I have one child. He chose to live in Colombia, South America. He met his soul mate there. As his Mother, I could not ask anymore for my only son. The problem was I missed him. A lot. When I came to Steem, the blockchain, it was wonderful to be able to reconnect with him again.
@Ecoinstant had already been on Steem a while. One of the groups he was in was called the @ecotrain. They had a Slack Chat. I had asked to join. Any chance I had to help or just say 'Hi' to my son was much needed in my life. The Slack was filled with a few other people I really had nothing in common with them. I didn't know enough about the blockchain, Steem to talk intelligently about anything. I wasn't into homesteading or gardening so I didn't go in there much.
'They' say there is a reason for everything.
'They' say you just have to be open to see the signs.
I happen to agree with 'them' in this case.
I was a month on Steem, the blockchain. I was in a private Slack chat channel trying not to 'stalk' my son, much. I had nothing in common with the other very nice people there. They all tried to make me feel welcome. I was finding out I could not live stream everyday. Having no, and I mean no, training in writing, I had pretty much written or said about all I could think to say.
I went for three days without writing anything. Knowing myself as I do, that pretty much meant I was done. I was still reading and voting on my son and @Simgirl's posts. Lucky for me @Mariannewest was in The Ecotrain private chat room too. One day she had dropped a link to an interesting post.
I still remember that day like it happened this morning. Mariannewest had linked a post called 'Writers or wanna be Writers Wanted!!!! Be Free! Freewrite!' I read the post and one rule stuck out.
Rules:
Freewriting is to set a timer for a certain amount of time and write. Without stopping. Without correcting anything. Without worrying if what we write is good or bad. Nobody cares.
To write for five minutes:
I could do that surely. It's five minutes, right? Who cannot write something for five minutes? When nothing is in your head, believe me, five minutes is a long time. In my head, I checked off that rule as 'okay'.
Without stopping. Without correcting anything:
Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. I am a horrible typer and speller. If I would not go back and fix my typing and or spelling, no one would be able to decipher if there was a story. Good or bad would be a non-issue. It was a rule I was willing to break.
Without worrying if what we write is good or bad:
This, this was the rule that hit home. This was the rule that gave me the guts in a world of 'This is a place for only quality content' to be willing to try.
Nobody cares:
I already had that down. Other than my son and Simgirl, who both knew I was trying as best I could, no one else came to my blog. The nobody cares I could handle even if someone complained. The writing prompt for that day was already forming a jiggle in my head.
I took a deep breath, set my phone alarm for five minutes, opened up a page to type on. On October 27, 2017, I wrote my first @Mariannewest's Freewrite Challenge. My world tilted and changed that day for the best gift ever. Freedom to be me.
Did I write a masterpiece that day? Did I win a noble peace prize for my piggy story? Nope. Reading the story today I have to fill in a lot of gaps. The general concept of what I was trying to express is there but that is about it. I had even gone back to a website I use to use called Olioboard. I made a special thumbnail for my new story. I was so excited. I had written something that made me smile that day.
I dropped my link in the comment section of the Day 7 Freewrite post. Off I went to read what other people had written. I was amazed at all the different takes on the same writing prompt. I had so much fun reading and leaving comments. When I was done I was so excited for the next day and the new prompt.
I had found a place after one month on Steem where I felt comfortable and was having fun being me. You can not ask for more than that.
In the end, My son and Simgirl brought me here. I stayed on Steem because of @Mariannewest and her Freewrite Challenge. It's really all her fault I am still here. Thank You so much Mariannewest for always encouraging me every step of the way. I learned to have faith in myself. I learned I could write the more I practiced. I learned not to be ashamed if I made a few errors. The Freewrite Challenge freed me from so many things.
Make someone smile today. It can not hurt you and it might save their life.
Love,
Snook
Steem Witness's I support
Enginewitty!, Steemgigs!, Jackmiller!, Guiltyparties!, C0ff33a / Deranged!
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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://www.snookat.com/uncategorized/joining-steem-the-blockchain-part-4/
I so agree with that!!! but sometimes it takes a bit of a push for you to see what it is you are meant to see.
hugs
Awe. I don't know what to say besides, I am so glad that you are here and that you are you! I think so many are having a good time on Steem because of you, your humor, your big heart, and the way you want to make everyone smile.
Big hugs to you!!!!!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ hearts forever 😂 😘
Thank you for so much.
Love You!
I am so drawn to you as I read this... I totally agree on the freewrite. Like 5 minutes.. And be free, no pressure, just write. And it keeps me going till today.
❤️
Thank you. Yes, it has more hidden powers then one would think until you try it with a group of people.
<3
It's good to have you here.
Thank you!
The 'nobody cares' part is the best one if it comes to freewriting.. especially if you are not used to write and are not a native speaker
Posted using Partiko Android
Resteemed. Keep up your great journey, and keep up this story! I want to remember about your first illuatrated classic :)
And we are blessed to have you. I still remember your corn guy dancing and how you selected my post for the daily sneak. Thanks for being here
See what you did @mariannewest? Lol
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! now you know who to blame LOLL
Lol, way to score a user name btw ;)
I sincerely feel that DLive adds value to the Steem blockchain
DLive is not on Steem.
You are one of the best things about being here, @snook
x x