Good evening, Esther! Thank you for your question ;-))

And my answer is: no! Why should I have been discouraged? Why would I need courage at all? I've always been writing. I'll continue to do so, even if the Steem gets boring or I misplace my keys or can no longer recognise the keyboard on my PC. I write because it's part of me. What does that have to do with encouragement or stress or frustration?

There are frustrating moments on the Steem. But they are not related to writing...
I'm talking about users who jostle their way through the Steem with three-word posts. Of intrusive requests to vote for each other. Of administrators who pursue their own ends with the stake of the Community (its members!). Of helpless attempts to generate a little income - without being able to write at all... I feel this frustration, sometimes more and sometimes less. But it has nothing to do with what I myself do here. I am simply me ;-))