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How a #normie who hasn't been on any social media in nearly a decade ended up on #Nostr.

4 years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. It took almost 3 years to recover enough to feel somewhat normal again. Before the diagnosis, I was self-employed, single, with a child and absolutely no support system. All of my family is still in Russia, and because of the sanctions, every avenue for helping us financially was closed.

During one of our video calls, my brother suggested I look into getting a #Bitcoin wallet. We made eye contact, and I said, “I’ll look into it,” and we both knew perfectly well that wasn't going to happen.

I did, though, watch a bunch of YouTube videos (“Bitcoin for Dummies”) while I was cooking, and that's where I first heard about Nostr.

I also occasionally read WGSN's trend forecasts, and Nostr was mentioned there as well (decentralized social media).

Last month I thought it would be a terrible shame if the world never knows about the #GrimReapersYoungerHotterBrother So I started wondering where I could publish my writing with the best chance of it surviving, and Nostr came up again.

I thought Nostr was half a Reddit Bitcoin discussion forum and half a free Dropbox (with complicated instructions). Instead, I found people.

It's lovely here. I think I'll stay. #GrowNostr

P.S. It's weird, but after just a few weeks on Nostr, I've realized that I actually want to meet more people in real life and be more socially engaged outside the digital world. Historically, regular social media has had the exact opposite effect on me.

Today was one of those wonderfully slow rainy days, and I spent a considerable portion of it contemplating the fact that I overnight became 11 cents richer. More importantly, these 11 cents amount to 124 satoshis, which means that, through circumstances I still do not entirely understand, I am now suddenly invested in the future of #Bitcoin.

And while I am still trying to understand why complete strangers on the internet give one another money for what appears to be no reason at all, I have already made peace with the possibility that my literary career may have peaked financially on my third day on #Nostr.

Three days ago, I would have confidently declared that I cannot be bought. Today, I have 124 satoshis, and I sincerely wish Bitcoin a long and prosperous future.

#Sibericana