#NationalThankYouNoteDay

As well as being Boxing Day here in the UK, December 26th is #NationalThankYouNoteDay (USA). It's a day to express gratitude, not only for presents from Santa on the 25th, but for the gifts we've received throughout the year.

And Team FanWorld has a lot to be grateful for in 2025.

There were our travels ~ to New York in May, to Nashville in October, and to a cute Virginia town named Bowling Green in December.

There were our features: In 2025, we brought you 10 exclusives across our website and YouTube channel, including interviews with Matt Cohen, Rob Benedict, Chris Schmelke, and of course, our own Richard Speight, Jr.

There was the art: This year found Beth designing posters for Mercury Lounge, OK Fest, Exit/In, and The Heist Before Christmas, plus official merchandise for our Kings of Con.

But above it was you who made our 2025 one for the books. Whether old or new, fave or friend (or both!) ~ your love and support is what we'll carry with us into next year.

As this 20th anniversary year of Supernatural draws to a close, I feel deeply blessed to have found a community through Rich. So many lights in my life have come to me through his work on Band of Brothers and Supernatural.

Being part of Rich's fandom has made me stronger, and braver, and softer, and kinder. I owe so much of who I am and what I've acheived to being a fan of someone worthy of that affection.

I'm going to share a moment that shaped my relationship with fandom: Back in 2013, a hiccup with my admission pass meant I missed out on a ticket for Rich’s M&G. It would have been my first with him, and I was crushed. Until another fan appeared by my side and pushed a ticket into my hand – “Take it. I know this means more to you."

That moment taught me who I wanted to be in fandom.

I’m still paying it forward.

And in the years since, I have witnessed or been party to many such moments of grace. When push comes to shove, we’re a pretty decent bunch.

It's worth remembering too, that there are many ways to demonstrate generosity in fandom -  Team FanWorld is so grateful for the gift of fandom’s writers, photographers, videographers, and artists, who freely share their hard work with our community. And for everyone who amplifies and appreciates these creators (and FanWorld, of course!)

We all of us have a part to play in making our community a better place. So let's remember that, and aim to lead with kindness in 2026.

Lord knows, the world needs it right now.

Yours, in grace and gratitude,

Rain x