- SheFi Newsletter
- Posts
- I Believe In You.
I Believe In You.
The Power of Belief, SheFi Summit on YouTube, Ethereum Blobs.
Maggie Love
March 27, 2024
In 2009, I lost the person I loved most fiercely. I was 19 years old.
Her name was Mary “Sissy” DiPrima, and she was my music teacher for 12 years. She passed away shortly after my senior musical performance called “Seasons of Love.”
I was her third daughter, and I loved her. I was so fiercely loyal to her because she was the first person I remember outside of my own parents who believed in me. I moved to the Chicago area in the first grade, and I struggled with that move until Mrs. D discovered I could sing.
She changed my life with both her discovery and her unwavering belief in me. Not only did I spend 7 days a week singing and dancing from that point on, but I really believed I could do anything I set my mind to. Every time I asked her if I could be in a Broadway show or go to Northwestern like her two daughters, she said of course. With her and my parents as cheerleaders, I was unstoppable.
I was one of six non-family members that was allowed to be with Mrs. D the summer she battled ovarian cancer for the second time. I remember how unfair it felt that I was going off to Northwestern University, a plan we hatched together when I was only in the fourth grade, and I wouldn’t have my ultimate cheerleader and confidant to share it all with.
I wouldn’t know it until 10 years later, but during that summer where I spent most days at her house, I learned about how Mrs. D would show up in my life after her earthly death as a monarch butterfly.
Fr. Bob, our high school principal, came over one afternoon. He presented a card showing a monarch butterfly emerging from its chrysalis on a milkweed plant. He then explained how monarchs, once unable to handle the plant's toxins, evolved over millions of years to feed exclusively on milkweed, which imbues them with its toxins, making the butterflies unpalatable to predators. Much like how chemo is poison but it would hopefully transform Mrs. D from sickly to healthy. I still have the card with this imagery on it from Fr. Bob.
10 years later, in 2019, I promised a friend I’d go to Burning Man. As it got closer, I realized I didn’t really want to go, but I ended up going anyway–I always keep my promises. I didn’t pay attention to the theme or any of the hype, I just made sure I had my tent, water, costumes and a few other items to survive the unknown in the desert.
It was a year of transformation for me – the year I started SheFi. But when Burning Man came, I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired about the idea that was to become SheFi. Crypto was in a prolonged bear market. I was going through a tough break up, and I was mostly confused about my life choices. The Burn was more challenging than fun. I was in a literal and spiritual desert.
Toward the end of Burning Man, I was helping my camp with a party, putting on my best smile to encourage people to join us. A man came up to me and said, you embody the spirit of Burning Man so I want to give you a gift: 1 of 10 silver necklaces with the Burning Man theme that he’d made to gift to strangers.
On one side of the necklace was a chrysalis with a man in it. On the other was a man with butterfly wings. He explained to me that the theme of Burning Man that year was metamorphosis. I went into a state of semi-shock as I knew in that moment, Mrs. D was speaking to me through a God-wink. She was letting me know she was here for me during my moments of transformation, and she believed in me.
Shortly after that experience, I had my divine download to start SheFi. Even though I had no traditional finance or teaching experience, I never doubted myself. I had my talisman that reminded me to believe in myself. I had reconnected with Mrs. D, my ultimate cheerleader. And now I saw that she was everywhere. I encountered butterflies frequently in 2019, a constant reminder that I was on a path to transformation.
Mrs. D and me, the card, and the Burning Man necklace.
Now when I see butterflies, I see Mrs. D. Butterflies that are the little God-winks that she’s with me. I am reminded that our connection transcends the physical world, and that I can always turn to her when I need belief in myself.
We all need someone who believes in us, especially when during times when we feel like we’re in a spiritual desert. I hope by being in the SheFi community, you know that I believe in you and the community believes in you.
Watch SheFi Summit Denver On YouTube
We made history at ETHDenver by hosting the largest Web3 conference headlined entirely by women! Over 400 leaders, builders, investors, and community members gathered for the SheFi Summit, presented by Linea, in an atmosphere charged with excitement and unity.
Missed SheFi Summit? Now you can experience the magic by watching the talks on YouTube. Hear insights from speakers like LATASHÁ, Coin Artist, and Emily Lin. All talks are uploaded under the playlist “SheFi Summit Denver 2024.”
Thank you to our amazing sponsors, who are the leading projects in Web3: Linea, WalletConnect, Harpie, Hyperlane, Codebase by Ava Labs, Phaver, Threshold, Capsule, Near, tokenproof, Lens, POAP, ensō and IYK.
Check out SheFi Summit Denver photos and immerse yourself in the unforgettable moments of SheFi Summit Denver.
Join us in Brussels for ETHCC on July 7, 2024. Click this button below to get notified when tickets go on sale.
Ethereum Scaling Update: Blobs
Ethereum's network has taken a significant leap forward with the recent Decun upgrade, marking a milestone in the evolution of blockchain scalability. This upgrade introduced blobs to scale Ethereum.
What are Blobs? We’ll explain them by comparing Ethereum to a city and blobs as the express buses in that city.
Blobs 101: Think of them as Ethereum's intelligent storage units, holding complex smart contract operations and extensive transaction histories. This isn't just any data they package up; they store complex data like high-definition videos--not just simple texts.
By organizing large, substantial data into Blobs, Blobs keep the main network—our city streets—free for daily transactions and smart contract executions. Blobs selectively handle large data that could clog the network, boosting Ethereum's ability to swiftly and securely process operations.
In the simplest terms, think of Blobs as express buses for Ethereum's data, moving large volumes across the network efficiently—clearing the way for a bustling city of transactions and smart contracts.
As our "Ethereum city" grows, teeming with activities and innovations, so does its traffic. Blobs are here to manage those heavy loads, ensuring the city's daily life remains vibrant and uninterrupted. As the express buses of Ethereum, Blobs deal with the network's bulky data loads and keep everything flowing, making space for growth without jamming the streets (or the network).
Why is this important? Just like express buses ease urban congestion, Blobs lighten Ethereum's load. The result? Faster transactions, lower fees, and a scalable environment for everyone.
Blobs are crucial in enabling the network to accommodate a vast range of applications and an expanding user base, fostering a scalable, dynamic future.
See our explainer on Twitter and Instagram.
Reply