Yesterday, @lukestokes posted advice targeted at new Steemians who have asked him for tips regarding how to become a successful Steemit blogger.

He pointed to three blog posts he created, which also happen to represent the three things Steemit means to him: Relationships, reputation and rewards.

At the end of the post, he suggested that other people define what Steemit means to them, using the hashtag: #SteemitIsToMe.

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I love this concept, because Steemit has meant different things to me at different times. Pessimists may choose to point out some of the negative aspects of this blogging website: drama-filled, slow, unreliable, still in beta, etc. I'm not saying I haven't had moments of frustration, but overall, the positives have significantly outweighed the negatives.

Like Luke, there are three themes that come to mind when I think about the question: What does Steemit mean to me?

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1 - A gateway drug into cryptocurrencies

If it weren't for Steemit, I probably wouldn't know anything about cryptocurrencies.

Steem was the first cryptocurrency I owned, and I was able to earn it by doing something I'm passionate about: writing. This platform inspired me to learn more about blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in a couple of different ways. My ability to earn Steem/SBD made me curious about what could be done with this new form of digital currency that I had, and it made me wonder what the purposes of other cryptocurrencies were. As a reader on Steemit, many posts referenced things that were happening with cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, so naturally I began to learn more by simply consuming information on this site.

Many of my friends/family also know very little about cryptocurrencies; therefore, Steemit is a natural place to lead them to so they can get their feet wet in this space, the same way I did.

2 - A place to be creative

I had a high school English teacher who walked into class one day and handed each student a blank piece of paper. Once he had finished handing them out, he said, "Your assignment is to write whatever you want on that piece of paper. If you write something, you will be given 100 per cent. If your paper is completely blank, you fail. It's due tomorrow." A bunch of students laughed and couldn't believe their luck. Many wrote one word on their piece of paper, tucked it in their binder and smiled knowing they'd get 100 per cent on this assignment. Others were a bit more cheeky and chose to write swear words, defending their decision with, "He said we could write anything!" I took that piece of paper home and spent hours writing a fictional short story. When I was done, it was better than anything I had previously written in my life. This unorthodox assignment led me to tap into my creativity and discover one of my true passions.

Every time I click the Steemit "Post" button, I am given the metaphoric blank piece of paper that my high school English teacher handed me more than a decade ago. I am given the opportunity to put my creativity to work, and share my thoughts with an audience. This is a place where I've shared chapters of the first novel I ever wrote. This is a place where I've posted some of my best short stories. This is a place where I've developed an interview series that has featured 800 questions with 40 influential people.

Some could argue that a blank Microsoft Word document, or a Medium account offer me the same possibilities; however, the reward structure Steemit leverages acts as a motivating factor that pushes me to dedicate time and effort toward blogging on this website.

3 - A community of unique, talented people

In July 2016, I began blogging on Steemit and digitally networking with mysterious usernames who I knew nothing about other than the information they voluntarily shared on their blogs. My 20 questions series allowed me to learn a bit more about some of these individuals, but it wasn't until the inaugural SteemFest that I actually had the chance to put faces to names and connect with this community on another level.

Steemit can be a place where you log on, write a blog post, and then leave. But I would argue by using Steemit this way, you're not getting the full benefit of what Steemit (and the larger Steem ecosystem) has to offer. Each username is a real person with unique ideas and value to bring to the table. Steemit is a place where those individuals can interact, share ideas, comment, educate, inform and even entertain.

Although I didn't make it to the latest SteemFest, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to meet some of this community in person. Because of that experience, when I think of Steemit, I think of more than a website.

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There you have it, those three elements make up what Steemit means to me.

Now it's your turn. What does Steemit mean to you? Use the hashtag #SteemItIsToMe.

Let's grow this conversation.