I Just Turned Four

I lied. I turned 19 in May. But yesterday marked this blog’s four year anniversary, so say hallelujah for four years of Thomas’s thoughts, tangents, and tantalizing posts!

Obligatory anniversary selfie! I look so old. Almost like an adult or something.

As I always say, thank you to all of my readers, commenters, followers, and lurkers for your continued support. Even though college has taken its toll on my posting rate, this blog has now exceeded 630,000 views, 5,000 comments, and 460 posts. But as I have learned time and time again, the numbers do not do justice to the people I have encountered through this blog: despite my more periodical posting, I have still received so many kind comments and messages that make my day even if I do not respond to them right away.

I have listened to a lot of Ariana Grande as of late, and one theme of this post centers on her lyric “stronger than I’ve been before.”

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Personal Update: 400,000 views, 3,000 comments, and a Tidbit On Grammar

I had to screenshot this.

Hi everyone! This is just a quick little post to thank all of my readers for being radiant and splendorous individuals. Either last week or two weeks ago this blog got its 400,000th view and last week it received its 3,000th comment. I’m so incredibly thankful for everyone who’s taken the time to lurk or comment or stalk or spend any amount of time with my writing. Reading and responding to every comment widens my perspective, and I hope it enhances my readers’ as well.

300 Posts, 300,000 Views, and a 3-Day Weekend – Huzzah!

So this is one of those spontaneous late-night Friday dear diary posts about nothing in particular.

What I’m currently reading for my school’s book club! Probably won’t post a review because I read it a couple of years ago, but will edit my thoughts on Goodreads.

First off, a big thank you to all of my readers/followers/commenters/creepers/friends/miscellaneous individuals – a week ago this blog reached 300,000 views, and today I am publishing my 300th post. As I always say, I probably wouldn’t post as regularly if not for the encouragement I receive and the really great feedback I get from you guys. Even the feedback from the people who don’t comment, because I can totally discern your disgust love for this blog. I want to start thanking the people who visit this site and promote the site more by doing book giveaways, but I am not the most knowledgeable of all the procedures involved – perhaps I will make one after first semester is finished.

Now, because I do have Monday off from school and I have a little time to talk/write about random stuff, here’s a list of things that have been going on that aren’t emotionally captivating and beautiful enough to be turned into full posts.

100,000 Views! And the Meaning of Love, Via Harper Lee

My friends and I were discussing whether saying the phrase "I love you" to a stranger could be considered creepy... I do not intend to be creepy here. Promise.

100,000 views! When I saw that statistic exactly two weeks ago, I was ecstatic. And I still am! It’s not that the views themselves matter that much, it’s more that all the effort I’ve put into this blog has accumulated into an actual, tangible result. Of course I don’t ever think that writing on this blog is a tedious task – trust me, I would write all the time if I could, as it allows me to learn more about myself as well as receive feedback from others. Thank you so much to all of my regular readers, especially those who comment! I appreciate lurkers too, as I know how busy this time of the year can be.

Speaking of business, I must apologize again for my not-so-regular posting lately! I have been swamped in schoolwork and studying for exams and being busy with other obligations – my views haven’t been taking too much of a hit, but I know that to keep readers and new followers interested I’ll need to blog more regularly than I have been. Which I will work on. I also should write more about pop, as I’ve been neglecting that lately. It’s too bad everyone is already aware of how awesome Adele is…

Now, on to love. Here’s a passage from Harper Lee’s beautifully-written essay on love, titled “Love–In Other Words.” I strongly recommend you read it, or at least this part:

One Year Anniversary of the Quiet Voice!

Over half of these views probably came from searches for pictures of Enrique Iglesias and Key, but hey, I'm not complaining... actually, forget I said anything.

Over 80,000 views, 180 posts, and 100 subscribers! I am ecstatic. I won’t go into the sentimental stuff because I’ve done that before, but this blog means so much to me that I can hardly force my feelings into words.

I’ve changed a lot over the course of one year thanks to getting my thoughts out there and receiving insightful comments. I’ve stopped calling myself fat all the time, I’m controlling myself and not crying over B’s, and I’m feeling as if I’ve simply grown as a person. I hope my readers or people who have read some of my posts share this sentiment, because as much as I benefit from revealing all my deepest and darkest personal secrets for all to see sharing my opinions online, it would be nice to know that others have enjoyed what I’ve written as well.

Remember this post from about eleven months ago? Well, my bookshelf has grown…

Thanks for a wonderful year everyone! Let's make this next one even better.

2000 views!/ Key Photo Splurge #1

A few days ago my blog received its 2000th visit, woo! Thanks to all my friends and subscribers for commenting and being awesome in general – but more importantly, thanks to all my lurkers, who supply me with the views despite not commenting and hurting my feelings in the process. I still love you guys, in a way. Just kidding. Sort of.

Seriously though, thank you to everyone who visits this blog. (: I don’t have a niche nor do I have many connections at this point, so it surprises me that I have any viewers at all. Undoubtedly I would continue to blog even if my view count decreased, but it motivates me to do so more often when I know people are reading what I have to write. Or if you’re just looking for pictures of Key, that’s cool too.

Speaking of Key, I have a headache from taking a four-hour exam so I’ve decided that instead of writing something intellectually profound, I’ll just post a multitude of photos of Key. (insert fangirl scream… now)

Oh baby.

This made me think of Key singing "Friday"... so much good and bad in one thought!

Key in pink is perfect.

Key kissing himself? Now that's narcissism.

The OTP.

*Disclaimer: None of these photos belong to me, only the person featured in them. (;