Please allow me to introduce myself...

Introduction

Hello! I’m new to Steem so I’d like to introduce myself. I’m a guy who appreciates dogs, fitness, good food and experiencing new things. I joined Steem because I enjoy reading, learning, improving and sharing and I want to support, contribute, and ultimately add value to a decentralized social network and community that rewards its constituent content creators and curators. I’ve always enjoyed writing to enhance learning and promote reflection. Recently I quit my full-time job to pursue endeavors that provide a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction, so what better time to start contributing than now! Over next several months I hope to post on subjects that interest me including...

Dogs

Here's a picture of my dog Mowgli. I know a personal picture is preferred for verification, but trust me, you'd rather see a picture of him than me :D

I’m a dog lover, but that hasn’t always been the case. When I was a kid, my neighbor would let his dog roam free outdoors, which would have been fine if the dog didn’t have a penchant for hunting me like prey. Any time I went out to play with my friends, the dog would stalk and charge me if it was nearby – sometimes it would jump on me or bite, sometimes it would bark ferociously as it stood in my path before running home, sometimes I would have the wherewithall to pick up a branch and fend it off – but every time I found myself at the borderline of needing to change my underwear. Fortunately, I met some friends as I got older with more amicable dogs and things improved. I have since rescued the black lab mix you see above.

Traveling

The Dalmation Coast - if you ever have a chance to visit (especially during the Summer), take it! This shot is from the best road trip of all time.
I didn’t always like to travel either. It wasn’t until I visited my best friend living overseas that I understood and appreciated the opportunity to experience different cultures and meet people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Now I’m hooked on traveling. It’s brought me some of the most memorable, enlightening experiences of my life – from road tripping down the sun-drenched Dalmantian coast in a sportscar to partying in a hut on the side of the Sava River until dawn to crashing a motorcycle in rural Slovenia. Ultimately, I’ve learned everything and everyone is interconnected.

Nature/Hiking

After I graduated college, my best friend, brother and I decided to hike the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine. We had to bail on the trip after 3 days due to non-stop rain (who knew it was going to rain 28 out of 31 days in May!?!) and our cooking burner malfunctioning. However, the sense of freedom and tranquilty engendered by nature had an effect on me. Ever since, I’ve enjoyed spending as much free time as possible anywhere outdoors – at the beach, taking my dog for walks at local parks and hiking the White Mountains up north.

Panoramic shot I took from the top of Mount Lafayette - the Falling Waters Trail is a great dayhike!

Cryptocurrency/Trading

Leveraging blockchain technology to create a decentralized economy may yield a more socially equitable, efficient system than the current economic paradigm. Regardless, the potential for the real-world applications created by cryptography and cryptocurrencies and it’s impact on the economy is facinating to discover and research.

Other you might find here...

Martial Arts: I got into MMA because of my younger brother. He came home one summer after training for a few months and beat me in a grappling match in the backyard. Nobody likes getting beat up by a sibling – nobody – especially when you are the older sibling. At that moment, I vowed that would never happen again and began training soon after. Over time, I’ve realized that martial arts is more about the mental aspect than anything physical.

Reading: As Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Eating: Well, who doesn’t like to eat some good food?

Adult-use marijuana: The medical applications for marijuana are interesting and deserve further investigation – continued legalization will lead to greater acceptance and more research in this field.

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Anyway, hopefully you learned something about me in this post. I look forward to connecting with all of you fellow Steemians in the near future!