December is a special month in Nigeria, just like most parts of the world, we're really big on Christmas and you literally smell it in the air. Then, of course, there's the accompanying chilly weather that comes with the North East Trade wind blowing from the Sahara that heralds Harmattan season. This period is characterised by virtually zero humidity, relatively low temperatures and dryness of skin and pockets; quite frankly, the latter was the reason I joined Steem about this time in 2017.
It gets really cold this period; while people in the west experience winter, sub-zero temperature and all that fancy snow, we get dust and temperatures as low as 10degrees Celcius, that's probably not a big deal to most of you but is fucking incredible when you consider average temperature is around 30 degrees Celcius here.
edited from; source
How did I get here?
About this period in 2017, my brother @skiwwz called me up and said: "guy, go to steemit.com and sign up, you go make money there". I responded with the usual questions; what the fuck? how does it work ? etc. Got all the explanation I needed and after making my introductory post that seems like a lifetime ago now, earned slightly over 2 SBD, sold it for Naira and just like that, Christmas was saved.
The next couple of months was basically one article, poem or shitpost after the other. I met a lot of interesting people and had a lot of fun with the @comedyopenmic crew. The gang is getting back together for a Christmas special, put on your funny caps and simply follow the #comedyopenmic tag to see some of the funniest posts Steem has ever seen and participate if you got a case of the funnies yourself.
Why am I still here?
This is a question I always ask myself and I have a bunch of indefinite answers but at least they keep me going.
...an olive branch
I'm not going pull the sanctimonious bullshit and front like I don't want the money. The main reason I joined this platform on the 17th of December 2017 was because I was dead broke and my brother handed me an olive branch. The platform came to me at a critical point in my life and helped me get through some hard times during the glory days of 2017 and early 2018.
...cash Cow to Project
Considering what it was back then, Steem's current price hasn't deterred me from being active and even investing a fair bit in the platform. It was about the money at the start but as time went on, it grew into a project. I started feeling responsible for this platform and despite not having as much influence, I always do the most to promote and tell people about it. Steem transitioned from my cash cow to a project that I'm glad to be part of.
...an infinite source of challenges
This platform has been an infinite source of challenges and opportunities. In my two years of Steeming, I have participated in a lot of contests and projects that have directly or indirectly improved me. I learned a little programming and use of HTML for composing posts, learned about them online google docs, wrote poems, did numerous reviews and even now, I use some of my articles in my portfolio to source for freelance gigs that come every now and then.
...the gift that keeps on giving
I got to meet a lot of interesting people that have taught me a lot of things and are still helping me right now. The place is the gift that keeps on giving and despite things not being so good right now, I tarry because I believe in this platform. Steem holds a special place in my heart because it came to me at a critical point in my life. I got in because of the money but ever since that dried out, it's been about the thrill all the way. Happy Second Anniversary to me and many more years to come. Steem on.
This post partially came about by listening to @snook and reading her post here
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