I’m Trying To Go To SteemFest, But It's A Tough Call

My Reality:

I've been so close to buying my tickets to SteemFest many times, but I'm struggling to decide if it's the best thing for me financially. I really want to go, and could use the trip after the most difficult year of my life, but it'd realistically cost me threefold since I work for myself.

On top of $2,300 minimum in trip expenses, I'd freeze most of my home business income, while being unable to support operations and inventory sourcing. Shutting down my business makes me feel irresponsible and guilty, even if it's just to live a little. This is the hardest part.

Some Background:

I planned on going this year as a way to heal from my Dad's long battle with brain cancer coming to an end in February, but everything changed when a flash tornado sent a massive tree through my Mom's car windshield into her face and chest while she was driving. While she miraculously survived and will mostly recover, she spent 5 months in hospitals, where I was her main advocate. To make matters worse, my only pet of 13 years suddenly had to be put down.

The only joy I felt during this time was from my Mom insisting that I play all of my weekend baseball games. I never missed an inning and led my team in hits, RBI (50% more than the next), runs, home runs, and third in batting average. On the mound, I allowed 4 earned runs in my last 20 innings pitched, into the playoffs, and then all-star game. After my Mom's accident, I only allowed 1 earned run in the regular season against dozens of ex-college and some former semi-pro players. It was laser focus amid exhaustion with my heart on my sleeve. While I couldn't work or live my life much, the ballfields were where I released my stress and recharged for the next week of family support.

Steemit

It was too much all at once, but Steemit helped me with a few bright spots every day. I made a point to log in and interact so I could get my mind off of things. I wrote inspirational and fitness challenge posts next to my Dad's bed, and plenty of jokes to cheer myself up from hospital chairs.

The platform and community helped me cope with a lot. You can see some of the proof here, tissues recommended. Steemians who caught some of my struggles then were extremely supportive to give me something positive to think about when I needed it most. They also spent a lot of their own money to promote that post, which was very touching. When my Mom got hurt for round two, I knew where to go... (and not just to the drawing board for more Chuck Norris Steemit Jokes)

It Can't Hurt To Try

In the middle of the night now, mulling over buying my flight once again, I thought that it was worth the off chance that the Steemit community might see this get behind it a bit to give me a proverbial kick in the ass.

It's a big leap of faith and a bigger sacrifice across the board for me to go, especially when I can’t blog like most to make up some ground on the costs. I had to give up a lot of my income this year, but it's better to have helped my Mom care for my Dad, and have my Mom alive and well, while crediting me for a large part of it. I'm also not well known by most stakeholders and popular Steemians, so I'm hesitant to go and be an outsider.

Regardless, I see all of the upside of going to Krakow and that's why I'm writing this. I also wanted to make it known that I wanted to crash the @steembirds concert with a rented drum set to power them up a bit.

No expectations here. I’m practically aware that rewards for this post probably would cover a pierogi or two.

I'm simply and humbly putting this out there to see what happens on the encouragement front. Heck, even a few new connections or a couple of thumbs up would help to keep my eyes on the bigger picture.

Sincerely,
Matt