When things feel near, yet so far.

Steemit changed my life as it did with so many others.

Let me take you one step back. I joined Steemit in 2016 and met Ned and a bunch of enthusiastic Steemians from South Africa. Not long after that, I left Steemit, as I could not find the time for it. Then, a little more than two years ago, I found my keys, and I was back. I was lost on the platform. I messaged a few of the old South African teams, but nobody replied. I started to play around and discovered a few things. Still, I could not find my way in the wide waters of Steemit.

Then I started to search for Steemit posts related to my questions. I joined some communities and made friends with some Steemians, and slowly but surely I was no longer that lonely fish. That was also when things drastically changed for me. Meeting friends was not like the olden days when chatrooms like AOL still ruled the world. Modern “chat rooms” like Facebook, Instagram, and Steemit have a far more visual way of communicating. Soon, I discovered that it was also far more personal. I was invited into the “homes” of people where they made me laugh, and yes, they made me cry.

I’ve met the most fantastic people on Steemit. People that will be friends of mine for life, even though we have never met in reality, It is not just a couple of people that you “chat” with, but hundreds that call you “friend.” Oh yes, and also hundreds that I call “friend.”

How I wish that I could visit my Steemian friends in real life.

Two weeks ago, I received a call from someone who wanted to book the self-catering unit that I have for holidaymakers for a few days. When we were chatting, he told me that he was from Indonesia. Wow! “I have friends in Indonesia,” I told him.

I could not wait to tell my bestie from Indonesia about the call. Soon, I received messages back. “Where do they find your contacts? Beware of many scams nowadays.” And, “I saw his name; it seemed like he was from the island of Java.”
I have Steemian friends all over the world who have my back! So do you!

My guest paid, and last week they arrived for their five-day holiday.

What fantastic people! I think we stood talking at the car for at least half an hour before I got so far as to let them into the unit. Once I'd shown them everything, the man disappeared to his car and came back with a box. It turned out that he was the representative of an Indonesian company that sells health products in South Africa. He gave me a box of health cereal and fruit bars as a gift. His words were, “Mam, with love from Indonesia.”

^{My picture of the week!}

I had my mom and sister visiting last week, and when I went back into the house, I was all emotional. I was even crying. He called me, “Mam!” That is also what my Steemian friends call me. He gave me a gift from Indonesia!
It felt like I had a piece of my Indonesian friends in my hands, although they were sitting thousands of kilometers away from me. They were so near, yet so far.

I had just discovered that there was no escape on Steemit. When things feel near yet so far away, it can be a joyful yet profoundly unsettling and frustrating experience.

This is how I feel when I video call my son in Ireland and his family. The feeling of being so near yet so far is a test of my patience and perseverance.
In moments like this, I must dig deep to find the fortitude to push past the psychological hurdle, and somehow and somewhere find the courage to make that final leap across the divide so that I can close the gap between what feels close and what remains just out of reach.

Remember that handshake or the kiss from a celebrity, and you vow never to wash your hands for your cheek again? Well, that is how I feel when I look at the box of bars, made in Indonesia, that sit on my kitchen counter. I don’t know if I will ever get so far as eating all of them.

I am keeping my friends close to my heart despite them being far away!

I invite @heriadi, @irawandedy @radjasalman @el-nailul @sailawana and all my other Indonesian friends.

ACCOUNT SUMMARY:	04 July 2024
Club status	Club100
Transfer to vesting:	10,209.000 STEEM
Normal transfer:	98 STEEM (Competitions and charity)

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