<center>[![wwest191110_3706.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/qnrU7QOn-wwest191110_3706.jpg)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/qnrU7QOn-wwest191110_3706.jpg)</center>
<center><sup>Photo taken by me @derangedvisions</sup></center>

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# <center>Looking towards a bright future</center>

<center>![pageBreak.png](https://img.whaleshares.io/wls-img/derangedvisions/6be999e5186e6b2fb4ea41fd6aac09da4bdade6f.png)</center>

For the last writing prompt for [Road to Steem Fest](https://steempeak.com/steemfest/@anomadsoul/back-from-steem-fest-or-last-writing-prompt-from-the-road-to-steem-fest), we are supposed to speak about how we have grown personally since Steem Fest and our feelings about the Steem blockchain in general as we look towards the future. 

I will start off by by saying that prior to Steem Fest, the future of the blockchain was somewhat uncertain. 

<center>[![wwest191106_2723.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/I4ICm7Hg-wwest191106_2723.jpg)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/I4ICm7Hg-wwest191106_2723.jpg)</center>
<center><sup>Photo taken by me @derangedvisions</sup></center>

But after seeing most of the Steem Inc team attending Steem Fest and on stage presenting and answering questions and being so open about everything, it gave me a lot more faith in the future we are building here. We have a very strong team leading us in a great direction. 

@roadscape debuted communities live on stage which was an amazing demonstration of something that the community has been wondering about for so long. The one thing that makes Steemit amazing is the sense of belonging in the community and the introduction of communities is only going to enhance that experience even further.

# <center>My Personal Experience</center>

<center>![pageBreak.png](https://img.whaleshares.io/wls-img/derangedvisions/6be999e5186e6b2fb4ea41fd6aac09da4bdade6f.png)</center>

My personal journey before and after Steem Fest is quite different. If you have read my wife @faitherz33's post [Who I was and Who I am](https://steempeak.com/roadtosteemfest/@faitherz33/who-i-was-and-who-i-am) you will see that we have had a very rough year leading up to Steem Fest. I almost died and have been going to different specialists since then to find out what is wrong with my blood. Our daughter was in the hospital for mental health related symptoms and has been going to therapy, and is doing much better. Our kids have lost multiple friends and acquaintances to suicide. We almost decided to not attend because of fear of leaving our children for the time we would be gone, but we had an amazing friend watching them while we were away.

<center>[![rac40uo3wwest191105_2383.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/arcOiId1-rac40uo3-wwest191105_2383.jpg)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/arcOiId1-rac40uo3-wwest191105_2383.jpg)</center>
<center><sup>Photo taken by me @derangedvisions</sup></center>

All of the stuff that we had gone through was the reason that my wife and I decided to give these bracelets in the Steem Fest goodie bags. The bracelets have two different messages on them.

### <center>You are somebody's reason to smile</center><br>

This is to remind you that you matter and that you mean something to someone. Our daughter came up with these bracelets as a way to help people that are going through hard times and she passes them out at her school to people.

### <center>Make today ridiculously amazing</center><br>

This message on the bracelet is to remind you to live for today and not to worry so much about things that you can't change. Life is too short to spend it worrying. When you are gone, all you have are the memories you have made with people and the impact you have made on people's lives. 

While at Steem Fest, I was reminded multiple times that I need to make today ridiculously amazing. Our last 5 days in Thailand, Faith and I were trying to figure out what we were going to do for the remainder of our time there in Bangkok. We had already gone to many of the temples, road boats on the river, explored some of the city. 

So we made the spontaneous decision to change everything and go to the beach of Pattaya. Those last 5 days we spent together there in Thailand were so amazing. It felt like a honeymoon. 

Prior to Steem Fest, there was no way that I would have done that because we had already paid for our hotel in Bangkok and we weren't getting a refund, and going to Pattaya meant paying for another hotel for the next 5 days. Plus it meant that I had to give up all control of the itinerary and plan new transportation to the airport and hope that it would go through.

Steem Fest was an amazing way for me to learn to let go of control and plans and just really *live in the moment*. The most fun Faith and I had was when we didn't have anything planned for the day and we just did whatever we felt like, whether it was a last minute excursion or just relaxing in the ocean.

<center>[![wwest191112_4302.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/CbNpnLj9-wwest191112_4302.jpg)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/CbNpnLj9-wwest191112_4302.jpg)</center>
<center><sup>Photo taken by me @derangedvisions</sup></center>

We both had a blast this year and met some really cool people. Steem Fest 5 is going to be epic and we are going to do everything we can to make it next year. 

<center>![lol.gif](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/Qm9l2tAx-lol.gif)</center>
<center><sup>From the photobooth</sup></center>

Our community is full of amazing people and we all play a piece of making this blockchain special. Without a strong community behind the Steem blockchain, we would just have some pretty dope tech with no use. 

As we move forward into the new year, I am looking forward in continuing to do what I can to continue to support the members. I am going to continue to power up because I think that we have some big things coming for the value of Steem.

<center>![us.gif](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/derangedvisions/vGrsEpg9-us.gif)</center>
<center><sup>From the photobooth</sup></center>

Steem Fest was epic and my wife and I had such a great time. My wife pushed past her fears and we both learned to live in the moment more. Life is all about being with the ones you love, making memories and making a positive impact on those around you. 

<center>This year, Steem Fest encompassed all of those attributes.</center>

- 10% Beneficiary rewards of this post will go to @steem.dao to support the Steem Proposals System.

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