Long Awaited Update

Dear Watchers,

EDIT: Seems I communicated badly. I have actually turned 26, not 25. Messed it up a bit

By the time I have completed this  journal, my 25th year will have slipped through my fingers. 26 years old feels so anti-climactic in comparison, but it is what it is. According to my page, it has been over a year since my last journal

The last year has been my busiest year yet and has been a mixed bag of ups and downs. Not long after accepting an increasingly precarious job opportunity, I was unfortunately let go from my previous job in Paris in September. Thus began a year of job hunting, travelling to and from job interviews.

I'm happy to finally say that my year of frustration has come to an end.

On August 15, I began a new position as trainee at the library of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. The new workplace is vast and the first few days have been rather fast paced. I'm still over the moon at this new opportunity after so long. It feels so good to be back on the saddle in a library setting after a false start. I hope now that my traineeship leads to something more sustainable.

I intended to write a journal to mark my 25th birthday and truly take the time to show my appreciation for everyone here who has done so much for me in the eight years that I have been on deviantART. Never too late for that, I hope!

This one goes out to everyone who have encouraged my writing and art, added my work to their s, gifted me with wonderful gifts, or made my experience here so worthwhile.

The list is not exhaustive but I would especially like to thank the following persons:

for her encouragement, her feedback, and for making this awesome literature tag and icon:





for recommending my latest poem Silk Road for a Daily Deviation. It really means a lot to me.

for her numerous gift artwork over the years. This may be an old cliché but the most valuable gift you ever gave me was your friendship, your kind words, and your encouragement of my numerous fan fictions and my stories involving my OC Masterstroke. No matter how much the odds were stacked against you, you always found time to reach out to those who were fortunate enough to know you as friend on or offline.

for his encouragement, his effusive kindness, and his book and poetry/prose recommendations here on deviantART.
So happy to have met you and I wish you the best in all your endeavours.

In the short time that I've known you, you have just been the sweetest person I could ever meet. It's been a joy to get to read your work, talk about various musical theatre songs, and know you as you blaze your own path towards being a vet and towards your own artistic aspirations. Thank you so much

for being such a loyal follower of mine, pretty much from the beginning. It's been so wonderful bonding over our love and appreciation of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, anime/manga, and different fandoms. Special shout out for the Dango you made for me back in 2014:



for her kind words, encouragement, and generous spirit. Not to mention her tireless efforts to promote literature and the arts here on deviantART and elsewhere. You really are one of the best ladies here on deviantART, in art and literature. Thank you for all you do for me and everyone else on deviantART

I thank her as well for this lovely gift from before that I meant to feature:





I would indeed be remiss if I did not mention this special lady, this beloved icon of literature here on deviantART:



Three years after I joined deviantART, I had the pleasure of having her accept my request to connect on deviantART. Although I had heard of her and watched from a distance, it took a while before I reached out to her. Ever since then, I keep wondering why I didn't do it sooner.

LadyLincoln has been one of my most ardent supporters, the most generous, gentle, and compassionate of women I have met here or elsewhere. I am so honoured and privileged to count her among the multitude of wonderful souls I have met here on deviantART. 

Not to mention her wonderful gift to me, commissioned last year


I cannot thank her enough for all she has done and continues to do for me and others. I hope this is a good start  

To everyone else I may not have mentioned, I hope you will not be let down. I have not forgotten any of you even if I have not mentioned you by name. To everyone I have and have not mentioned, I thank you sincerely from my heart.