Once 'Round The Sun

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Exactly one year ago, today, this account was born.

Technically, that would make this my 'Steemiversary'. However...that's not entirely correct.

In truth, I published my very first post on the 1st of January 2017, via my original account, @zipplyo. I'd learned the hard way that usernames can't be changed – mine had a terribly annoying typo that was driving me nuts. (Can you spot it?) I tried to live with it, but my OCD brain wasn't havin' it.

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With More Intention

Having spent two solid weeks getting to know this place – devouring all I could about blockchain and crypto – even penning a rather ambitious post about important lessons gleaned from my first ten days – I had a much better sense of how to engage.

Initially, I'd leaned heavily on my photography, entering several photos per day into @juliank's @photocontests, as well as a few others. As a pro-photographer, that was the easiest, most obvious and immediate way for me to plug in.

Thanks to the strength of my imagery, I'd done pretty well for a newb; I'd already received my first @curie, (for this post) as well as a @photofeed resteem (of this photo) during their first week in action. Yet I wasn't sure I wanted that to be the thing I was known for here. After all, I've already lived that experience; my work is reasonably well-respected off-chain.

While I'm not 'famous', by any stretch, I've been known to joke about being 'fame-ish' within certain subcultures. I'm well-known enough to be recognized in rather unlikely places, including whilst entering into a bar in Wellington, New Zealand (....I live in Portland, Oregon.) I'll never get used to the awkward feeling of a total stranger grinning at me as they say my name.

As such, the anonymity afforded me here was intoxicatingly liberating; I knew absolutely no one, and...more importantly...no one knew me. It allowed me to rebuild, from the bottom up – to re-invent my present self using tools and gifts once cherished by my younger selves – to create a new, more balanced persona.

Of course, photography will always be one of my greatest strengths and loves. So, for my first week as @zipporah, I dutifully entered photo contests while contemplating how to begin again – this time, with more intention.

Then – for the second time – I introduced myself.

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My Heart, Laid Bare

With this reset, I decided to be a bit more bold in my choices, sharing content that was increasingly vulnerable.

The day after my reintroduction post, I bravely entered the @openmic with my then brand new song, 'Kaleidoscope Grey' – the first I'd written in years. Amazingly, I placed 3rd that week and received my 2nd @curie. It was a pretty spectacular introduction to the incredibly rich and supportive Open Mic community – I was instantly hooked.

Not long after that, I decided to risk even more when I published this decidedly personal account of my battle with depression. Wanting it to gain more traction than it was getting organically, I opted to test the 'bid-bot' waters on day 5. It felt important, somehow, and I wanted those who might benefit to find it.

Little did I know I was summoning the king of all grumps – our old friend @grumpycat.

My use of the @sneakyninja bid-bot won me my very first flag/downvote. Due to the sensitive nature of the post itself, I was pretty upset about it – I was actually fuming angry at first, a rather uncommon thing for me. After sleeping on it, I released my frustration into a post in which I publicly called out that grumpy puss and his hypocritical ways, fully expecting a retaliatory flag.

That post sparked quite the conversation, landing me in 'trending', with far more traffic and engagement than any other post of mine, before or after. And, against all odds – instead of flagging me again, GC gave me a 100% upvote.

Though I never could've predicted it, that fiasco connected me with so many of the people whom I now consider dear friends. It showed me how wonderfully warm and empathetic Steemians can be – so quick to come to the aid of another – so sincere and reassuring.

My belief in the overall goodness of this place was cemented then, anchored deeply by community.

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Silver Linings

While some part of me had briefly considered quitting in response to what I felt was such an undeserved flag, the kindness shown me during that time is ultimately what kept me around – and why I'm still here today.

It led me to create The Kindness Collective – a safe space for emotional support and conflict resolution. While that server is pretty quiet (these days, especially), I've spent a lot of time there, being as supportive as I can be in a virtual setting.

Providing a space for people to be their messy, human selves is deeply gratifying. I'm not sure I ever would've considered creating such a place had it not been for what had initially felt like such an awful, unfortunate experience.

What a wonderful lesson in trust, and an excellent reminder that...things aren't always as they seem.

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Deep Bows

I'll admit – it's tempting to begin tagging all you beautiful people. Yet, there are so many, I fear I would invariably miss someone. Instead – as I did with my post about graduating to Dolphin – I'll tip my hat to the fabulous communities we are all part of.

I think of it as a sort of city with various, friendly neighborhoods – or one giant house, with many diverse rooms that you can pop in and out of, as whim and necessity dictate.

• @openmic; like a welcoming stage in a dim-lit bar, or a hushed 'listening room'
  The opportunity you've afforded me to find my voice and share my music – which had so long been silent in me – has been absolutely invaluable. I've felt so deeply seen, appreciated and supported by you. My heart so had need of that.

• @helpie; like the coziest living-room, full of comfy couches and allll the besties
  Y'all are my family. How many hours have we spent offering each other cookies and chocolate cake and sharing virtual hugs? So much coffee and comics! And shilling – we've perfected the art of singing one another's praises. <3 I'm honored to have been one of the first members – OG Helpie!

• @steemitramble; my favorite coffeeshop, where I'm sure to run into good friends
  PYPT feels akin to a weekly reunion where we check in with each other, share what's new and get the scoop on whatever's happenin' on our beloved blockchain. While I've been too busy of late to join every week, you're still one of my favorite, ongoing events.

• @mspwaves / @minnowsupport / PAL; like a hometown pub or community center
  With far too many awesome, recurring shows to list, this is certainly the biggest and busiest of the STEEM-related places I frequent. There's almost always someone around – more commonly many people with whom to visit and socialize. Many a 'would-be' lonely weekend has been rescued by this place and the wonderfully varied humans who populate it.

• @thealliance; the uncontested castle full of regal & ridiculous humans (of course!)
  I was a bit late to your party, yet coveted a seat at your table for many months before applying. What I found in you was a rather unshakable support network, a true alliance of folks who genuinely care about one another. The way this family shows up to throw their collective weight behind someone in moments of need is truly awe-inspiring, as evidenced by THREE of our members winning all expenses paid trips to Steemfest. That – was impressive.

• @steemmonsters; never a dull moment at the most popular arcade around
  You guys caught me by surprise, really. I happened to be on air with @aggroed when he first announced its soft launch, and watched the beginning of the frenzy that has yet to abate! It's an honor to be part of the team – to be helping to tell the story through videos and the Campaign Book I'm designing. Involvement with this project has given me something concrete to cling to during some truly trying months. Thank you for trusting me with your vision.

• @buddyup; like a hipster bookstore hosting weekly philosophy talks
  While I haven't spent nearly enough time in your company, I'm struck by your integrity – by the way you encourage people to dig a little deeper, giving prompts to inspire contemplative introspection. I hope to spend more time getting to know all of you better – just as soon as I find a little more spaciousness in my life.

Last, but not least – though it's not quite as tangible a 'community' – I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge @curie. Who'd have thought something so simple as an upvote could have such a substantial impact on someone's life? And yet – those first few votes from you quite literally paid my rent in March. I had a really hard year, financially and otherwise, and – though it seems like such a small thing – your silent support softened things, just enough to get me through spring. I'll be forever grateful.

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THANK YOU

Taking time to look back on the past year – identifying how and why it is that I'm still here and finding ways to articulate how much this place means to me – inspires such sincere, heartfelt gratitude.

Despite the rarity of my posts these last few months, I sincerely love this platform. Specifically, I'm kind of in love with all of you.

I find myself humming a melody, quietly singing....Our hooouse, is a very, very, very fine house. And it is.

I know, in this moment, there's much uncertainty about where we're collectively headed. We may well be on the precipice of unprecedented shifts in the established power dynamic. Who really knows for sure?

What I do know – thanks to the nostalgic reverie you just read – is that we won't be so easily shaken, by whatever lays ahead. I believe we're more resilient than any of us might guess.

There is strength in our numbers – in the communities we've created and cultivated together. However seemingly separate, we're all connected

WE...are the real blockchain.

And....we've got this, 'cause we're awesome.

Warm Hugs,
xo, zippy

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