This time of year inevitably leads to contemplation, reflection, and thoughts of change. Finding this sub was, from the very start, a welcomed and unexpected surprise for me. I have gotten to know some of the ladies here fairly well over the past year, and I am thankful to count them among my friends. There has also been a steady stream of new users, from every walk of life, geographical location, and age. Our community consists of young teenagers, just starting to grapple with what it means to be a young adult, and older ladies that want to turn over a new leaf with a desire to try doing things a bit differently. Whether you are single, in a committed relationship, or married – the RPW sub offers a bevy of material to sift through, but it also acts as a way to reach out and connect with others.

I have seen many of the ladies here struggle, learn, grow, and flourish - and it’s both a joy and an honor to witness these journeys. At the end of the day, most of us are wildly different in personality, political beliefs, religion, and points of view. What holds us all together is a desire to be better than we are right now, in this moment. We strive to minimize our weaknesses, and strengthen our relationships. Focus on what you can control: your actions, your words, and your thoughts.

Remember that success hinges on what you do, not on what other people say or think. Progress is not always a straight line, and setbacks are a part of life. If you stumble, learn from that experience, and move on. Be honest with yourself, and don’t shy away from a challenge.

I have learned a great deal from my interactions on this sub, and there are stories here that have (on more than one occasion) moved me to tears. We have witnessed pain, loss, confusion, anger, despair, and stubbornness – it’s true. But we have also witnessed (and created) hope, joy, relief, and love. We all have problems and complications in our lives, and no one here is perfect by any means. Flaws are not, by definition, negative. The key is to know the difference between harmless quirks, and detrimental habits – and that often takes both time and effort. If you feel tired, or down-trodden, remember to take a break. It’s important to understand that this is not a sprint - it’s a marathon that will last for the rest of our lives. There’s no shame in needing to step back and rest for a short while.

To those of you that have allowed me to become part of your life – thank you. To those of you that don’t know me, I hope that changes. I encourage all of you to hop onto the IRC chat, most of the Mods hang out there along with other regular users. If instant chat isn’t your cup of tea, I completely understand. Understand that you can always message me or one of the other Moderators at any time.

If you happen to be a lurker, or a subscriber that comments very sparingly – I would like to encourage you to push yourself a bit. Make a post, comment, send suggestions for changes you would like to see implemented on the sub to the Modmail. This community is only as good as the people that contribute to it, so don’t hesitate to leave your mark and help improve the RPW sub.

I wish you all the best, and I thank you for helping to create this wonderful community.

Take care and be well. :0)