The following blog post contains words that’s NSFW. Readers discretion is advised.

“Thirty, flirty and thriving,” a line that’s been on my mind as Age 30 is ending this Thursday.

A line from the 2004 film 13 Going On 30 does feel relevant because I’ve reached that point. Being a 30-year-old has brought plenty of good and bad into my life.

Over the past month, it’s been solid with my media ventures, seeing Wet Leg and HAIM perform live, and just started my fourth season working Seattle Kraken games. Not a bad way to cap off being 30 years old, a trying yet humbling year in my life.

I made it back to Daytona for the first time since 2022 to witness the No. 24 car in victory lane for the first time on location. I had fun shooting the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars dusting it up at Turn 11 in Portland. I finally had a proper yet weather-shortened vacation in San Diego and fell in love with the area again.

The Everett AquaSox won the Pacific Northwest League Championship, so I got to be in a small part of a championship. It may not working for a race team that won a crown jewel event levels of cool, but it’s still neat.

I’ve been working on a NASCAR Thunder 2003 mod where rather than drivers, it’s musicians driving stock cars since late February. It’s almost completed that I’ll be sharing more about it soon, so keep an eye on that!

All those wonderful things I’ve gotten to do, I want to do more beyond 30! It’s how I keep my heart beating.

What about flirting? I really need massive improvements in that department because I’ve not been able to make a commitment with anyone.

I’ve tried connecting with people, but it never goes further than just initial conversations where I’m trapped into a spell known as “being leaned on.” More often than not, it ends with a “left on read” or it was only meant to be an initial conversation and that’s that.

There’s a phrase that rings true in 2025 and that’s where I’m at right now:

“Fuckin’ relationships” – Danielle Haim

Am I looking for a relationship? Always, but it’s the least of my concerns.

That’s where thriving as a soon-to-be 31-year-old comes into play.

Have I thrived over the past year?

Knowing myself, it’s a double-edge sword I constantly battle.

While I’m glad to have done amazing work at events such as Refuge Outdoor Festival, the battles tend to outweigh the blissful memories I’ve created through the lens and conversations with great people with amazing backstories.

We live in a society where AI generated art slop is killing pure artistry, especially when I’m direly looking for Halloween themed gigs for weeks with zero success.

The harsh reality is that local businesses like mine are struggling to find gigs where potential clients not only lack a budget but have the time to do it.

When I see those posts which have been rapidly growing, I can’t be the only who is legitimately pissed off about it. I feel cheated and I’d imagine other artists across the board are feeling cheated by those posts plaguing our timelines.

Rather than being vocal like I would’ve done years ago, I’m just going to say this short and effective remark – SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS!

It doesn’t matter if it’s hand drawn, painting, human-made digital arts, music, film or photography, support does come a long way!

Tips and donations are a fantastic way to highlight your gratitude and honestly, it’s all I ask for my birthday!

In an era where genuine visuals is buried by the rancid algorithm that prefers art slop over authenticity, I don’t take gratitude for granted! It’s invaluable for the long haul.

Thank you in advance for those who’ve read this and generous enough to support my business!

Now let’s get to the things I’ve learned over the past year of being a 30-year-old.

I’ve been slowly but surely trying to be more open to chat with people, especially at events. Normally, when I’m in the zone, I’m in the zone. I capture memories and hope there’s a story behind it because I consider myself a visual creator. It’s on my homepage.

At the end of the day, when the time is right, I’m an open door. I like getting to know people and getting an idea of their personality. Even if it’s brief, I’m interested in having a conversation. Especially, if it’s about Mariners baseball, music or describing which Haim sister I vibe with the most.

Just don’t be a prick! If you are a prick, I’m not giving you the time of day. Being pleased or pleasing others is earned, not given!

Another thing I’ve learned are the visual horizons.

That one scene from The Fabelmans with David Lynch portraying John Ford rings so true more than ever before.

The positioning of the horizons can make a visual impact and One Battle After Another capsulated it eloquently and part of the reason Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film is a masterclass.

It was visually interesting (big understatement), especially when the subject matters are at the bottom in pivotal moments in the film.

For starters, it’s one of several reasons why One Battle After Another is a movie you should go out of your way and watch. You’ll be floored and entertained throughout the entire film.

The visuals are mesmerizing, the comedic timings are gob smacking in the best way imaginable, and the social commentary is damn relevant. It’s definitely in my top-three favorite films of 2025 (Sinners and Weapons being the other two) as of this post.

The horizon is something I think about after the fact, but not in the moment which is one thing I hope to ponder going forward. If it’s warranted to what I’m shooting. I hope to remember to do so next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

A goal of mine for Age 31 is to thrive throughout my thirties and continue to adapt. I’m adaptive and when given the ball, I promise that I’ll make sure that ball ends up in scoring position.

This is no longer trying to find acceptance in a field where I know I’m not going to be fully acceptive. It’s what I can do to thrive in the fields I’m still involved or yet to discover. Acceptance is nice to have, but thriving is essential.

That’s going to be my main goal and will see how it unfolds.

I know my worth and I’m going to prove it every time.

Those who’ve made it this far and those who’ve actually supported me that’s still with me, I thank you. I’ve always thank you and will continue to thank you. Stick with me, give me the opportunity to excel and if you’re able to help me out and validate my worth, it’ll be worth the journey!

Until we meet again, just keep watching because I’m just getting started!

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