Q & A Challenge Answered and Obeyed!

Well not even a couple of weeks back on Hive and I got tagged in a challenge! 😂 Honestly, it could not have come at a better time, because even though I was gone for over two years I'm having a bit of a writer's block with ideas to write about and was actually happy to see that my dear friend @enginewitty had tagged me in a Q & A post. Well, there are few things I wouldn't do for the guy that has shown me so much kindness on the blockchain and who has mentored me through so much of this crazy ride we're on! So without further hesitation, here we go.

Questions:

How long have you been on the Blockchain?

I joined Steemit in 2016, but prior to that, I was involved with crypto-based writing on Devtome for Devcoins going back to 2014ish I believe. Although I did take an extended hiatus about the time of the Hive fork and I've been back on plugging away for about 10 days or so.

What was your background in Cryptocurrency when you first came to the blockchain?

I remember hearing about Bitcoin when it was worth about $20 and with my work background I was absolutely sure it was a scam and identity theft vehicle! lololol Oh man to go back a grab some at those prices, right!?!?! Of course, I dismissed it and then I remember getting introduced to it again at around $400/btc and remember thinking that maybe there was something to this fake money thing. I found and became active on bitcointalk were I met some really interesting people and also where I found Devtome and Devcoin. I actually bought almost a whole BTC to invest in a mining rig group buy and then that fell through. I found out that Microsoft was accepting BTC for their version of the Xbox store at the time and spent the majority of the BTC on fps games! lolol Hey, I never, ever claimed to be the kinda guy who made sound financial decisions.

What was your background in writing when you first came to the blockchain?

I have battled a life-long love/hate relationship most of my life. It was something that came fairly easy to me early in life and then it became expected and I fought back and forth (still do in some ways) with that being my identity. Some days it feels as if it was my path in life to pen to paper and other days I literally hold writing in complete contempt. I don't know why this is and I wish I would have more fully embraced it for what it is and enjoyed in more through the years. I have always enjoyed writing poetry and I am fully and completely enamored by the written word.

How many people did you know when you first came to the Blockchain?

I knew one and exactly one, a friend I followed to Steemit from Devtome, my oldest crypto buddy, @novacadian He has patiently guided me though many paths dealing with crypto, blockchain, and life in general.

How did you meet people when you first came to the Blockchain?

I tried to search for topics I found interesting and began voting and commenting on posts I enjoyed. I also joined several blockchain groups were I began making connections and great friends. I must have joined every newbie contest out there trying to meet people!

Who did you look up to when you first came to the blockchain?

The three people I remember admiring the most were @enginewitty, @papa-peper, and @galenkp. Each of them seemed genuine and responsive to interactions with people. You could tell they actually read your posts and cared about what your story was. They were also posting machines and seemed to have an endless supply of ink as best I could tell and I wanted to eventually emulate that! 🤣

How would you describe your first three months on the blockchain?

Extremely confusing and frustrating. Trying to use the markdown style was infuriating and I couldn't seem to find my voice or my place in this digital world. I eventually settled down and sort of found my groove.

Has being a part of the blockchain changed you in any way for the good?

I think it has opened my mind to other people's perspectives on issues they face and I feel it has made me a more empathetic person. Additionally, when I am active, it helps me to be more intentional about my writing and pushes me to express myself in ever-evolving ways.

What is your favorite memory from your time on the blockchain?

It would have to be the Georgia Mountains meet up for @thealliance. I met so many amazing people and exchanged ideas about writing, art, music, blockchain, and creativity and I often think back to dear conversations very fondly. It was the first time it really hit me how powerful blockchain could be with regards to uniting people and exchanging ideas. I know I took tons of pictures on the trip, but the only one I could find was of the dog, Gallow, who belonged to a fascinating couple, who I believe were from Knoxville, TN. I was able to watch @enginewitty throw a fishing lure and literally hit a bass in the head, I also watched him cook and eat a steak the size of a medium sized dog! I was transfixed by @katrina-ariel conjure music directly from the ether as @sircork was able to capture it to share with future generations of bloggers. It was a magical weekend that I feel honored to have been a part of.

If you could give advice to a new person signing up to Hive what would it be?

Be diligent to the blockchain and it will remember your efforts. Avoid the pitfall I fell into of letting everyday things build up and take you away from the platform. Write....Write.....and when you are tired of writing.....WRITE some more. Learn to adore your craft and treat it with the care and love a true gift deserves. Don't let fear keep you from reaching out to others. There is literally someone here that will change your life and beautifully mark your soul right around the corner!

I hope that was sufficient enough. I will forgo the custom of tagging additional people for now and bask in the warmth these memories provided on this chilly Georgia night!

All images are my own unless stated otherwise.

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All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter,
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
-Tolkien