The Gratitude Challenge: New Purpose

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

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I received a challenge from my most esteemed witnesses today, @guiltyparties. He had finished a post after being challenged by @theycallmedan. I have pondered on what I wished to be thankful for in this thing of ours we call the Steem Blockchain .

Having a bit of an erratic personality (type ENFP-T according to the Meyers & Briggs Test), it is sometimes difficult for me to keep focused (I have been described by some to have the attention span of a Labrador Retriever that got into some espresso). Hence; this post has taken me a long time to complete. There are so many things about Steem for which I am grateful.

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Witnesses (Block Producers)

The first thing I am grateful for is the blockchain itself and those that ensure it stays up and running, solve the blocks and monitor the servers (nodes) that make Steem a reality! These are selfless people who give of their time and resources to ensure that we can enjoy the experience that is Steem.

These folks below are my witnesses. I am grateful to all the Steemitizens that work so hard day in and day out to ensure that our decentralized ledger remains up and running and the tools they provide us to better navigate the Steemiverse!

Sgt-Dan's Witnesses

^{Note: For a full listing of all Witnesses you may wish to visit Steemian.info created by @drakos (witness)}

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The next thing I am grateful for is for those that have taken it upon themselves to form communities. An online place to share common interests and to lift one another up. There are many communities that have popped up using the Discord Messaging/Chat Application.

The first Discord server I ever visited was SteemSpeak owned by @fyrstikken (witness). It was the first of what would become many Steem-centric Discord Servers. Some other communities that I am familiar with and their leaders have made it their business to help out new and some established Steemitizens to be more effective content producers and curators.

There are many, many communities. A list that is too long for this simple post, I will just highlight a few... that I am familiar with and support.

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Rambling Radio

Host to many podcasts designed to educate and promote quality content. It hosts one of the first, if not the first, manual-curation podcasts of Steem Content. The PYPT (Pimp Your Post Thursday) is the brain child of @shadowspub, a long time member of the Steem platform and manual-curator.

The podcasts are broadcasted weekly live on VIMM.TV. There is a morning and evening session (EST) to ensure that all members of our international community has a chance to share (pimp their posts). They also host other podcasts by notable community leaders along with interviews.

Once a month, @ramblingradio also hosts a Witness Chat open to all Steemitizens and Witnesses in order to feature the work of our Block Producers and educate the Steem Community on the importance of witness voting.

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Military Veterans of Steemit

This is a community for Veterans from all around our Steemiverse. The Veterans Project was co-founded by @guiltyparties(A Canadian Military Veteran) and @anarcho-andrei (An American Military Veteran). They currently have a Discord Server where Veterans can come together and support one another (if you are a Veteran and wish to join the server, contact one of the folks listed above).

The Veterans Project is a passion of @guiltyparties, @rakkasan84, @inthnow, and @jackmiller along with many others, to include military families, who support the efforts of all Military Veterans on the Steem Platform. A curation of all identified Veterans' posts is published regularly using the @chairborne list of identified Veterans using the Steem Platform.

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HHYM & Steem Terminal

A better more welcoming bunch of folks you will never meet. This group of folks have a big heart for new Steem users!

They are a wonderful bunch of people who spend a great deal of time helping others. I am proud to know many of them. One cannot help but smile (yes, even me) when coming into contact with these amazingly talented Steemitizens with huge hearts.

Here is a list of the core members...

@brittandjosie, @xcountytravelers, @brisby, @jamerussell, @derekrichardson, @thekittygirl, @medro-martin. @wesphilbin

If you are new to Steem and have stumbled on this post, this is a must visit in your Steem travels...

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Steem Poker League (Lucksacks)

@tuck-fheman, @ats-david, @guiltyparties, @inthenow, @bethlea along with the community members make this a really great great place to hang out. It is probably one of the best, unintentionally, kept secrets on Steem!

If you are one that enjoys playing cards, especially poker, then this is a great bunch of folks to get to know. Great deal of fun. I personally am addicted to Lucksacks or as they are known by many @spl (Steem Poker League). There are many tournaments daily. Whether you wish to learn to be a better poker player or are a card shark, everyone is welcome.

There are some requirements, a certain level of reputation and an introductory post on Steem are required (sock puppets get around ya know). The community is totally funded by donations and is not for profit.

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STEEM Has Changed The World Already

I will end this post by stating what I am most grateful for... being a part of a community, the Steem Community, that has already made a change in lives all around the world.

We have each of us in our own way as a part of this great experiment. In August I will have been on STEEM for 2 years. I don't go out much as I have a nervous condition. It is very difficult for me to interact with people.

I am fortunate. I have a roof over my head, food in my belly, and am able to pay monthly bills (then again I am a tight-wad and can squeeze a nickel out of a penny). I am greatful for what I have and I am grateful that I have been able to interact with a great many amazing people.

It is hard to remain optimistic with the current price of Steem, but look out how much we have done to change lives and are continuing to do. Sure STEEM has much more potential, but before we beat ourselves up too much...

Let us look at what has been accomplished. You, me all of us. We are Steem.

My light has been rekindled by all of you. My fellow hopeful Steemians. For that I am ever in this community's debt. To quote a movie I saw once...

Everything will be all right in the end and if it's not all right, then it's not yet the end.

Nominations for The Gratitude Challenge

I alamost forgot! I am supposed to nominate 3 people to do the challenge. Ah, I nominate @potplucker, @thekittygirl, and @molovelly. Now I am finished. I will hit edit now.

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