Photo by Graham Doig.

December 21 marks my 25th birthday, the third birthday I’ve celebrated since starting my blog. Here’s what I wrote on my 24th birthday and on my 23rd.

Looking back, I can hardly remember what it felt like to be the person that wrote those entries. As I get more comfortable with the reality of living life online, my writing has become more personal and less afraid.

For the past two years, I made my birthday blog post about the past year’s accomplishments and the future year’s goals. I guess now, it’s a tradition.

This year I:

• Attended five cons: Magfest, Katsucon, Anime Boston, Otakon and Anime USA.
• Got my first real job as a web developer in downtown DC.
• Fell down an escalator and attended Katsucon in a wheelchair.
• Got a little help and redesigned my blog with a custom theme and enhanced SEO.
• Became a more vocal feminist, blogging about geek women’s issues here, here and here and even submitting a proposal for a feminist anime convention panel.
• Was interviewed as a source for The Washington Post’s controversial article about Otakon. I wrote about that in two parts: one and two.
• Summoned the courage to enter Forbes blogger Susannah Breslin’s contest for young female journalists–– and won.
• As a result, got the chance to write for Forbes about maids, cat ears and furries.
• Then I got lucky, really lucky. Daily Dot editor Owen Thomas read it and offered me a job on Twitter. I’ve been working for him ever since.
• Traveled to San Francisco to meet my Daily Dot co-workers.
• Reconciled my identity as both a fan and a journalist and compiled it into a handy manifesto.
• Became an adjunct college professor and learned just how challenging–– and rewarding–– teaching can be.
• Gave back to the DC otaku community by volunteering as Anime USA’s press liaison.
• Moved to a new apartment with the love of my life.

Next year, my goals are to:

• Find my online/offline balance: occasionally read books on paper, write instead of type for a change, knit more socks, go on nature walks.
• Keep my design and tech skills sharp by undertaking projects that employ them. Maybe edit a vlog, format an e-book in InDesign, or learn and implement HTML5.
• Resume a consistent blog-posting schedule, with regular weekly features.

This year, I didn’t take time off for my birthday. I just had a quiet dinner with my family and my boyfriend. Honestly, I didn’t feel like I needed a party. After years of angst and uncertainty, I’m finally sure that I’m in the right place and doing what works for me. And that’s a celebration enough.