It happened! It has finally happened! I have been delivered into the lap of digital nomadism like never before! Since 1998 I have made money solely from web development, and I have worked for myself as well as many companies. I have been lucky enough to have had my last job for the last 12 years, and have been busy making websites on the side, whilst simultaneously holding workshops and doing the things I really want to do. That job has been dwindling for 2 years now, and step by step the company that I worked for have seen their business fail. Three days ago I got the final nail in the coffin to that part of my life, as the company have now stopped paying me quite suddenly, and are moving on to greener pastures.
In April last year my boss was encouraging me to learn how to make animated motion graphics for advertisements using the latest 3D rendering programs. I went to youtube and had a look at them, and there was simply one thought, maybe two, in my head...
1. I'm too old for this shit!
2. I really don't want to spend the next 10 years of my life glued to a screen trying to make top notch animations for a company selling something that I have zero interest in.
The learning curve would have been immense, and I just face palmed at the idea of learning all this for a bit of money. NO WAY! At the Very same time, I had just turned my attention toward Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general. I stumbled upon a youtube from @jerrybanfield and before long I was watching endless hours of incredible information about the new world that is being born, all based on blockchain. I got it! Suddenly what seemed like just a currency called Bitcoin that you could use to buy drugs on-line had morphed into a phenomena that was changing everything from the ground up. This blockchain tech is going to do what even the Internet couldn't.. The bigger picture had become clear, and before long at all I bought my first Bitcoin, about $3,000 worth in April 2017. Whilst that may not sound like long ago to many people, for me it feels like a life time!
My whole perspective on the future and how it may take shape has changed. Being involved in the whole cryptocurrency game has almost entirely taken my attention away from Facebook, Mainstream Media etc. I used to interact with them out of boredom really, I don't believe a word i hear on the news.. but used to be interested to see what was going on and where the zeitgeist was at. I still do check them today, but its a very brief scan of the main news rather than reading all the nonsense that they are dredging up.
By June 2017 I had bough a bit of Ethereum and was busy learning more about these alt coins. I didn't have much in the way of savings at ALL, and I also couldn't bare watching what few thousand pounds I did have simply lose value because of the weakness of the pound and the pathetic interest rates of the UK banks.. Less than 1%! Then one day I stumbled upon a youtube from @jerrbanfield, harping on about this Steemit thing.. He created a good buildup and intrigue because he made us wait for him to reveal which cryptocurrency he was going ALL IN on! I had no idea really, and had never even noticed Steem, and had no idea that there was a flourishing new ecosystem based on all the best principals of decentralized Anarcho-Capitalism called Steemit.
I think i signed up a few days later. As I am sure most of you reading this will understand, my life hasn't been the same since! What the heck! This place is full of amazing people. I thought the whole world was asleep, content with this current paradigm, at least that's how it seemed from my Facebook feeds! I have been living in a remote part of India on the side of mountain since 12 years, so its fair to say I only really see the world and connect through the Internet. I wasn't expecting to find amazing people here at every turn. My initial idea was to just write about my eco building experiences, and hopefully get some rewards. I had never written about ALL my experiences because I was just TOO overloaded at the time to document it properly, and never had the impulse to write.
Once I started writing, and connecting with people, I was on a high! My poor wife @clara-andriessen lost me for a while there, and i was just totally absorbed in discovering more, reading more, and having REAL connections and comments with people. After about a month I was totally used to things, and I can remember going to Facebook and checking in. I felt like WHAT was the point of liking anything? What an ego-trip waste of time! It all just felt SO shallow and empty and soulless.
As I started to write my first story of eco-building, the creation of Earthship Karuna, all the memories of that 15 year journey came back to me, and it was a powerful and cathartic experience. This had been my life's dream, and took everything I had to manifest it. I can remember crying and being able to let go of so many emotions associated with the whole story. I was LOVING writing, and can't really remember ever having written much beyond dissertations and academic stuff way back in 1992! Now there are times when I have to stop myself writing!
Steemit was amazing, yes, and I simply had to find a way to get my friends involved, this was just too compelling. Before long I had dreamed up the idea of the @ecotrain, and was totally enthused and inspired to bring in some amazing people that I knew into Steemit and start helping make the world a better place. @ecoTrain is a whole other story, and today we are a small community of around 15 people who are just beautiful people with big hearts and each with their own message to share. It has been an honor and joy to watch us all evolve on Steemit, and to be able to support people with my comments and up-votes. I can really make a difference to peoples lives here, and in so many ways.
I am now 7 months old on Steemit, and since the last 3 days, my relationship to is has changed a little. This is because, i have just lost my only other source of income, and despite three years of soul searching and efforts in many directions, i have not found my path. Since i have had no idea how to move forward, I have simply continued doing what is working, and see what happens. I have spent days on upwork.com submitting proposals for web work, and it has been almost fruitless, and also very boring. Whilst I was applying for jobs, I could feel that I really didn't want to do it, and my heart was just not in it. My heart was and is in Steemit, and there was NOTHING to compare between the two!
How the F8ck can a 'website' be this compelling, amazing, life changing and totally different to anything that has preceded it? I guess we can thank technology, and visionary people like @dan and @Ned know i certainly can. Thank you to ALL of you who are here, involved, posting, supporting, commenting, and making Steemit the coolest place to be on the Internet.
My life is now supported entirely by this 'crazy' place! Whilst I am slightly nervous about being so dependent or vulnerable, what with the looming SBD drop that may or may not come, I feel a tingle of freedom surging up, because how AMAZING would it be if i could share, write, and engage in all the things I am passionate about .. AND that be my source of income too! I have never felt such a freedom to express myself, in just about any way I like. This feels like a very safe space, despite it being totally open to anyone and everyone. How ironic is that!? I have been inspired by so many people, and I am in awe of so many people's consistent dedication to finding and curating great writers and important themes.
SO Thank you for saving my ass Steemit, thank you for showing us this new paradigm that I hope and trust will take this world and US along with it for a very amazing ride!
STEEM ON MY BROTHERS & SISTERS! LET'S DO THIS!
Thanks for being here with me and the @ecotrain!
We are a small community that support each other because we love what we write!
check our our ecoTrain magazine at @ecotrain
That's great that you have been able to accomplish this. I still work two jobs, but hope one day Ill be able to make a few dollars from steem.
well today is that day mate! ;-)
lol. thanks man. I almost feel like a hooker hanging out at the high roller tables at the casino, just waiting for one of them to throw me some scraps lol. :) . In my 7 months of steem this is my second biggest upvote :)
Hey @eco-alex, nice post about your story, it's good to hear that you found Steemit, actually I myself found steemit by chance. It's funny I didn't know anything about Steemit, but I just kept seeing many Steemit posts on Google's first page results and that's how I found out about it actually. Once I read a little about it, I really got hooked in and here I am.
I am a beginner on Steemit and let me tell you, I love it! I really believe in Steemit, I still have a lot to learn about this platform, but I just think it's amazing.
If you don't mind me saying though, I would like to give you some feedback as a reader. I think you should make use of styling and markdown in your posts and pay attention to grammar, punctuation, etc. for example, small cap i's when you mean to say 'I', I just think it makes reading easier.
Nice post though, I wish you all the best.
Followed you.
See you around. 😉😎
I thInk you will do great. Moving up and forward ! Best of luck !
Alex we are very grateful you are here with us and thank you for sharing your journey discovering Steem! I appreciate you taking the time to mention that you found us through the videos I made on YouTube!
Your posts have made a huge difference in my life and vision including helping inspire me to start gardening and giving up the idea that having a huge wasteful home is the ideal!
I am grateful for all the posts you have upvoted of mine and I think this is the first post of yours I have finally resteemed! I will be checking back in on your blog consistently for more!
lovely to Hear from you Jerry! glad you are still watching the feeds. Thank you for the heartwarming comment, because making a difference to peoples lives seems to be my reason for living! ;)
THANK you also for the re-steem and you past and present support! it goes a long way i can tell you!~ glad you are rocking it too this year! <3 shine on Jerry
p.s i have a Very interesting @budget proposal, amazing for Steem (i think) i want to fly by you.. maybe on discord?
I've been on steemit for a month now and see steemit as a second job right now. One day i hope to reach to everyone who will enjoy reading my blog. Until now i enjoy creating contents. It takes a lot work but which job doesn't?
I totally understand you about the other social media platforms. I don't even look at instagram anymore which I used to spend hours for nothing.
I hope you the best of luck on your journey. I'm sure steemit will provide you an income more than you need.
nice to meet you! thanks for this comment.. oh man its SO much more interesting here.. no comparison! best of luck to you, Followed! ;-)
Thank you! I will find out more everyday. nice to meet you as well
Awesome man, keep on Steeming.
Have you built your own earthship then? it's great to see other Earthship folks on steemit. Blockchain and things such as Earthship go hand-in-hand in their ability to flip our conception of what is possible within Society on its head.
Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story! :) ''I can remember going to Facebook and checking in. I felt like WHAT was the point of liking anything? What an ego-trip waste of time! It all just felt SO shallow and empty and soulless.'' You know what?, I've been on Steemit for almost 3 weeks now and I feel exactly the same way.
thanks for affirming this! SO glad we are here!
This post makes me feel like I miss a step with steemit, much like you I have been on steemit for about 7-8 months and I kinda lost faith in the process for a while and sold a lot of my steem and recommitting to make of steemit a source of income and happiness in my life and it's awesome to see people who are finding their foot in this platform.
Follow you heart and the universe will deliver :)
Glad to see you are in a good place where you can support yourself with steemit!
I'm only a baby on this, but can relate when you say your wife lost you here for a while.. :D
While I can see the old paradigm failing slowly and the new 5D reality is sweeping it away - it definitely feels right to be involved in the wellbeing of those that are on the blockchain train.
i hear you! we can grow up quickly here too.. which is also nice.. if you are authentic and can connect with people you will have a ball! <3 steem On!
YOU're so MUCH FUN ALEX !! - ))
STEEMit .. isn't here to 'save your ass' !! - ))
ha ha !! - ))
STEEMit . is here to 'sHOW YOU' .. your ass "was and never will be" .. in jeopardy - )) THAT your genuine "kindness & creativity" .. is "meaningFULL & LUCRATIVE" !!! - )))
From the moment you 'arrived' .. your 'smiley INTEGRITY' has been SHINNING B'RIGHT !!! .. and NOW .. that YOUR "roots" have (( SET )) .. the 'other' inCOme stream .. had to go - )))
= for the benefit of ALL things STEEM !!! - )))
= ESPECIALLY .. ALL the 'people' within .. including me ! - ))
ThankS for being YOU !! - ))
.. i'm looking forward to your 'experience' on this new PATH - )))
WooP WooP !! - ))
lovelovelove )))
greb'Z )
Ur so awesome, i love you!
YOU ARE SO FUNNY hahaha
THANK YOU! LOVELY TRACK!!! inspirational! you are so cool
You have quite an intriguing style of writing my friend. It would appear that I may not be the only time traveler around here. I look forward to discovering some of your writings, I have the feeling it may be quite the reaD!
When I discovered Steemit last week. I was trying to prevent myself from dreaming of this hope because it seemed so unrealistic.
Thanks for showing me that I can do it too!
"What the heck! This place is full of amazing people. I thought the whole world was asleep, content with this current paradigm, at least that's how it seemed from my Facebook feeds!"
That is exactly how I feel!! (Except for one user who made 1 unsolicited negative remark, but that's 1 out of 100 so far!)Anyway, I just stumbled across this post and loved reading it. Here's the thing, your heart is in the right place. You found something you're passionate about! Use the Law of Attraction! What we focus on, we bring into our reality. So don't focus on the unknown. Focus on your passion, what brings you joy! Let Source (or God or the Universe or Angels-whatever You believe in) guide you! My husband is a software developer, trying to get away from his desk so he can focus on our homestead. I am trying to encourage him the same way. There is abundance waiting for you! Peace!
Thank you, Great advice! good luck with your hubby!
Good journeys for you and diversify as soon as you can.
Wow, I so wish I could do the same. I have just started on Steemit, so something like this is a long way away for me if at all it happens. Great story and I specially liked the way you told it. I think I learnt a bit about writing from you today. Thank you.
thank you!
This is awesome and motivational for those of us that wish to do the same. It is possible to be able to enjoy life, doing the things that make you happy while still earning a living. Congrats and good luck!
very inspiring!!!!!!!
You are an inspiration to me... I would surely devote time to Steemit and see how it goes in the near future.
Great positive influence you got with @jerrybanfield he is really one spark plug of growth in this community.
thank you! yes jerry was a big part of my steemit life .. and SO many people!
Wow!! Sir @eco-alex, Happy to reading your blog. Yes it is true that steemit is a good platform for express oneself. Here all are very good supporter. Very helpful for any question specially for new comer. I am here about 3 months above. Your blog is inspire for anyone. thanks for sharing.
yay! happy to know a bit more about your story. being part of the @ecotrain community is definitely one of my fav things so far on steemit! :)
yay! very happy to hear that Bristena ;_)
Very inspiriting story, i hope to get there on day, digital nomad really is the perfect term to explain what people like us want... its not just the money :)
As a sustainable living enthusiast I am so glad I found this article, your blog, and the @ecotrain blog to follow. I've got a lot of reading to do... Thanks for the inspiration and for living what you believe in.
thank you so much.. please do check our blog, its enough amazing reading for a the year! ;-)
cryptoes are future. steemit also great
Like your post because only steem is good in the cryptocurrency
I hope one day i can say the same ... Thank you for your kind words and letting me know that it is still posiable to still do this good luck and keep up the good work
That's superb which you have been able to perform this. I nevertheless paintings jobs, however desire one day Ill be capable of make a few bucks from steem.
Yeah, I am very happy that you are here@ecoalex, your posts are always so inspiring and empowering. To me that is the greatness about steemit, it's ability to inspire and empower and on top of all that you created the amazing ecotrain, I am very very happy to be part of it, it felt like I was coming home. Congratulations on becoming a digital nomad, getting to support yourself doing what you love. You are living the dream, Full steem ahead xx
Oh wauw great for you, you see it is possible but try to diverse a bit i am really new to this and see this like the new facebook but different it could be as big as facebook. I was all in to a lending program just the month i would get 2000dollar interest a month they got shut down. This is not a lending platform, but it is one platform. So i would say 'devide and conquer' in holland if you are a independent contracter you have to have a minimum of 3 ways of income. For one to protect taxes and two to protect the business to be too dependent on one source of income. But congrats i hope you wil do better then me. 😊
Inspiring Alex, just shows anyone can do it if they set their minds to it! Keep it up :)
But how may i incres my steem power.
you can buy it or just keep posting saving up!
thanks for sharing this valuable post...hope that my life style also change from here...good luck
What an intriguing and inspiring post now am charged up to do more,thanks for the post.
I am also trying to change my life with steemit. give me a little advice on my blog, to make me succeed here. thank you
here is a LOT of amazing advice my friend, good luck!
https://steemit.com/steemit-help/@eco-alex/new-to-steemit-need-help-read-welcome-messages-from-12-people-to-help-you-on-your-way-welcome-to-steemit-win-usd1-or-usd10-sbd
It's really good the way you are giving a good message to the world,,,,
I love your post,,, thank you my dear friend for sharing with #Us,,,,,,, and very good job,,,keep it #Up,,,
you are giving a good message dear @eco-alaex
Coins mentioned in post:
thank you for writing your story
Great to see you breaking through. Feels good man! Happy for you, and hope you continue to spread your good fortune.
I can relate to this so much @eco-alex. I own an online business myself and it can grind you down easily, always trying to reinvent yourself and keep it fresh for people. I still enjoy my business, but finding out about this world has been quite a revelation for me. Thanks for your inspiring words. Lets work together and keep improving this platform through our content :)
I came last week at steemit. I like this platform very much. . Today I am more enthusiastic and motivated to read your post.My confidence in steemit has increased. . .
your post will be very brave for us like new people . . Thank You @eco-alex
Remember some time ago when I told you I feel there is a threshold of being able to live from our steemit activities and that it seemed possible we could make it?
And now it seems you have stepped across that threshold and have arrived.
Congrats!
What an enthusiastic and inspirational post. Very strong moon today and feeling financially overwhelmed. Great to hear such positivity. The term Anarcho- capitalism is a bit scary having been brought up in a socialist household, but its what it is. Lets be honest!
Loved reading your story @eco-alex!
I resigned from a monotonous job in April 2017 that I had been doing since 2012 and started my online digital marketing training but it failed! Didn't earn a penny till June and searched on Youtube "How to earn online?" There, I found steemit and joined immediately. Though I joined that company again in August, had to pay loans that I took from my friends to bear all household expenses during my unemployment time but I have paid them all through my Steemit earnings and I am again thinking to free myself, may be in June, 2018, let's see!
This is so beautiful,Alex! I am feeling you! I love getting a deeper look into your story, feel the highs and lows, excitements and vulnerabilities.
It is such a blessing and while it may be weird to our minds that this steemit thing is so f*cking cool and can be our source of income, when we’re on it and within it, we know, we feel it!! Here’s to wishing you much success and continued inspiration to write such beautiful tributes! Thank you again for creating @ecotrain and giving us all a place to express our hearts and passions. Here’s to much, much more 💘 wren
I am so happy for you, and totally agree - Steemit has been already life-changing for me as well! Only instead of replacing income, it's giving me income I desperately needed but didn't have before!
even more amazing! phewph huh!
That is incredible! Congratulations! Steemit has been a great blessing to our family and we have felt the love of the community also. I am very happy that you get this feeling full time!
Right there with you, man. Trusting it will bring me through. Trudging through lean times right now, but I know this is going to be a really big thing. And no need to retire. I can totally happily do this right up until I die.
Wow! I feel like so much of what you wrote hits home for me. I am sure my husband would have the same sentiments. I also love that you found this life-changing shift 7 months ago. I also had a life-altering experience 7 months ago when I welcomed our twins into this big crazy world. My husband and I have big dreams of building a homestead, building a permaculture property, and giving back to the community. The process seems long and arduous as he is stuck in his current job to help fund our transition. He found Steemit during his paternity leave and coaxed me over from the souless entity of facebook. Now we feel reinvigorated and can see a light at the end of the tunnel and we are excited to share our journey! I too feel like the Steemit community is so awake and there are so many amazing people at every turn! I feel like I could write you a novel, and probably have by now, so I will end by saying: Congratulations on your big leap! I wish all the best for your journey. -Aimee
thank
You are never too old for anything!
Welcome to steemit family.At last you came to the most amazing community in the world.Wishing you all the success.I am following you to get more updates , hoping you will follow me too...