Last year, I wrote this blog about my first 20 years of playing Pokémon, but this past year has been quite different for me in many ways, because for the first time in my life, I have friends, many of whom play Pokémon as well.

Although I like to think of myself as a living Pokémon encyclopedia, I've actually learned quite a few things about Pokémon that I never knew before, simply by being here on Paint, and talking to my fellow Pokémon Trainers about different things.

Of course, I've also been able to teach many others here a great deal about Pokémon (something that I REALLY have enjoyed being able to do), and just being around other fans who love Pokémon as much as I do has had a VERY positive impact on my life.

When I first started sneaking online and doing Pokémon battles and trades (in Gen 6), I was impressed by how good I was at it, but I had always wanted to test myself in ranked battles, too, and also in competitions.

I still haven't been able to do either of those things, but being on here has taught me about a whole other side of Pokémon that (while I always wanted to be a part of) I knew next to nothing about: Competitive Pokémon.

IK that I've had my fair share of arguments with the competitive players here, and that I often come across as arrogant, rude, and even just plain clueless at times, but although I've said a lot of stupid things before that I regret during those arguments, I actually really enjoyed the chance to discuss these things with people just as passionate and knowledgeable about them as I am.

Being a hardcore fan with nobody around you who shares your passion is a VERY lonely experience, and while being stuck here is just a lonely experience in general, not having anyone else to share my love of Pokémon with only made it worse.
(Although Pokémon itself most certainly did not.)

For all of those years, the only human being I was able to trade, battle, or do anything else in Pokémon with was my sister, and for a wide array of different reasons, this was a problem for me.
(But I won't get into that.)

Even when I started doing online trading in battling, it was all very… impersonal.

I mean, I was able to complete my National Pokédex that way, and even get some rare Legendary and Mythical Pokémon from some generous people, but I didn't know those people, and I was never able to say a word to any of them.

Paint changed all of this.

Although I haven't been able to do nearly as much as I've wanted to (yet), I've already battled 2 of my friends here on Paint, and I was able to help some of my other friends to get Pokémon that they had really wanted.

I felt wonderful when I was doing those things!

For the first time in my life, my love of Pokémon, and all of the countless hours I've put into it throughout my life were actually able to help others to be able to enjoy it even more.

My 2st year as a Trainer has been my best one, by far, and it has been my 1st year playing Pokémon the way it was always meant to be played: With friends.

I'd like to thank everyone here who's battled with me, traded with me, read any of my Pokémon blogs, or even just chatted with me about Pokémon for a bit on here, and you've made that one constant bright spot in my life brighter than ever before.

Hopefully, my 22nd year as a Pokémon Trainer will be my 1st year as a competitive Pokémon player!
(Now THAT would be awesome!)

Oh yeah, and this is the official blog for a battle that me and Dedode had, which I REALLY enjoyed.
(That blog is still a bit of a work in progress ATM, though.)