Wow, it sounds like starting on Steemit was a game-changer for you. Retirement from teaching after 30 years must have been a big transition, but finding a way to earn money from home on the internet is amazing. It's great that a friend introduced you to the platform and helped you get started, especially with those tricky codes. Learning something new can be challenging, but with determination, you made it work.

It's fantastic that you've always been good at writing, and Steemit gave you the opportunity to showcase your skills. And it's even more impressive that you developed photography skills along the way, going from not knowing how to take selfies to becoming skilled in that area. Putting interest and dedication into it truly pays off.

Focusing on your abilities in the kitchen and participating in competitions in different communities was a smart move. It's through these experiences that you became known and started receiving support. I can only imagine the joy and excitement you felt when you received that support. It's like being a child again, full of enthusiasm and motivation.

Every day, you learned something new, whether it was through research on the internet or improving your posts. It's wonderful to see your growth and progress. Keep up the great work, and I'm sure you'll continue to achieve even more.