Two years ago on this day, I decided to create a website. MsThugBear. If you’ve checked out my FAQ or my first anniversary post, you already know the origin of my weird name and how this website came to be.
This year has been a whirlwind, both physically and emotionally. I traveled by myself for the first time, I fell in love, out of love, and in love again, I got a job, that job gave me carpel tunnel, and once or twice, I thought about stopping this blog.
That’s right. I thought about quitting. But then I thought, why? Why would I stop something that has brought me so much joy for so long? That just didn’t make sense to me.
I also tried being normal. It was horrible and boring. And so I vowed that I would be myself, and I would go outside the box. It led me to KCON, to my friends Alona, Janalee and Nicole. To these girls, I am forever grateful, and I can’t wait to see you again. Also, I hope to see my friends from American Breakfast Club again sometime soon. Hope you guys are doing great!
I started the US Nasties page, and have made life-long friends with the admins there, thank you Becky, Lexy, Bethany, Leigh, Sofi, Carla, Kimberly, Crystal and Karly, along with former admins Veronica and Austin.
This year, I also decided to be happy with myself, to no longer feel ashamed, to let myself enjoy the things I love. It feels so liberating, to love yourself openly. I can’t tell you what a relief it is not to feel ashamed of myself anymore. To love me. For who and what I am, for who and what I love. That was a really big part of what happened this year, discovering that I can love myself, and letting everyone else just deal with it.
It took me a long time to love myself the way I am. I hope you love yourselves as well. You deserve to be happy, no matter what anyone else thinks. No matter how ‘weird’ you are.
On another good note, I graduated from college this past May, and just a few weeks later got a job. A few months later I headed to KCON, and experience K-Pop and Korean pop culture for the first time in person.
It was amazing. And hot as fuck, cuz let me tell you that California sun BURNS. My neck proved it. I met celebrities, which is pretty cool. Shin.B, DJ Relic, DanakaDan, I squee-d loud enough to get Jhameel to smile and point in our (my and JanaLee’s) direction, we hung out with David (Chad Future) which, despite what you may hear on forums, is a really cool dude.
He’s so chill.
And tall.
Damn he makes me feel short.
Anyway, I had the IMMENSE pleasure of interviewing my favorite Korean band, WHOwho, another great band I love that I got to interview was From The Airport. I’ve also interviewed other amazing artists, the band Tell and Listen, Ana Lee, Fromm and Nat. I’d like to thank each and every one of you. Interviewing you all was a pleasure and you are all wonderful people and artists. I sincerely hope that you do well in the future.
As for me, I’m going to stick around. You’ll see more picks from KCON2015, my next trip to Cali (might be sooner than I thought), more interviews, and of course, Asian pop.
Here’s to 2015, new experiences, and self-love. Thank you to my readers from the beginning, from along the way, and to now. Sharing my love of Asian pop with you gives me all the happiness I could ask for that doesn’t come from dramas, animes or cupcakes.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
-Karen
Ms. ThugBear 