I wanna "Steem" full-time, but it's a work in progress, and a Craps shoot, in a sense.

in #steemit7 years ago (edited)

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Steem illuminati confirmed. Mark of the Steem, SSS, on my head. Oh no.

No, I am not so entitled and delusional as to think the world, technology, or even life itself owes me anything.

What I see happening through Steem, though, is something neat. Last year, around August when I quit my job, if it hadn't been for Steemit I really would have been "up shit creek without a paddle" to put it eloquently.

I had just started on Steemit in late July, when some issues surfaced in my workplace at the time, and I had to leave or basically lose my dignity (how I saw it, at least). My phone's auto-correct just changed that to "lose my divinity." Heh. While I wouldn't put it in such an extreme sense, it did feel that way, a little.

Anyway, I quit, and for a month Steem paid a good chunk of my bills. Thankfully I have found another job since then, and one that has, so far, afforded me more time for writing and content creation than most jobs would.

Still, with the lifestyle my wife and I see ourselves leading in the near future, running around like rats in the debt/credit-based, Ponzi scheme world of compulsory schooling, endless gray cubicles, and 3-day vacations to Tokyo Disney once a year just isn't going to cut it. We want to live for a purpose.

What is that purpose?

Good question. I know mine has to do with writing, activism, and research. I feel closer than ever to understanding it since I have been blogging here on Steemit. My wife wants to be a vocal coach, while continuing her studies in massage, aroma therapy, and holistic medicine.

The issues I find myself capable of expending seemingly limitless interested energy on are things to do with freedom. Vaccine injury awareness, libertarianism/voluntaryism/anarchism, and just general, colorful artistic expression (kind of a bullshit cop-out vaguery, I know, but hey...life is colorful) in general. I feel like, in a way, this Steemit blog has helped me to synthesize these categories.

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On the path to a different lifestyle with this guy, who always reminds me of what is really important. Love.

What's my point?

While many of the cubicle rat-race runners are doing "much better" than myself financially at present, and are able to relax a bit more with their children in school five days a week (my son is unschooled at home and will be joining a Montessori school from June), I think what we are doing is worth it. I've made some dumb mistakes in my life, and financially have not given myself a solid base from which to start. I see Steem as a chance to change all that.

I know it would be silly to put all my eggs into one Steemy basket, and who knows, maybe this whole thing will peter out in a few years. I do not know. Is Steem always going to be measured by the dollar, and thus be considered by some friends an economic counterfeit? It certainly seems the blockchain revolution is here, however, and I am going to surf the wave, for better or for worse, rather than watching from the shore.

Finally, what is most important about this year of Steem, is not necessarily the Steem payouts (they are indispensable, don't get me wrong) but the psychological payout of having hope that my lifestyle goals are valid, and not just "silly pipe dreams."

That maybe I'm not just an outcast weirdo who "hates modern medicine" and and is a "conspiracy theorist," but, as I know I am, an introspective individual curious about the world, in love with life, and extremely angry with the bastardized version of it that has been foisted upon us.

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Life lived outside your purpose is kind of like being this poor fucking dog, dressed up like Santa Claus on a hot day while people take pictures and pretend like everything is okay.

Sometimes, I see Steem as a chance to completely change all this, or, at the very least, to stir up the waters a bit, and bring some freshness--newness--into the way humans live day to day that is much, much needed.

~KafkA

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Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)

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That seems great. It would be nice to blog as a full time job. Turn your hobby into a passion.

Great post! Resteemed.

Inspirational post ..liked it..upvoted and resteemed

Straightforward truthful bullshit, A Real Dilemma. I like it :) I will follow if you don't mind.

Good Post and Good Luck I think you will do it at the end!

Cheers, @selfmadeboss. I really appreciate that. ☝️☝️😄👾🎶🔥🔥🔥

thanks, check up my blog, I was in lost more than 130k+ and now I am back and inform people how to built up like a bad ass with the right strategies and technologies!

Very nice. Goals and dreams. It seems that you aren't doing too bad here for yourself. Money definitely isn't everything so if you enjoy what you do and can survive off of it then its a Win-Win.

I would have to agree with you as well. Followed. Thanks. DR

Great post and upvoted. One has to follow ones dreams! DR

Cheers! And agreed ✨✌🏽

very good post , i am new and i am still learning how to make it
i follow you and upvoted you

Thanks! Just followed you back. Best of luck. Looking forward to reading your blog.

Go for the "unschooling" if your child is motivated to take on his/her own life. Most kids can't do it, but those that can do amazing things! Nice post. Good luck!

Thanks so much. Yeah, he is definitely an unschooling type of guy!

Good stuff ...keep on

You caught my attention...
@pocketechange

Great post. Awesome what you've accomplished this far and excited to see what you create in the future here and online. Working and living life on your own terms is a powerful combination. Upvoted and followed. Thanks!

Thanks so much.

Working and living life on your own terms is a powerful combination.

Those are some good words, and I agree! Followed back.

Awesome, thank you! Upvoted and following. Also resteeming :)

Thank you! And fucking love the username!

Thanks ;)

great....resteem and upvote for you.....

Cheers, @lautenglye, and thanks!

keep post great info...for us...will always support u....

That's something i've been hearing lots of friends saying recently "had to leave or basically lose my dignity". Market's pretty bad out there in oil and gas.

I don't want to be filthy rich, I want to be fuck you rich. I admire your eloquence in sharing your story. I too am trying to transition to Steem as an income and it has also synergized my areas of interest. What I thought was a lack of ability to focus was just my inability to compromise and keep my head down inside my little gray cubicle. Thank you for your encouraging story and realism.

Thanks for the excellent commentary. I hope, like I hope for myself, your can find your truest function here, to live a life full of joy, and not one of robotic movements. Steem on!

These past ten months writing on Steem have definitely been transformative. They have given me a similar feeling, that there might be a way out of the I'm doing it to make a living and a way into the I'm doing it because I'm living life.

Well said. Being on the Steem train with friend has made it all that much more fun, too. 👾✨☝️

Agreed. I don't know what needs to happen for more to sign up.

The dream is real. Keep chasing!

@ Kafkanarchy84 nim
(Nim is a Korean word used in the same language as sir in English)
I'm a Korean. And my English is not good.
But I could understand what you mean in your post.
I wrote a post in the same context, not the same as you in my posting yesterday.

Below is the post I wrote.
Please check it once.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@sochul/stem-steemit-my-simple-thoughts-on-stem-why-do-you-stemit

I am also dreaming of freedom through steemit, and my reputation has reached 69.
I will steemit hard.

I am grateful to you because I have gained a lot of strength from your posting today.

And I will follow you like you are thinking of me and going this way before me.
I hope you also become friends with me.
I hope you make a wonderful day.

I enjoyed your post, and thanks for the kind words, @sochul nim. I look forward to following your blog. Right across the pond here in Japan. Glad to know you on Steemit!

You guys in korrea have a huge thing happening now. The south is such an example of what works in the world compared to the direction the north took. If korea would united it would be such a great thing, it is up to the young people to pull it off. My country at the moment (usa) has a game show host as a leader, he just might create ww3. How are you young Koreans going to unit Korea?

I like your post. I am relatively new here - so curious to see how others use this platform. Great that you are doing things your way. Good luck with everything. Keep on - steeming on!! Upvoted and followed.

Cheers, and welcome! Followed back!

Thanks for such a great information. It helps a lot for new users like me. Followed Upvoted.

I keep coming across awesome Steemians like yourself and it blows me away. You are upvoted and followed.
I hope to follow a similar path and one day be in a position to write full time.
Hopefully following you and other similar free thinkers in this awesome platform can give me the tools I need to achieve my goal.
Please consider taking a look at my blog @tremendospercy or just read my last longer article https://steemit.com/anarchy/@tremendospercy/anarchy-in-the-uk-40-years-ago-the-sex-pistols-hit-the-scene-but-were-they-really-anarchists
Thanks and good luck in your quest.

While sometimes I'm jealous of the free lifestyle that you live, for example, I'm still amazed how somebody would dare live so differently than the status quo. I wish you all the best and let's hope STEEM really takes off in the near future!

And the poor doggy! :(

Cheers my friend. Wishing the same for you. And the dog!

Good luck in your endeavors! We could all use a little luck.

Very good post :)

Thanks!!

you are welcome :)

Cheers man I look up to bloggers like yourself

Great post... following you on this one:)

Steemin full time is a good idea, but always endeavour to diversify.

For sure.

Voted and Resteemed.

We live in interesting times indeed.

This inspire me a lot. Reesteemed

Keep at it and enjoy!

Good luck to you !

Let's change with Steem together!

Chasing Your Dreams is not allways easy...i notice for mezelf you need to do somthing that Your realy realy like otherwise there is no fun and you just think of the money...thats my exp...

Don't stress, you're much closer to making a living at this than I am.

Thanks for your insightful comments about our world social condition. I hope you can reach milions of people, so many of these realizations will cause the 1ooth monkey effect and promote beneficial changes in thinking throughout the population

Congrats on making the decision yourself to leave a job. Most of us will continue plodding along in an environment they hate, until some middle management c*ck-sucker asks you to come to a meeting. Hopefully I'm not delusional and there is still a place for talented non-conformists in this world.

Life is a hotel at best-your here as a guest-so the song goes

I want to Steem full time as well; then again I feel like I'm already Steeming it Full-time because I'm hooked :D

nice post-what do you think of that sound garden guy killing him self-he had everything going for himself, plus three kids in this world.

Great post. thank you. Upvoted and Resteemed.