First full payout after 10 days of writing!

_{(Note: This is going to be an all-out story-telling because I am just so humbled and grateful to #steemit and to the whole community who supports me in what I passionately do.)}

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I don't know if you guys know, but I am currently in United Arab of Emirates. I came here in 2015 and although things started out fine, I lost my job and has been leeching off my friend (Hi, @katiepals!) for the past couple of months! I do not have work now and is only waiting for my visa to get cancelled so I can finally go home to Philippines for good. For the first few months, I asked money from my parents to pay for everything and god knows how expensive it is here compared to Philippines, but my Mom did everything she can to provide and I am very thankful for that.

But when steemit was introduced to me, I was earning and earning really good. I am very much thankful to my good friend @gailbelga for this and to @deveerei for always accommodating my questions about this whole thing. Not to mention the people I met in @steemph who are always so supportive. And of course to the curator who submitted my entry "How I edit my photos using VSCO." and to @curie for appreciating my effort.

Now, let me share to you my first payout which is more than what I was earning as a graphic designer:

When I calculated my earnings 3 days ago, I told myself that I need to buy a new camera for myself this Christmas, but priorities kicked in and I knew I needed to give to my family first. Even when I was earning little as a designer, I always prioritized my family first. And what's better way to surprise my Mom than a monetary Christmas gift? My camera can wait. I needed to pay my debts, too. When I was neglecting monetary support from Mom, my friend shouldered everything from internet to house bills and it has amounted into roughly 21,000 php (around $415.)

Even though I wanted to pay her the full price, I knew I had to reward myself as well for the job well done. This Christmas, I will finally enroll in Sadie Valeri's Online Atelier. I have been meaning to do this for the last 2 years, but I kept on using the money because my 2017 has been really tough. This has always been a dream of mine, and because of this I'll be able to share more artworks in the future as well my project which I'll call Online Atelier Diary inspired my Miss @Jennifer Marie's Atelier Diary over at YouTube.

That's it! Priorities in life: Family, debts, and art! :)

Hoping to pay all of my debts before the year ends!
Steem on!

Thanks for reading!
Cheers!

_{WITNESSES: @aggroed | @ausbitbank | @blocktrades | @cloh76.witness | @curie | @pfunk | @precise | @smooth.witness | @someguy123 | @steemgigs | @timcliff | @utopian-io}