How I Survived My First Month on Steem

Good morning, afternoon, evening ocean-folk,

Rather than take this time of reflection to outline my accomplishments or highlights over my first month on the Steem platform, I want to use this space to note the people, art and experiences that have kept me here and helped me find places of true community and family.

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Peers:

Joining Steem was an intimidating affair for me, quickly feeling like I left any stability or reputation I had built in other corners of the interwebs for this new, foreign realm the inner workings of which were still shrouded in a fog of secrecy to me.

What helped me most navigate this new, overwhleming ocean, was the knowledge I was not navigating it alone; in fact, I was navigating it with:

1. @themadrunnah, a macabre poet who, in spite of his writing geared toward instilling a sense of unease and existential dread, is one of the most pleasant people you'll ever meet. His haiku focus has left much of his poetic exploration in bite size readables on his blog, and it's been fun to grow with him. Paradise, a Tri-o-let form poem of his - the form alone is worth checking out!

2. @poetrybyjeremy, a poet and writer whose boundless enthusiasm is only met by his seemingly boundless output. He has a book he's working on now, so if you're enjoying his writings, keep an eye out for it! Peep his blog on his first 30 days, linked here!

3. @whoshim, a third poet who has, as iron sharpens iron, been a great friend who inspires me to continue to grow as a writer. All his recent pieces are worth a read, but do check out The Valley of Kings which channels the power and energy still permeating through the annuals of history.

4. @bennettitalia, who I'm only just starting to connect and become fast friends with, which is exciting because look at the Daily Poem project he's doing as well as this bomb ass doodle! Super excited to learn alongside this guy and connect more.

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Paradise:

Anyone who read through my introduction post will have seen that inclusive communities mean the whole world to me. In my first 30 days of Steeming vegetables, I've found that community in @IsleofWrite. It's been a place of refuge when I need it, encouragement, sharing of best practices, wisdom, and family and community.

1. @jrhughes, the first person I ever met on the Isle, JR greeted me with a smile and an instant feeling of acceptance into a community built to support. She has two projects right now that I'm enjoying following in the restoration of her house, a gorgeous older property - and A Bloody Modern Fairytale which is a suspense, surreal horror with some of the most natural exposition you'll ever read!

2. @authorofthings, is a mini hero of mine. Her natural state of self-depreciation in regards to her writing is reflective of her striving for equal parts grace and strength in everything she does. Her recent love poem Unafraid and more honest than a bullet personal narrative Unraveling are wonderful representations of both her skill as an author (of things) and strength as person.

3. @geke, things I write just wouldn't be as buttoned-up and presentable if it weren't for @geke lending her expert editors eye to much of my output. Her non-partisan posts highlighting conflicts of interest in present US politics are so important! Especially in a media climate that, by necessity, often gets distracted by easier to sell high-drama. She also has a long running Sustainability for Kids that just wrapped up, but are very much still worth your read!

4. @carolkean, is one of the warmest souls I've encountered in my time here. She's constantly promoting the works of others, encouraging established authors to join the blockchain, and climbs mountains to celebrate the success of all, shouting so the heavens hear! I haven't been able to read much of her work outside of some of the outstanding updates she rotates to provide for @theIsleofWrite, but I think her recent Ladybug Haiku is indicative of both her presentness and appreciation of beauty, and her encouraging nature.

5. @geekorner, I'm not sure whether friend, mentor, confidant or catte brother in arms works better, so... all the above? Guy's unabashed honesty in all interaction has led to a lot of growth for me, both on steem, and as a writer. Some of my pieces I'm most excited about that I'm working on right now are as exciting as they are because of detailed notes from this guy, Guy. @geekorner is a poet who often leverages universal emotions and ideals, establishes core foundational roles and traits for them, often with a generous amount of allusion, and ties everything together to ensure an always impactful close that carries true meaning and message.
   His most recent piece Scar Tissue is a great example, the dichotomic nature of needing to outgrow our scars to develop, but our scars also being the entities that limit our growth. Every read of his is insightful, and his poetic output coupled with the quality is staggering!

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Patrons

I'm going to break my premise I started this post with to quickly brag on myself a bit? I have received 2 curies (Ode to an Ancient Statue poem | Best Dark Ambience of 2017), 2 mini-curies (Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto's 'Glass' part of my New Release Friday series | My tribute to Jóhann Jóhannsson, Modern Classical visionary and personal hero) and I couldn't be more thankful to all who have supported and encouraged in my content creation.

 
Every comment and recognition of the value any post has added means the whole world to me, and I want to recognize @eyedreemit for being one of my earliest readers, @moeknows for his consistently insightful comments and passion for poetic community growth here on Steem, as well as new friends @c0ff33a and @saffisara for their encouragement and kind words.

And my first recognition I ever received on the platform came from @sunravelme, a curator who has introduced me to so many writers here on Steem who are now staple reads, a talented poet in her own right (Reflecting on an Uprooted Tree), and a positive ray of encouragement and sunshine in all she does from highlighting the difficulties and giving the opportunity to support the homeless in her hometown to bestowing the joy of reading! to her students.

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Passions

Some of the most astounding art I've seen in my last 30 days (not already covered above) are below. That pieces of this quality exist on my timeline is a dream and I feel blessed to be in the audience.

The metal moshing, radio hosting, photographer, writer, the always helpful @crimsonclad posted this poetic prose, wash the bones, complete with her own Icelandic photography to devastating affect, documenting an instance where the self touches the universe.

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Every piece @alexandravart shares could be here, but I have chosen her feature of her artwork relative to Picasso (comparison) and @stellabelle because it showcases unique relationships in connection and direction.

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@diebitch's poem, Illusion of Darkness, an overcoming of the fear of the unknown in beautiful verse.

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Published author, @yahialababidi's post promoting his new book, Where Epics Fail, a collection of aphorisms and insights for the modern world citizen.

Aphorisms respect the wisdom of silence by disturbing it, but briefly.
Paths are also relationships, to be meaningful they require fidelity.

are two such aphorisms I hope to carry in my rib cage forever.

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@girlwithoutwings recorded this amazing poetic journey / performance and paired it with a self-narrative on persevering through, and ultimately transcending hardship. It's one part heartbreaking, two parts inspiring, and adds new weight to her poem, On Ravendale Hill.

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and on and on - maybe I will get into this curating thing some day...

Past, Present and Future

I don't know what the future holds for me on this platform, but I'm excited by the passion and talent showcased by all that I meet and the opportunity to continue to connect with like minded artists, be inspired, and always always the opportunity to learn.

I'm going to continue to feature at least one new album a week in my New Release Friday series, genres will continue to span the gamut, as they have. I'll also continue to try and get a poem a week - have a lot of ideas now, but I always take so much time on my edits and revisions that I make no promises.

I need to get back to completing my Top Albums of 2017 lists, so expect me to get back on to the one a week schedule until I cover all the genres I feel I listened to enough material in last year to have an educated enough view of the scene that my thoughts might provide value and fun new listens to interested new listeners.

As I flow in and out of RL work loads, and potentially leave my current freelancing for full-time in the near future? we'll see how it affects everything, but I just want to say that the support and camaraderie that I have experienced in my extremely short time here on Steem has been refreshing and inspiring.

I love all of you, thank you for all you have done to make Steem a new home for me and my words.

_{Thank you for the read & your support
header image is promotional for RVA mural project, Artist: Nils Westergard}