Once upon a time, there was a boy who had big dreams and big expectations from life.
He was a cheerful and a happy-go-lucky kind of a lad. He believed that everything in life comes easily. He was good with academics and was destined to work for a big company or start his own someday.

That’s what he wanted to do. Or at least what he thought he
wanted to do. He was lucky enough to graduate from a reputed college. But when the time finally came for him to realise his dreams, he failed.
He failed utterly. 
It almost destroyed him. For sometime, he was miserable. And if not for his parents, he could have become a basket case. But he got all the support he could use and finally came to his senses. 

He couldn’t do what he wanted to do nor could he do what he loved to do. So he ended up doing what he needed to do. He started his own business with almost no investment, but with a plan.
What a hopeless optimist!

For a while, everything seemed to be going OK. Not great but ok. But soon life took its toll on him and he ran into despair. Alas the plan was not going well and business was not looking a viable plan for the future. The despair returned. Could this be a second failure? How would he come out of this one? But from the mist of darkness, a light shone in his life. 

It was his saviour. It was his beckoning. The boy I am talking about is me and the light is Steemit. 

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I found Steemit at the time when I was very desperate and looking wildly for alternatives. It was as if I had let everyone down. Myself, my parents, my friends even! 

I could hear their thoughts as if they were tangible. I knew behind those eyes what they were thinking, “How could a guy with so much promise end up like this?”, even though they were not thinking that. 
It was just a result of my paranoia. But little did I know, out of my despair I would find the greatest happiness life could ever bestow upon me. 

One day, against all odds, I happened to stumble upon Steemit and it changed my life forever. In the beginning, the prospects of making a quick buck dazzled me. 
I immediately started dreaming big. Again. Lesson not learnt, huh? But this time, it was different. It was a place you get rewarded for your posts, comments, even upvotes! 

Also, you get more just by holding your stake! Where else would one get such an opportunity! And the greatest thing was that I could post anything I wanted. Since I always loved writing, I just fell in love with it. 

I worked hard, day and night and had a couple successful posts. It was as if the dots were connecting themselves! I could write stories, random articles, post photos that I took and even designs I had created in photoshop. 

All in one place! For some time the money factor really drove me. But one day, as is normal, several thoughts sprang up in my mind. 
Different thoughts, philosophical thoughts. It was the first time I was realising how different the community really is! 

I began comparing it with other social media sites. There are good people here. There is positivity. No trolls or anything. 
People are of a helping nature, there is actually constructive criticism, and all around kindness. And most of all, we were building towards a new future. This is not just a social media platform. 

This is a revolution that will change a lot of things in a lot of ways! I joined the Steemit chat and met a lot of brilliant people. 
I started making friends here. I was suddenly connecting with totally strange people from all around the globe. We are all in this together. How marvellously beautiful is  that! It was then that I realised what the real rewards of Steemit are. Of course the money helps. 

Its a necessity for all us humans. But the community part of it fulfils our innate desires. After all, we are social animals, aren’t we? 
Knowing that you are a part of this online civilisation provides a feeling of achievement on its own. Knowing that you may have a hand, no matter how small, in shaping a new world is enough to give you ecstasy. 

Conversing with such wonderful people from all corners of life, getting to know them, their stories, their struggles, their aspirations is such a life changer. Yes, Steemit is a place where worlds collide. And it is beautiful! 

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So, there you have it folks. That was a piece of my mind. Proud to be here. Be good. Do good. We are on the stepping stones of something great here. Lets cherish this. Adieu!

@dragonslayer109 features authors to promote new authors and a diversity of content. ALL STEEM Dollars for this post go to the featured author