[Hikari's Bar Diary] Happy New Year 2024, and Thank You, Golden V Awards 12/31/2023

(Live from the Golden V Awards — I didn't win, but thank you all!)

It wasn't until about ten minutes before they announced the winners that I realized just how badly I wanted to take home an award. I was physically shaking, my heart was pounding out of my chest, and my adrenaline was through the roof. Unfortunately, it looks like I just wasn't quite there yet this year. When I found out I didn't make the cut, I just sat alone in my chair in complete silence for a good ten minutes.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't crushed. I know how hard I've worked over the past year, and I know how many people have been in my corner cheering me on. I really wanted to bring home a victory for myself and for all of you. But as I sat there lost in thought during those twenty minutes, a wave of different emotions washed over me—the strongest being a deep sense of frustration. I was frustrated that I simply didn't do good enough in 2023. That's right—not good enough! Somewhere along the line, I lost my hunger for a real challenge. Missing out on the Golden V Award was a harsh wake-up call for the part of me that had gotten way too comfortable with the status quo. There's still so much I want to do, and so much I'm capable of doing, that I just haven't tackled yet. A huge thank you to PTS and Kura Electronics for putting together such an incredible event. I'm already looking forward to the second annual awards—see you all next year!

Knowing me, though, this whole fire-in-my-belly epiphany might just vanish after a good night's sleep XD. That's exactly why I decided to get these raw, unfiltered thoughts down in my journal right away. Anyway, Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you all so much for sticking by me throughout 2023. I hope you'll continue to support me in 2024. I'll be right here with you, and I promise to keep bringing you even more fun and entertaining streams!