Hello Steemians, Happy New-Steem-Year 2018 and a Happy Birthday to me.

What an amazing run it has been on Steemit.
See my Matrix paraphrased line as originally said by Cypher below:-

"You know, I know this earnings doesn't exist. I know when I author an article and people upvote and then I earn and then even go on the cash out, the Steem Blockchain is telling my brain that these earnings are real and has the ability to take care of my needs. After years of fruitlessly pursuing earnings online, you know what I realize? Ignorance is bliss. This fantasy works magic in the real world."

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Please take your time and travel this page with me to see my Steemit Adventure.
2017 has been a blast and these blasts have been with their plenty blessings that leaves us with so much gratitude. Looking back at my time on Steemit in 2017, I have come to love and truly respect the idea of community and living for the betterment of a society that truly needs love.

Steemit is more than blogging and it is more than just getting social, to me at least. Steemit is more about filling a need and making sure these needs impact society for the better. The social media space that is where we find ourselves has the ability to make us saints or and demons and whatever we make of our time here is similar to what we make of it in the real world.

This is 2018, and on this first day of the year, I am clicking away on my keys all very hopeful and sure about the year and what it holds for me and my community.
Did you see the beauty that is Steemit? have you been able yet to quantify the various benefits that therein are available in the Steem Blockchain?

WHAT HAS STEEMIT DONE FOR ME?

Steemit is no doubt a game changer and its stylish ways of making one feel truly relevant in its development has made men of boys, women of girls and leaders of followers who never set out to lead.
Steemit gave me the motivation to become the better version of me in a time when I thought I would be pursuing a very successful career as an ROV Pilot Technician, but instead, I found a very satisfying and rewarding life as a Steemian.
I found Steemit while embarking on a 4 moths gig offshore on the 16th of January 2017 and I didn't get into blogging immediately because I needed to make sure I did the work I was being paid to do.

My first article was posted on the 6th June 2017 and as you can see, it wasn't what you will call a post worthy of an upvote.What is the meaning of life?

After writing some articles that earned nothing and even made me see myself as not part of the Steemit IT crowd, it suddenly clicked when I read, How to Dodge Bullets - Creating your own Reality authored by Dan '@dan' Larimer.
You know, the beauties obtained in life has been inspired by those things we see as being impossible, useless and needless.

You will never truly understand human nature until you truly are able to explain the reason why a child on a merry go round will happily wave at you every time the wheel goes round past you.

I am happy I am here doing what I am doing and even if the earnings never really made sense, I knew I was happy doing what it was I doing... -living in a fantasy and owning a dream world I created out of the dark recesses of my mind.
I am a better person than I was before I joined Steemit because, Steemit has helped me realize what truly is important in life- LOVE.

MY STEEMIT JOURNEY/ADVENTURE.

It is just starting but so far, it has been able to help no fewer than 400 people find their way around this platform that rewards you for being social.
THE STACH PROJECT.
My time on Steemit was laden with so much admiration for this platform doling out free monies to people who took time out to author articles on it.

Applications in their hundreds are being built on this platform, Rockstars and Pulitzer themed writers are springing up, introverted folks are coming out of their closed knit circle and the voiceless are finding their voices again and are louder than ever. Dreamers are becoming daring and their dreams are gradually walking away from the dark recesses of their minds into reality.
In this vein, I too decided to run with a dream, "Decentralizing the offline by creating Accelerator Hubs around the African continent fully equipped with free WiFi and Electricity all in a bid to provide a collaborative space for the creative commons".
See the below posts of my various meetups activities.

The SteemUp Delta Christmas Special: First videos and Photos

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Steemit Uyo Christmas Meetup, Video and Photos: 60+ people present, one great community and a birthday celebration. Steemit is AMAZING!

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Steemit promotion through MeetUps and Viral Campaigns: Ibadan Meetup, the Fun, the Food and the traditional Eatery!

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First Video and Photos from the Successful Steemit Uyo MeetUp.| Thanks to @samstickkz and @evelyniroh for rallying the community.

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The Steemit Ibadan Meetup: Lecture/Talk Video and Pictures.

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First Video and photos from SteemUp Kaduna as hosted by @michaelcj and his team

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@ejemai with live videos and photos from the Steem-Lagos Steemit Workshop 1.0. |You have to watch these videos to see the joy Steemit brings when Steemians come together to rub minds.|

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.

Today the 1st of January 2018 is my birthday and I have so much to be thankful for.
Discovering Steemit, meeting @Donkeypong, forming the best team, building of the Steem Accelerator Hub, the initiation of #Project20millionNaija, creation of the @Air-Clinic project, @SteemSoccer1, @SteemCamp, MeetUps around Nigeria and now Africa etc... I have so much to be thankful for.

I Feel Blessed.
I haven't really gone out to do any celebration today because I really want to do the celebration with you guys here first and that brings me to...

MY BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY, 150Steem!

Lets have some fun and feel free to participate because on this day, everyone will win as everyone is a winner.
This is not a contest but a fun time with me @ejemai on my birthday. I will spend my day on this page today and give away the 150Steem budgeted and if we run out, I will add* some more just for this day.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE.
PLEASE READ THE RULES AND MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THEM.

• In no more than 50 words and no less than 40 words, tell us "WHAT STEEMIT MEANS TO YOU" in the comment section below. You are free to use graphical illustration or not but your words mustn't exceed 50 words.
  RULES.
• Title it, "WHAT Steemit Means to me."
• No fewer than 40 words and no more than 50 words.
  PRIZES.
• 5Steem each for the first captivating 20 submissions and 50Steem as consolation prizes for other participants.
  JUDGING.
  I and a Steemian, will pick these winners based on how your contents relates to us. So write from your heart because it is only through this way we can truly have fun on my birthday.*

So, lets get cracking and have some fun.

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This is one amazing platform and being here to celebrate my special day with you guys is something I will always remember, and like the internet, I will never forget.

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Make the world a better place for someone today.

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