Train Roll On: An Unprecedented Time, and How it Brings us Together

This is going to be one of my deeper blog posts, for the purpose of sharing my philosophy on our community, and how it may be related to the world around us. My goal is to give the younger audience on this amino a more well-rounded perspective on life by relating it to this community and what we love most - NASCAR.

I appreciate every one of you that will take the time out of your day to read this. I tried to make it no more than a 5 to 10 minute read :blush:

As time es, uncertainty continues to grow about the state of our country - heck, the whole world as a matter of fact. This unprecedented situation also came at a rather unfortunate time. It's my personal favorite time of year: springtime. The weather warms up, the trees blossom with new leaves, a time for traveling to see family again, the start of spring time sports, high school and college grad parties and ceremonies, and the NASCAR season gets into 4th gear. Overall, a time of restored happiness for more people than just me.

Well this year, it can be argued that we are living a once-in-a-lifetime scenario. We currently live in spring time's antithesis: social isolation and distancing from each other, spending time indoors, no parties or ceremonies, and all sports put on hold for the foreseeable future. A situation that is totally out of our control: the outbreak or COVID-19. A situation that is in our control, however, is our personal health. That's what matters most right now. Times will be tough going forward for a while. We are going to look back at the year 2020 in the history books some day.

This pandemic brings a whole new importance to online communication through the technology we have. Somehow, some way, we have came together here on NASCAR Amino. Whether it be from a YouTuber shouting us out, or by randomly searching up NASCAR on the Amino app your sister told you about because you had nothing better to do with your life on July 4th (me!). Nonetheless, we are now here and in this together now.

Our amino is thriving. Activity amongst is at an all-time high. Several are exceeding 1000 mins/week. But it's not just activity, it's our relationships that have grown stronger. Some stronger than others :wink: #iykyk . The strides this community has made is remarkable. When I ed July 4th, I wouldnt have imagined actually making friends on this app, especially friendships that I believe may be lifelong. I know at least a few of you feel the same as well.

It is important we dont screw this up. Times are rather unprecedented and strange right now in the world. I'm sure it's taking a mental toll on a lot of us - some more than others. It's critical to , as I've said before, this is all totally out of our control. The worst we can do is worry, or even panic. There's nothing to worry about. Nothing. Worrying never helped anybody. Am I concerned? I do indeed have concern, who wouldn't? It can't be denied that this situation is irregular. But I try not to worry - why do I try not to worry? In an uncontrollable situation such as this, we all live in the present, not the future.

Thus I ask you all, no need to worry - like at all. And I say "dont screw this up" because we have such a great thing going for us here at NASCAR Amino.

Instead, it is important to cherish what we have built. Take this time of isolation we have to recognize the friends we have made and the bonds we have grown, as well as ones that will be created in the future. We make leagues, we create series, and we talk in chats for the purpose of growing these bonds, interacting with one other, and sharing our similar ions. We use this app to also get away from life every so often when we need to - to become preoccupied with something else for a period of time. Life can be tough. I, myself, am deciding what I want to switch my college major too, because I dont enjoy my current one. It is stressful. Not only is it important to take serious consideration into a life decision like this, but its important to give your mental health a chance to breathe - and rest in its comfort zone. I find this amino to be that place.

This amino has come a long way. JD is the head honcho of advertising (very underrated for all he does for us, by the way), resulting in a healthy and steady community growth. Lots of us use RDLs and NR2003 to grow bonds. A lot of us have gone as far as to develop our character and even unlock and showcase our true personalities (MLNCS is the best example). Take advantage of that. Find your niche. Learn to unlock yourself. This app has helped me do that. When I first created the NASMS, I wanted not only great entertainment from it that the community would enjoy, but a whole new level of interaction amongst through postrace interviews, qualifying VCs, and the actual content within the content that would grow and distinguish the character each driver had. I'm happy to see this taken to new levels.

With that, I leave you all with this. COVID-19 is a boat we are all in together. Times will be tough. For some of us, this is all we got right now. In the end, this whole situation will bring us together and build us to be stronger individuals. Needless to say, this pandemic, though dangerous, is not lethal. I see it as a wake up call for the country, with how far technology has come and how long it's been since a pandemic, this experience will teach us how to be better prepared if this were to ever happen again. Let's use this time to come together - it's what this app was built for.

I love you all. I appreciate every one of you that's read to this point, and I hope you were able to take something from this.

Train roll on.