It's Christmas, which, for a significant part of the word, is a major spiritual event. I've been brought up and raised in a space which observed this event, and I hold very nice memories about this time of the year. Furthermore, my own personal experience, over decades, proved that, beyond the religious and spiritual meanings attached to these days before me, I can feel myself that this is a time of rebirth, of recharge, of restart.
The night already started to shrink in the Northern Hemisphere, the day is slowly becoming longer, we're entering a new cycle of light.
So, time for a recap, and a few confessions.
I came a long way since I first joined this project, more than 5 years ago. A few people that were here at the very beginning are still around. But many aren't anymore, they either joined other projects, or abandoned the idea entirely. Replacing them, more and more people are joining every day, though, starting to align themselves with the values that this ecosystem builds upon.
Beyond the tidal moves of every day life, what remains is this hard core of values, these beliefs that we can function in a better way, both as individuals and as a community.
I'm not going to recycle words already tired, like decentralization and cryptographic proofs, for us, these are part of the daily vocabulary, for years now. But I'm going to insist on some of the consequences of applying these concepts, these processes in our lives.
Every time we spend time in this space, regardless of how many upvotes we get, of how high or low the price of Hive is, we're experiencing one of the benefits detailed below.
First of all, we're less subject to the algorithmic reality controlled by the tech overlords. We don't know the faces of these overlords, and we're mostly deluded to project our insecurities on way less dangerous people, like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. These public images are mostly puppets, the real overlords are in the shadows, controlling with every click, with every scroll, with every reply and reaction, what are you going to see next in your feed. And that's something that is optimized for their profit, not for you, or, God forbid, the truth.
By playing in this field, by contributing to this platform, we're playing outside that area. We may still optimize for our personal profit at times, but we are outside the algorithm they control. This is going to become more and more important as we move forward.
Second, we get to build in a space with limitless potential. Nobody knows what Hive can become, become nobody controls Hive completely. We may go through periods of apparent calm, in which nothing seems to happen, and then, in a few days, we see more projects that we can keep up with. They seem to be flourishing out of nothing. They didn't, they appeared specifically because this is a space of continuous opportunity. If nobody controls the vision, the processes and the people, then everything is possible. Literally everything.
And third, we get to contribute. Like real contribution, making the wheels of this mechanism turn every second, keeping the contraption afloat, not merely posting, enriching a few and creating a world way too easy to control.
Contribution is fundamental for our human psyche, it's the cornerstone of meaning, and life without meaning is something that we cannot fathom. It may seem that decades of comfort in front of the translucent screens controlled by the tech overlords transformed us into mindless sheep. For hundreds of millions, this might be true. You see them virtue signaling, begging for attention, obeying to the algorithm and slowly sinking into oblivion, into a Matrix-like existence, without even realizing. But for a few lucky ones, like the ones reading this post right now, this is not true. We didn't give in to comfort, we escaped - partially, or totally - the algorithmic reality of centralized social media and we contribute here. I run a witness node for about 5 years now. Never been a top 21 witness, but about 10 blocks per day are validated by my witness. I cannot tell you how meaningful this is for me. I am doing my part. As little as it is, 10 blocks per day are validated by my witness for more than 5 years.
Any of these blocks may have contained a transaction that was life changing for somebody.
Merry Christmas!
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
Keep doing the good work and keep improving the hive network, good to have people like up there.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
A better life, more equal future for all, I think we on the same page!
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and thanks for the work you quietly go about in the background.
@tipu curate
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 12/92) Liquid rewards.
I can't wish you merry Christmas enough @joanstewart 😃, great day over here in Joburg.
Be merry over there in KZN!
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Had some cooler weather, dry so enjoyed the day outdoors, good to hear Jo'burg treated you well.
Stay safe over this period wherever you go.
Will do thanks 🙂
I've always thought you're one of the more sensible ones... :) Thank you for all you do.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
Thank you for sharing this space.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
For everyday that passes I feel blessed and fortunate being here joining forces with fellow like minded Hivers contributing to the growth of this place one way or the other.
Escaping the norm out their is just an awesome feeling I can't take for granted, I was chatting about Hive to a friend yesterday whom I brought to Hive, she said I was talking about Hive blushing like a girlfriend...
That's the remarkable impact of Hive on me, I see hope, a bright future and something to look forward to everyday.
Merry Christmas 🎅
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That's a very nice story :) Merry Christmas!
Keep going and thank you for your contribution to our Hive network.
Posted via inji.com
Thank you for all your efforts too!
Merry Christmas @dragosroua.
Wishing you the best for this new coming year!
Likewise, have a great year!
I really enjoyed this look at Hive, thanks for a good perspective and for doing your part.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
Thank you!
Merry Christmas 🎄🎅
Merry Christmas!
The overlord are unfortunately in the process of gaining even more control thanks to the sheep around us...
Craciun Fericit!
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Craciun Fericit!
This is not going to happen. But this not going to happen won't be easy either.
Thanks for your commitment to Hive over the years, since the very early days.
Think about all the blocks you validated over 5 years. It is more than 18,000 by now. That would be a lot if done in a row.
Hive offers a great opportunity to everyone who decides to commit to it in my opinion. There is so much happening that it can really change one's life.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
Never looked at it like this, but it seems even more meaningful now. Thank you :)
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Craciun fericit Dragos!
Yes, Hive gives me a meaning since 4 years now and I still love beeing here in this Community of freedom and upraise.
Achim