The REAL Benefit of STEEMIT

I came to STEEMIT about two months ago at the coaxing of my son @lokii and a friend @onlyoneman.
Before they introduced me to this I was a FaceBook whore. I posted everyday. It was a way to get what was inside out but that was all. I have a muddled mind. A tortured mind. At fifty years old I have made my fair share of transgressions. I have lived in current events which are now part of history. I have strong opinions about the ignorance of society. On FaceBook I could release and possibly get a few likes. That was the whole show. Anything I wrote that was lengthy or relevant or artistic wasn't getting read or noticed.
Back to the story at hand. The two of them called me to my sons house while I was visiting NY. They told me how I could get paid for my thoughts. They explained how cryptocurrency worked (which I still don't fully understand or care to yet) and how I could gain an audience focused on my posts by tagging to specific groups. I was curious so I joined and made an #introduceyourself post. It made about eighteen dollars. It was exciting. I wrote a poem. It didn't do well as far as dollar amount but it gave me more. It got a couple of upvotes and a couple of comments. I can't even tell you how good it felt to know that not only was the community noticing, they were actually reading and commenting! In my first week on STEEMIT I got more feedback on my posts than in five years on FaceBook. It was important. It was important to mealso to work my way into the community. I started checking new stuff and trending stuff and promoted stuff in the tags that were entertaining to me. I gave upvotes and resteemed posts that captured my interest. I started to get more followers and more upvotes and comments. The comments were the most important part for me. I knew that I had a 'voice' here. That is the part of STEEMIT that is most beneficial to me. Knowing that my words are being qualified. Knowing that my art is being seen. Knowing that my opinion is sharedto a receptive community. It gives it a sense of purpose and me a sense of pride.
If you are new and you have read this far then let me impart to you how I experience STEEMIT now. I post my poetry or commentary or art or whatever. I know that it is going to be seen by somebody because that is what this community is all about - sharing. After I write a post I go cycle through the tag feeds to see what others are posting. I'll open a few votes that draw me and read them. I'll upvote and resteem many so that others who might not see them otherwise can enjoy them also. It gives you a good feeling to let others know they are appreciated just as it makes you feel good to be appreciated. I try everyday to upvote/resteem at least five posts I find interesting and I think would be interesting to others. It helps to keep the flow. I also post quite a bit of poetry. I like to write my myself with people I know are noticing: fellow Steemians.
Anyway, to me to me the biggest benefit of being a part of the STEEMIT community IS being a part of the STEEMIT community.

Thank You for taking the time to read this post.
It is genuinely appreciated.