Celebrating 8 Years on Hive - Looking Back at the Journey (and Becoming a Doctor)

I am not going to lie. I forgot about my Hive birthday. I haven't been able to write anything in a month. I have been planning on writing something along the lines of selling my soul to the academic devil, as I am finding myself so busy with everything that I have not yet been able to breath.

But then last night I got the notification
that I have been on the blockchain for 8 years now!

Every year when I write this anniversary post, I reread my introduction post that I made all those years ago. I still remember the day when I was notified that I have my account and that I can start to post. I remember everything from the early days.

What is funny is that that I wrote, "I am currently busy with my philosophy degree. The plan is that I do my PhD in the next three to five years."

It is now 8 years after writing that sentence and here I am finally being able to say, I made it. I am a doctor of philosophy.

So many things have happened to me, directly linked to Hive and my almost daily writings (not this year though, as I have been struggling to even write once a week!). I always like to just think over some of them:

• I wrote my first academic article based on a Hive post.
• Because of that, my academic writing career started.
• My photography skills have increased to such a level that I have on multiple occasions thought about doing it professionally (if the PhD career fails).
• My ability to write copious amounts in a short time would not have happened was it not for my writings here.
• My skill to write, even though I still make countless mistakes and spelling errors, have improved because of my writings here.
• The family of friends that I have managed to build on Hive (even though I am myself not the best "family member") has been one of the most special.

***

In the last year, things have changed so much in my life.

1. I have finished my PhD.
2. I presented another university level course.
3. I have published 4 academic (peer reviewed) articles.
4. I have turned my PhD into a book (at least, I have the contract signed and I will submit shortly).
5. I have graded and marked about 1500 university papers/exams.

And somehow, I have not chased away the people around me. My partner in crime, albeit a bit frustrated at my sometimes down moments, is still with me, locked in for the future to come.

And somehow, I have managed to stay sane. Maybe a little more crazy than usual, but mostly sane!

For those that read and vote on my posts, it has been an interesting 8 years! Thank you so much.

Maybe I should say that again.

Thank you so, so much!