Okay, gather 'round, awesome peoples! Grab a cozy drink, maybe a sparkly snack, because ikki (yes, that's me!) wants to share a little bit of her heart-sparkle with you today!
(Imagine a super cheerful wave here! Maybe with some added sparkle effects!)
Hiiiiiiiii everyone! It’s me, ikki!
You might know me from the little corners of the internet called ikkimall on Etsy and on Ko-Fi. Maybe you’ve stumbled upon my writings, my little bursts of fandom love, or just felt the general vibe of someone who REALLY loves colourful pens and probably has way too many anime figures (shhh, don’t tell my bookshelf!).
[circa early 2023; egg fried rice, shared for breakfast]
The River Runs Through It: Home Sweet (Sometimes Muddy) Home
Let's picture this together: Deep, deep in the heart of Sabah, Malaysia, nestled along the magnificent, wild Kinabatangan River, lies a valley village. It’s lush, it’s vibrant, teeming with life – the kind of place where the air smells like damp earth and blooming flowers after rain, where monkeys chatter in the trees, and the river is the heartbeat of everything. This place… this is home. Not just a home, but the home where my roots run deepest, tangled with the memories of the most incredible woman I’ve ever known: my late grandma.
Now, our village, while beautiful, faces its own giants. Being tucked away in the valley means we’re often the first embrace for heavy rains. This often translates into challenging mud floods that can sweep through homes, carrying away precious belongings and making everyday life incredibly tough. And sometimes, the winds decide to have a really wild dance party, bringing cyclones that test the strenght of our homes and our spirits. It’s a reality we live with, a rhythm of nature that demands strength and community.
Growing up there wasn't always easy. We didn't have much in the way of material things – poverty was a constant neighbour. But what we lacked in riches, my grandma made up for tenfold with love. Oh, the love! It was unconditional, fierce, and flowed as steadily as the Kinabatangan itself. She raised me, sheltered me, and taught me everything that truly matters. She showed me that richness isn't measured in possessions, but in kindness, resilience, and the fortitude you find in looking out for one another.
She was my rock, my cheerleader, my everything. Even when things were tough, when the pantry was looking bare or the floodwaters lapped worryingly close, her spirit never wavered. She instilled in me a belief that even in the face of hardship, you could find joy, you could persevere, and most importantly, you could always help others, even if all you had to offer was a kind word or a shared meal. Her lessons weren't spoken in grand pronouncements, but lived out daily, in quiet acts of tenacity and generosity.
Now, let’s add another layer to the ikki-story! Alongside my grandma’s wisdom, another world opened up to me – the vibrant, electrifying universe of anime and fandoms! Cue dramatic hero music! For a kid growing up in a challenging environment, these stories were more than just entertainment. They were portals! Portals to worlds where underdogs became heroes, where friendship conquered all odds, and where sheer determination and believing in yourself could literally change destiny.
Seeing characters push past their limits, overcome incredible obstacles, and fight for what they believed in… it sparked something inside me. It wasn't just about the cool fights or the epic romances (though, let's be real, those are awesome too!). It was about the spirit. The idea that no matter your starting point, no matter the challenges you face, with dedication, pure hard work, and a belief in your own potential, you can achieve amazing things.
Why ikkimall Exists: Sharing the Sparkle, Supporting the Roots
So, how does all this tie back to ikkimall on Etsy and Ko-Fi? It’s simple, really. Those platforms, filled with my writings – fanfiction, letters, stories, maybe little bursts of poetry – they are my way of combining my passion with my purpose.
Every story I write, every character I explore, carries a piece of that journey. The struggles, the triumphs, the belief in kindness, the power of connection – it’s all in there, infused with the love I pour into every word. And the support I receive through these platforms? It’s not just for me. It’s a direct lifeline back to my village, back to the community that raised me, back to the place my grandma called home.
The funds generated, thanks to the incredible generosity of people like YOU, go towards helping my villagers. It helps provide essential daily stocks when floods disrupt supplies. It helps cover the costs of crucial medications for those who are ill. It contributes towards educational materials for the children, giving them tools to build their own bright futures. It’s about ensuring that the spirit of resilience my grandma embodied continues to thrive in the place I love most.
A Gentle Plea from the Heart - Preserving Dignity
Now, here’s something really, really important to me, something I feel compelled to share, not out of judgment, but out of deep conviction. It stems directly from those lessons my grandma taught me, sitting by the river, watching the world go by.
She always said, "ikki, when you help someone, do it with a humble heart. Don't do it for praise, or for thanks, or to show off. Help because it's the right thing to do, because we are all connected."
And because of this, something pains my heart deeply in today's world. I see it sometimes, maybe you do too – people needing assistance, receiving food or shelter, and their faces, their vulnerability, being broadcasted. Pictures on Instagram, videos on TikTok, live streams documenting moments of hardship. It's often done with the intention of raising awareness or funds, and I understand that impulse.
But my heart aches.
My grandma taught me that sometimes, all a person has left after losing so much is their dignity. That quiet, fragile sense of self-worth. And I believe, with every fibre of my being, that we must protect that. Human dignity is sacred. It’s the core of who we are.
It feels like there's sometimes this unspoken, unwritten rule – a silent bargain – that if you need help, you have to 'pay' for it by becoming content. Your moment of need becomes someone else's Instagram Reel. Your struggle becomes a viral video. And while the help provided is vital and appreciated, the cost to the spirit can be immense.
To have your vulnerability displayed for the world feels… wrong, to my core.
I believe God, or the universe, or whatever higher power you believe in, put us here to lift each other up, to be guardians of that fragile human spirit. Not to critique, not to judge, and certainly not to exploit someone's hardship for views or validation.
We are meant to help heal, to empower, to restore that dignity, not chip away at it.
So, when you support ikkimall, please know this: Your kindness reaches my village, it helps the children, it supports those in need, and it does so quietly. There will be no pictures of villagers receiving aid, no videos documenting their struggles shared by me. Their dignity is paramount. My grandma wouldn't have had it any other way, and neither will I.
My hope, my gentle plea, is that more of us can embrace this way of helping.
Let's make kindness unconditional, offered freely and respectfully, without needing proof or public display. Let's protect the dignity of every single person, especially when they are at their most vulnerable. Let's help because our hearts compel us to, not because the algorithm demands it. Let’s spread awareness about respectful giving.
Overflowing Gratitude: THANK YOU!
And this brings me to the most important part of this whole chat: YOU!
To every single person who has ever visited my Etsy shop, tossed a coin on Ko-Fi, read a story, left a kind comment, or even just sent good vibes my way – THANK YOU. Seriously. From the very bottom of my slightly-neurodivergent, anime-loving, village-rooted heart, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Your support isn't just a transaction; it's a connection. It’s a shared belief in the power of stories and the importance of community. You, my wonderful, generous, honourable clients and supporters, are the heroes of this story. You are the ones making a real, tangible difference, month after month, since day one!
Because of you, children in my village have school supplies. Families have food on the table after a flood. Elders have access to medicine. Orphanages receive much-needed support. You are helping to build resilience, foster hope, and protect dignity, one purchase, one donation at a time.
Please know how much your trust and generosity mean. It’s overwhelming in the best possible way!
It fuels my writing, validates my slightly unconventional path, and allows me to continue this mission that feels so deeply ingrained in my soul.
Weaving a Kinder World, One Story at a Time
My ultimate goal? It’s pretty simple, really.
I want to keep writing stories that resonate, stories that maybe offer a little escape, a little comfort, or a little spark of joy. And through these stories, through the connections we build, I want to keep contributing to making this often harsh reality a little bit gentler, a little more peaceful, a little more meaningful for everyone we can reach.
I hope that when you read something I’ve written, you can feel the love woven into it – the love for my grandma, for my village, for the characters and fandoms that inspire me, and the deep, deep gratitude I feel for your support.
Thank you for reading this super long ramble!
Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for helping me honour my grandma’s legacy and support my beautiful, resilient home.
Let's keep spreading kindness, protecting dignity, and maybe watching some awesome anime along the way! 😉
Sending you all the biggest, sparkliest virtual hugs!