The year is now 2023. Where was I during 2022? Not that I've been entirely absent, but I have been much less active these past few months. Last year was a big year for me, filled with many BIG changes in my actual life. I don't care to get into what that entails, but Newgrounds sorta fell to the wayside due to that. Not that I didn't have the time for it, it's more that I just didn't have the motivation.

My activity on the BBS definitely took a hit, I'm not sure if it's because I lost interest or the forum itself has become less interesting. Again, not wholly MIA, just quieter than I was in 2021. I do want to be more active in the community again, though. I even joined a couple NG Discords last year... then left after a period of inactivity because it's hard to keep up with an active chat and I'm more shy when in a chat like that. Maybe I should give it another go and rejoin those servers.

Let's be honest here, though. 2022 was far from a bad year for my presence on NG. I'd say it was rather good overall, even. I did get user of the day, after all! The first half was actually better than 2021, it's only the second half where I fell off the face of the site.

2022 is also when I noticed how much of a following I've gained, one which I am still thankful for. If you told the me of 12 years ago I would eventually reach 128 fans and counting on THE Newgrounds dot com, I wouldn't believe you. It's still so crazy to think about.

I've said it before, but I'm not an artist. I'm not trained classically, I'm not trained contemporaneously (sucka!), I'm just a dumbass with a free photo editing program and a mouse. That being said, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy with what I put out in 2022. I didn't draw as much as 2021, but I'd say the "quality" of what I posted was higher. So many pieces I'm actually proud of for coming out exactly how I pictured them in my head.

Perhaps my greatest achievement art-wise was FINALLY putting some of the OCs I've had in my head for years out there in the world. Long have I wanted to, but I was too afraid. Afraid nobody would care or that my doodles just weren't good enough. Newgrounds and its community is what gave me that motivation to finally do it. More than anything else, for 2023 I really want to post more of the little cast of characters I've been developing. In fact, keep an eye out for a piece of art that'll be going up shortly after I post this.

All in all, I'm definitely not going anywhere. Even when I'm less active in the community or my postings slow down, I am always browsing Newgrounds. I love this place so much. So, here's to many more years spent here!