1 year ago today, I made this blog.
Two days later, I released my first audio.
1 year ago today, I was 17 years old with a new microphone I got for Christmas, looking for something to do with it. 1 year ago today I had a dream of having a small community, whether it be through my YouTube channel or my podcast, but neither showed any signs of gaining a following. 1 year ago today, I wanted to help people while having fun, to be someone that has the potential to make a difference for someone, just as others have made that difference on me, to inspire. 1 year ago today, I had vague goals, but with ambitions beyond what I can reach.
Today, I’m celebrating the milestone of over 3,000 family members. Not followers. Family. Today, I’ve released about 100 audios. Today, I have a community. Today, I can use my camera to have fun, helping people all around the world in the process, inspiring dozens of voice actors to make blogs like mine. Today, I’m an 18 year old holding onto my dreams knowing that I have reached them, all because of an anime about gay figure skaters.
Today, I’m talking to some very close friends I made along the way, telling stories and learning new cultures while discovering what it truly means to be human. See, if you had asked me a year ago what it meant to be human, I would say to destroy and to hurt. Today, I know that it’s to create and to love.
All of you have taught me this.
All of you have changed my life in ways that you could not believe, and for the better. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without this blog, without your endless love and support, without every little anon screaming about my work or message asking for my help. I don’t know where I’d be. I don’t know who I’d be.
Adrian: We started talking about a week after this blog was made. It started off as small talk and you sending me an audio you had done for your voice blog inspired by mine, then it lead to us having lengthy conversations on Snapchat and in the DMs. I was in a bad mental place in my life at this time and the last thing I wanted was to open up to someone, but you saw through that. It was as if you saw who I once was, and who I can be again, and you were patient enough to work with me and help me through my emotional block. I didn’t even know it at the time, but the barrier I had built up for myself was slowly being taken down, brick by brick, until one day I saw you were on the other side of the wall…in fact, I saw that there was no wall at all. You’re probably the closest Internet friend I’ve ever had, someone who knows things about me that not even my best friend knows, something that I feel at home with, someone that always makes me warm. You’re one of the strongest people I know and you’re so wise way beyond your years. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you take steps towards your self-care and recovery, that you’re moving forward in life to make yourself happier, that even after everything you’ve been through, you’re still good in your heart and nothing will take that away from you. You have no idea how happy I am to have met you, how honoured I am to know you, how blissful it makes me feel when I talk to you. Granted, I found out a little too late, but thank you for showing me how to love again. Thank you for teaching me to feel emotions I had previously locked away. Thank you for being there for me through a period of my life where normally everybody else would leave. Thank you for all those hundreds of hours on Skype, for letting me laugh with you, cry with you…become human with you. I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone, but I am in fact the secret admirer in your inbox. You’re the one I talked about when I said I hoped one of the ships become canon. You have done this thing to me, and now I live, that is all. I can wake up in the mornings with emotion in my heart because you helped me get there. I keep pushing myself to thrive and to help others because you told me that I was born to shine. I can write poetry now, because I now have a muse to write about: and that muse is you. I don’t think I ever stopped loving you, and I can’t thank you enough for how you’ve changed me for the better. Mi cielo, habibi libbi, I hope you know that no matter what happens I’m still going to be here, loving you and always open to listen to you and help you in any way I can. You deserve the best in life, and I hope that this next year will give you just that. I can’t wait to see what this year brings to us. <3
Heather: We started talking about a month after my blog was made. It started off simply as some advice for your upcoming voice blog inspired by mine, and then it turned into roleplay, then it turned into one of my closest friendships I’ve had. Doing collabs with you is always one of my favourite things that never fails to put a smile on my face and giggle uncontrollably. You’re such a strong and incredible woman, and I’m so proud of you for leaving toxic situations and pushing yourself to wake up every morning. I’m so glad that I met you. Thank you for being a huge source of inspiration to me, for being someone that’s answered so many of my questions, for letting me into your life as your friend. I love you and cherish you to bits; you’re so amazing and you deserve so much more in your life. I always love your sunny demeanour and how you’re always so willing to help others in need. I wish more people in the world were like you. The world would definitely be a better place with more people that have your heart of gold. Cheers for future years with you, love. I can’t wait to see what comes next in our friendship!
Everyone Else: The success of this blog and many of the audios with it would not be a thing if it weren’t for you. I owe you guys all of my gratitude and my love for the comfort and love that you provide me with each piece I produce just for you. Words can’t even begin to explain how incredibly thankful I am to have you guys as my community.
I don’t think you guys know just how wonderful you are. I’ve learned so much from all of you, and every day I hold all your comments and asks and little moments of joy close to my heart. I know I haven’t put out an audio in a while (I’m a full-time reporter now, so it’s really hard to make content I’m so sorry), but I promise I haven’t forgotten about any of you. I haven’t forgotten the little culture lessons, the pointers on BDSM, the comfort in people accepting me regardless of my orientation and sexuality. I’ll never forget our liveshows, our milestones, our whole community.
I wake up every day remembering how incredibly blessed I am to have you all in my life. I remember how I inspired someone’s name for their transition, how I helped in the creation of other blogs just like mine, how I adopted 3,000+ of you as my babies regardless of how old you are and how I will protect all of you with my life.
So as this first year comes to an end and the next opens at the close, I can’t wait to see how much farther we’re going to go. I’m so excited to watch this blog continue to evolve and grow along with the community within it. I look forward to the audios I have in mind just for you, and I love each and every one of you for everything you’ve done for me.
Anyways, this got really long and emotional and I’ll wrap this up now before I actually break down in tears in the Newsroom. I should be writing an article and doing my homework, but I had to tell you guys just how much I love and appreciate you as we go into our second year.
So as always, thank you so much for listening, thank you so much for sticking with me, and I hope you enjoyed this year as we prepare for what’s next to come. I love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful day knowing that you made me the happiest, luckiest person on Earth. <3
