Thanks for sharing your story! I have a similar experience, having joined a long time ago, leaving, then remembering this place existed again. It's definitely a bit intimidating to share art online (I still haven't posted anything... someday, maybe). Newgrounds is truly one of the most unique (and oldest) places on the internet, and it's only grown since then (that FNF injection of new users really helped this site imo).
May you experience great things in the coming year!