Well, it happened. I've been watching these gratitude posts roll by and wondering when I would get challenged. It seem 
*most of the time
Often I choose not to participate in challenges, but I thought about it and I am really very happy I found Steem, my life is richer for it (not in monetary gains)
I heard about Steem from James Corbett in August of 2016 and signed up the next day. I knew of Bitcoin but didn't know how to get involved in crypto at the time. So, I jumped at the chance and became immersed immediately.
My favorite part of Steem for the first 2 years was the experiment. How do you bring together all of these people and try to achieve common goals in a free and decentralized manner? I"ve given a lot of lip service to freedom in my life, but this was maybe the most interesting experiment I've ever participated in.
I'll tell you the top lesson: When it comes to using money as an investment, and if you have a goal of building a thing... Know your partners. Know their vision, know their skill sets. :) I think it is a terrible idea to try to accomplish something of value with a bunch of strangers who all have different visions. It's complete and utter lunacy. :) I've had a blast with the project though and I am still here trying to do the things that I think are beneficial.
In my Gratitude List:
What has Steem done for me?
- Introduced me to some amazing people
- The Experiment - What a blast I've had here.
- My Crypto Education - Hands-on experience with buying, selling, trading, earning and saving crypto. Tons of articles on other projects and connections I would have never made without Steem.
- Steem destroyed many of my illusions of what Freedom looks like and how to allow others to be free. I now give much more credit to how challenging it can be.
- Tribes and SMTs will still bring chances for financial opportunities that I'd nearly given up on... mostly and totally ironically due to them being smaller and knowing who your partners are and what their goals are.
I love Steem, I love the community, I am extremely happy I landed here, but I will never again do serious business with a bunch of anonymous people all with different goals. :) I also accept that I will likely never fully leave Steem. I'm stuck here.
Yet, I absolutely acknowledge many are in the process of building great things here, many authors will earn, many projects will be successful. It's just a painfully slow and frustrating way to work.
Thanks everyone for the Education, The Experiment, The Experience.
That's my big three. The three E's of Steem.
@whatsup