#ofcc

That changed with Old Fashion Cupcake. Maybe it was just the right time (I'm hurtling towards 30, and the show IS about someone being worried they're turning 40, and for an afab person who is treated like a woman by 90% of the people they meet, 30 is the equivalent to 40 lol), or I was in the right mood, but it's Hit me in a way no other show really has?

The messaging of not being afraid to do what you love for fear of embarrassment, as well as there being no age limit on growth, really resonated in me. 2025 has so far, been my year. I've moved out on my own, I'm relied on at work, I've done a lot of Adult things that I couldn't for the first half of my 20s. Yet it still never felt like quite Enough. I was always internally behind, on the backfoot, afraid to make any changes because, to paraphrase what Nozue says, "if nothing changes, nothing good can happen, but nothing bad can happen either".

But after watching OFCC, I've created more creative works than I have in years (and more experimental ones at that), decided to slowly work on learning Japanese, I've cooked more experimental foods, I'm saving up my metaphorical pennies for a goal I've had for ages, I've even done my laundry and showered more than I have in the past (my particular mixture of NDness and mental health issues have my struggle with hygiene and I'm trying to Stop being ashamed of that). I'm even trying to be more openly autistic(? I am presumed so, diagnoses is expensive and time consuming on my insurance lol) in general, via not hiding my stimming, discussing sensory issues openly, etc. And whenever I decide "fuck it, I'm doing this", I call them "Nozue moments" lol. The show isn't even 90 minutes long and it's profoundly changed my life over the course of the last three months or so.

thank you!! for anyone who might not know pumping out ofc fics is all i've been doing since late august lol, up to 36 and counting. a fair bit are Spicy lmao