HOW I found @thealliance

6 months ago when I had just joined Steemit I clicked on every Discord invite link I could find. That ended up in me 'entering' about 30 communities which I of course never could keep up with. A lot of them ended up in the 'forgotten' pile, instead I focused on a few so I could build up some lasting relationships. Within the few select communities I spend most of my time I found some amazing beings who became my 'Steemit Friends'.

I got to know and like people like @katrina-ariel (@steemsugars), enjoyed some laughs through games with @derangedvisions (@photogames), had interactions with people like @eaglespirit and @thekittygirl (through @teamgirlpowa), was impressed by the amazing blogs of creative activist @lymepoet (@teamgirlpowa), got more active within @adsactly where I enjoy spending time with the likes of @princessmewmew who I met on @steemsugars as well. I enjoy the friendly @silvergoldbotty created by @phelimint, listened in on Witness Chats led by @shadowspub, joined briefly in the #haturday fun initiated by @saffisara after I saw a post of @mariannewest and remember recently hearing a lot of lovely stories from @crazybgadventure on a WhaleShares connected radio show.

Whoa! And if I go through the list of @thealliance members I probably have more encounters to share.

But that's not all: last Friday, when I was 'hanging' in the Endless Hangout of the @adsactly community suddenly a group of friendly people joined in! They were all new in the @adsactly Discord or had joined quite recently: @carrieallen, @snook, @tibra, @jonny-clearwater, @meno, @eonwarped, and many many more... How did they all end up there? They appeared to have followed @enginewitty, who brought them all with him like he is a true Mother Duck. They were clearly having fun spending time with their family, sharing (inside) jokes with one another. It was then, and through a private chat with @snook, that I got my final push: after hovering the 'Admissions Office' link a few times before I was now definitely going to apply for acceptance within 'the family'!

(So yeah, it is true, in a way #snookmademedoit!)

WHY I want to be a part of #thealliance

I hope I'll ever be able to write a post or find a different way of expressing how much joy Steemit and the connected communities on Discord bring me.

After a seemingly innocent but highly impactful accident in 2015 I had to revalidate on the couch for way too long. The accident meant I needed to re-invent myself: a photographer who loves to dance but suddenly can't trust she can use her feet anymore?! Who is she?! If all you do is walk and dance but those two things get taken from you - what is left?

https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmUDJVe2nyvFvW3siiB1YwVbrL81uivXMtaMk9LMEYS2Ub/P8083983_copyright-rosanne-dubbeld.jpg [Part of the story is explained in Limited mobility | Unlimited stories: I took this picture only moments before I would permanently damage my foot. You'll rarely find me post without pictures, because that's what I do.]

Of course I am still me, but I have changed as well. And I am still searching for answers on a lot of questions as a recent 'person with limited mobility'. Some of these are about identity, others are about how to generate income, others are about how to be spontaneous and 'social' if you sometimes need to plan the amount of steps you can take in a week like Spoonies do.

Blogging and being active in communities literally got me excited about me and all I do have to offer again. After 2 years of being passive I started creating again. I started editing my pictures, write stories, think of little projects I could do 'on the blockchain'. Once you start writing more content ideas pop up. I took on some jobs within different communities. Moderating, supporting... Mentoring. I made friends, brought people joy, a laugh or simply a listening ear.

Now, bear with me, those are things I love about Steemit and spending time within communities. But you still don't have the answer on the question why I want to be part of the Alliance. Here it is:

I have been writing within a community since my teenage years. Yes, I was on Steemit long before Steemit was invented! (Sort of.) I spent years creating content, connecting with people... Long before Discord even existed I've already enjoyed the joy of being and staying in an online community, and the friends you can make there. Some stayed 'online friends', others I met 'IRL' too. Recently I reconnected with those 'lost people' through Facebook and wel... I realized how much of these friendships are actually forever!

That's the power of communities.

When I recently cleaned up my list of people I follow I was shocked to see how many people I had connected with, commented on, upvoted, enjoyed spending time with... actually left the platform! They had made an impact on me, but they somehow didn't feel embedded or connected enough with/on Steemit to even let 'us' know they were leaving the place.

That's what happens when there's lack of community.

For me this shows exactly why community support projects like @thealliance are the most important projects on this Blockchain. To have a family, to be embedded within a group of people... To feel and know and give support. That's what will make people stay and make this Blockchain a huge succes, even after a 100 alternatives have been launched and/or while the rewards are going down. And that, the family aspect, the belonging part, the 'being here regardless of red markets and/or life outside of Steemit' is why I want to be part of @thealliance family.

(If you'll have me.)

WHAT qualities do I have that make me a valued member of the family?

In the end, whatever I do, everything I love and give to others, comes back to being a very empathetic and social person. I love being the 'team lead' or a mentor type of person, saying 'how are you' to people even when everybody seems to have gone, getting the best out of people, personally and professionally, observing where they can grow to become better versions of themselves. I have a huge insight in behaviour and both intuitively and professionally am able to analyze where group dynamics are providing positive or negative results and what impact they have on others.

In a digital community and family this would translate to me being a general supportive person, able to get the positive vibes up, mentoring people when they need it, and preventing or solving conflict by subtle interventions.

I'll always be around for a chat, personal or Steemit related advise, for brainstorming on cool projects (on and off the blockchain), and have practical skills that come in handy in any community as well.

All in all I'm here for the long run, and I know that 'the family' is here for the long run too, because my past experience in community blogging has learned me this: once you found a family there's no easy way to leave. That's why I want to join you, and I hope that's why you'll have me :-) Thank you for reading and considering my application!

All photography on steemit.com/@soyrosa is created and edited by me, Rosanne Dubbeld, 2005-2018. Contact me if you want to discuss licensing or collaborations on creative projects :-)

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