings. It has been a while since I took my wife on a dinner date. This is one of the memorable moments during February. A romantic date sponsored by Steemit.
Yes I do cook and some of you might know. This is also the time I met 
Another family that I belong to is called the 
I am also a part of 
Art has also caught my fascination that before I never had interest in. Look around you maybe you have a passion that you never knew you had. For me there is still a lot I don't know about when it comes to art but everyday is an opportunity to learn something new.
One of my latest posts during our trip last Sunday. These past few weeks I have slowed down in my post. The usual everday post has now become every other day. I realized that if you really want to have good output you should take time once in awhile. Don't rush things just to make a post. Think, plan, take time and you could bring out the best in you. No assurance of big upvotes but always remember just enjoy what you are doing. Share experiences about life and everything under the sun.
Also I just recently learned about word press and #steempress. Having my own blog page outside but still connected to the blockchain is something new. I always wanted to have my own page. Hopefully gain exposure outside as well.
I guess that's it a summary of my life here at Steemit. Now still a minnow and not much SP yet but I'm still here. Compared to others that joined the same month as I did. Some have grown dramatically and others have grown into dolphins now. We all want to get there one day. What I always say "Never give up, be persistent and be a little crazy at times." We all have different roads in life to success you just need to find your niche. What works for you and try to improve yourself.
I cannot say that I am successful here yet but what I am sure of I have become successful in looking at life in a different way. Successful in discovering things that I love doing.
Thanks for joining me today in my story. I hope I got to read thru it all as so far this is the longest post I have ever written. Keep on Steemin!
-Ryan
Just a mention those who is always there to support me in my posts. From the bottom of my heart and soul I cannot thank you enough.
Curation teams
To all others you know who you are much love to you.
