1000 Reads!

For a long time, I checked my stats every day. Recently, it turned into every few days. Today I saw that on December 3rd, I hit 1,000 reads. I want to say thank you to everyone who reads my poetry and journal entry type things. Now, onto a few extremely special people.

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First, although she has not read anything, my first therapist was possibly the most important in this milestone. Without her, I would not have discovered my love of writing. Before her, I only wrote in school and hated it because of the prompts. Thank you Sara, even though I know you will not see this.

Although he only has one poem here (not a huge fan of writing) thank you James Bergeron. You're always there for me. You're so supportive no matter what I'm talking to you about. You care when I share exciting new about anything but especially stuff related to Vocal since you know how much I care about it. You are the best friend a woman could ask for.

Now I have a list of people from here that have made this possible for me (in no particular order)...

-Mother Combs, thank you for helping me with improving with my writing. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have tried writing fiction. I probably wouldn't have the consistency that I've had lately. I likely would not have even tried challenging myself in the slightest. Plus, you're overall a great friend, always there when I need, or just want, to talk. Plus, you share my writing when I don't have enough confidence to do it myself.

-River Joy, thank you for also being a really good friend. I know we don't talk outside of the Vocal discord chats but you're always so easy to talk to and extremely supportive no matter how much I hate my writing or how bad my mental/physical health is. It always helps to have someone to talk to. Plus pictures of your dog always brighten my day.

-Dharrsheena Raja Segarran, I know we don't talk outside of comments but you are a huge support by reading everything I write, almost always the day it's posted. I can't put how much that means into words. Your comments are always super thoughtful. It means so much that someone cares as much as you do about the pieces I've written, especially with my lack of confidence and high self hatred.

-Rick Henry Christopher, you are a great friend and an amazing writer. You are so helpful and caring about everything when we talk. You give great feedback and are an amazing listener. You leave such kind comments quite often, which is greatly appreciated.

-Celia in Underland, thank you for always being there for me both about writing and about life in general. I am so unbelievably sorry that I forgot (because of using a mental list) that I wanted to put you as a special thank you. You are a wonderful friend.

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Thank you so much to the entire Vocal team. If it wasn't for you guys creating this platform, I wouldn't have some of the amazing friends that I have from this incredible community. I appreciate the ability to be able to write and share what I'm feeling, to get the support in a way outside of therapy, and to have freedom to explore myself as a writer. I would have never had any improvement without this platform and the people on it.

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While I didn't thank everyone personally, I do want to thank everyone who spends time reading my stories and poems. Without everyone on this platform, I wouldn't be writing about reaching an amazing milestone.

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A quote Mother Combs shared in a Facebook group, Vocal + Assist seems to be becoming true for me...

"Write until it becomes as natural as breathing. Write until not writing makes you anxious."