Everyone else is writing appreciation blogs for their birthdays so I’ll write one too (just know, I have ulterior motives, like getting lots of birthday wishes, but I really do mean everything I’m about to say). I’m 23!

Instead of flexing my near-ten-year status on this site which means I joined really late 2009/early 2010 and am definitely a veteran on Paint which makes me better than you 2012-present noobs, I won’t even mention it and instead will get right to the point. Paint has been a huge constant in a life that seems to be fluctuating drastically every day. I don’t have a lot of constants. Between jobs and getting old and growing up, it’s comforting to have a place I can always come back to.

Since the beginning of my days on Paint, I’ve always been really uncomfortable with my identity and even lied a lot to hide and protect who I really was (I grew up in the time of “everyone on the Internet is a sexual predator who wants to literally cross the country and kill you”). I am so grateful that I can now be open and honest to everyone and even more grateful that everyone was willing to forgive the lies I told, inconsequential as they may have seemed. A lie is still a lie.

Negative stuff aside, I’ve grown into my own person. I love having a creative writing outlet like this. God knows my journalism degree isn’t going completely to nothing as long as I can create (and if anyone needs a social media person/graphic designer that’ll do your work for cheap, hit me up). Anyway, all of the feedback I receive on my works really makes me proud and the criticism helps me think about what to improve on for next time.

I’ve changed as a person. We all do. I’m certainly not the same person I was when I joined back in the day, you know, before your time (ok boomer). I am definitely not Mileyfan12, the person who actually convinced some kid that she was Miley Cyrus because, eh, why not? Catfish didn’t exist. I’m not Cabbages or Lettuce anymore, although I kinda wish I could get on those accounts still. I’m not TrargEnsly anymore, edgy, slutty little Trina.

Most importantly, I’m not the same Asparagus that I was when I started this account. There has been growth, there has been hatred and memery, there has been friendships and enemies reconciled. And I really appreciate what each and every one of you guys have contributed to my life. A place I can come back to and just shoot the shit with people, whatever the topic might be.

So from the bottom of my heart,
Thank you to the whole community.
Thank you.