Well... what can I say? 2024 was a year that completely changed the person I am. I managed to make things I'd been dreaming about for a long time a reality. I was able to successfully organize my first Halloween event and create my first comic, something I was finally able to achieve thanks to the wonderful community on this site. Youu guys were truly a key part of making it a reality!!! <3
It was also the year I faced two of my biggest fears: roller coasters and heights. I did it during a trip to Disneyland with my sister as a wedding celebration. I finally gathered the courage to ride the roller coaster that had terrified me since childhood. I was scared but I did it, I kept my eyes open the whole time, and as terrifying as it was, it filled me with a surprising sense of joy and courage that same day I also dared to ride the Tower of Terror and It was one of the most intense (and yes, awful) sensations Iâve ever experienced, but it showed me that if I set my mind to it, I can push past my limits
We also welcomed a new family member: RamĂłn, my sweet little furball. We found out he's a Dachshund/Pomeranian mix, and thanks to him, I'm still here, let me explain whyâŠ
At the beginning of March from last year, something happened that still affects me deeply. Lucky, my dog and my best friend for over 12 years passed away in my arms due to a chronic illness, some here got to know his face because I posted a photo of him on new year. After his passing, the following days were strange... I felt like everything was on autopilot, as if I wasn't really awake. I started dissociating, feeling like I wasnât even in my own body
But with RamĂłn sudden arrival, I slowly began to stabilize though it didnât last long, around Christmas, after promising to be more active in this site, my drawing tablet, my trusty companion for 7 years, stop working. To give you an idea of how old that tablet was: the software came on a disc. Yes, that ancient
And although that bad feeling returned, this time I didn't let it get the better of me. During my spare time, I worked on a house renovation to earn money and save up for a new drawing tablet.. In the meantime I took the opportunity to experiment with other art programs and even started learning a little about Blender (who knows, maybe one day Iâll have something decent to show you! :3)
Iâm sharing all of this in case you ever find yourself in a similar situation (and I genuinely hope you donât) I'm not going to tell you typical phrases like "everything will be okay" because the truth is that not everything always turns out well. Nor will I say "time heals everything" because not all of us heal equally quickly or in the same way.
What I do want you to be very clear about is that you have the power to decide how to manage your life, you have the strength and the tools to move forward and grow, one step at a time. Itâs not about proving anything to anyone else. What's truly essential.. what comes before everything elseâŠ.is YOU. Only you can decide how to live your life, because you control it.
And please, donât wait until retirement to start living it. Even if itâs just once a month, treat yourself, go to the beach, take a walk, visit a fair, watch a movie, I don't know, DO something that brings you joy. Live your life the best you can, because we only get one shot⊠but with that one shot, we can do incredible things.
Have a nice day or night depending on when you read this and take care of yourselves.