500 True Followers! My First Big Milestone, Thank You Steemit!

I am so happy to have reached 500 True Followers in 68 days! Thank you so much to all that has supported me, whether it has been through encouraging responses or upvotes.

I wanted to share a little story with you that regards my writing. I am a horrible at spelling and quite dyslexic. I had a really hard time in school, bad grades and struggled with learning in general. Growing up in Hawaii, where and when I was there was hard. I was told I was stupid by teachers and they would get really frustrated with me. I was convinced I was stupid especially when It came to writing. I loved to read, and am a really fast reader. Reading too was hard at first, I didn't read even simple words until I was in the third grade, then I started reading novels. It just clicked one day, my first book was Dr. Doolittle.

About that time my Mom pulled my out of school homeschooled me. She let me work when I wanted and as fast as I wanted as long as I got a certain amount done by a certain time. It was a great way for me to develop my way of learning, and I taught myself. But the feeling that I was unintelligent stuck with me, without peers to compare myself to or teachers for feedback I progressed but my concept of who I was and my own capabilities stayed that little girl who was yelled at for not learning quick enough.

Fast forward to high school. I had a teacher, she was from Colombia. I adored her, she taught my English and Spanish class. One day she gave an short story assignment. I read so many books that most of my childhood is remembered through the books I have read. I wrote a story and embarrassed handed it in. She loved it and sat me down after class to explain why and how talented she believed I was. I never had anyone do that before. She planted a seed showed with love and belief so genuine it cracked a little hole in my mind and allowed some sun to shine.

Years later I would go to this little coffee shop to get out of the rain in the winters. I was living on my first boat and right down the alley from my café was a public dock to tie up my dinghy, perfect.

There was a poetry night every month on the second Wednesday of the month. I would always go and sit in the back. One day a gentleman approached me, he said why don't I try to write something for next month an share. He said poetry was about sharing, and even though they loved that I would come and quietly sit, it was my time to share.

So I wrote my first poem and shared it the next month in front of a room of people. It felt great and so my poetry began quietly and out of sight. On napkins and stuffed into my purse so no one would see. Whispered to trees and the waves in the sea. But just to secret self. Until now, you steemit.

I never wanted to be on the internet until steemit. I didn't like the corporate overlords and their evil censoring ways. And now I can share my stories and hear other peoples as well. I am so grateful to steemit and all who participate in this awesome platform! I love you.

Ren