First of all, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a fantastic weekend. I successfully navigated yet another Christmas on my own. I decided to pamper myself, indulging in plenty of food and enjoying copious amounts of Rosé. It’s fair to say that I was rather tipsy on Christmas Eve and during the evening of Christmas Day. But it was enjoyable. It was relaxed. It was exactly what I wanted to do, so what can you do about it, right?

As the year 2021 draws to a close, it’s time for another end-of-year blog, reflecting on the events of this year, which, to be honest, hasn’t been particularly eventful. While the world has been in a state of chaos, I’ve managed to maintain my composure and carry on with my own pursuits. I’ve remained consistent in streaming on Twitch three evenings a week, which has always been a blast. Hanging out with like-minded folks, sharing loads of laughter, and making new acquaintances along the way. I’m incredibly grateful to have my little community, or shall I say my “tribe,” consisting of people who embrace me for who I am—a silly, slightly raunchy, and overall dorky guy named Leander. The love and support I’ve received from people all around the world mean the world to me.

Earlier this year, I took a brief hiatus from creating The Sims 4 speed build videos for my YouTube channel. However, for the past few months, I’ve been back to recording and uploading videos. While I may not be as prolific as before, I’m committed to posting at least one video a week. So far, things are going well, and I hope to maintain this pace. We’ll see how it unfolds.

In the realm of Twitch streaming and YouTube video uploads, I’ve encountered a few hurdles when it comes to growth. I’ve not been particularly adept at self-promotion or expanding my reach, as it were. Although I tweet about my Twitch streams and video uploads with the usual “I’m live on Twitch” and “New video alert” posts, it doesn’t seem to be quite enough. I recognize the need to engage more, but it’s easier said than done! I playfully dubbed myself D-List because I’ve been streaming for nearly four years, and during this time, I’ve seen countless people come and go. It’s fair to say that only a few loyal individuals have stuck by me since the beginning (you know who you are!). I genuinely appreciate their unwavering support. I do acknowledge that I need to develop some sort of networking strategy to expand my audience. If any of you have suggestions while reading this, I’m all ears! In the meantime, I’ll embrace the D-List status and keep doing my thing.

I don’t really set New Year’s resolutions. To be honest, I think resolutions are rather uninspiring. Why wait until the new year to make changes in your life? That’s just my personal take on it. I’ve discussed this in previous blogs. My hope for the new year is simple: fewer setbacks and more things going my way.

This year, I’ve noticed a few changes in myself. I feel more authentic, confident, and self-aware. I’ve also become less tolerant of people who bring negativity into my life. I’ve learned not to bend over backward to please everyone or to deal with individuals who make me feel indebted to them. You know the type, right? I’ve become more assertive about my own needs, a far cry from a few years ago when I struggled with this. I attribute part of this personal growth to my experiences streaming on Twitch. I distinctly remember how nervous I was when I first started streaming. If it weren’t for the encouragement and support I received from a few friends I met online, I might not have ventured into streaming at all. But here I am now! Streaming has played a significant role in boosting my confidence, amplifying my voice, and allowing me to express my true self (big thanks to Aden!). While there’s still work to be done, I’m optimistic that I’ll continue to make progress.

Instead of spending New Year’s Eve alone at home, I’ll be celebrating with my dear friend Aden, also known as Devon Bumpkin. He’s hosting a stream on his Twitch channel, and I’ll be joining him along with his wonderful community. I’m really looking forward to it, and I’m fairly certain that there will be some adult beverages involved, which should make it all the more enjoyable!

Anyway, I suppose that’s sufficient reflection for now. As I mentioned earlier, there’s not a whole lot to discuss. The year zoomed by at a lightning pace! I appreciate your time in reading my blog. In the upcoming year, I’ll endeavor to post more consistently. I want to extend my gratitude to all the wonderful individuals I’ve connected with on the Internet, particularly on Twitch. I’m genuinely thankful for all the love and support! Wishing you a fantastic New Year’s Eve! Stay safe, and I’ll catch up with you all in 2022! Happy New Year!