š 45: A Chaotic Birthday State of the Union
Welcome to my annual celebration of surviving another trip around the sun without spontaneously combusting or throwing my phone into the ocean. I turned 45 this week, which means I'm officially in my āIDGAF, but also please validate meā era. Letās talk about it.
š§ State of the Brain
Still spicy. Still neuro. Still forgetting why I walked into a room. But make it āØaestheticāØ.
Executive dysfunction? Present. Hyperfocus? Also present. The ability to live in chaos but still create clean, bold branding magic for other people? Somehow thriving.
Iām not saying I run on iced coffee and adrenaline, but Iām not not saying that either.
š¼ State of the Biz
Nicko Creative is still my babyāand now itās a walking, talking toddler with a lightning bolt backpack and zero chill.
I get to build brands that punch people in the face (with style), organize chaos like a boss, and help other creatives embrace their weird. Iām fully booked, mildly stressed, and still forgetting to invoice people on time. Balance.
Also: I launched a new store. Iām dropping spicy digital downloads. I created a planner called āGet Your Sh*t Togetherā even though I famously do not have my sh*t together. Iconic, honestly.
š State of the Aesthetic
Black is still the color. Lightning bolts are still the vibe. Skulls? Always. If it looks like it belongs in a punk rock graphic novel or a graffiti-covered alley, I probably love it.
Oh, and I still hate pink. Just in case you were wondering.
š§© State of the Self
Iām a little wiser, a little louder, a little more unapologetically ME. I donāt shrink anymore. I say what I mean. I show up messy, chaotic, neurodivergent, tattooed, and hella proud of everything Iāve built.
Also, I got a wife. Sheās the best. 10/10 would marry again.
š State of the Birthday Mood
This year, I ran a āPick Your Presentā giveawayābecause I love giving gifts and also because I needed an excuse to yell about turning 45 online. (And who doesnāt want a mystery merch item or a brand consult from someone who designs like a caffeinated raccoon with a vision?)
š„ Final Thoughts
45 is giving:
Main character energy
Mild joint pain
Fully booked but still winging it
"No" is a full sentence
Done dimming my light for anyone
If you're reading this and you're also neurodivergent, creative, or just trying to stay afloatākeep going. You're doing great. Celebrate yourself. Get weird. Wear the outfit. Launch the thing. Be too much.
I sure as hell am.
āNicko
