It’s funny how year-end reflections always seem to sound like Mario Kart lap records:

• Goals smashed

• Milestones unlocked

• Life-changing wins celebrated

But what if your year felt less like a highlight reel and more like a slow-motion car crash?

In Australia, we have a saying: “If you're up shit creek without a paddle, you're f**ed.”*

Let’s be honest—the music industry has a way of breaking you down. sometimes, it feels like you’re stuck in shit creek without a paddle.

And yet, as I navigated my own creek this year—through burnout, financial collapse, and near-constant anxiety—I kept hearing the same advice:

"Focus on the positives."

Look, I get it. Gratitude is powerful.

I’ve tried to hold onto it more than ever these past three years as my mental health, physical health, financial stability, and career as a musician were tested like never before.

But here’s the thing: Sometimes raw honesty hits harder than blind optimism.

It’s hard to sit with the darkness:

• To acknowledge the failures

• To admit the fears

But when I do, it grounds me in reality—and weirdly, it makes the good moments real. Earned. Solid.

So, let’s skip the candy-coated highlight reel.

Instead, here’s my “Shit Happenings of 2024”—and why, strangely, I’m grateful for each one:

1. I shut down my music school after 10 years of teaching guitar.

• A decade of identity, routine, and stability—gone overnight.

But it taught me there’s more to life than running a business.

2. I suffered a total-body seizure in November after surviving on 2 hours of sleep a night for 11 months.

• A terrifying wake-up call from my own body.

But it taught me how to properly take care of my physical and mental health.

3. I watched my bank account drop from $100,000 at the start of the year to $4,800 by the end.

• A financial free fall that felt impossible to stop.

But it taught me that money can disappear, but relationships, health, and peace are priceless.

4. I battled suicidal ideation throughout the year.

• Some days felt unbearable.

But it taught me the immense power of small acts of love, support, and connection from my friends, family and partner.

5. I averaged an anxiety attack a week for most of the year.

• Each one felt like drowning on dry land.

But it taught me to seek stillness. To breathe. To ask for help without shame.

6. After shutting down my school, I entered 2025 with no clear professional path.

• For the first time in a decade, I don’t know what’s next.

But it taught me I’m more than just one job title. I can teach more than just guitar.

Gratitude isn’t just about celebrating wins—it’s about finding meaning in the mess.

These “shit happenings” weren’t blessings in disguise. They were hard. They were ugly.

But they also gave me clarity, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for the people and moments that keep me going.

So what’s one “shit happening” from your year that, weirdly, you’re grateful for?

Share below, I’d love to hear your story!