We live in a world obsessed with optimization. Our mornings must be miraculous, our diets balanced, and our careers a constant upward trajectory. When someone asks „How are you?”, the only socially acceptable answer is an enthusiastic: „Great! Staying busy!”
But let’s be honest. When was the last time you actually felt like you were „thriving”? For most of us, balancing deadlines, bills, and the semblance of mental health, the reality looks vastly different.
The „I’m Fine” Trap
We’ve become masters at masking our exhaustion. „I’m just a little busy” is code for „My internal battery has been flashing red since 2019.” The pressure to constantly present yourself as a high-functioning success story is draining. It’s like walking on tiptoes forever—eventually, you’re going to cramp up.
This dissonance—the gap between how we feel and what we show—is the essence of modern adulthood. And that is exactly what we decided to capture.
Nature Won’t Fix Your Inbox
We often try to cure corporate burnout with weekend escapes. We buy the hiking boots, drive to the mountains, and snap photos of beautiful views. But the truth? We’re often sitting on that scenic peak, nervously refreshing our work email on our phones.
A Badge of Honesty
Our latest design, „Surviving Not Thriving”, is the antidote to toxic positivity. We wrapped a brutally honest message in the aesthetic of a nostalgic 90s National Park souvenir.
- The Style: Retro outdoor vibes, featuring rolling green hills and a classic winding path. It looks like a souvenir from a vacation where you actually relaxed.
- The Message: „Surviving, Not Thriving.” Bold, distressed typography that tells the truth straight to your face.
This isn’t a shirt for someone waking up at 5 AM to meditate before a marathon. This is for the person who considers making it to Friday without a breakdown a major victory. And you know what? That is absolutely okay.
Sometimes, „survival” is the only goal on the checklist. Wear it as a badge of honor.
👉 Grab the Gear
If you feel like this design is your spirit animal, you can find it here: