Today is my Steem BD! I've got to be honest, I wasn't sure I'd still be around by the time this came up. There were definitely times in which I questioned whether or not it was worth my time. I also had periods of difficulty in which I couldn't (or didn't) come up with something to post. I questioned whether or not I belonged here, but I kept at it and learned a bunch of things that helped me find my place in our little world. So on my Steem Birthday, I'd like to highlight five of those lessons.

These are some of the things I've learned along the way that I think have helped me out in my journey so far. They are not in any particular order, but I feel they are all pretty important, at least to me.

These are five things that have helped me on my journey so far.

Engagement is more important than posting.

Even if you have trouble posting as I did, you can still further your Steem journey by engaging with other Steemians. This engagement can occur on the blockchain by upvoting and commenting on others' posts or off the chain by engaging in other communities like discord or steem.chat. People will remember you.

It's ok to stand up and speak your mind (even if you take a few lumps in the process).

Your voice is a powerful tool. A lot of the lower stake users tend to have this attitude that the whales here have some sort of responsibility to us or the community at large. This type of mentality shifts the focus away from ourselves. The whales are not here to save us. We have to have the mentality that we have the power to save ourselves. If you have a good idea, communicate that shit. Talk to people that can help you implement it. If the idea is great, people will adopt. If it turns out to be not such a great idea, that's ok. Just head back to the drawing board and make the next one a little better. If you complain about the amount of spam on the blockchain, but don't flag the spam you find, don't expect other's to do the same.

Flags are important

(Meatloaf) Don't feel sad...being flagged ain't so bad. A lot of folks don't like the negativity associated with flagging, but it is an integral part of our blockchain. Blockchain operate off of some form of consensus (or agreement). Steem is no different. We determine that consensus through voting. We express our agreement by either upvoting, downvoting, or abstaining from voting. These are 3 simple choices.

Unlike most, I think these three choices encourage all of us to settle our differences in humane manners. Are there bullies? There sure are, but if you approach the situation with an aim to resolve the issue, you will often be successful. There is no financial incentive to flagging. There are also many instances of the community rallying around you if they feel you have been wronged.

Keep powering up

If you're a small stake holder, it is important that you keep powering up. Think of each time you power up as a way of compounding interest. By powering up, you increase your importance to the community slightly each time. I'm not saying this is the only way to do it, but it is a very tangible way in which to get it done. It will also allow you to give more rewards to those who have helped you out...which leads me to my final point.

Join and be active in communities in which you hold a common interest. And don't forget your friends.

Just as in real life, the people you hang out with are typically indicative of the type of person you will become. I have learned that communities are to be cherished. Find a community and stay loyal to them until you no longer find a common interest. Support them, just as they will support you. Read their stuff. If you like it, upvote it.

There are a lot of great communities out there. For me, they are @thealliance, #onehumanbasket, and @steemusa. For you, it may be a number of others. #Isleofwrite is a great one, and #poetsunited is another. There are many, and you should have no problem finding one that fits you.

Well, that's it. That's a portion my knowledge I've gained from the past year. Do you disagree with any of my advice? Do you have your own knowledge nuggets you'd like to share? Feel free to drop it in the comments.

=============================

=============================

=============================

Join the new Discord channel dedicated specifically to poetry

Block Chain Poets

Where poets support other poets.