2017 was absolutely incredible...a miracle really. I can trace all of this year’s fabulously serendipitous events, directly or indirectly, to Steemit. I realized this morning that each of the goals I set for myself when I was young and naive have been surpassed. It feels surreal but strangely anticlimactic.
Four years ago, after reading a book called Choose Yourself, I made the conscious choice to stop chasing material rewards and fame as a writer. I pinpoint this is the precise moment when the universe began to open doors.
At first the rooms on the other side of those doors were small and the tests were relatively simple and easy. With each new door that opened the rooms became a little more massive, and the tests, markedly more difficult.
Four years later I find myself at a place where I don’t have to write another word but, now, I have the desire to write more than ever. Writing is usually the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and what occupies my mind as I drift off to sleep. The creativity is flowing like never before.
I am so lucky to find myself surrounded by extraordinary people doing extraordinary things and the enthusiasm is contagious. These amazing folks are doing what they do, not because they have to, but because they want to and it fills them with positive energy and joy.
Having the freedom to choose is a great blessing in this world we live in but should be a birthright. Unfortunately, we don’t live in the kind of world where this is easy...at least not yet. I believe cryptocurrency and blockchain technology will help many people achieve this great freedom.
We achieved a gigantic milestone with the HardFork series yesterday and are so excited to begin sharing some of the details with you all (from our HardFork Series account) early in 2018!
Reality is usually so much different from our dreams. Sometimes it’s even better. I see writing now for what it is, a true blessing. I feel completely alive, awakened, and am full of hope.
The following samurai quote came across my Facebook newsfeed (of all places) today. This is how I choose to live out the rest of my days.
I Choose
To live by choice, not by chance.
To be motivated, not manipulated.
To be useful, not used.
To make changes, not excuses.
To excel, not compete.
I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice.
Not the random opinion of others.
Much love from my family to yours. We wish you the freedom and the courage to live life as you choose in 2018. Happy New Year!
Please follow our official Steemit account for the film series @hardfork-series. Did you miss our last post? If so CLICK HERE to read it!
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Chasing material rewards and fame, that sums up so much of my focus as an adult, so much of my inner and outer world. The snake and it’s tail. True to form, your New Years missive is the perfect antidote to time wasted living a single moment for the wrong reasons. The samurai code bonds us together. Purpose is clear now. Happy new year my friend! What an incredible year it’s been, I get a feeling 2018 is going to be completely off the hook!
Thank you, brother! I'm so thankful that Steemit introduced us and helped to manifest this amazing project we're working on. I have no doubt that 2018 will be an incredible year. We have such a great adventure ahead of us and I can't think of anyone I'd rather share it with. Cheers to HardFork!
Congratulations on your success! Whilenot on the same level as you, as another former "identifies as a writer but spends all creative energy on worrying about not writing" Steem, even with my relatively paltry wallet, has also finally pushed me to stop thinking about it and just do it. it's oddly liberating (i say odd as one would think the normal reaction would be to feel pressure to constantly be producing, and I'm sure some do, just not me which lesbehonest takes precedent lol)
A good post, I must say.You are right our choices make us what we want to be.
Happy New year, Hope you had good year and 2018 will be full of success and blessings for you.
I have just joined steemit and made my first introduction post, do you mind checking that.
I hope I will have great time on steem.
Even though I found Steemit recently, it is already beginning to have positive effects on myself similar to the ones that you mentioned. There really are some extraordinary people using this site and it is great being surrounded by such talented people.
Seeing as you have been on the platform for awhile hearing you say all this just makes me even more excited for the future :).
You'll be so happy you joined! Steemit truly is a gateway to a better life. I wish you much success here!
I'm grateful to steemit as well and that we've met in this 2017!
Maybe 2016 but I'm grateful all the same.
Happy New Years my friend!
I'm very grateful to have met you too, Adil! I hope you had an amazing New Year my friend!
your list of what you choose is EXCELLENT, it just cuts right through "it". I may borrow it as a reminder to refer to. Happy 2018 to you and your family too and cheers to a miraculous year ahead! I am irrationally optimistic about it.
Thank you, Ruth! I'm glad you enjoyed it! This list will definitely be my mantra for 2018. I hope you and your family have an amazing a prosperous 2018!
You too Eric!! So excited for your new developments ;-)
True words with meaningful saying which at least for myself is an inspiration. I have found here on STEEMIT great people, with good or bad experiences during their lifetime and somehow feeling safe enough to share that, get help and help in return.I feel that we are all growing together with the platform and we mature ourselves along the road.
cheers to that @cryptogee!
You are so right. The first steps are the most difficult!
Great stuff, looking forward to the new notices about HardFork for 2018 / Peace
Thanks! We have a huge announcement coming this week. Peace!
I see some of the titles you published, VERY IMPRESSIVE Eric. I might start back doing my segment called Inspirational Entrepreneur, it's where I would do content on upcoming content innovator like you and myself. :D
Happy new year @ericvancewalton hope you inspire new user like me and help them grow i think of you as my motivation... Keep it up sir lots of love for you... I wish your journey becomes more fruitful.. Keep steeming!!
Thank you! Happy New Year!
Thank you for exellent advices. Happy New Year
Happy New Year!
Cheers my friend
P.S. My brother has invested in some horor movie in Los Angeles. You can conneect with him @flysky As you are screenplay writter.
May this New Year brings you a peace filled life, warmth and togetherness in your family and much prosperity! Happy New Year!
Thank you so much, @blazing! I wish the same to you and your family!
Thank you for this inspirational article. I agree choices are so important. We make choices all day long, and we definitely need to become more cognizant of the reality of the events that happen in our lives that follow the choices we make,
Thank you for reading, @shevans!
Surround your self with great people around you and you will see the difference :) Happy new year 2018
Happy New Year to you and you family @ericvancewalton!
It has been a pleasure to follow your writing here on steemit.
I love the samurai quote!
Thank you so much, @lakshmi! Happy New Year to you and your family!
Best of luck in 2018 with the show.
Thank you!
Great post. And the resolutions you wish to take are really deep. I totally believe you at the fact that block chain and crypto currency technology will help the people who are deprived of freedom to get it. Keep posting mate. Wish you a very happy and prosperous 2018. STEEM ON/
Thank you! I hope you have a great year ahead as well!
Welcome mate
Hello Eric happy new year! May i ask you one question? did you related to @ericvancewalton account on steemit.chat? looks like somebody use your good name for triking young minnows there, maybe you interested about? first i think it was you, but now I see that you are writer, and writer cant write with so much mistaykes like this guy) good luck in new year.. and keep up your good work here..
Hi, @ipumba! Happy New Year! Thanks for letting me know about what happened in Steemit Chat. I was alerted yesterday about an imposter that was using my user name there and was assured that the account has been terminated. It's so unfortunate that people try to scam others in this way. If they took that effort and refocused it in a positive way they would find much more success.
thanks for your answer its all i wanted to know) i'm glad that it's not you, and i'm glad that my inside feelings was wright.. good luck!
So cool, @ericvancewalton! We have been reading a ton by Esther Hicks, and learning about how we are each the creator of our realities. What we do with each moment, paints our future, and writes our past. Become a conscious creator!
That is so true, @briangarcia, and it works! Even our thoughts and attitudes have a great influence on the kinds of things we attract our way.
Four years ago, after reading a book called Choose Yourself, I made the conscious choice to stop chasing material rewards and fame as a writer. I pinpoint this is the precise moment when the universe began to open doors.
OK, I'm about to go get this book... and I agree, 2017 has been an amazing year of new opportunities. It saddens me that a lot of people don't see crypto and blockchain technology as new opportunities for them, but I think that will slowly change. Maybe even in 2018, which is what many are predicting. My big push right now is in trying to convince my friends who are mildly curious about crypto that Steemit offers a third way of getting into crypto, beyond buying or mining it. Write your way in! I need to go put that on a t-shirt. Happy New Year Eric! 😃
Thank you @geke! I highly recommend the book. It's a quick read and really does change your perspective on things. I totally agree with everything you said. The most frustrating thing for me now is people who don't listen when I tell them they should join Steemit and start investing in cryptocurrency. It's so clear to me now that those who don't do this will be left behind or it will be so much harder for them to improve the quality of their lives. I've told so many but only a very few follow through. Happy New Year, my friend!
Much love back!
That I was sitting next to you at the dinner table was a great coincidence because it was so relaxing. I read a few of your poems from your little book and they are great. Today I feel very good because of the huge money I made in the last days which gives me time to read and relax. I hope to see you again and your wife / girlfriend. I want to live now. It is so beautiful where I am right now, peaceful and uplifting.
Thank you, Martin! I'm glad you made it to your destination and are happy! It was nice to share that meal with you, it was one that I'll never forget. That was some of the best food I've ever eaten. You'll see us at SteemFest next year. We're hearing it's going to be in the US but I hope that changes. My wife and I would rather it be somewhere in Europe. I hope life continues to be good for you. It's cold here, it's been below zero for the better part of a week. Crazy weather this winter in the Upper Midwest!
I just checked the map and have to think about a movie called Wind River I've watched several times because I couldn't download anything else. I like to know more and am interested in the American Indian culture. Don't freeze, summer will come :)
...i wish 2018 will be best year for you,, and i appreciate hard fork for their work for steemit
Thank you! I wish the same to you!
Beautiful poems, my friend I congratulate you on the New Year 2018!
Life is not a easy as i thought..
Thanks so much for sharing beautiful story & good work friend @ericvancewalton....
this post very nice...thanks for sharing this story...
New Challenges are coming in 2018 ! Good luck to all and Happy New Year !!!
2017 was a great year. Congrats on your many successes. Wishing you the best in 2018! Go Steem!
@ericvancewalton. greatest story indeed. I had memorable 2017 year bcoz its my life changing year. After register steemit blockchain it gives more opportunities me.
Thanks 2017 and will be great 2018 year.
Peaceful and prosperous new year to hardfork team.
Joining Steemit was easily the best idea I had in 2017.
I have greatest memory in passed 2017 year. Now 2018...Wishing you all the best.
Best wishes for 2018
Have a nice year ahead
you have come a long way from the beginning :)
Happy New Year
have a wonderful new year :)
Happy New Year
Very simple very original good to know your work is inspiration to many
It is very nice to read these things from the other side of a coin.
You see, I was probably born without any feeling of self-pity whatsoever, I was always geared towards other people than to myself. It is my nature, but in no way a weakness, in fact I find out pretty early that is the source of my strength.
Even when I was connected to the numerous tubes at the age of 15, I spent entire night consorting a woman next to me who was afraid to be left infertile due to the nature of her illness and an operation she was put through, while my own body was dying.
I don't know what really happened, but I pulled through.
I read all these stories and even today I am amazed and surprised how people feel and many who talk to me think that my psycho is made of titan, but the truth is that I do feel, but I feel for others instead.
My own success means so little to me if I have no chance to pick up any second person off the floor and help in any way I can, because there is always somebody who can be helped, saved and
built up into a person he wishes to be.
There is always somebody less fortunate.
That is a source of everything I am, and I intend to continue that path no matter what it brings to me.
I wish you all good luck and prosperity you can get.
wish that it will a great year for you....