My Introductory Post

Greetings, Steemians!

I'm Britt, and I just celebrated my 44th birthday here in my home country of Malaysia, where I've been born and raised.

My working history has been… unconventional. I used to run my own aesthetic salon, a chapter that ended after a major breakdown led to various health diagnoses.

Now, working a normal job is almost an impossible feat for me, with my severe anxiety disorder. Even answering an unexpected call can throw me into disarray, let alone stepping out the door.

My health challenges have unexpectedly opened new doors for me. In a way, being chronically ill could be a blessing in disguise, allowing me the space and courage to write.

You could say I'm an unknown and perpetually poor writer (not everyone can be J.K. Rowling!). I juggle inconsistent odd remote jobs alongside the limited income my writing generates.

You'll find my work on platforms like Medium and Substack, and I'm currently setting up a new home on Patreon while exploring the blockchain space.

I first dabbled with crypto around 2016, my health issues intensified then, so I didn't get to explore it much. I'm giving it another try now, currently learning everything from scratch and exploring altcoins like TagAI.

As an ASD, I know I learn things differently; it can be quite a slow and difficult process for me. But that's okay, I'll just need more time.

Besides writing, my life revolves around everything Japan. I'm a proud Japanophile, currently on an incredible 464-day streak learning Japanese on Duolingo!

My passion for Japan bloomed during a period of convalescence when I was heavily medicated and totally indisposed, I had an old Japanese anime playing on repeat on TV.

Through it, I learned a great deal about their culture, starting with a simple curry dish that stoked the fire in me for Japanese food and cooking.

Since I mostly learned from Japanese sites (not much in English), I've compiled, translated, and rewritten these recipes for easy use. I even offer them as a Substack subscription! So, you can definitely guess a good portion of my writing will cover this.

My heart beats for poets like Edgar Allan Poe and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, so I'm into poetry, especially dark, personal, tragic poetry that reflects the harsh realities of life.

In fact, when I first started sharing my writings publicly around 2016, I began with poetry - mostly dark pieces. It was, and still is, a perfect outlet for me.

I previously served as Editor-in-Chief for a writing publication on Instagram, where I curated works and hosted writing contests as a judge.

You could genuinely say my life is all about words - I compile and reformat older writings, mostly to give them new exposure, with any proceeds being nominal.

I've also published two books, one of which was a translation of archaic English into contemporary English (I might even say they're all practically not for profit, as I only get pennies from them!). I was also honored to be featured in an anthology book by Penguin New York.

That's the reality of passion, unless of course, your passion is money!

My interests are incredibly diverse. If I were to lock myself into one particular category, it would truly suppress my creative output.

My diverse interests also extend to my music taste, which you can glimpse from my Spotify playlist ranging from Muse, Sigur Rós, Yiruma, Ling Tosite Sigure, Linkin Park, Anna Tsuchiya, Taylor Swift, The Cranberries, and Halsey.

^{My Spotify Playlist}

Just like that playlist, readers here can expect an unpredictable, even dizzying, mix in my writing - from poems and deeply personal stories to fiction, mental health issues, slice-of-life narratives, commentaries, and, of course, my explorations into Japanese culture!

I discovered Steemit through a fellow writer, and what immediately struck me was its unique concept. It feels like social media, yet it's centered on writing - quite a contrast to mainstream platforms.

There, when I post a picture, I get likes, but my writings often go unread or unappreciated.

My hope is to find a place for full, written communication, free from endless formalities or superficial interactions. Here, I can express myself without interruption, unlike verbal exchanges where thoughts often get cut short, leaving words unsaid.

I truly believe Steemit can be a very nice blockchain home for me.

So, that's my introductory post for now. I hope it meets the requirements for Achievement 1 within the Newcomer's Community. A big thanks to the community for helping to ease us newcomers into this space—it's truly different from what I'm used to.

©Britt H.

Thank you for reading this.

Note: Dear admin, please let me know if any amendments are needed.