Hello, Hivers!
I'm joining in this Hi from Hive initiative by @livinguktaiwan because there were occurrences lately that made me think about what Hive means to me so far.
In figuring out how to write my post, I looked into what's Hi from Hive all about. The vision is to put personal stories behind every pin on the map.
Before sharing my story, I have to briefly introduce myself first. My name is Kaycee Ports. I'm from the Philippines, Perlas ng Silanganan (Pearl of the Orient Seas).
What do I do? I write, I travel to places, I talk to people about finances, I seek improvement. For the specifics, you can read my pinned intro post in my blog :)
So anyway. Right. My personal story with Hive.
How I Met Hive
The rescue ride
I joined Hive after being invited by @ybanezkim26 in June 2020, but I only showed up when I posted my intro post in July. But it's not the first time I've heard of Hive. I knew it was associated with Steemit back in 2018 through my friends who kept inviting me.
Join the blog, they said. You'll earn, they said.
I was interested, but it was fleeting. I already do a few freelance writing gigs before, so I know I could write. I just didn't join because it was the hype. I notice I seldom join the bandwagon. I'm that gal who becomes interested when it's stale already. Or maybe I didn't join because I'm scared to be seen.
But when the opportunity knocked on my door again, it was during my solo quarantine days when it dawned on me that I was living a boring life. How did I realize that? Social media.
My best friend is prospering in this pandemic. Posting achievements and initiatives. I felt proud of her but felt sorry for myself. Because she's one of the special people in my life, I was honest and told her I felt envious of her daring. The talk after that was one of the most treasured moments of my life.
Someone else's daring provides an uncomfortable mirror that reflects back our own fears about showing up, creating, and letting ourselves be seen.
-Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
I'm still at the same company that I promised I would leave already. I'm still reading personal development books--theories that are all in my head, no actual manifestations. I'm still terrified of video/calls. I'm still far from my weight goal. I'm still fucking single 🤣.
I AM STILL. I don't wanna be still anymore. I have to move forward.
So, I started moving. I joined a freelancing course for PHP 6,000. Then, I accepted Kim's invite to this blogging platform; I took it as my rescue ride out of the stillness. For the longest time, I wanted to start a blog. Now, I'm writing about Hive.
And so, Hive has been a part of my milestones this year. I have finally turned the STILL into DOING. Why am I here in Hive? Because I want to blog. I want to write and engage with different kinds of people. I want to have the courage to show up and be seen. Hive is my daring greatly.
That online course and Hive were the sparks to the fire. Now, I have started to take on things that I'm terrified of before. I'm finally moving, and it sucks that I needed the pandemic to take action.
What is HIVE to me
A pool of quality ideas
In my third month of being in this community, I have appreciated the ingenuity of earning through blogging. I knew bloggers could earn through directing traffic to their site or doing affiliate marketing. But here, it's different. It's an avenue for just about anything.
I see people sharing lovely artworks I'm envious of.
I see insights about cryptocurrencies; it still makes me dizzy thinking about it, but I appreciate Hivers explaining the complicated stuff into digestible bits.
I see great writing tips and good habits that I may apply to my own to be better.
I see artists doing lovely song covers and playing instruments.
I see a few motivational/inspiring/self-improvement posts which I'm totally up for. I think Hive could still wield stronger support for this kind of community.
Of course, the Hive travel communities #haveyoubeenhere #travelfeed. Even with this fucking pandemic, I feel like I could travel the world just by looking at @pinmapple's travel digests.
Most exciting of all, I get to see my Hive username out there when my HBD is converted into PHP through @whoaretheyph's initiative! I mean, who would've thought just answering a few questions and posing for a few pictures would earn you money--something they didn't ask for or expected.
So, I'd have to agree with @ybanezkim26 that there is no social media quite like what we have here. I'm lucky to be a part of the Hive community.
What Hive has taught me
To embrace the discomfort for growth
Although I do not fully understand the extent of it, my friends say that my trajectory here in Hive was pleasantly surprising. Which is a lot of pressure. Nobody told me to sustain it, but I'm just always doing my best.
I guess it's because I'm a newbie and I had a lot of help to begin with. I still have more stages to go through. My perspective changes when it comes to rewards. I asked the friends who invited me before why they're not active anymore. The culprit is always the rewards. It was messing with their heads. And it's beginning to mess with mine 😅
Despite me telling myself multiple times that I didn't get onboard Hive just because I wanted to earn, my emotions action signals tell me otherwise. Why am I affected when I'm not only here to earn? Who said I was entitled to the upvotes? Why am I seeking validation from the numbers at the bottom right of every post? Why am I tying my worth to numbers? If you have been doing this for a long while and you somehow skipped this stage of self-doubt, how to be you po? Sana all 😂
A tad bit melodramatic? Overthinking is my favorite pastime. So.
I'm still navigating my thoughts on this. Sometimes I care--that's when I feel I'm disoriented, and sometimes I don't--that's when I feel I'm getting the hang of this. It's an ongoing war in my head. But, I take comfort knowing this:
If you're not uncomfortable, then you're not learning.
Why Am I in Hive?
Hive might be part of my ikigai
I've mentioned that I've invested PHP 6,000 (discounted price) in an online course. In one of its modules, I was introduced to the concept of ikigai (pronounced as ee-kee-gay). For a long time now, I've been meaning to find the right timing to share this. I guess this is the right post.
Ikigai in Japanese means "reason for being". Deep shit, right? Haha! This was the first module of the online course: we must know our ikigai. For me, it applies to life in general. It's your compass to success.
I remember one scene in "Captain America: Civil War" where Iron Man was recruiting Spiderman to his team.
Why are you doing this? I gotta know. What's your MO? What gets you out of that twin bed in the morning?
Tony Stark might've just asked Spiderman what's his ikigai.
I shared this so that we can all find our MO in life. Our modus operandi. Our method of operating.
Discover in yourself what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. If you have a recurring answer to all of these questions, that that might be your passion.
What I love: writing
What I'm good at: writing
What you can be paid for: blogging in Hive
What the world needs: Connection and belonging. Achievable through words.
So, why am I in Hive?
Because Hive might be part of my ikigai. It's still early to tell if it's really part of my ikigai. But, I figured it's worth the shot to commit.
To be in it for the long haul.
Only one way to find out. Let's see.
✨ END ✨
We were talking about your emotions towards rewards and I personally thought it's something you have to experience and figure out for yourself. Upon reading this post, I was inspired more than you or I could ever imagine.
I said put it there. Let the people know your state and your thoughts. You won't know how many people will be inspired.
I'm really touched by this post because I have been constantly searching for my ikigai. I still don't know what it is, but I feel I'm getting closer. Hive might be part of mine also, so I have to agree with you. I'm here for the long run and I hope to see you stick around.
😭💖 Thank you po. For the kind words and the insights that you've given me before I was holding my breath as I hovered the cursor over the publish button. Signs of aging na cguro ni ako pagka melodramatic oy or ambot dala guro's pandemic haha!
But seriously, I won't forget this.
This is aligned with my #Bolder2020 jud. Woo! To finding our ikigai 🍷
Hi Kaycee, I am inspired by the authenticity and honesty that you've shared. I too never expected rewards to have an impact on how I feel towards the value of what I have just created. I was used to writing into the void for many years where I didn't earn a single cent, so to suddenly be in a situation where there's value along with a post, the emotions and effects of that were really new to me.
Thank you for sharing this. I was in my late 30s and heavily pregnant when I found my Ikigai. It was right there all along. I simply didn't see it and hesitated to jump right in earlier out of self doubt after many rejections. May we all find our ikigai and live our best lives.
Omg, thank you Arni 💖 I think a lot of newbies feel the same way more than they will admit. It's a new concept–to earn from blogging in a community full of bloggers. It's a feeling that most won't easily get rid off. But here I am talking openly about it 😅 I think I would only enjoy my Hive experience if I stay authentic. It's worth it anyway cause someone appreciates it. So, here's a virtual hug 🤗 Haha!
I'm glad you found your ikigai! For the rest of us, I hope we'll get there sooner. That could only be hastened if we do a lot of trial-and-error. Eventually, we'll find our ikigai. A life well-lived.
Virtual hugs Kaycee from Moalboal 💖 As an INFP, authenticity comes naturally to you so keep sharing your awesome writing here. Cheers to finding Ikigai and I look forward to hearing about your journey when you do. 😉
Really? I didn't know that, no wonder. Haha, I got to research more about my personality type 😆
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Are the colours picked randomly? :D Because that is the Romania's flag and for one moment I thought you are Romanian haha
Hehe, no they're the colors of our flag 🇵🇭 But yeah, now that you've mentioned it, it's the same colors with Romania's. We're only missing white to complete the PH flag's color ensemble 😁
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts and newbie experience Kaycee. Your progress during your short time here on Hive has accelerated way beyond most newbies, mostly I'm sure through your talent, effort and attitude, and also from the support you've got from your community.
Many newbies come on Hive with the wrong mind set and with only one aim in mind. And when that doesn't materialize, they drop off, like some of your friends. Hopefully those who are thinking of joining Hive will learn from your experience and join us for the long run.
Thank you also for this initiative because this gave me the opportunity to share my experience hehe. I guess it's inevitable for newbies to feel this somewhere along the journey. But hopefully, more people would learn how to live with it and find more sustainable reasons to stay in Hive.