I owe it to myself to do the best I can here on Steemit for my own personal satisfaction and development. And by so doing I hope to lift and sustain those I associate with. I am going to work as if Steemit is the best platform in the world, because it is for me right now, even considering the challenges and problems it has. I hope to be upbeat and positive simply because if I am not my performance suffers. And, frankly, energy rubs off and spreads...either good or bad. I really appreciate others who have good energy. It's more valuable to me than upvotes or anything else.
I do enjoy writing and communicating with people. I look forward to replying and commenting each day. (I've been a bit out of sorts for a few days but will get back into the swing of things soon.) My plan is to keep my chin up, and be clear eyed and level headed, as much as is possible. I will Steem on.
I too, have learned not to run helter skelter after every rabbit that runs by. Been there and done that. I don't have enough energy to do that anyway.
However, I like what @glenalbrethsen has to say. He seems to be very practical and level headed. Ultimately my allegiance is to myself and I must do what is best for my future. So if Steemit comes to a point where it is really not doing well at all, and it becomes apparent that it is going the way of the world (you know... ashes to ashes, dust to dust), AND there is a very good opportunity elsewhere then I will go elsewhere, hopefully with many of the friends I've developed here.
So there are storm clouds, and concerns. I don't want to amplify them so I won't. However, I too do not want to be the town fool and wake up one morning to find Ned packing his bag and everyone else is gone. So, I'll keep my eyes open. Frankly, to tell the truth, you guys are my eyes. I do appreciate and value your input and observations.
Oh, and let me add just one last thing. I felt that I was led to Steemit. There was a feeling of Divine providence for me. And so I do have that to consider also. However, one of the first principles of life is that things do change. I know that too and perhaps I/we will be led to greater things in the future. I simply don't know, but would not be surprised.
You know, that last paragraph describes what I've been feeling, too. And while things do change, I also know that even when Divine Providence is involved, in my case, it's not just handed to me. I might feel I need to do something or be somewhere, but I still have to show up and do the work. And I've got to mean it too. I have to try to shutter out all of the strange swirling rumors or doubts or whatever it is and just focus in on what I believe happened. That I was led her, not once, but twice, and despite all of the frankly nonsense that occurs here, there's been as much good coming out of here, too. And I've felt that as well. For the first time in a very long time I mostly look forward to getting up in the morning and coming to "work." And I feel like I'm supposed to be here. What that reason is yet, I don't know. Just like I felt I should go to school (or at least walk through that open door). But I've also experienced that what I hoped to be the last stepping stone was only the next one in the journey. So, whatever this is and whatever it's meant to be will be revealed eventually. In the meantime, I gear up and ride on. :)
Yes, thriving on Steemit may be in the stars for us. That certainly would be great. However we may be led elsewhere. For right now we are best served by playing the hand we've been dealt.
I think the desire to leave for those who appear to be champing at the bit is premature. In some of their cases, they are part of the problem here, and they will take those problems with them wherever they go until they realize that it is they who need to do some introspection and change. For the rest, it's wishful thinking, which may very well end up being rewarded for becoming the first movers.
Unless I'm directed otherwise, like I feel I was directed here, there's not a reason for me to leave Steemit to go anywhere else. As it is, my wife will have more to say about me leaving than EOS will. :)
It shows that you mean it in the way you conduct yourself.
I remember when I first got here, within the first day or so I already had people shilling EOS and they would have this greater platform. My first thought was what the hell are you doing here if this one sucks so bad in your view. I am thankful that while you rule nothing out (as who knows what the future holds) that for now, your all in here.
I tried part way in (not intentionally—I thought what I was doing was all in to start with, turned out it wasn't) so it seems to be all or nothing to try to get things going. I've been nudging that first domino now for over five months and it's budging, just not falling over. Story of my life, really, with only a couple of exceptions when it comes to earnings. So, I'm still picking away at it, hoping that it will either fall over or be whittled down to size.
Thank you for weighing in my friend. I feel like you are one of the blessings here at Steemit, a treasure that could be a powerful force in shaping the long term growth here. @glenalbrethsen is indeed level headed, which is why like yourself, he is in the top of those whose posts I look at first when I log in daily.
I remember when aol was thriving. I was late to the scene, aol 7 and new to the internet period. I was astounded as I had never seen anything like it in my life. My life a few years later pulled me away from it, and when I went back I was shocked to see a ghost town. Out of the thousand+ people I had grown to know only a handful were still there.
I can accept this is all just temporary, as most things are very temporary. But I hope it isn't. And I want my focus to be on those who will stick around even if many of the crowd seems to leave for the next temporary best thing. It seems to me that the grass is never quite greener, and if people would just put in the effort where they are at it would reflect the work put into it.
I will do whatever is within my power to make this a place where others I value like yourself and so many others will want to stay. I am just trying to get a feel for how many in my circle feel the same way. I appreciate your candid reply, but would expect nothing less from you.
You know here is another possible scenario: many people bail out to chase the White Rabbit, while those who stay are now among the truly dedicated, hard working souls. Seems to me there will be an opportunity in that. One's contacts and circle will be pretty damned dynamic I'm thinking. Like a few weeks ago when Steem was taking a nose dive... it was pretty quiet here but offered an opportunity to really connect with those who were still active.