A few days ago I was nominated by @c0ff33a to jump into the "Steem And Me - 5 Questions Challenge" created by the lovely @snowpea! Yeah, I thought, well, why not. Let's do it.

I should have read the questions before :)

Warning: I maybe get emotional ... yeahh, I'm on steem ...

If you like to take part, have a look at the original post here.

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1) In my opinion, what are the two greatest aspects of the steem platform?

First:
The people!

Second:
Steemit is so much different from facebook or whatever other social networks. Why? The people!

Within the last years, I went through some changes in life. After a career in the design industry, I took the radical decision to get back to my pure and true creative work. While working in this industry, I feared to lose myself and it was time to stop and take the exit. I moved to a different country, embraced the challenge of change.

When I felt balanced I wanted so dearly to make new friends and get true feedback. Before I found Steemit I only knew the mainstream social networks. But I wanted also a change with this aspect of my life and was looking for an online community that is different. I was lucky enough to find Steemit. Meeting different personalities and getting authentic feedback was such a boost for me. Personal, creative, learning and in many other aspects. The people here make the difference.

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2) What are the 2 largest complaints I have concerning the Steem platform?

Complaints? I am still quite a Newbie here, but there are some things that could be improved I think.

First: The search options. Doing research on Steemit drives me sometimes crazy. Especially when I like to create a cool curation or look to meet new Steemians that could be possible on the same wavelength as me. I dearly would wish for a really good working search option.

Second: To get any larger exposure is so extremely hard! Like so many others I put an awful lot of time and love into my posts. I have to admit, sometimes I am maybe to much into details, but I love it, it's my style ... :) Of course not all my posts are worth to be seen by everybody :) but when it is about something I hold so close to my heart and that takes some effort to tell, to open up, I would wish there would be better options to get better exposure on the platform.

Yeah, and there might be something more, spam! In my eyes ... just don't care, focus on the people and the content you love!

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3) What 2 moments are the most memorable to me?

First: Some weeks ago I opened up my notebook in the morning and thought ... WHAT ... is going on here ... With part 3 of my story about my aunt, who died in 1958, I received my first Curie Award. Some days later I was picked and featured in the Curie Authors Showcase. On this particular morning, I had no idea at all where all these upvotes come from or what Curie is. This morning was a moment on steem, I will never ever forget!

Second: To be courageous enough to comment on this post! This is what I wrote:

I did reflect on the time since I was invited to sit down in the warm embracing Welcome Wagon. When I sat down I looked at the roof of the wagon build of pure love. I felt the solid wooden beams, the wagon is made of. All these solid beams reflecting these passionate members, that carried me further.

All this in a way reflecting my values and ethics. Not only supporting my work but helping me to grow.

I was allowed to join the @welcomewagon at a moment in my life in that my very own process of change - finding back to myself finally - balanced me so much, that I dearly wanted to share my experiences, my creativity and much more. Although it was not easy for me to open up and overcome my shyness. But here I am now, so grateful to be a part of the Welcome Wagon Family.

Finally home again.

I know that my vote or voice will have absolutely no value for the application process. I am aware, that also my comment has no influence. This is, of course, good so! But I had to express how thankful I am. This is not much, but at least something I can do to support this application.

Thank you for everything!

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4) What are the two most important lessons I've learned in my time as a Steemian?

Relax, comment, wait, relax, comment, wait, comment, comment, comment, comment, wait, relax!

My first important lesson was, to relax, enjoy others writing and see who might share the same interests or is on the same wavelength. Relax again. I follow quite many people and I like it. I like to check on new posts and see how a relationship could possibly envolve or grow with learning more about a person.

Second, comment and engage! I love to write long and detailed comments. O.k. sometimes I don't have the time to. But with every comment, I feel closer, establish a connection, learn about the person behind the post. Thus: Comment!

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5) Out of my entire time here, what 2 posts am I most proud of?

I am proud to have had the courage to start writing about a time in my life that I have put under the table for more than 20 years. The search for my family, a series called "A Guy and a Lipstick" Part One meanwhile I have finished Part Six. Without the support and encouragement of my close friends here, I would have never ever started to write about it.

For me, this was a challenge. I am "proud" that I took the challenge. But apart from that, I don't feel proud. The concept of being proud is something that I don't hold close to my heart. I am happy when I make others happy or inspire with what I do.

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Spreading this amazing Challenge:

I enjoyed very much answering these questions and thus I would like to nominate/mention: @penderis, @dreemsteem, @ravijojla, @twodorks, @bluefinstudios, @xcountytravelers, @maquemali, and @audreybits!

As stated in the original post, don't wait to be nominated, just do it!

Read more about what I like to contribute at Steemit here