Life in my 20s won’t be fully missed. It’s not a period I want to consider as my peak. If anything, I’d like make my 30s a run to remember and hopefully see some of my efforts finally pay off the way I’ve wanted it.

Not that it hasn’t been glorious, but when I look at life from the time I turned 20 years old to my final days of being 29, what I’ve been through is really no different from many folks. Especially, those who’ve had to work three times as hard to even sniff the opportunities I’ve had, have going or yet to witness.

Yes, my 20s was a period where I conquered college that’s hardly paying off until recently, finally getting my license and car only for an idiot to render my livelihood months later, earn awards that really got me absolutely nowhere, and a tons of losses that wouldn’t fit Chris Jericho’s list.

“Old Luis” would even say that my 20s was a failure because I’m not married or have kids. “Present Luis” isn’t focusing on love right now because who’s really “the one” anymore? Nobody at the time of this publication.

Trust me, love will come around sooner than later (I hope). My biggest focus is understanding what I want in life and who’s there to see me thrive.

Even if those who’ve neglected or turned their backs on me with malicious intent, I’m glad to recognize this now at 29 going on 30. Accept it, move on, and not give those folks the time of day anymore.

I’ve cut ties with those who have no interest in helping me with my career or those who still define me from my oblivious and misunderstood past.

Sounds bitter of me to say, but try lacing up my shoes for a week. Try and see what I’ve had to sacrifice and overcome this past decade. You’ll learn that nothing is given. It should be earned by merit.

Being bitter is fine as long as you learn to overcome it.

Over the past year, I’ve decided to focus on the things that loves me back and concentrate on my ambitions. Back then, I’d give the world to anyone, but between broken promises, lack of trust, and gaslighting up the wazoo, I’m extremely selective as to who I allow in my life.

Gaslighting? What about it?

Let’s say when you deal with insincerity, you must face the music and escape the toxicity.

All year long, I’ve recognized certain environments where I see no signs of improvement or value of my works. Such circumstances led me to walk away and find a new lease on life.

Yes, it cost me a season of stories and visuals. Yes, my streak of traveling to at least one new circuit each year is over. Yes, I’ve been absent to concentrate with my jobs that pay. All of those are very true, but I’d rather find peace elsewhere where I can help myself and others flourish than see my efforts and stock devalued or questioned.

If it means scaling back on my trajectory and return to my roots as a “thank you gift,” so be it.

I’m turning 30! I want to get my shit together! I want to thrive!

Who doesn’t want to thrive in their 30s?

Although age 29 saw a lot of downs and maddening fallouts, those upbringings and encouraging opportunities outweighs them all. Every chance I get to work on camera and/or actually work on photo projects, I cherish them more than I’d like to admit.

I’ve had fun in my 20s where I’ve traveled across the country and gotten to work with great people. Even if it’s a rain storm on a Saturday night in Carnation or spending an entire month in Indiana, I don’t take those moments for granted.

The few highlights of being 29 will stick with me for a long time. Soul searching is a beautiful thing many of us should try doing more often.

My soul searching has been ongoing since May when I decided to change my approach in life. I’m almost done soul searching, but there’s a lot of circumstances required before saying I’ve found my new purpose in life and career in media. Specifically, in the world of motorsports.

These days, I’m focusing on my worth and those who do care about my vision.

As you might noticed, I rarely share my personal life and what I’m going through except for my business and jobs because what’s the point?

Documenting my personal life shouldn’t be 100% publicized like I’ve done all throughout my 20s. To be honest, only sharing a crumb of my life now has been a positive light. Shocker!

Not all of us are meant to be influencers, sex symbols, vloggers, etc. Keeping life on the low over the past year compared to my mid-20s isn’t terrible.

I’m better off expressing my frustration with the Seattle Mariners, my passion for music, and still trying to make red flags an important stat. I’ll take that over bitching about stuff that shouldn’t be mentioned publicly any day.

Normally with my annual pre-birthday blog, I write a letter to myself, but I’ve already said what I would’ve told 29-year-old Luis.

Long term short, I’m not the same Luis from 2023. I’m nowhere near the same Luis from 2020. If folks still don’t see that, I can’t be much of help at this point.

As I’m near the end of “My 20s Era,” there’s a lot more things I’d like to pursue and accomplish as I usher into “My 30s Era.”

Hopefully, I can enjoy the things I do or yet to fulfill in my 30s compared to my 20s because there’s still enough fuel in the tank. I’ve not made it this far to give it up, but I also can’t look back of my past because it’ll hold me back.

On that note, I’ve created a playlist that capsulate my 20s featuring 30 captivating songs. Of those tracks, I’ve included my top songs from each age which I’ve featured in my annual blogs I do at the end of each year.

Normally, a curated playlist like the one below are exclusive to races I’m traveling to cover. I’m making an exception because I wanted to do one to reflect this closing time period of my life.

In many ways, it’s a “best of” playlist where I’ve included tracks that were previously featured or perhaps consider in the future. Maybe some time in November I’ll have something cooking again, but time will tell!

Music is subjective, so enjoy and explore my taste that’s all over the place.

If you’d like to donate as a way of celebrating my 30th birthday and support my business, that’d be an awesome gift! Thank you in advanced!

Until we meet again, farewell 29, it’s time for “Dirty 30” to play the game and consider my peak years. Like always, those who are still with me — thank you!