# 'History is philosophy teaching by examples' - Thucydides | Learning path 📚

This post is such a relatable post. I really connect with the feeling of freedom you talked about regarding Hive. It’s not just about the attention a post receives but the authenticity and the connections it creates within ourselves and with others. I’ve been on Hive for 7 years, and I really enjoy it because there’s no other platform quite like it. It’s a space where I feel comfortable sharing anything that’s on my mind, whether it’s something really personal or just some random thoughts. It's amazing to write in broken English (my third language), and still getting rewarded for it LOL. It’s all about growth and discovering my voice. Hive provides me with a wonderful opportunity to grow, learn from my mistakes, and become better as time goes on. What makes me want to return to Hive? It’s the feeling of being appreciated as an individual with something meaningful to share. Here, I can truly be myself without feeling the need to fit in or live up to specific standards. And that, for me, is truly priceless. Thank you for sharing this post. 

> *Don't fucking fake it...*

Maybe Hive keeps me interested for nostalgic reasons. I dove full-heartedly into *social blogging* during its nascent years in the late 1990s and first 5-6 years of the 2000s. 

Yes, I'm old.

Hive — and the legacy chain — felt like a return to my favorite format; a format I really didn't consider myself *"done"* with when Zuckerfuck and his Book of Face turned an authentic written dialogue into a shitshow of friends collecting and vapid emojis.

Why write something meaningful when a one-click smiley can pass for *"being social?"*

Yes, I'm old. And writing on Hive feels like actively rejecting the majority insistence that *"long form is dead."*

Besides, there are some really interesting people on Hive.

I'm very flattered that I'm one of the small number of writers you follow.  The feeling is mutual. You always give me a fresh perspective that's unique, a few degrees different that the mainstream, or something interesting to think about and that's why I keep reading your work. You have blossomed into such a talented writer and that can't be purchased or taught, it must be earned through practice and hard work.   

As a writer in this day and age, it's such a struggle to be heard. There are so many voices competing for attention -- so many platforms that make you pay for outreach.  To be heard is all I've ever wanted and I found it on Steemit/Hive. Not only do writers have to work like hell to build an audience but we must fight all of those inner demons and doubts as well. 

When I was making serious bank writing on the blockchain (2016-2018) I noticed myself occasionally slipping into cynicism and formulaic, soulless writing. Instead of writing from the heart I was trying to anticipate what people wanted to read and that sent me down some dead-end paths. Things have come full circle for me now. I don't need to write for money anymore so it's fun again and Hive is like my creative playground.

At first I liked a girl [from Hive.](https://hive.blog/hive-168869/@fieryfootprints/naive-dreams-leads-to-nowhere). It led nowhere. So at times I became frustrated and took long breaks from Hive. After that I started focusing on my financial growth so I started looking at Hive as my work and not just a place where I get compliments for my art and try(and often fail) to flirt with hot girls. After focusing on the right things staying in Hive was easier. Besides the financial hopes for the better future I also find that people here are more interesting than in real life.

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For me, the value of HIVE is its censorship-resistant nature as a blockchain. That is also why I abandoned ship for this fork when Justin Sun took over ~~STEEM~~ and began manipulating the chain behind the scenes. It's not really about the token price so much as it is about building an alternative to corporate cartels and their bureaucratic internet for me.

It's discouraging sometimes when I think a worthwhile post gets less appreciation than I think it deserves, but it's also gratifying when an odd post throwing an idea into the void gets unexpected traction.

I think I've tried all the things you mentioned once or twice. I've never been one to suck up to people who I dislike here on Hive, whether or not they're whales, but it happened once or twice that I wrote a post hoping that someone in particular might like it, or tried to be something that I was not to fit into what few people wanted or expected, and I felt miserable for it.

What keeps me on Hive, in all honesty, is the freedom and the money. The freedom to write and the freedom income from here affords me. I have grown so much here, and like you, I also started when I was barely an adult. I wish I can say it's the people. And while I've connected with amazing people here, I know that if I didn't have this freedom I get from being here, even they won't stop me from leaving. Reading you was a pleasure as always, Honeydue.

The part of being genuine is something that people tend to forget. No one like bots or posts who you odn't care about. Honestly...I am always return to the post of people that I met '*live*' on Hivefest, because those are the people you enjoyed having a beer with. 

It aint so easy to get an account started on any blogging platform, because it just takes so much time. But medium for some reason has never grasped me to start with..

Im good with my time here I guess. But uhhh a year membership on medium as a gift, that is quite genuine I would say!! Adn 300+ posts is also quite genuine haha

Hello there, Nice post. I've stayed happy on Hive the last 7 years by posting and engaging. Like you, I wanted an outlet for my creativity. Where you are writing, I like photography. In a perfect world, I'd be doing photography as my main hobby. Not really wanting to go fully professional and depend on it for a living, then it tends to become more work than play. Would still like to earn a bit from it when I do take time to enjoy it. Tried some of the stock photography sites to sell without luck, of course not much if anything to be made on most other social media. This has been a great outlet and always makes me smile if my pics get a few comments and make a few dollars. Comments of course are generally much better here than other social that tends to draw the critics and complainers. Looking forward to your continued input here!

It's such a privilege to hear that I'm one of your fave authors, you flatter me @honeydue!
Shall I say snap, I also love reading your content - 'out-the-box', candid, and straight from the heart! 
When I first met you seven years ago through @ericvancewalton's Time Travel 101, I was pleasantly surprised by the wisdom penned by someone so young. You are a wise old soul for sure, sweet @honeydew!
I've only ever blogged here so don't have any experience on other platforms.
My son introduced me and told me I'd be earning Crypto just by writing and interacting. To me that was just an aside, I was super chuffed to have a place where I could offload all the stuff going on in my head, and meet people from all over the world without leaving my home! 
The Crypto part became a lifesaver when the pandemic hit and our BnB had to close for a period, but that's an old story.
As with you, I also find when I've spent hours on a blog, the interaction and rewards often are negligible; it's as if the post is invisible. However, very often when I simply sit down and write from the heart, things start happening. 
That must be the secret, just being ourselves will attract like-minded people, as in real life!
Thank you for being a part of my Hive journey, you are a very special soul♥️

(Iknow I'm past the 7-day mark, but your post really caught my attention.)

I loved reading it—I deeply relate to your words through my own art. I've often questioned myself: Why am I even creating? Who is it for? And many times, I wish I didn’t have to think about monetizing it. Would my art be different if that pressure wasn’t there?

Probably. That thought led me to shift my perspective on creation at the end of last year, allowing me to carve out a new path for myself this year.

I can empathize with you, even though I haven't posted all that much on Hive for a while. For me, it's more about the level of effort I want to put into it. I feel strongly that the true strength of hive is the interactions that we share with each other. That being said, I always try to read others' posts and that can get tiring. I felt guilty about posting without reading and interacting with others, so I kind of just stopped. 

I totally can relate to you.
Once there is a monetary reason, things will change and will push us - sometimes in a good way sometimes not. 
I agree that being real is the key and not focusing on the monetary side should be on the list too. It's not a place to earn a lot (well, for most of us) but a place to learn and grow (to me).
I hope this helps. Have a great day. 

I think people want to contact with what is real, that real rawness, that has been ostracised, to make way for all the fake shit. I say that, when at the end of the day, I can only speak for myself. But I'm not wrong, I think, when I say that I can feel a longing for that.  
Being real, is the most important thing to me, about being on Hive. There are many factors that keep me on here. The connections, I have made on here, with you being one of those wonderful people. Hive also provides me with an income, which I am so grateful for. Writing has always been a form of medicine for me and writing on here is a part of that.  
You are a wonderful writer, I don't have so much time online, but when I do I always try and check in and read your posts, not being able to response as much as I would like, but I see you and I appreciate your honesty and sharing your gift with us all. Big hug xxx