A Decade + 1 With EXO (my journey) :hearts: ; :love_letter:

Omg, I'm already getting emotional starting to write this but 11 years ago today, EXO debuted with their title Mama! From going from fansigns with about only 20 fans to now multimillion sellers, fast record concert tickets sold out, having their own song play in the Dubai/Burj Khalifa water show, performing & representing Kpop & Korea at the Olympics, gaining new fans every year, putting out solo albums that also sold millions, 6 who have already completed their military service, to being one of THE most loved, popular, iconic and legendary 3rd gen Kpop groups who a lot of idols look up to!

oh, what to say...it's just been such an amazing, emotional, happy and wonderful years of EXO & their journey to success, become closer than ever like brothers, making fun and special memories with the and EXO-L's! I could NOT be proud and happier for them, they mean the WORLD to me! I being in middle school (13/14) and at the time I KNEW who EXO were because I kept seeing the hexagon hoodies, the , the jersey numbered shirts and hearing their songs but I wasn't stanning them yet. It wouldn't be until 2016 when I really started getting into them! I still the first video I watched, I was 16 & it was their History dance practice and was instantly interested in them! And that's when I instantly went down the EXO rabbit hole, doing my research on them (feels weird to say lol) but learning about them, who each member is, who left, going and watch EVERY and I mean EVERY single variety show, dance practice, music video, interview and fangirling so hard (like I still do today) and falling in love with them and just feeling happy, laughing and smiling.

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I was going through a rough, dark time and when I found EXO (althought my problems still existed), they gave me the happiness, that warm sunny beautiful day feeling that I couldn't get anywhere else. I started interacting and trying to find other EXO-L's/Eri to talk to and be friends with because I love EXO so much and I wanted to share with other of the fandom bc imo this fandom is so huge but loving and ive of each other. And I was never embarrassed of liking EXO/being into K-Pop, so I would proudly wear my EXO shirts in school, listen to their music, do art projects in my art class of them and it all made me so happy! I feel like for the past 7 years with EXO my love has only grown so much bigger and my iveness and caring for them has gotten bigger too.

I love that I have been able to be there for every EXO comeback since then, experienced their live shows, variety shows, the maturing, growing as people, musicians and artists, building the strong bond with EXO-L's bigger every year. We have experienced their ups and also their downs, scandals and rumors that EXO have overcome and moved on from, not letting it affect them and not let anyone dictating what the can and can't do. I think my most memorable and favorite moment of EXO is either their 2013/14 era even though I didn't stan them yet, I was still present and saw clips of them & exo showtime etc. 2016-2018 time period, from their Monster comeback to the whole year of 2018! But honestly my favorite moment of and with EXO, is ALL the moments & years!!

But, here are a couple of my favorite moments, big and small of EXO.

1. Their 2016, EXOmentary bowling live on Vlive! I always go back and watch it because it's so funny but also really relaxing and chill to watch. But then feeling bad for Chanyeolie who was the neutral player and had all the superpowers used on him :joy: But it was also cute too, just seeing the 9 talk and bowl, having fun!

2. Their one 2015? (i think) hotel vlives where Baekhyun was holding Suho's underwear then out of nowhere decided to show it to the camera proudly saying "Here's Suho's underwear!" :joy: :joy:

3. Episode 9 of EXO showtime, their 007 bang game in silence! So cute how Luhan was confused the whole time, Baekhyun not being able to sit still, D.O cracking up because Kai got the indian bop for failing to raise his hands lmao!

4. Speaking of EXO showtime, episodes 3 & 5 are also my favorite. I just loved the relaxing and chill vibe of Ep. 3 where the had to secretly buy a gift for Chanyeol's birthday. The maknaes Kai & Sehun going to a small convienence store and getting Loey the cheapest things I can't!! :joy: :skull:

Same reason for Ep. 5, seeing the all sing and have laid back time during their promotions, all getting together at the resting stop (think it was a mall), Kai and Chan sitting in the massaging chairs, and the heartwarming moment of all the on the beach. Kai, Suho and Luhan losing the branch sand game, having to run into the ocean!

5. Their 2017 comeback spoiler vlive for Kokobop where they went live during their practice and as always being chaotic and Chanyeol almost spoiling the whole thing.

6. Although I dislike MAMA for how they treated EXO-L's and Eri in 2017, I have to say them winning Album Of The Year daesang! It was so emotional and meant so much to them and to us, they deserved it. They could've won 7 awards but only ended up winning 2. (and that's why EXO no longer attend award shows :grin: )

7. At their 2019 EXO Planet concert in December, Suho giving his military enlistment speech, Chanyeol showing his special VCR he made for the and to Eri. Still makes me cry to this day, such a special and emotional moment.

8. And that brings me to my next emotional moment, at Xiumin's XiuWeet Time fanmeeting before his enlistment. When Xiumin broke down into Kai's arms that's when I actually lost it and broke down crying too. A meaningful moment and it was also nice hearing Lay, giving and motivation to Xiumin and the !

9. I can't NOT include their amazing and iconic moment in 2018, when the went to Dubai, had their face and song played at the Burj Khalifa water show! I've never felt so much prouder for them at that moment. It was such a special & monumentous thing to see!! I'm also going to include their 2018 PyeongChang Korea Olympics performance as well because it happened around the same time period and it also made me really happy and proud to say that I am an EXO-L!

10. That time when Chanyeol and Sehun both went live on instagram when they were sitting right next to each other!! :sob: with also Kai and Chen with them, Kai putting his fingers in Chanyeol's nostrils and then touching Chanyeol's tounge with those same fingers, I lost it!! what's wrong with them!? :joy: 🤣

11. In 2018, when Suho had a surprise live on instagram announcing his instagram that he had the whole time but it was private!! Whining to Sehun to follow him, Kai being unbothered, Baek being baekhyun, exposing the in the chat, Chanyeol again trying to spoil the songs and renacting Bohemian Rhapsody, Chanyeol chasing Baekhyun around the practice room.

12. All the moments of Xiumin, D.O, Suho, Chen, Chanyeol & Baekhyun being discharged from the military and having a special live!

Those are just a FEW favorite moments out of the HUNDREDS I have of EXO! It's too hard I love them all!

Oh! but I will add that time in 2014 after they performed Overdose on M Countdown, it was during the time K**s and Luhan left and sued SM. Suho went up and as the leader he is, he accepted the winning award alone by himself, so to not have the face scrutiny 🥺 Makes me so emotional because you can tell he wanted to cry giving his speech but he held it together.

with 11 years now in the industry, and EXO all relaxed & laid back at this point, they're a senior group now, they experienced it all, so they now get to do what they want! All I can say now that because I've said it the past 7-8 years, is:

EXO you brung me immense happinese, joy, laughter, tears & smiles the past 11 years and I can't wait for you to hit your 20th year! EXO means so much to me, they make me the happiest ever, they literally give me motivation & a reason to wake up & because they're a few years older than me I also look up to them as a person because behind all the idol stuff and peforming, EXO are just 9 amazing normal men who have a ion for music and performing in front of people! I wish EXO endless happiness and success, a long healthy and happy life! ♡

EXO forever! We are one! ♡ #dreaminexo team