September Threads

I never imagined I'd start a clothing brand because of an afternoon I spent in the woods almost 20 years ago.

But here we are.

When I was 25, I had several strokes and was diagnosed with Wallenberg's Syndrome. My life changed in ways I wasn't prepared for. I had to relearn things I'd taken for granted, and somewhere along the way, I lost sight of who I was.

About a year later, I found myself sitting beneath a tree on a beautiful September afternoon, ready to end my life.

I felt worthless. Powerless. Completely lost.

But something happened that afternoon.

For a split second, I closed my eyes and saw two very different versions of life. One was dark and everyone seemed sad. The other was bright, colorful, and full of happy people. Some of them were complete strangers.

I can't explain it much better than that.

But I got up, walked out of those woods, and made a decision.

I was going to live. And I was going to figure out how to enjoy the hell out of it.

I didn't have some perfect plan. I just started making changes.

I began writing down three things I was grateful for every morning. I started working out, eating better, drinking more water, reading, spending time with people, and paying attention to the way I talked to myself.

Some days were better than others. That's still true today.

But I kept going.

And that decision changed my life.

Two years later, I lost my mom to suicide.

She'd been struggling with depression, too. She'd asked me what I'd been doing to turn my own life around, and at the time, I didn't really know how to explain it.

I wish I'd understood then what I understand now.

I can't change what happened. But I can do something meaningful with the life I still have.

That's a big part of why September Threads exists.

I believe the things we say matter. The things we tell ourselves matter. And sometimes a few words can carry an entire story.

Grateful AF.

Because gratitude became one of the most important habits in my life.

Keep FKN Goin.

Because there have been plenty of times when that's exactly what I needed to tell myself.

Sweat Equity.

Because becoming someone you're proud of takes work, and I'm still doing that work.

These aren't just sayings I thought would look good on a shirt. They're ideas I believe in.

But here's what I love most about them.

They don't have to mean the same thing to you that they mean to me.

Maybe you're wearing one because you made it through something nobody knows about. Maybe you're trying to build a better life. Maybe you're celebrating someone you love. Or maybe you just like the message.

Whatever your reason, I hope it means something to you.

We're building September Threads around those connections. And as the brand grows, a portion of our net profits will go toward supporting people struggling with depression.

I named it September Threads in memory of my mom, who died in September 2009, and because September is a month that changed my life in more ways than one.

I'm glad I'm still here.

And I'm glad you're here, too.

Appreciate ya!