This year has been very trying and I've honestly sat here, trying to figure out how to thank my community. It's no easy task when you've had the year I have. And I get it. Others have had it much, much rougher than I have. But trauma is trauma and I feel some thank yous are in order.
To Kate Beckinsale; I wanted to say thank you for so long but couldn't figure out the words to say. I suffer from severe childhood dental cPTSD. I was verbally and physically abused as a child by a dentist and even after, as an adult. The trauma I've faced has deterred me from seeing a dentist, much to the detriment of a few teeth. But this past week, I was able to make an appointment for next year (yay for dental surgery). Knowing you suffer from PTSD as I do, but still go see your dentist, gave me the courage I needed. It's still hard, but, it's worth it.
To Patrick Tatopoulos; I can't thank you enough for your replies! I love seeing your artwork! It's inspired me even on days when I've had severe art rut and there are days where I simply can't summon up the energy or ideas to do any sort of art. But then I look at your art and it ends with me up half the night drawing🤣I 100% blame you for my messed up sleep schedule🤣
To Anna Lundbergs; Okay I will be the first to admit, I never saw the movies/shows you were in. In fact, I only discovered you after a friend mentioned you had an IG and were an actress and I was left going "who what now?"🤣But then I realized, you're dating/seeing my all time favorite person, so I decided, eh, let's follow her. Well. Needless to say, whenever you've posted your homebaked goods, I'm left taking my laptop (or cell phone) out to my mom going "can we make this? it looks good and I wanna try it but she lives in Wales and I anit flying all the way to Wales to try food."🤣(Yes my mom's a baker and I tend to abuse that factor🤣I've no regrets!) I then saw you horseback riding and was said to myself "okay I like her more now!" cause legit anyone who horseback rides, is a soul sister to me. So my 'thank you' is for giving me more reasons to pester my mom to bake, to keeping her active (which saved her life this year) and for the amazing recipes we were able to follow! But could you tell your partner to please stop jumping between a lycan to a vampire to an angel😵💫I'm getting whiplash at trying to determine which character I like/love more🤣Please view his section🤣
To Michael Sheen; Okay, seriously, you and me need to have a chit chat bout the characters you be doing. You went from a hot lycan, to a vampire who makes me question things, to an angel and I'm left utterlly baffled as to which I like and or love, more🤣Like do you realize how hard it is to figure out which immortal being you like? It's very hard! But I wanted to say thank you. While you may not realize it, your standing up and giving a voice to the Steelworks strikes very close to home. My entire family have worked in the factories, with my grandfather working for several years at Spoolon in Cobourg Ontario Canada.
My dad has worked on/off in various steel factories and my two uncles have also worked on/off in the various factories as well. I don't think people realize, just how important a factory is to a community, until that factory closes it's doors or begins shutting various sections down. My uncle Tim worked for World's Finest Chocolate Factory in Campbellford Ontario Canada, right up to when they shut their doors, sold the factory to another company and moved stateside. We, the entire community, were left devestated, simply because, our singular call to fame, was the factory and it's outlet store. So having anyone give those who feel like they no longer have a voice, just that, there are no words that can be said that sum up the gratitude that is felt. So. Thank you. Two small words, that mean so much.
The word "Thank You" is often filled with a million meanings. Sometimes, it's giving those meanings a voice, that makes saying anything meaningful, so hard to do. Thank you can seem so clitche, like you're not really thankful at all. But there are many ways that it can mean more than words can say. This year, I watched as my mother's health declined rapidly, watched as she suffered from back to back, phantom seziures that had no rhyme nor reason to them, watched as she flatlined twice and felt powerless to do anything to stop them.
My own health declined after a heinous accusation was thrown my way and I was left trying to figure out how to deal with it. I was left feeling worthless, useless, and that my life had no meaning to it, that it wouldn't phase anyone around me if I simply vanished, but through the many friendships I've made, I was not only able to combat these emotions, I was able to drag myself back up and out of that eeriely familiar pit of depression.
I've had to endure a lot this year, more than should of ever been expected of any one person, but I endured it. At times, with a heavy heart, when memories of the ones I've lost overwhelmed me, and then at other times, with joy but forever wanting life to just slow down, give me a bit of a break from the madness. And that break eventually did come when I reconnected with a bunch of friends.
"Khaleesi is the kind of friend you want in your corner. She is fiercely protective of the people she considers family. Even if you don't know it. If she engages with you, just know she loves and trusts you and that trust? She doesn't give it freely." - Jamie - PS classmate.
"Kiy is more wolf than most people I know. She keeps her circle of friends small because she doesn't trust people easily. She's been hurt far too many times by people. So if she welcomes you into her circle, just know, you've earned a friend for the rest of your life, s'long as you don't break that trust." - Moe - PS classmate.
"Akiba's photographs have always left me breathless. She's working with an aging camera, a Nikon Coolpix S3300 and she makes absolutely nothing from it. She's always wanted to buy the Nikon Coolpix P1000 or the Nikon Coolpix P950 so she can get better at her astro photography but she's blown minds with what she's accomplished with the camera she has. None of her photos are ever edited as she believes the original should always tell the story. You gotta admire that about her, and I've loved working alongside her." - Erica - fellow photographer on Viewbug.
2024 wasn't all bad though. I became a proud 4Ocean Wavemaker Ambassador, keeping up with my fiery passion to protect our oceans and waterways and help keep them clean and or help aid in clean up efforts. 40 million tons of trash removed this year. You know, as an ambassador, you work hard to spread awareness, to tell people about the causes that are most important to you. When you see your first entangled whale, it strikes close to home, just how fragile our planet truly is. She is frighteningly powerful but all at once, she is so very fragile. The balance so delicate that literally anything can trigger something catastrophic. So as a brand ambassador, I will continue to strive to helping keep our oceans and waterways clean, safe, drinkable, swimable, surfable, lasting.
Back in June, I began working on my artwork and was thrilled when I began making money from it even if it was a small amount, it was something. Then, in November, I made almost $300 and while yes, December has been a slow month, I expected this to happen due to the holidays. Still sucks though🤣
But knowing my friends always have my back, has made the year a bit more endurable. But I do hope 2025 is a bit gentler, kinder, but who knows? Cause it's the year of the ram! The fire sign of Aries charges in next year and honestly? Who knows? This sign, my sign, is unpredictable, and harder to read. But in all honesty, I can't wait to see what 2025 brings.
Let's check out the good parts of 2024😄
Noteable 2024 Artwork
Noteable Photography
So again, if you've made it this far, a heartfelt thank you! I hope everyone's holiday season is blessed, safe and filled with joy and laughter. I'll see y'all next year!
Comments