My full experience with blockchain & cryptocurrency as a newbie. Where to now?

This may be a bit too honest but maybe also helpful. Today I really want to talk about my direct experience with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as I have learned about them all over the last (almost) year. And I want to emphasize this is coming from a non programmer/developers side and also someone who is not an investor (I wish). I really want to know what other newbies have learned and experienced by telling my story so far. Or what experienced blockchain users/developers think because maybe my focus is in the wrong place. Well here we go...

Go back to January 2016 and I just learned what Bitcoin was and I bought exactly one, and I got it at $508 Canadian. Right after I purchased my one coin it dropped in price...about $100. This was my first experience with purchasing something with a volatile price, or at least what I thought was volatile at the time (I didn't know about other crypto markets yet). But I was going to hold my one little coin for the long term even though I was choked about the drop. This was my first moment dealing with emotions that come with trading, I wanted to sell my coin back in fear of losing more but I didn't! Don't get me wrong I know it is not a lot of money, but for me at the time and even now, it is. The price was basically my rent. 

Why I did it sell even though I got a bit nervous was I just wanted to get involved. Having that coin made me hopeful and excited. That I was part of some new movement. I would tell people about it and even if they didn't understand I felt like I had this amazing thing that represented all these new opportunities and ideas. I really truly felt like I made a good choice. Unfortunately I needed the money a few months later and had to sell half of it. 

But wait what? There are more block chains and different coins?

This blew my mind. Soon after I began researching other blockchains coming out and what they could potentially do, is when I found Ethereum. Smart contracts, the Dow, what is all this? I learned and came across it all right after the price went up, which happened really fast compared to Bitcoin. That was the first time I felt like I was at the right place at the right time but still missed the boat. I didn't feel like that with Bitcoin at all, I knew where it had come from since 2009 and was excited either way. I may sound like I am in this to make money, and I am because like most people I am excited about the opportunity. Ehtereum was my first lesson on deciding to do my research and stay current with new ideas, coins and projects when they are starting. I didn't want to have something that I thought was great pass me by and not know about it again. 

Well that didn't work... I finally got onto trading sites after Monero blew up and I have missed the boat ever since. This sounds doom and gloom but it is just what has happened and has been a learning experience. Every time I don't pay attention for a bit something big happens. I am only looking at a year and who knows where any of this can go but I feel like I am constantly running behind. Its also a little more tricky when you don't have much money to transfer into crypto trading and investments. I added myself to trading sites but couldn't trade with my sacred one (now half) Bitcoin because I told myself I would keep it. 

But then Steemit happened for me, I wrote an article and did very well on my first one. I was ecstatic... I watched as I got more and more votes over and 24 hour period and was thrilled. My boyfriend couldn't believe it either, this was the first time since getting that Bitcoin I saw that opportunity again. It re lit my crypto fire and I was so intrigued at the idea that you could make coins by creating content people liked. I was like whaaaatttt? Actually though. I began getting involved in the #steemitphotochallenge, posting my own photography work, and about a month ago started posting Before and After how to's of how I edited my photos. I have been a little MIA lately though and I must fix that immediately. I still think Steemit is awesome and I always tell people and get excited about it. 

Here is where I think I messed up though and got discouraged... I was brave enough and was learning enough I decided to try trading cryptos, you can get really caught up in that. I thought well I could turn my x amount of Steemit to Bitcoin to whatever into more Bitcoin. Well lets just say holding what I had with the price of Bitcoin today I would have been better off just keeping it like I initially intended. Being on those trading sites I got a bit greedy and was still too uneducated on it, and believe me I was not dealing with large amounts. But the bit I had that was important to me... I lost a decent amount of it. It also became more about money and less about why I liked the blockchain technology in the first place, because I believe in it long term and what it can do. I wish I would have left my Bitcoin and Steemit alone, but hindsight is always 20/20.

I haven't fully decided why I am telling you guys all this, but I think in under a year of learning what Bitcoin is, to following cryptocurrencies, to trading them I have learned a ton. What I want to do, what I don't want to do again, when emotions get the best of you, and why I am doing this in the first place. 

The picture above I took when I was photographing a cottage by a lake just recently, I just felt like it was appropriately calming. I am not sure how I want to be involved with this anymore, but I want to be. I don't know how other newbies and non programmers/developers feel when they get into the crypto world but I am curious! And where to go from here? Besides post and support Steemit of course. 

All the love,

Kristylynn

p.s. Steemfest looked awesome, I hope there is another one...