This time, last week, I was unpacking, still on a high. I was bouncing off the energy I had soaked in for a week, an energy that followed me over borders through Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp and SteemFest posts. Now a whole week later, the energy is still there but so is routine/humdrum of life and the myriad of posts - the good, the bad, the ugly.
So with @anomadsoul asking for one last post to round up the #blocktradescontest & #roadtosteemfest challenges, I am on it to give this episode in my life some closure.
This is my first experience of SteemFest and I now understand the posts from previous years, and why the attendees were on a high as they shared their experiences. SF4 is now one of my top highlights of my Steem Experience so far. And from what I hear from those who have attended the previous ones, there was something a little extra with this.
I always knew it was the people of Steem that kept me going through the sporadic highs and floods of lows on the SteemVerse. There were a few... and one particular one that I wanted to meet when I told myself "by hook or crook" I'm going. She wasn't there, but the Steemians who were made up for it. Well, the plan is still to find a way to meet her... perhaps in the next one... who knows, even sooner.
I wouldn't say I have changed much from before and after as a person. Even though, a big part of SteemFest is to meet and mingle and I did that less than most, I am at peace with it. Prior to this, I would beat myself up for not working the room, sometimes even embarrassed that I wasn't as "loud" and bubbly as the extroverts, coveting their natural abilities to strike up a conversation, making small talk.
But here I am, one week later, still buzzing from my experience. No regrets. Yes, I didn't go over and beyond to make a mark but I was in the midst of a group of people who felt like I did about Steem. I basked in the vibes, soaked in the energies. I didn't get to talk to some that I had planned to, but I got to know others that were delightful.
At this point, I'm good with letting things fall and flow naturally. Happy with letting the ships, whatever they may be or not, take its natural course without forcing it into the expected.
Without dropping names, I was in a bowling team that had a witness. I was clueless that the organiser of Steemfest was top witness. Witnesses ... top witnesses hanging out just like anybody else. Being in the same room, in the same groups chatting and laughing,... and I saw people without labels.
With HF21/22, when the pitchforks were out and the top witnesses were the bad guys, I wondered if I was just clueless and did not see it for what it was. After all, they were enabling the rich to get richer by taking from the poor. I read so many posts for and against. Maybe it's my bloody Libra trait or the fact that I have been middle management, but I kind of saw both sides and in between. Meeting them though, they didn't have horns or forked tongues. Maybe they were devils in sheepskin but I would like to think I have a knack for knowing the good from the bad and no, my hair did not stand on end in their presence. One thing I've learnt in my lifetime is nothing is black or white.
Of course, Steemit Inc being there and some right up to the end, made everything surreal. For all the bad press, it was great that they placed themselves right in the centre and talked to anyone who wanted to chat. It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there, when tonnes blamed you for the many things that went wrong and is still wrong in the SteemVerse.
After getting the feels of the "hearts" behind the heads/usernames, and now back to reality, I am thinking and hoping there's a ripple effect to take us to where we need to be. Within the Steemverse and beyond. There's so much going on, so many ideas to grow Steem, to onboard the masses. Yes, crypto is complicated for the average joe/jill. I am that person!! Talk content, I'm fired up...talk tech, keys, tokens... my eyes glaze. Yet, I came, sat through the presentations, I wanted to know more. And this is what I wish for all noobs who get the opportunity to find Steem, that they'd give it a chance so they see... really see the possibilities. And then grab it by its horns.
Oh, I do not want to mess with @roelandp's brilliant organising skills. We experienced Bangkok for what it is, including taking the train during peak hours and the alleyways hahaha. Loved every second of it. I wait to discover what's next with SF5.
Thank you @anomadsoul for running these challenges. Even though my initial plan was to cash out to help fund my trip to Bangkok. I just couldn't bring myself to do it as great as the story would have been. I will save that story for next year.
Cheers,
Sh33la
20Nov19