This shirt means more to me than most people would guess. I made it after a really important moment in my life — one that reminded me that even in chaos, kindness can still find you.

I had met this dude while I was out — someone I probably never would’ve crossed paths with under any other circumstance. He was the kind of person that just shined in a quiet way. Curious, grounded, and full of this soft kind of energy that didn’t take up too much space but somehow still filled the air around him. At the time, I was spiraling. The crowd was too loud, the energy too much, and I was caught in the middle of a panic attack. I didn’t even know what I needed — but he did.

He didn’t say much. He didn’t try to give advice or fix me. He just sat on the wet grass next to me like it was the most normal thing in the world. And slowly, I found my breath again. It wasn’t about solving anything — it was just about being.

Eventually, he spotted these mushrooms nearby and challenged me to a little photo battle — who could capture them better. We took turns trying to get the perfect shot, and when he won, I said, “Well I guess that makes us Mushroom Buddies.” He smiled, and it just kind of stuck. Like we both understood something unspoken in that moment.

This design came from that — from wanting to honor that memory, and that version of peace I didn’t know I needed. It’s for anyone who’s ever been held together by a stranger’s quiet kindness. It’s for people who know what it’s like to be overwhelmed and still find something worth holding onto.

Mushroom Buddies are for life. And this shirt? It’s a thank you.