It's been six days and I've chosen the winners for the contest.
I was sad to see only two participants, as the prizes offered are more than most posts earn before being split between authors and curators.
Perhaps in the upcoming contests, more folks will participate.
We had two awesome entries, however, and I decided they tied for first place.
I had the breakdown to be
First prize will be 1000 Blurt.
Second place prize will be 500 Blurt.
Third place will receive 250 Blurt.
Instead I chose to award both participants
1500 Blurt for their compelling stories on kindness from another.
You can read their posts here.
https://blurt.blog/kindness/@amaterasusolar/5ughgq-when-i-received-kindness
He shares three stories in one, one of hardship and folks extending their hand to help him survive. Due to homelessness, his situation was quite extreme, and it's amazing how folks will step forward to aid those in this position at times.
I've hitchhiked across the country many times in my youth, which is basically traveling homelessness. I had many such stories and related so much to this.
A huge thank you to amaterasusolar for sharing this time of kindness amidst the turmoil homelessness brings.
https://blurt.blog/kindness/@nainaztengra/6ks2d5-kindness-when-least-expected
Her story is one I also related a lot with. It's hard as a child figuring out your way in life, often complicated by horrid extraneous events by the adults overseeing us.
Her life was one of much pain and in the midst of all of this, one of her teachers took her under her wing. Trying to ease the burdens of the child, this teacher (Yasmin) went the extra distance to help the sickly not so well fed young girl. If there is such a thing as human angels, Yasmin is one.
I appreciate both the time and vulnerability involved in such sharing, likely calling forth both gratefulness as well as the opposite, resentment for being in such positions that necessitated such kind acts from others.
I'll be announcing my next contest in the coming days, awarding more Blurt prizes. Please keep an eye out for the post, and hopefully, we can build some momentum and get more participants.
Edited to add:
We had a late entry by Hangin shortly after the deadline. I decided to count it because it's a compelling read, and ultimately my Blurt to give away, hah hah. I award 1000 Blurt for this awesome share.
Here's a link so you can check it out.
https://blurt.blog/blurt-192372/@hangin/a-story-of-unexpected-kindness-1722594904215
I urge each of you to go read it, the writing alone is worth it, and the lesson I was seeking is powerful as well. A day where everything is off, becoming small little obstacles, only to have kindness appear unexpectedly.
I was late for this awesome contest, but I still put one together for you enjoying reading.
https://blurt.blog/blurt-192372/@hangin/a-story-of-unexpected-kindness-1722594904215
Thank you for participating. A great experience you shared, and I appreciate your submission. You were awarded 1000 Blurt.
My pleasure @practicalthought have a great weekend.
Most humble thanks! I am blessed!
Though I don't usually bother to correct People as to My (natural born) gender, I humbly point out that I am female too. Haha! Even had a baby and breastfed!
But it's really not critical to My work, so I don't mind at all being "misgendered."
Love always!!!
My apologies. I had assumed your gender based on the way you write coupled with the homelessness. Many programs for homelessness are exclusive for women, and it just hadn't occurred to me that a woman would choose her dignity over the programs.
I also wish to expose my own gender bias here and say I find it more horrifying your situation because of being female. It's a hardship for any male, fraught with dangers. But for a woman, the dangers escalate to extreme levels.
I admire that you haven't allowed your circumstances to destroy your spirit.
I'm also thankful that you have friends who have allowed you to use their couches. So often the women in these situations are exploited for perverted designs, or worse.
If you've ever read any of the Casteneda works, he would say you must have an inordinate amount of personal power.
I need to get something to drink now to get the taste of my foot out of my mouth, hah hah.
Thank you for not getting upset, and more so for clarifying.
🙏💜🙏 🤗 I am merely a visionary aiming for better on Our planet. Love always!
What an awesome contest!!!! 😍🍀❤️
Thank you. I'm hopeful that in the coming weeks, it can stir up some excitement and interaction in the Blurt community.
Blurt had become a passion of mine for a couple years before my absence, and it saddens me most don't understand what is possible here in ways that aren't in normal fiat economies. One where in fiat the bankers get the interest, here we profit share the interest.
Maybe in the next one, you'll participate. :D
Thank you very much first of all for bringing up that opportunity to express and very grateful for the Blurt Tokens
Possibly the entries are less because contest are not very popular on the platform and hence it gets missed out by majority :-(
Yes, I noticed the lack of interaction on Blurt. This will need to change if Blurt is to grow.
Thank you for participating. :)