I went back and forth about how I would proceed with this years recap. There was a lot that happened. I came down off the high from the Newport Concours win and proceeded life as normal. I met someone. I met a couple someones. Life was going smoothly, until it wasn't. I will never apologize or hide from the fact that I love hard. Iwear my heart on my sleeve like some love struck teenager. Some might consider me overly emotional, and maybe at one point I was. This year I learned a lot about myself, as usual. I also learned about the people who will always be in my corner, no matter how much I choose to isolate myself.

Life doesn't stop, or slow down for you. It will continue to steamroll you from one hellscape to the next. So, we'll start with the fun stuff. I went to SEMA 2024, and had the time of my life with some of my car family. Rubbed elbows with celebrities and saw some of the best built cars across the country.

In March, I flew down to Fernandina Beach for The Amelia Concours, another event I frequent year over year.

In April, I made the annual pilgrimage down to MINIs on the Dragon to spend time with friends from around the country.

Throughout all my travels and underneath the smiles and laughter, I was struggling with my mental health.

Mental Health is an ongoing battle. A battle that does not stop for anyone or anything. It doesn't care that you're tired. It doesn't care that you're overworked. It doesn't care that you just need a brake. It is a relentless demon that will continue to push you down if you let it. And for a while, I did. I was in such a dark place, that I was unsure if I even wanted to see my 30th Year. I fought, silently, until it grew too loud. It kept boiling over. My relationship reached a melting point which pushed me further over the edge. I stood on the edge of a cliff and almost jumped. For several months I wasn't living, I simply existed, I was in survival mode. I shut off social media, I didn't go out, didn't answer my friends. I was barely able to complete simple daily functions.

Close friends had known I was struggling. They knew how close I was to the edge. Some of them are the reason that I am here today. It is their love and patience that kept me going. It is their acceptance that pushed me to finally seek help.

For years I fell under the stigma that if you seek help, you're weak. I should be able to handle whatever I can on my own. I should be able to take it all on the chin and not break. All of my cages were simply mental, right? Wrong. There is nothing wrong with me. I needed some help. A good friend has told me, you wouldn't fault someone for having asthma, would you? So why are you being so hard on yourself for struggling with your mental health. They were right.

I started antidepressants, and it has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I feel clear. Those demons that clung to me and tried to drag me down are silent, but not gone. I still have bad days. I'm human after all. Everyone has bad days. In the months that followed my starting meds, I felt more like me than ever. I started focussing on myself again, doing the things I enjoy with the people I care about, and who care about me.

I saw friends get married. Volunteered at conventions and at a summer camp. I spent a lot of time outside. Life started to turn around. In August, I was able to purchase a 1985 RX-7, a car that I had been on the lookout for. In September, I was able to bring both my Classic Mini, BabyLou amd ,y RX-7 to Cruising Downtown. One of my favorite car shows.

On my 30th, I spent time with my family and the friends who mean the most to me in the whole world. It meant a great deal to me they took time out of their busy weeks to come celebrate with me.

I am not weak. I am strong. You are not weak. You are strong. You don't have to fight anything alone, unless you want to. There are people that care about you, and if you don't think there are, you have me. I care. I will listen. I will be the person for you that my friends and family were to me. It does get better.

Cheers to the 30th year. It is one that I am forever grateful for. I welcome this new decade with a new perspective and open arms.

Motor on.