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Thanks! @hivebuzz  for this 2-year Happy Birthday Badge. I'm pleased to be celebrating my 2nd [Hive] birthday...

 ## <center>Booyaka Booyaka! Hive, ya da best!!!</center> 
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#### "HIVE: The best blogging platform, that's worth investing time, and other resources on, with some rewards in return. 

## <center> I'm loving Hive" 💕</center>

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<center>![284131296_448372200435839_2127669869994661492_n.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/millycf1976/23tbK6UFR4PQqAhAaGsgWcnb6MnTcFqHcu7FXYsT1WnRdu43Cv9T8f36Q64nfohsZWk7r.jpg)
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To say that I was skeptical at the beginning of my Hive journey is an understatement. 

I was old-schooled media and held onto the notion that "new media" (social media) was all about being self-absorbed and self-promoting - a big no-no in old-schooled public relations.  

###### Old-school Media:

<center> ***Human Interest + Networking + Content Creating + Networking + Time = Little to No Success.*** </center>

I endlessly made ***"cold calls"*** to media houses. I wasted plenty of time following up on content that was submitted by snail-mail, courier, and email, and occasionally I would be lucky to get a hold of the addressee. I would seek feedback and ask for an estimated time when articles would be published. 
I spent hours preparing press kits and press releases, that were mailed to agencies, who sometimes (most times) never received them, or never bothered to open them. 
All that material went straight to the existing junk mail that often became recycled paper for companies.

**The imperative task of following up** 

> It was soul-destroying picking up that phone... 

I sometimes hoped for a recorded voicemail, to save me from having to listen to the lies, excuses, and empty promises from media personnel (equivalent to what is now communities and community leaders on hive), seeking an approximate time on when my articles might be published. I'd purchase newspapers turning the pages with my articles nowhere to be seen.

Yet, I held on to that old belief.

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> #### I woke up and smelled the coffee... Thank goodness!

I dabbled with prominent blogging platforms, but I found nothing but **emptiness.**

##### Then came Hive!

I tested the waters one toe at a time. I was one foot in, and I lingered. Unsure, intrigued, marveled, and blown away by the scope of what Hive, an established platform had to offer. 

I quickly realised that there were many areas where I had skills that I could apply. 

Hive gave me light. 


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## <center> HIVE has made cultivating an audience simpler!</center>
<center>***Content creating + Effort + Time + Engaging + Effort + Creativity + Engaging = Some Success***</center>


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		A place to blog about hobbies and share ideas
		A place to apply skills
		A place to learn new ideas
		A place to broaden my horizon
		A [safe] place to interact and meet people
		A place where you get a monetary reward in return 

<center>And More❗️</center>		
		


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I struggled to conceptualize writing more than two sentences about myself; any activity that I was involved in, embarked on, or on what was on my agenda, for no other reason than I tend to be a closed book.

Hive gave me a new perspective, and I started to see blogging as a way for me to record a part of my history that shows photos and words: filled with true, raw emotions of my life experiences.  



Hive has opened me up, and it has also filled a void; Honestly, not only a gap, Hive has given me an overhaul of my life, and a sense of purpose in ***a virtual world.*** 

Nothing in life is constant, and I'm constantly reinventing myself to avoid stagnation, and Hive is the perfect facilitator. 

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I heard the saying that if you want to learn more about yourself, write: well, Hive has proven that to be true. I have learned more about myself from Hive. Hive is a broad community with diverse cultures and personalities. 

I have encountered some interesting people that I never would have done without Hive. My interests have diversified, and I continue to be amazed by all the different authors, and the various ways people find creative ways to present their blogs, their voices, and styles.

All that I have given and gained in return makes it feel like a far longer time than 2 years.  

There's never a dull day in the hive. Regardless of fluctuations in monetary value, I still believe that Hive is the future.

A few weeks ago I had a new member pop by my coffee community to share a post. He looked tiny, so I checked his profile. In his [introduction post](https://peakd.com/hive-110011/@eollarvesm/mi-Presentacion-para-hive-blog) he stated that he is 12 years old. That's when I thought: #TwelveYearOldIntoCrypto 
### #HiveIsRad ‼️
Kudos @eollarvesm 
#BigUpMyYouth
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I continue to encourage and introduce people to Hive, and I appreciate the efforts of all onboarders. I enjoy spending time on Hive, whether it be from my two growing communities [Cinnamon Cup Coffee ](https://peakd.com/c/hive-152524) and [The Minimalist](https://peakd.com/c/hive-194848), curating, engaging, voting, and of course creating my blogs.

I thank everyone and other curators and those that see value in my work. I take pride and will continue to do so. I tend to respond to all comments, not just as a habit, but because I'm truly grateful and appreciative of your efforts, and I understand and see the value in what you do.

As they say; 

#### "One hand cannot clap."

Hive is all about working together to build and sustain the ecosystem.

I'm excited and looking forward to celebrating many more years on Hive, and I will share this post on other blogging platforms, as people do read, learn different sides of me, and are curious to know what is this platform called [Hive](https://peakd.com/register).

Cheers to many more years 🍾

One Love ❤️💛💚


#MyHiveTwoYearAnniversary #HIVE


<sub><sub>Second image is my own, first badge from hivebuzz </sub></sub>

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<center>https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/millycf1976/EoAeaK4yEYHuFM7m2zhCRdtgHy8D7CVMwLJmjFSGTKi2upRf9L9SvuNqffeGPp1yCC9.JPG</center>

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<center>https://media.giphy.com/media/1udeJrVM37IUmrp8PW/giphy.gif <sup>
[Find The Minimalist Community Here on Hive](https://peakd.com/c/hive-194848/created)</sup></center>
<sup>![VIRTUAL COFFEE SHOP FLASHING BANNER.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/cinnccf/Eokg1uz4FzdFHZMZR9GuTwWsFuXTr5TL3oWg2i9b2BYUALQ898gXMYyuYeB1DMT5k8B.gif)</sup><center>[<sup>Find Cinnamon Cup Coffee Community Here on Hive </sup>](https://peakd.com/c/hive-152524)</center>