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Ok, tomorrow is the day! Have an amazing few years everyone!

Well, today is my Shardiversary. It's hard to believe that it's been a year, but at the same time it's hard to believe it's only been a year. It's been an adventure, for sure! Recently, I've found myself increasingly reflective as I prepare to graduate high school and depart from my home. It's a melancholy time, but it's also filled with hope. And the memories I've made on the Shard, and the friends, connections, stories, jokes, adventures...they've changed me. I'm a different person than I was before. This year has been really tough for me, but having people here to give me advice and guide me through it, and honestly just having an outlet for the pain has really made a difference in my life. This is a special community, one that I'll always remember. I think the people here are what makes this place so unique. @The Wandering Wizard, the wonderful Wiz! You were one of the first people to help me feel like I belonged, and you've been a true friend to me, an amazing source of laughter and fun. Thank you for everything. @Robin Sedai, your sharing of Calvin and Hobbes and other comics when I first joined is one of my favorite memories on the Shard. I admire your voice of reason whenever things get a little unhinged. @CalanoCorvus, you always bring optimism to conversations and give great advice. You and @DoomslugLuna are adorable. @SymphonianBookworm our conversations here will always make me smile. I know you haven't been as active recently (I miss you!), but I know you're going to do great things! #Phantom #Jasnahoid @Telrao, come backkkkkkkk soon! I miss having someone to nerd out about jazz with. Your muffins and cats are iconic here on the shard. And your playlists are fantastic. Thank you for the wonderful art. @The Bookwyrm, your passion for space and astronomy really shines through. You're thoughtful and insightful, and our conversations keep me thinking for a long time after we're done. I'm looking forward to seeing where you'll end up!@Kajsa :), thank you for being a wonderful human being. You care about us, and you're just amazing. Your art is also out of this world! @That1Cellist, you are worth more than you could ever comprehend. You deserve the world. Thank you for sharing your love of cello with the world. @The Halcyon Girl, you are an amazing person. We miss you on the Shard. I'm so glad you commissioned that throne from me. @InfiniteInsanity, you are kind and you have wonderful ideas to cheer people up. Your mission was such a sweet idea. When you're on sugar, now I know to runnnnn @The Aspiring Archivist, I'm glad I know you. Thank you for putting up with me and for being there for anyone who needs it. You have a nice voice, too. @Ranryu, your energy, and sense of humor make the world a better place. Best of luck to you with your piano and compositional career! @TheGreatSnail, aren't filters funny?? In all seriousness, those SU replys were fun. That was where it was at! @Wittles of Shinovar, WITTLESS Skittles, I admire the way you bring a positive attitude towards problems. It's not easy the way that life works out, but you're an amazing helping hand. @The Last Fæ, you often have something very interesting to share. I like the way that you think. @Potato's Wit, you're really funny. The things you share make me laugh a lot @Morningtide, you're always so nice. I still can't believe there's an Idaho Potato Museum! @S. Stormy, diggin' the new branding. I love how you're always up for shenanigans and helping everyone here have a good time. @Cinnamon, you're down-to-earth and friendly, EVEN THOUGH you live life upside-down. That makes it even more special. @Thaidakar the Ghostblood, you're funny! And you always have quality things to share. @Sequence, you're always full of good vibes. It's always so interesting when you share the coolest info on planes and the like. @Cruciatus_heart, Elfffffff! Your interest in a certain type of brooding slightly insane sociopath is very funny to me. You have excellent taste in media. Congrats on everything you've accomplished this year! @TheAlpha929, you're very chill, and just fun to be around. @Eluvianii, you have chill pfps and you have cool answers on the forum games. @Matrim's Dice, thank you for all your help in SE and for putting up with me that one conversion game. No thank you for betraying me, but I know that's how it goes. and :P. for life. @The Known Novel, Thank you for the chaos. It is the way. *fist bump*. Kasimir, Archer, Aman, Stick, Illwei-- you guys are all really cool. I'm happy to have gotten to play with all of you this year. @Channelknight Fadran, you've always been the cool, experienced, cultured guy here. Ever since I joined, I've looked up to you and your RPing and worldbuilding prowess. @dannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnex, I never know what to expect from your SUs! I always know it'll be a fun time when I open that notif up. Man, those nnnnnns really keep growing. @DramaQueen, you really are a queen of drama. I know we haven't talked much but can't we just agree that theatre kids are the coolest! @Trutharchivist, thank you for sharing your culture with the shard. It's been very eye-opening. @Nathrangking, you write beautiful poems, and you have a wonderful perspective on the world. @Cash67 I never can remember if you're young but really wise for your age, or older but still really wise for your age. You are Perry the Platypus incarnate in the best way possible. SPEAKING OF PLATYPI, @Being of Cacophony, you are ALSO a pretty cool platypus. I like checking out TLT and seeing your chaos there. Cacophony is also a really fun word. @Edema Ruh, you'll remain an Aes Sedai in my mind for a very long time. Also, spontaneity is the best! And you're great at that. @Lotus Blossom, I'm so happy Symph got you to join the shard! You're a cool person @The Storming Stormfather, your messages on peoples' profiles are really funny. Thanks for being the storming The Storming Stormfather. @Justice_Magician, your art is incredible! Thank you for sharing it with the shard! @HOID WANTS INSTANT NOODLES, bro we gotta make that board game happen. You had so many great ideas. @Lord Gregorio, you have cool pfps. Also, interesting thoughts to share! @Nameless*, it's truly a shame that Nameless stole your name. Your contributions to TLT are immense, and not to be questioned. @Szeth's Facepalm, your cute froggie dudes make my day. Where they at??? @Shadowed you're always great fun and it's always so cool to find fellow musicians here. Flute rules! @solarcat can we just take a minute to appreciate how awesome your username is?? @2EmLee2, @Enter a username, @PyroPhile, you guys are all super cool. Thanks for being iconic. It's been an amazing year. Here's to many more Thank you everyone <3

Hi everyone. Calano here. With some news. A little while back, I made a post saying I'd be still here, but taking a break. Become something of a lurker. Well, I've decided to just take a break entirely. It's not been so great for me mentally, to have the Shard hanging in the back of my mind. I'll update y'all on big important things in my life, because I like telling people those things, but for the most part I'll be unreachable unless you have my phone number. If you want my phone number, ask someone who has it to PM it to you: I'll gladly accept texts from Sharders, but I'm not comfortable just putting my phone number out there. Y'all are some of the greatest online (and IRL) people I know. This community is safe, and accepting, and warm, and homely, and wonderful. But I have a life to live. So, I'll be going. I don't know if I'll return. I might not, not to a level of activity that I once had. Y'all have been just... an incredible group of people. And I'm honored to call you my family. I've seen so many others leave; Haly, Misting was gone for a while, Fadran left unexpectedly, Kajsa kinda went dark too, but I can text her sometimes lol But people have been slowly leaving. And I think that now it's my turn. Like I said above, I'll come back occasionally for big updates, regarding college, my mission, big life milestones, good and bad news, etc. But for the most part, I'm honorably discharging myself from active duty on this site (so to speak). loverboy Lessons is still coming out January 19th, 2024. I plan to make the entire album the week of December 18th, and get it going through the distribution process starting that weekend (23rd/24th). It's been a pleasure. It really has. I love you all so much. Goodbye.

Hey y'all! So... you may have been wondering why I've disappeared for a few days... Yeah the Shard's blocked at home and I have been banned. Wheee Therefore, this is the last post I'm gonna make on here for a while. So I would like to say thank you! Thank you all for your support in my art and my writing - it has really meant a lot, and has helped me grow and improve! Thank you for being such an awesome community! It has been a joy to hang out with y'all and cause cHaOs. I apologize to y'all in the RP's and Sanderson Elim games - @The Wandering Wizard, you have full permission to do whatever you like with Telrao. She is yours now. It has truly been a delight and an honor to be with y'all! Until we next meet: May the sun shine upon your face The wind be at your back The path lead you to whatever place That brings you the joy you lack I LOVE you all, and hope our paths shall meet again! Blessings - Telrao *throws infinite muffins*

yes luna and i broke up it was on good terms, and we’re still friends, but we’re not romantically together anymore thanks y’all for asking if i’m okay. i am okay. a little hurt, pretty sad, but.. i’m okay. and i’ll be okay. life’s different now, but i’ll get through it. and.. yeah. just wanted to let y’all know in case you hadn’t seen yet. im not mad at her. she gave incredibly logical reasons that i also agreed with, so it was a mutual parting of ways. please don’t bash on her or on our relationship or anything. thanks.

Hey everybody. As you've no doubt noticed, over the past month there has been a serious drop in my own activity on the Shard. This is due to the fact that over the course of a month, my life has gone through a complete 180 degree change. I was broken up with by Luna (mutual, we're still homies), got into another relationship (which, I'll be honest, is actually better than the one I had with Luna. nothing against Luna, it's just... my new gf and I are taking it at a pace that's our own, and being slow and talking about it. she's also good at physical affection, which is HUGE for me), and I've just finished my first quarter of my senior year, and my last first quarter of high school. Tomorrow and Wednesday I work on college essays to BYU Provo, and continue to go about my life. I'm sorry I've been so inactive, I know there's things that I've been missing out on: I just barely this morning and the past like 2 days finally got around to posting on the Insanity Clinic- which by the way, Season 1 is OFFICIALLY CONCLUDED :DDDDDD- and I also haven't really been writing as much, because there's just so much happening in my life, and I've been in a bit of a writing funk. I'll figure it out, don't you worry. I'm not leaving. I'm still here. No EP updates; like I said, it's all under wraps until right before it's release, so y'all are getting nothing except maybe a couple SUPER cryptic hints. Insanity Clinic Season 2 should come in the next couple of days. Cheers, y'all. My life has changed in such a crazy way, with sooooo many things happening in the past month ALONE. But yeah. New job is going great, it's great pay, and my coworkers are all wonderful people, as are the customers. I buy all my Mistborn cosplay gear in like a week and a half, and then after that I buy stuff for my room. Still here. Still going. Things are just changing a bit. Love y'all <3

Found out today I'll be able to go sit in on a NY Phil rehearsal with their organist!! Also 3rd AP Done!

I have no intention to create a political forum here. I have a few words to say and I'll leave it at that. I got married two days ago. To the woman that I love most in the world. A woman about whom I have written many a poem. I regret nothing, but the timing. As you may or may not have heard the worst war in the history of Israel. The carnage is unspeakable and sure to get worse. I almost felt wrong getting married amidst the death and slaughter. We were I suppose a light in the darkness that has fallen as a cloak so thick as to be blinding. Remember to be the light in the dark never feel guilty for being happy because you deserve it!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I sewed this chonker with my own two hands. ...and a sewing machine and a needle and thread and fabric and buttons and stuffing. But I created this. His name is Snoodles. That is all, thank you.

Some problems: We don't know what shape the universe is We don't know the one-way speed of light Time is only symmetrical if you don't have a lot of stuff Some ramifications of those problems: We don't know if our universe is symmetrical Light could be faster in one direction than another direction Time travel could be possible but not really? ... ...it is 2 AM

If you Google "personality test", you'll get about 879,000,000 results. There are a lot of them, and I've taken my fair share, whether for classes or on my own. I'm an ENFP-T, a two, a blue (tinted white), an Edgedancer, the Green Ajah (though actually, this one change fairly consistently), a Hufflepuff, a daughter of Hestia, etc., etc. These tests don't define me. They don't determine who I am. But there are bits of truth in them, things that I see and understand that I don't need them to tell me because I know they're true. I care. I will not forget you. I am here. But there are extremes to every emotion, and to be young is to live in a world of extremes and emotions. It's a strange battlefield, the mind of a teenager. Filled with hormones and hopes, dopamine and dreams, science that is desperate to explain that which cannot be explained, and gods that are desperate to convince us there are no true deities. And sometimes I care too much for things that only weigh on me; things like rep. I've fallen on the leaderboards, and for some reason that struck me; I am being forgotten by a world that I have cared for. (yes, that's overdramatic. As I said before, the minds of the young are extreme places. That's the thought that came into my head, and regardless of whether it is true, it's what my mind jumped to). I care about things like the rain, and the sunset. I have a waxed amaryllis on my nightstand. It started to bloom, and then the petals crumpled and died before the flowers ever opened, and I cried because I care for the little things. I've cried over bugs being stepped on. I cry because I care. But often, I care too much for the little things. And sometimes I remember. I refuse to forget the little things, and so sometimes my mind is filled with memories of a past that will never return, a past that I cannot bring back but that I cannot help but recall. And though I swear I will always be here, I sometimes am in too many "heres" at once. And once it becomes too much, I cannot stand to be anywhere, and so I cannot be "here" for anyone, because I tried to be here for everyone. I'm going to change gears for a moment. Studies have shown that human brains have the same chemical reaction to leaving the office at the end of the day as baby chimpanzees do to being torn from their mother's arms. That's...kind of a crazy thing to think about. Something so simple as ending a day affects us so hugely. We, as humans, fear endings. We fear goodbyes. We fear simple change because maybe it'll be a permanent change, and maybe what comes next will hurt. Maybe we're doing it wrong, and we'll make one mistake and never be able to undo it. And I...I care. I am not alone in this, and I am not alone in my fear of endings. Sports teams cry after state; casts cry after closing night; many seniors cry when they graduate; breakups bring so many tears even if everyone knew it was coming. We fear what comes next and so we don't dare say goodbye to what we have now. But...but look at how powerful that is. Isn't it wonderful that we have something we love so much that we are scared to leave it? Isn't it wonderful that we have the ability to care for so many things? It hurts, yes. It hurts like Braize itself to leave things behind. And being young...well, we live in a world of change. The only thing that's consistent is that everything that makes up our todays is going to be different in our tomorrows. It's terrifying. And it's beautiful. So...is there a point to all of this? No. And yes. I fear being forgotten. I fear missing things I could have had. People often say to leave your foot in the door; to hold it open just in case you have a chance to open it later. Well...I must have hundreds of feet. I'm holding a whole lot of doors open. But the funny thing is...when you're so stretched trying to keep doors from closing, you can't really open any of them. And I need to let some doors close so that I can open others. Now, I'm not leaving the shard. Not yet. Not completely. But that won't be true forever. It could be a few months. It could be years. But the shard is a world that moves so quickly. It's...to those of you who have read The Fault in Our Stars, it's that third place. Where even if you're sitting on your couch, you aren't really there. You're somewhere else, a place that cannot exist outside our minds and our technology. And it's a place where, if you do not feed it your time, you grow outdated so quickly. It's a place where we can be forgotten so quickly. Most of the people who were here when I joined aren't here or aren't active anymore. And that's okay. And someday, possibly someday soon, I'll join them. But not today, because for today I am afraid to say goodbye to another thing I love. Anyway. This is not only the longest but also the most redundant SU I've ever posted. But, ah, yeah. This has been a bizarre and deep roller coaster with your friend Eddie Rue. TLDR: emotions are weird. Saying goodbye is scary. I'll leave the shard eventually, possibly soon, but not today. One family.

I can't believe it's already been a year! It flew by so fast. I so enjoyed getting to share art, writing, and recordings with you guys. I would like to say smth while I've pinged (mostly, I think) everybody: Kajsa rhymes with Asia. So there. @CalanoCorvus, @shortcake (and others--all of you, really, but these two especially were incredibly persistent and made a huge impact): thank you so much for always being there for me. In my darkest moments, you both stuck by my side no matter what. Thank you. I think it's safe to say that you all saved my life. @The Wandering Wizard, @Shining Silhouette, @CalanoCorvus, @Edema Rue, @Thaidakar the Ghostblood, @The Halcyon Girl, @Wittles of Shinovar, @The Aspiring Archivist, @InfiniteInsanity: You all were my first friends here on the shard. You welcomed me warmly and gave me a place to belong. Wizzy, though we may not always agree, you make me laugh and smile. You are kind, empathetic, and silly in the best ways. You write incredible literature that touches so many hearts and instills peace. Thank you for always sticking by me, despite my high-maintenance tendencies. <4 Silh, I know you can't see this right now, but you are always so kind, extremely talented, always using that talent for good, and if I remember correctly, you were my first official Sharbuddy. Thank you for being that friend. Your support, kind words, and our GamePigeons made such an impact on my life. I hope your mission is going well. Cal, I honestly don't have words. When I started to feel alone, there was a time when you were the only person who would comment on my SUs. That meant a lot, really, and that helped us bond. You're one of my best friends here on the shard, and I can't believe that I get to be your annoying (if not overbearing) friend. Thanks for always being invested in my endeavors and encouraging me. Thanks for unconditionally caring. EDDIE RUEEE! I know we didn't bump into each other until a little later down the road (if I remember correctly), but I'm so glad we did end up meeting. You have a great sense of humor, your writing is borderline incredible, and I'm convinced that we literally share brainwaves. Thaid, I know we also didn't interact much until a bit later, but you're a pretty important person in my shard life. Not only are you smart, but you're humorous and kind, and your comments always make me smile. Thank you for adding a little more fun to my life. Haly, I know you can't see this either, and I know we talk nearly every day, but I want you to know that you're my best friend, and I care about you so much. We have a bond that I don't share with anybody else, and I will always be eternally grateful that we met. Not only have you always been there for me, helped me think things through logically, kept me grounded, gave me laughs, made me smarter and more outgoing, but you have helped me so much with my novel. I don't know how I'll ever repay you, and every day I slip further into your debt. I don't have words to express how grateful and lucky I am to have a friend like you. I hope we get to see each other's faces again sometime. Love you so much, Fried. <3333 (lol p.s. i had a dream last night where you came back on the shard and brought your characters back for clinic season 2 and then made me join lol) WITTLES SKITTLES! Hey! You've always been such a fun person. You've helped me so much on my hard days, and I hope I do okay when you need help in return. You make me smile, and I enjoy knowing you. I want to say so much more, but I can't really find the words. I really am so so so grateful to be your friend, and thank you so much for everything you've done for me. Archie! Not only are you one of the smartest people I know, but you're also incredibly wise. You've given me incredible insight and helped me make sense of messes I have the tendency to cause. Lol. I really enjoy talking to you, and I hope I'm a halfway decent friend. Thanks for all the math homework help and all the panic help and all the insanely wise comments. Your poetry is also amazing. Thank you for being my friend, Archie. Insa, thanks for being my show choir friend! I can't wait to (hopefully) see your show this season (I'm definitely going to try). Thank you for also offering really good insight on my life and helping me be more rational. I love reading your poetry (especially your color ones, I loved those), and I hope to see more in the future. Thank you so much, Insa. You guys, there's so many more of you. @Ravenclawjedi42 (I know we're more recent friends but you still put a smile on my face), @Ranryu (we don't interact a lot anymore but I want you to know that you're still on my mind), @Robin Sedai (your comments always make me happy and I love that I know you), @SmilingPanda19 (you're hilarious and I love it, thank you for making me laugh), @Cinnamon (CIINNIEEEEEEEEEEEEE I LOVE U AND THANK YOU FOR BEING INCREDIBLE), @The Bookwyrm (thanks for dancing with me that one time and teaching me about light pollution! it's actually a very interesting topic, and thanks for also having a great sense of humor), @Labirynth (why won't it let me ping you?!?! I enjoy your company and wish I knew you in person), @The cheeseman (thanks for always making me laugh. I love reading your Opinions of the Day), @S. Stormy (I know we don't interact a lot but I love getting comments from you because you always have something positive and fun to say), @That1Cellist (we also don't interact much, but you have such deep ways of looking at things and I love hearing your perspective--also orange sparkly bowties ), and everybody else. Thank you for making my first year on the shard absolutely incredible! Wow, that's super long. Okay. Even if I didn't directly ping/mention you, I want you to know that you are amazing and important to me. I love each and every one of you so much, and you are all such fun human beings. Thanks for putting up with my wild shenanigans! I know I don't do a lot on the forums, but I'm going to try and do more of that this year, though I'll probably be on less to be with my family more and on screens less. Thanks for being my Shard family, you guys! FRE SHA VOCA DO! Kajsa (rhymes with Asia) --> out

I don’t know where to put this, so here we go: I don’t know what to say, so… Thank you everyone, I love you all too. You guys are the best.

Does anyone else ever have the sudden urge to gather together the lego minifigures for all the Fellowship of the Ring and leave them lying around the city along with a note saying that they're going on an adventure and to move them someplace else and take a picture to add to a dropbox somewhere and see how far it gets or are you all normal.

Guess who just graduated high school :00

Hello. Yesterday I told my girlfriend some rather… damning information about something I’ve been struggling with for a years. And yes, I know she’s my girlfriend, and if anyone will understand and be helpful, it’ll be her. Despite this very clear knowledge, my anxiety did not help. But it is okay. Better than okay. I told her, and she said exactly what I needed to hear. ”Thank you for telling me. This doesn’t change the way I think of you.” Getting this out to her was the step I wanted to take the most, because a good relationship requires near-total if not total transparency between each partner. So, I’ve said that. And she’s still here. Life sure is grand.

me: *looks at my profile page* also me: *sees i’ve won 64 days* also also me: hehe >:} a stack of days.

Finished AP #2!! PRed again at my meet! Ran a 2:18!! MY DAD GOT ME A CAR!! 2003 MERCURY LETS GO Y'all get the 3-for-1 special SU today

I have an idea. My dear Sharders, My dear Radiants and Allomancers, and my dear socks and bookies, and writers, and cyborgs, and snake monsters, and hobbits, and Fremen, artists, rangers, writers, and nerds. *Eddie stands up "Not Nerds!"* and nerds. Today is my third shardiversary: I am three years on the Shard today! I hope you are all doing well as much, or perhaps more than, I am. I shall not see you long. I have written this post to bring you all together for a Purpose. Indeed, for Three Purposes! First of all, to tell you that I am immensely fond of you all, and that three years is too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable sharders. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. Secondly, to celebrate my shardiversary. I should say: OUR shardiversary. For it is a group effort. My time here has been one of joy and fun thanks to all of you. Together we are a community of great people. It is also, if I may be allowed to refer to ancient history, the anniversary of my second Shardiversary post; though the fact that it was my second shardiversary post slipped my memory on that occasion. I was bad at math then, and keeping track of time did not seem so important. Then I said "My third shardiversary and to more to come!" I now repeat it more correctly: thank you very much for collaborating with me on three years of the Shard! I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT I regret to announce that - though, as I said, three years is far too short a time to spend among you - this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE! Okay, I'm not actually leaving. I don't think it's the right thing right now. It is 100% not the time to leave the Shard. I just really wanted to make that joke. Come on, you gotta admit it: that was funny. I joined the shard 3 years ago. Three years! can you imagine it? I was so much younger then... I hadn't even started MC role-play, I was a smol child, fresh with the opinion that I knew a lot about fantasy when I was and still am clueless. Ahhh, yes, those were the days... I can still remember exactly when I started. I was sitting in my breakfast nook, having just received my mom's permission to get an account. It was bright outside. Ahhh, to go back to that house with the old furniture and sit there while going onto the Shard. My life changed that day. I'd like to think that it was for the better. This community provided me with different perspectives. This community has helped me to realize a fundamental fact. "People think different than I do and that is entirely okay." I thank all of you so much for helping me to realize that and other things about the world and the people who populate it. All of you are wonderful people and I can't name everyone who means a lot to me. I love all of you so much (yes, even you). My PMs are open to anyone who needs to talk! Just know that I may ask that we wait for a little bit before talking because I'm an idiot who has terrible priorities. (Ie, watching strongbad instead of soldiering through Inheritance so I can read more Terry Pratchett and Brandon Mull). *raises jar of Root and slice of pumpkin pie* I have no idea how long I will be on the Shard, nor how long any of you will be, but this I do know. I lost the game. *Eats pie and downs Root*

So, does anyone remember that time I went to a regional science fair and won there and then went to a state science fair and won again and then went to a national conference? Yeah, today's the second iteration of that regional science fair. Except this time I'm present my senior research. Let's see how far up the ladder I get this time.

So Panda here to give y’all a little life update, if you don’t care then don’t read and waste your time. So earlier this week I went to a counselor outside of school for the first time. She was really nice and gave me some things to work on until next week, so that’s nice. I’m doing a lot better there… I think at least. It’s hard to tell. I am away on a ski trip right now with my family, I absolutely love skiing. I want to try a black diamond next time if I can. I’ve been doing it for six years already so I think I have skills for it, just need the confidence. I mean I was terrified to do a blue square today, but I kind of just continually told myself that everything as fine and that I’ll never get better if I don’t move forward, or at least until there was no turning back. After I got on the slope itself I panicked and that’s a whole other thought process. My phone broke this morning, like the screen turned green and shut off. Soooo we are trying to fix that. So I’ll be more on and off. I can’t think of too much else right now, but I’ll have to think. Just updating everyone since it’s been a while. Anywho. How is everyone? What’s new? What’s something good and bad that has happened recently?

Hey everyone. I know that some of you are confused or concerned about Fadran's disappearance from the Shard. I've been able to talk to him a bit recently, and he gave me permission to tell everyone what he told me. I figured this would be a convenient place to do it, so people can see it whenever they check his profile. He doesn't have a particular reason for leaving, it seems like he just generally needed a break. It's helped him be more productive so far. Whether he'll be returning at all is uncertain. I wouldn't say it's an impossibility, but there is a chance that he's left the Shard for good. If anyone has some sort of message they'd like me to pass along, I can do that, though I'd ask that you be respectful of his decision if you do. I know I probably don't have to say that, but I figured I'd make it clear. If you happen to play Minecraft Java, he's on the Shard's server sometimes at Sharders.minehut.gg.

“Define hope.” No. Hope is not something that can be defined; you can’t confine a word so powerful to a simple box, with 8 simple corners and 6 simple sides. Hope is a word that demands to be freed, demands the ability to twist itself every which way, especially into places it doesn’t belong. Hope doesn’t arrive neatly packaged, with a delivery man who can explain to you exactly what’s coming. Hope arrives like the wind, bending without rhyme or reason, sometimes in a barely felt breeze, sometimes in huge gusts that can’t be ignored. It is a power that can break cities, a power that can be neither controlled nor stopped. So no, I can’t define hope for you. Ah, but you want more. Yet, how can I tell you what hope is? It would be as easy to explain beauty, love, betrayal, cowardice. Only, these are words you can’t just know, you have to feel them, deep inside you. You have to hear the air rush involuntarily out of your lungs when you see a beautiful mountain range with trees the color of fire; you have to feel the heat in your chest and in your cheeks when you’re near that person, the one who cares for you more than you could care for yourself; you have to feel your stomach drop when you realize one that you thought would never leave you is gone; and you have to understand the terror as you turn to run from a fight that you pledged your life to. They aren’t emotions you can explain, they’re emotions you have to feel, breathe, live. So how shall I explain hope to you, then? Should I describe the last breath of crisp, fresh air when one is drowning? Do you want me to explain the look in the eyes of a broken child when you tell them that they are home? Or would you rather me explain the problems with hope? Because hope lends strength, yes, but only so much. It can’t be killed, but it can be misplaced, lost and forgotten. It can be ignored by humans with hearts so stubborn they can’t stand the thought of trying for the fear they will fail. So how do I define hope to you? How do I take one of the most powerful concepts in existence, a power that most people long for more than anything, and give it to you in only a few words? I can’t. More than that, I won’t. I refuse, because hope is too precious, too easy to lose. Like an artfully crafted spider's web, it can be destroyed in a moment. I refuse to give you the power to snub it out, because even if you don’t understand what you’re doing, by thinking you know what hope is you are breaking its power. And here I sit, doing the same thing, pretending to understand an idea I can only imagine. But you see, I have felt it, I feel it, and so I do understand it, on the most basic level. I have taken that first breath of air, looked up with the shining eyes of a child, and I continue to feel it. Still, you want me to define hope for you? I can give you hope, I can do everything in my power to show you that light, but I cannot define it. Define hope? “I can’t.”

Silent, eternal worlds gaze upon light, boundless skies; boundless light upon gazing worlds, eternally silent. Or, Silent / eternal worlds gaze upon light / boundless skies / boundless light upon gazing worlds / eternally silent I wrote a ketek.

I have the sudden urge to design a surefire method to break into peoples' private minecraft servers but rather than grief and screw stuff up we just get a squad of homies to create the Vibe Police who go around and make sure people are having a good day.

The Iconar Collective - Mark 18 is: 114915 words 243 pages 24 chapters (plus an epilogue) Heckin' done, losers

I know I said I’d wait until the end of the summer, but I’ve changed my mind. This week, I’ve stayed off the shard to focus myself on FSY and being reverent. And I’ve noticed… I don’t really miss the shard. I love all of y’all… but you don’t really need me. Nothing on here really makes me happy like I thought it would. Everybody, thanks for being such a good group and having my back when I needed it. Goodbye.

Oops, nearly forgot. Today is my shardiversity, guess that's a long standing tradition around here But I just want to take a moment to thank all of you incredible people for the great positive impact you have had on my life and the change that joining this site has had on me. It's been such a wonderful year and so many people have had such a large impact on me I am a different person than I was when I first joined. I've become a much different person than I was when I nearly took my life in February. I'm in a much better place in almost all the ways. I'm still finding my way around, but I feel much better about my future, in a better place for my mental health and I have an incredible group of friends that have helped me and continue to help me. Well not friends really anymore, just siblings in all but name. And I feel it would be unfair unless I called everyone all out and then we would be here forever because I'd be naming everyone I'd ever interacted with. Just keep on being yourselves and the incredible people that you are!!! To many more years with you incredible people!

Just finished a 2 page, 957 word essay answering the question ‘what is religion’ for my philosophy class. Im proud of it :)))

guys I found an absolutely gorgeous selfie of @Cash67

60,000 words IM SO CLOSE GUYS AND I JUST KILLED OFF A CHARACTER MMY FIRST ONE ACTUALLY AND IT WAS SO EMOTIONAL AND AWESOME AND ONCE I POLISH IT UP IS GON BE SO GREATTTTT

Hey! Happy 2024 you guys *clears throat to set the scene* 12 hours ago (11:22ish PM CST), half my family was gathered in our living room. I say half because my little brothers were in the basement on the xBox, my little sister was god knows where (until it was time for the countdown, which we missed anyway because she couldn’t figure out how to work the TV ), and my older brother was out with a friend. So… less than half. Me and my parents and our two cats, one of whom was snuggled in my lap, sleeping, were gathered in the living room. Lol. Anyway… I was thinking about all the cool (and not-so-cool) things I got to do this past year! A few of them are: Our family had a crazy cool summer vacation this year, and while that was during some of my major struggles with depression and anxiety, it was an incredible experience! We saw, experienced, and learned so many new things. My family left the Mormon church, and I tried coffee (which has become rather a staple in my weekly life, seeing as how I’m basically an insomniac at this point), which I guess is a positive? It kind of uprooted everything (not the coffee, leaving the church lol) and was quite possibly a major stressor on my mental health. Personally, though, I prefer having Sundays to just spend time with family, work on myself, watch an episode of the Chosen, or whatever we choose to do! I hope reading this didn’t make anyone uncomfortable I got to have a lead in my first ever musical and I unfortunately fell in love with my co-star (haha who auditioned with his girlfriend but I got the part instead—it was super awkward but ykw it’s fine), so you can imagine how that went. Fun experience, though! It’s the first time I’ve ever been spun around by a guy before lol. I rediscovered Sleeping At Last, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Sia, Billie Eilish, and discovered The Crane Wives, Ethan Gander, (Aw shoot I forgot his name wtc) uhhhhhh… he’s the Australian guy who wrote I GUESS IM IN LOVE and Chicken Tendies, and Fleurie, all of which are now among my favorite music artists. I had a major struggle with depression and anxiety, and it eventually lead to self-harm and almost worse, but my parents and friends (especially those here on the shard) helped pull me out of that, and now I have experience that helps me empathize with/help others who struggle with similar things. I see that as a positive. I’ve also gained different perspectives that a lot of people my age don’t have yet—which is a bit lonely sometimes but mostly enlightening. I’m grateful for that. There are so many other things that happened— I finished my show choir season undefeated and moved on to a new show choir group (comp season is coming up yall ), I saw major improvement in my art, singing, writing, and socializing skills, as well as myself as a person. I grew closer with current friends and drifted away from others, which is okay, because that’s part of life. I met new people who are just so incredible and so much fun to be around. Thank you all for being such amazing people! I don’t technically have any resolutions this year, as I never get them done, but I do have some basic goals. They include: -Getting a job -Working out -Continuing to improve my current skills -Finding love?? -Writing a rough draft of my godforsaken novel -Upholding a 4.0 GPA for the rest of the school year and there are more, but those are kinda the main ones. Do y’all have any resolutions/goals? And if so good luck lol because goals can be fricking hard to stick with! anyway, I hope all y’all are having an amazing new year, and if you ever need emotional/mental support, shoot me a message! I’m always ready to listen. Thanks for being such a wonderful community, and happy new year!!!

Well goodbye. I've been anticipating this moment for a long time. As many of you know I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As such I am leaving to serve a mission to preach the gospel. And I will be gone for two years doing so. I tried preparing blogs to be posted every month, but I took too long and only made it to January, but feel free to keep those updated on anything interesting that happens. Goodbye my friends. God be with you till we meet again.

Heyyyy guys A little update Things have been going well Very very well I got into the college of my dreams and though there have been tough times I would not give this place up for the world. I have learnt so so much, had so many experiences. Some good and some bad but all of them have taught me something and I am very grateful for them I have good friends, I have broken free of the my mould. I am happy I am no longer as upset or lonely as I used to be and my mental health has improved leaps and bounds But the reason I came here was to ask this I have a wonderful, wonderful boyfriend and I'm pretty sure I'm in love And it's beautiful. It's what all the romance books talked about But I'm scared he's gonna break my heart or I'm gonna do something stupid and it's gonna end And I don't know what to do

It's my shardiversary! Hooray! Hard to believe it's already been a year...also hard to believe it's only been a year... You're all amazing people, and I'm so glad that I get to be a part of this community, thanks for being so welcoming to a weird nerd. However, on that note, I'm going to be off the shard for a week...nothing bad, just that it's the end of term, and I have a lot to do. If any of you need me (for literally anything), you can email me at [email protected] And now, here's a list of what to do with all my rp characters...so sorry to just leave you guys. (I might be here a little more today to finish things up, but then I'll be gone) You're all incredible people. Don't forget it. <3 Rue

I got to sit in the pit of Aladdin on Broadway last night! A friend from my internship reached out and I sat with the keyboards. There is some really cool tech that they use!

Guessing that most of the people that will read this will read it in the morning ya know,, when people are supposed to be awake lolll, so.. eh, I’m not sorry. As some of you know, I will be serving a full-time proselytizing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; even smaller amount of you will know that I will officially be set apart (or, officially become) a missionary on August 13th, 2023 (today for when most of y’all will read this), and begin my missionary training on August 14th, 2023 (this upcoming Monday, or tomorrow when most of y’all will read this). This means that I will be taking about 18 months of my life to serve the people in the area I have been assigned to as well as step away from things and websites such as these. I thought about leaving without saying a word, but I then thought to at least say something before I go, even though I’m sure that most of you don’t read my status’ anyway. Anyways, I ain’t gonna be sappy or anything like that; I just wanted to let y’all know where I’m going to be and not to really “mourn” or freak out that I’m gone or something stupid like that, ‘cause I’m not dying or anything like that. I know y’all have a tendency to do that, so I’m setting the record straight: I am leaving, but I’m leaving for what I believe and know to be a good cause. I know that not all of you share the same sentiment, but all I ask for is some understanding and respect for my decision, if you will; that’s all I’m asking. Know that y’all aren’t alone and that there is a whole wide world beyond this website. Don’t get me wrong: I’ve met some amazing people and have had some of the best creative writing exercises here, but you can experience that in the world (if you are able, of course; not assuming that all of you are basement dwellers or something like that). There is more out there, and you can find it anywhere: Religion, Science, Fantasy Books, Art, Television Shows, and so on; you have to be the one that takes the first step. That’s all from me, though. God be with you all till we meet again~ <3 –Mystic Syn

good evening. if you didn’t already know, for the last few months i’ve been working on fixing a large issue with myself. a sin i’ve committed, a terrible thing i’ve done. that thing is a 6 year struggle with pornography. i tell you this because i told a close friend last night to help them through some tough times of their own. i told them my story so they could see the hope and joy in the love of Christ. the last few months, i’ve felt the Spirit, the wonderful Holy Ghost, and they have been by my side through it all, helping me to feel my Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, and Heavenly Brothers love. tonight was testimony night here in nauvoo. i bore my testimony, i spoke of Christs love. i spoke of the beauty in that, the hope and peace and joy and wonder in that. my friend, the same one i mentioned earlier, who does not speak in front of people, was inspired by me to speak as well. in front of 250+ people. and their testimony was beautiful. incredible. everyone, i want you to know that Christ loves you, knows you, more so than anybody else. i tell you that i struggled with pornography for 6 years, not to garner pity, and not to garner words of encouragement: but to tell you that even such a terrible, long addiction can be left behind in the dust where it belongs. to tell you that Christs love can help. no matter what you’ve done, you can move on, and better yourself through Christ. he loves you. he loves you so, so much. he only wants you to smile, and to come back to him. don’t ever forget that.

"Society is just a constuct" ... ...yes? What are you trying to prove with that statement? Are you trying to refer to some kind of zombie-like trance that you see "trends" and "fads" and "norms" follow? Because I have an xkcd for you: "Society is a construct" is a self-destructive phrase in the sense that it's tautalogical. It's supposed to sound profound, like a sort of 'step up' from the primitive thought machine of all other people. Are you trying to say that "society" is inherently wrong? That it's incomplete? Inefficient? Perhaps if you had been put in charge, everything would be different? "Society is a construct" is a selfish phrase, and that's why I don't like it. The concept of Emergence has baffled scientists for eternity as a seemingly completely unintuitive phenomenon of non-normalcy. All things are supposed to tend towards entropy in the end, but here we have random things coming together to form a grander, more ordered thing. Somehow just by existing together, a group of bacteria become a colony, a school of fish becomes a defense mechanism, and a colony of ants can run the most diverse and complex resource and development networks ever studied in the animal kingdom. This is not normal. It's not supposed to happen, but somehow the basic laws of the universe decided that small things working together could somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. "Society is a construct" belittles that. It strikes down the most complex form of communication and interaction ever observed or conceived into some kind of program, whose creator has fallen asleep and missed several important error readings and updates. "Society is a construct" makes society shallow, it makes society unintuitive, it makes society arbitrary - it is none of these things. Why else would an entire branch of study exist for anthropology? If society is so basic and unevovled, why not simply include it in some other degree? Instead you have entire swaths of individuals who dedicate their minds and lives not even to the study of society as a whole, but to individiaul sects of human cultures to most succinctly define just those. These theses and papers and entire journals are not written to be bullet points of notable values and taboos from each culture to be tallied away and locked into some database. Instead these researchers become intimately aware of every aspect of these cultures and just how intricately they weave into every other aspect, until they wrap around to a whole new aspect again and again and again for years and years to create a master tapestry the likes of which no one else could ever hope to recreate, when even then the tapestry is a mere reflection of the living, breathing world that is the culture they studied. "Society is a construct" does not deconstruct its every layer as nothing more than some preprogrammed setting. The only thing you're proving is shallow, incompetent, and thoughtless is your own mind by deciding that this phrase was good enough idea to say in the first place. You have defended an opinion - instead of defending it properly by logic and rhretoric - by simply claiming that everyone else is wrong, asleep, and unthinking. *panting*

I’m a Two. That’s my personality type. I know some people may say, “Oh, that’s just something that people say in an effort to understand themselves, it’s too vague. Personality is a broad yet specific thing, you can’t define it.” That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard. A Two is someone who cares. Someone who loves. Someone who serves. Someone who cries with you. Someone who cries for you. Someone who’s there for you to cry on. Someone who won’t leave. Someone who’s me. I’m a Two, and I have two hearts. One for me, and one for everybody else. My heart beats slowly, softly, with just enough love that I don’t hate myself unless I get in a really low spot. My other heart, the one for everyone else, beats powerfully, loudly, with a love that aims to fix everyone's problems. I hate to see people in pain. I hate to see people cry. I hate to see people love, and then be broken by love. I hate it. I hate it so much. They don’t deserve it, they never ever do. They deserve love, not heartbreak. They deserve peace, not pain. They deserve warmth, not cold. If I could always have a sign that says, “Hey, if you’re having a hard time, ask me for a hug or some consoling words,” I would. I would love to be able to help everyone. Even strangers. Especially strangers. You never know what someone else might be going through. And the opportunity to help someone else, to let them feel love, peace, and warmth, is incredible to me. My heart beats softly, and people say, “Oh, don’t forget to take breaks from helping others, and help yourself.” But helping people is what helps me. When my other heart beats hard for people, my heart beats a bit louder, a bit stronger, for myself. I love helping others. It makes me feel important. It makes me feel whole, and it makes me feel love. I love, love, love making sure others smile. Genuinely smile. Please smile. Please know you’re loved. Please know you’re strong. Please believe in yourself. Please know that you can do this, that this is just a bump in the road.

I completely forgot, yesterday was my shardiversary. Geez, i’m sorry, i was so busy yesterday, I had an eight and a half hour shift at work. People to thank!!! @The Wandering Wizard You, sir, are an incredible human being. The past year of RPing on Insanity Clinic with you has been simply incredible, and our conversations are always a joy to have. @Morningtide You never fail to come through with a good comment on my writing page. Thank you for that, it brings me more joy than you know to recieve positive comments on my writing. @Szeth's Facepalm We’re just kind of friends by default… Excited to meet you in person at Dragonsteel, mi amigo!! @InfiniteInsanity and @The Bookwyrm You two are a package deal, though you both have your own separate praises. You’re both a wonderful addition to the Clinic, and you’re both wonderful, wonderful people. You and the other Nebraskans talk about me in real life, and it for some reason I feel honored, I don’t know why. @Potato's Wit @Ranryu You two are also a package deal to me, and I think you’re both very fun. @Kajsa :) Kajsa you’re just awesome. We’ve been talking more the past couple months, and I view you as a very close friend. (And I am still patiently waiting for updates on my commission. Of course, no pressure, I understand there’s uncontrollable factors you’re facing.) @Edema Ruh Another Clinic person!!! I like you, Edema, you’re pretty chill. @Channelknight Fadran You’re 3 am science essays are both interesting to read and existentially terrifying. You’re a veteran here in my eyes, and it’s fun to talk to you. @Nathrangking Your romantic advice and boosting words have been inspirationally helpful in my romantic endeavors. Thanks to you, and your wonderful advice and thoughts, I was able to promise Luna some wonderful things. @Sequence You absolute gay romantic, I love you you’re incredible, thanks for letting me help you with your relationship woes. And finally, @DoomslugLuna, you wonderful, beautiful, radiant person. I love you the most, you’re incredible, thank you for the past year, and here’s to more and more even better ones. And to anyone I missed, thank you and I love you!!! Heres to another great year on the Shard!!!!

I feel like such a mess right now. I'm sad and angry and confused and I don't know what else. I'm gonna have to not be on the shard for the summer and it's so sad. I don't want to have to say goodbye, even if it's just for a few months. It doesn't help that they took my phone for an undetermined amount of time, so I can't even talk to anyone else. I don't want to lose the friends I've made on here. I don't want to feel alone again, even though I'm almost always surrounded by people. This is probably my last day, I might be able to get on tomorrow, but probably not. I guess I just want to say goodbye. Thanks for being my friends everyone.

guys wait is it that I can't sleep or are there just monsters nearby

GUYYYYYYYYYYYYYS I GOT MY RESULTS 87.6% THATS NOT BAD IS IT ITS RESPECTABLE!!!!!! AND I GOT 98 IN ENGLISH LITERATURE AND 97 IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE SO TOTAL AVERAGE FOR ENGLISH IS 98!!!!!!!!!! HFEWQHJWEOPJ4WEPOWEK\

Last night apparently I fell asleep writing. Woke up to the Iconar doc just chock-full of EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Live long and prosper or something

Aaah! 1,003 rep! You guys are incredible. Thank you so much, I'm so happy after seeing that I guess this means I should write you guys a poem... Thank you for always listening, For always being there when I need you. Thank you for reading my words, For being the hands that hold on no matter what mine do. Thank you for being my friends, The ones who are there in the middle of the night when the voice is at its worst, The ones who see me and care for me no matter what. Thank you. I love you guys!!! <33333

As many of you may have noticed.... I was not able to even visit the shard since Friday night. I'm really sorry!! But I do have a fair reason..... I was in the ER. I've been diagnosed with both pneumonia and a respiratory disease that has spread into my lungs. Yep. Not great. And now I've missed a day of school for the first time in 3 years. Perfect timing too- I've got 3 tests, 1 project, and 1 essay coming up. I also have a vocal chorus concert, a debate tournament, and a piano recital. But I'm medically required to stay in bed and basically be force-fed liquids, fever-reducing medications, and antibiotics by my mother. Also. Last night the ER took so long. I was there for more than 5 hours. And the X-Ray took forever and the test results wouldn't show up for an hour. Also I was so tired and every 15 minutes it was a new test or sample or someone checking my blood pressure or temperature again. It was insane. But I'm resting. And I'm alive!!

Man. Today was a little weird. In a good way, mostly. I got to skip sem and sleep in a little, because my parents wanted me to be rested for AP testing. Speaking of it, AP testing is so dumb. 150 kids in a gym for three hours. We wasted so much time, and for what? A test score that most colleges probably won't accept anyway? At least the class itself was pretty interesting. It'll definitely help me with my worldbuilding skills in the future. After that, the school just gave us two periods off for no reason, which was GREAT. My friends and I just wandered around doing stuff. And the most important thing: We actually had a good youth activity! Usually they follow this pattern: Everyone but me is fifteen minutes late, we do some pointless thing like painting nails or "planning" future activities that will never happen. This time was different. It was all youth of all ages, and we went to help some older ward members and their neighbors with yard work. It was great! We had fun AND actually did something to make the world a better place. I don't feel like I wasted an hour of my life. And, the best part, our hard work caught the neighbor's interest, so now they'll be taking missionary discussions! Oh and a song recommendation: Two Birds by Regina Spektor. It has a really interesting low brass part.