softestvirgil:

thejoanglebook:

I tried to make a post on the subject of “Joan Appreciation Day”…

For some reason that original post didn’t show up! I pressed the post button and it vanished. There goes my enthusiasm and all of my raw emotions. On the bright side, I was wrong about one thing: I thought this entire day would be spent traveling, but here I am! My original post expressed how undeserving I am of this wonderful gift, it also expressed appreciation, how incredible and beautiful you all are, how privileged I am to be in the position that I am, and that I wished I could interact with you all more on this day because that’s the absolute least I could do in return. It seems like I DO have time today to interact with you all (although I still have several more hours of travel ahead of me)!

One thing that I expressed in the original post that I’d like to reiterate is that if you have any regard for this “Joan Appreciation Day,” then I only ask that you treat it as a day of self-care. Read a book, watch your favorite show, take a bath, get a massage, play video games, eat delicious food– whatever you want/need! I just want you guys to feel happiness, because I believe that you deserve it. We’re all mean to ourselves too often. If you’re at all interested in making an effort to honor me today (and it’s very okay if you’re not interested in that– I’m not special) then just try to be nice to yourself. You’ve done a lot for yourself over the years and you deserve some acknowledgement. If anyone else did as much for you as you’ve done for yourself, then you would owe them the world. So just try to be kind to yourself, at least for today.

I feel kind of uncomfortable saying that I love you to strangers and acquaintances, and I feel like people on social media feel forced to say it a lot of the time, y’know? They don’t want to seem like assholes– it would be bad for there image (that’s purely speculative based on my own feelings– no social media personality has expressed that to me). Despite that, I try not to say it unless I feel it (occasionally I do feel it), because I really want to be honest. At the end of the day we’re strangers. We’ve never met, and yet you’re somewhat familiar with aspects of my personality, and some of my interests, and you’re incredibly kind to me even though I’m a stranger.

I feel like a minor tragedy of finding an audience on the internet is the elimination of many, many clean starts socially, which makes it a little harder to naturally form friendships. You might have been best friends with your favorite YouTuber in another life because maybe you’re incredibly compatible, but instead you feel like you’re in love with their personality as a total stranger and that makes you a “fan;” (I don’t care for the word “fan” when we’re talking about human beings) I’ve experienced that feeling with a decent handful of YouTubers.

Sorry I’m rambling (and maybe depressing you?). I don’t think I can adequately thank you for your kindness and support, and I really wish I could. I love you all. Please, please try to treat yourself well today– better than you usually do.

I’ll check back in after my plane lands.

J 🧡

This is very well said Joan ❤