YouTube Rewind! But, seriously. 2018 was an awesome year. As bad as it was, you can't deny good things came out from it, so that's why I'm posting this here. Today, I just began to think on 2018 and the effects it has had on me. And, well, maybe you can too. I just hope you've all enjoyed this year as much as I have. And, well, here's to many more. So, I'll start this off with the positives of the year for me. I've made a lot of friends, and having come back to this site, even more than I ever thought possible. I've never been a social person, so coming here was helpful for a fool like me. And, in truth, I'm glad I did. I've grown a lot this year, especially with storytelling and my dreams in art and in a career I hope to achieve. But that's not all. I've begun to achieve things I never thought possible, such as actually getting back into art and writing my own stories that people could really like. With all you guys and the people I know in the real world, who's to say I saw bad things? And while I may not be the most positive of people, you've all done your part to help. I've never felt so full, so great! I've never truly felt like a person until I came here and felt like I was accepted by a community. And for that, I thank you all. But, with positives comes negatives... As the positives come to an end, the bad news starts. And, well, I'll keep it short. I've lost a lot while having gained even more. Before I came here, I was no one, Before I returned, I was a dark void of hate and anger. But even then, I was okay. Toxicity here may exist, and I see that it was harsh on people, but at least it's passed. But, well, I can't say all good. I've been hurt, and I've hurt people, but even worse is learning of the consequences. I did terrible things this year, and I know I can only cause more, but there's always light... As I said, I'll keep this short, and so I'll cut it off here. I'll post the entirety of it somewhere else, but not here. So, tell me about your year, friends. What was the good? What was the bad? I can only guess, so I'll ask. How was 2018? Did you achieve something you wanted to?
Lots of things happened this year, sooo, where to start? I guess I could talk about my fellow classmates first. So, from September 2017 to July 2018 I was in an approximately 30 student class, and I've befriended a lot of them, and 10 of them are in the same class as I am now, (and considering that I'm currently in a class of 14 students, I'm pretty happy, because I get to stay in a class where I love everyone ^w^). I could also talk about the fact that I've traveled a bit this year, I went to Canada in April, in London in July, in Spain in October. I could also talk about my birthday in July, because I got a new laptop, and it's a great one, my brother told my parents that they should offer this one to me and well, he was right (my brother is the best x3). I could speak about how I discovered one of my favorite youtube channel, a youtube channel about coding, thanks to my brother who advised me to watch it (see, when I told you he is the best). I could talk about my academical success so far, I mean, I've got really good grades so far, and 2018 has been the year when I had my highest average so far. There's also my art, which has improved over this year (well, I hope it did x3). On the coding side, I sadly didn't accomplish much, apart from my ol' useless discord bot. I sadly split apart with some online discord friends, and I really feel bad about it sometimes, I still kinda try to talk to some of them from times to times. But I've also met new online friends, guess that's how life is: you lose sight of some person, you meet new ones, and it continues like this over and over. I've been blocked by two persons, and it kinda felt unfair for me, but I moved on, if they don't want to hear about me well I can accept it, as sad as it makes me. I've been in a relationship with someone during this year, but sadly it didn't last long. Continuing on the sad parts of this year I guess, I could talk about how I really felt a deep melancholy during September, due to a lot of things, mainly stress (I'm a really anxious person. Like, too anxious, sometimes I wonder if I don't have any type of anxiety disorder to be honest because it can get pretty strong sometimes). Gosh, there were so many things this year, I'm writing this without thinking too much about what I'm writing, but I always find more things to write, so let's wrap it up here, with a lighter note I guess. So yeah, this December has started well, I really feel great (and stressed out, but I guess that's just a usual thing for me :v), I've been in this "good nostalgia" mood, where I look back at the past and think that it was great, and that I should do things like I used to to them a year, two years ago. There are so many things that happened this year, some that I can't really talk about here tbh (I mean, I could, but it's a bit too personal for me for now, maybe one day :p), but let's say that 2018 was a busy year, but a great one, and let's hope that 2019 will be even better!
A lot of good things relating to band and guard came out of this year. I had so much fun with winter guard (indoor color guard) earlier this year, and I got to do rifle for this marching season, which was scary but fun. I made so many band and guard friends too. I’ve also kept acceptable grades for the bulk of the year. And as for gaming, I’ve decided to get into competitive battling for Pokémon and Smash Bros. My one big problem with this year (and one that will probably continue) is my time management. I take long to do school tasks because I get distracted easily. (I also have ADD which doesn’t help my case) So I’ve had to stay up late on many days to finish homework I couldn’t in the daytime.
2018 has been an interesting year, I guess. It's gone by so quickly because of work though. I started working again after 4 years in September 2017, and prior to that the time dragged something awful. It doesn't feel like December. Work itself has been a struggle at times even though I only work 3 (previously 4) mornings a week, but I think it's done a lot of good for my mental health. I actually have a reason to get up in the morning now - something I did anyway out of habit, but only because of that - and vague hopes that the future I long for isn't just a pipe dream. My savings have more than doubled this year and whilst that is nowhere near enough for the things I need money for, it's still a damn good start considering how little I had in January. That's probably my biggest achievement this year. March was amazing because of the snow - walking to and from work in it was so fun! - but the summer this year was disgusting and one of the worst I've ever experienced. Six weeks without rain, and temperatures in the 20s in the middle of the night. I got very hot, very frustrated, and I actually cried a little when it started raining again. I am not a hot weather fan and I really hope we never have another summer like that...or at least, if we do, it's not for another 5 years or so. My health is in more or less the same place it was last year, which I am not happy about. Therapy is a severe drain on my resources and I've felt stuck for a while now and, whilst I *suppose* I'm in a better place physically than I was this time last year, the psychological problems I have are still very much there. I'm getting fed up with it and, as with every other year prior to this one, I had hoped to find a way to resolve these things this year. Next year I may explore some alternate avenues. In terms of my personal life...things were a little rocky around June/July, but I am still very much in love and very happy. That's about all I really have to say about that. Coming back here and becoming staff was one of the more surprising things to happen to me this year, actually! It was never an ambition of mine, but when the applications popped up I figured I'd apply and being accepted was a nice surprise, even if I do worry a lot about my suitability for the position. I've been very much adrift online since mid-2016, when things kinda self-destructed for me on the forum I was on, and it's nice to have somewhere to go and something to do online again. I started drawing again this year! I have a small project on the go and, whilst I've not been as consistent as I'd like, considering that I was around 15 the last time I did any serious drawing, anything I do is kind of an achievement. Going to carry on with this into next year. In terms of media it's been a pretty average year. I've had some major disappointments in video games I was looking forward to (Monster Hunter: World, Ni No Kuni II, and The Lost Child are three I was anticipating but ended up being rather forgettable experiences) but at the same time I've had some unexpected surprises (Shining Resonance Refrain, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and both of the House in Fata Morgana VNs) that have made up for it. I wanted to clear 50 games off my backlog this year and I've done 63 or so thus far, so that's good. I've not seen any new worthwhile anime this year, and the TV shows I keep up with have remained consistently good quality...Gotham is so amazing and I will be very sad when it comes to an end next year. I've only re-read books this year because I'm waiting for series to be finished before I start them, and god knows I don't keep meticulous track of comic book storylines these days. Although I do like the expansion the Venom symbiote has received this year with Knull. The MCU films have been predictable plagiaristic trash, but entertaining plagiaristic trash. I still long for an original story and thank god they're not as bad as the DC live action movies. Lots of good soundtrack. It'd take me too long to list it all. That's about it, really! 2018 has been better than 2016, and maybe slightly better than 2017...very slightly.
2018 was a normal year for me tbh. Life has stress, happiness, tears, smiles, love, hate etc. Mine was the same. But yes, I haven't actually enjoyed this year that much. It was a great year, I had great memories, thanks to God! But, it was more of a normal year for me.
