Ceretropic will be closed permanently on 6/22/18

Almost exactly 5 years ago, Jason and I were creating Ceretropic and getting it ready for launch. It was mid June 2013. When you reach the end, you inevitably start looking back at the beginning. I had just had a shoulder surgery, and Jason was trying to talk me into partnering with him to start a new nootropics company. We thought we could not only do some cool things, but try to advance the quality standards of the industry. I was hesitant, but the glow I had from the pain killers made me throw caution to the wind and agree to go with Jason on this journey. It was a journey that I could have never predicted the outcome of: the good, the bad, the successes, and the failures. It has not only been the most challenging experience of my life, but one of the most rewarding. We've gone through some difficult periods, and lived through some things many people might not believe; and while this might be the end of this chapter, I am proud of what we have accomplished. The support Ceretropic has gotten over the years is nothing short of amazing! The sheer amount of backing the community has put behind us never ceases to surprise me. I may never again be able to create something that garners so much support from so many people. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you! I am eternally grateful for everything the community has done for us.

I've kept Ceretropic going this long, through countless hurdles and challenges, because of the attachment I have to it, and to the responsibility I feel I have to the community. However, all good things must come to an end. I want that end to be on my terms, not on someone else's. I don't want people to go crazy with conspiracy theories. We are choosing to shut down, not being forced to. It's just time for us to move on. I've gone through a lot of emotions leading up to this, as I am sure many here are as well. I wish things were different. I wish I could do more. The reality of the situation is that it is just time to say goodbye.

However, I don't want people to only be sad. This is only the end of this chapter, not our entire story. Yes, be a little sad, but also be excited! We have a lot of plans for the future, and a lot of cool things in store for our new brand Natrium Health. So while this is goodbye for Ceretropic, it's not the end of what I am trying to do. I still have a lot of work to do to reach my goal of improving the quality standards and analytical testing of the supplement industry. I've had my hands tied a bit the past couple years, and it has prevented me from doing the things I need to do to reach that goal. So ending this chapter is also going to untie my hands a bit, and allow me to focus more on reaching that ultimate goal. Natrium Health is just a first step on that road. It's just the next chapter in the story, with many more ahead.

I also want to talk about something a bit off-topic, but something I think needs to be said. As many of you know, since I have spoken about it a few times on Reddit, I went through a bad depression over a decade ago. I was close to taking my life on a number of occasions. It was actually that experience that got me interested in neurochemistry and psychopharmacology. I never would have started Ceretropic, if not for that experience. The recent high-profile suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade have brought the issue back into the spotlight. Suicide rates are up nearly 30% since 1999, and I think a lot of that has to do with social media and the disconnect it allows with our own humanity. The ability to hide behind a keyboard and mouse allows people to say things they would not in person. However, that disconnect only goes one way. The receiver still internalizes the things said to them online as they would normally. They still feel the same feelings. I think it is easy to forget that there are real people behind the words written here. We all need to strive to be better to each other. We all need to strive to help improve people's lives around us, because we are all in this together. I also want people reading this who are going through depression, to know that there people out there who know what you are going through. There are people out there who care about what happens to you, even if they have never met you. I've been there. If I had taken my life back then, I would have missed out on so many amazing things. I would have cut short my story before I gave it a chance to surprise me. If anyone here is struggling, please don't give up. There is always the chance for amazing things ahead, and there are people who care about you.

So to end on a lighter note, I hope to surprise many of you with the things ahead. It's goodbye to Ceretropic for now, but hello to a new chapter. If we keep focusing on what is behind us, or what could have been, we will miss the opportunities that lie in front of us. Thank you all again for the support over the years. It has kept me going for a lot longer than I would have without it. I will always appreciate the kind things said to me for the rest of my life. Thank you!