I've been in this Industry ten years today. Oct 1st 2010 I took a deep breath, turned on my webcam on MFC for the first time and went live to be a "camgirl" in a time when this was NOT something most girls did. I wish I had been a little better prepared for how the world would react to my choices. But I don't regret a thing. I have some thoughts to share.. they're sappy and rambly. So fair warning.. 1. It is incredible to me that people I met in my first few months on cam are still here 10 years later. Some of you have known me longer than some of my best friends. It frustrates me when people who have zero idea about it make light of those levels of connection. 2. My sexuality has changed and evolved on cam, my relationship with my body has changed and evolved on camera. There's something really confronting about constantly seeing your own naked body day after day after day. For the most part, it's been a very healthy thing for me. 3. Camming and content creation has taught me so many lifeskills I never thought I'd learn from it. Marketing to boundary setting. Communication, organization, business planning, and so much more. 4. Exploring different fetishes and kinks and sexual interests with members who wanted me to provide those opened me up sexually in a way I can't even begin to explain. I have a sexual curiosity now that never would have existed if I hadn't had someone who said "Hey would you do "x" for $5" lol! 5. I'm financially stable, For 9 of the last 10 years, now and for the foreseeable future. The gratitude I feel knowing I can pay all my bills and still order pizza when I want AND save for retirement is something I really can't put into words. I am grateful to this industry and to you guys for contributing to that. 6. I can do anything I fucking want. If I want to get naked I can. If I want to put clothes on I can. If I want to stop, I can stop. I wish everyone could feel that freedom in their jobs. 7. I spent some time today looking at photos and videos from 2010-now and I remember how I felt about my body then. I remember thinking I was fat, that I didn't like this or that.. and I look back at those photos now and despite some cringy make-up skills.. all I can think is that I wish I could tell her how beautiful she was. I've taken that lesson to heart and when I feel bad about myself now, I'll remember that future Lacey will probably see it differently. 8. Being paid to show your body, for your time, energy and entertainment.. is the biggest fucking confidence boost you can imagine. To have it reinforced daily for 10 years is to let it sink into your soul. In 2010 I had no idea that I was worth anything to anyone. You guys did that for me and do it for me every single day. I hope you know that I value you and I appreciate it. 9. The biggest thing I enjoy about camming and content creation is connections. That doesn't have to be a 10-year friendship. It can be as simple as a Hello, or knowing that I made someone cum that day :P There's layers and levels to it all but the connections are the things I am most grateful for. 10. I have no plans of stopping. I don't know what my "job" will look like in 2030. I don't know what my body will look like. I don't know what my brain will feel like. But I do know that whatever I want, I can create for myself now. In 2010 on October 1st when I turned my cam on I had no fucking idea of what I was capable of and I'm really REALLY fucking grateful to you all whether you're new to me as of today (HI! I'm not always this sappy I promise, this is just a really big milestone!) or whether you've been around for years. Cheers to 10 years. Thanks for reading all that. I'll be live on the same site I started on - MFC - at 7pm EST. I'll have "basic" accounts turned on so if you'd like to chat and you're not sure you wanna sign up for a new site you can with a simple free account. I'd love to see you and say hi! I put a target on this post as a "fundraiser" but its an opportunity to send me a "happy 10 years" tip if you want to! I have some really big creative and financial goals for the end of the year and October 1st is kicking them off!