The Year of the Dragon
by Jill Tuggle, ABAT Executive Director
The 2024 Texas Auto Body Trade Show is a wrap! It was another solid, successful year and with so much positive feedback, we couldn’t be happier about our ninth annual show.
We are seeing this year really shape up to be something special for us. We have faced new challenges and been presented with many new opportunities, and it made me think a bit about why this year feels a little different. Is it because of the experience we’ve gained through some of the most crazy and challenging years in recent history? Is it due to the knowledge we have acquired from hitting a 10-year anniversary? Or something more…mystical?
While I was getting a pedicure recently, my technician told me it was the year of the dragon and that in Vietnam (and many Asian cultures) they hold the Chinese zodiac in high reverence. He went on to tell me that one of the most iconic and important animals of the zodiac is the dragon.
The year of the dragon is also said to be lucky, in fact Chinahighlights.com states that “In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck and success. 2024 is forecasted to bring about opportunities, changes and challenges.” And so far, 2024 has done just that.
While 2024 may be the year of the dragon for many people across the globe – and it certainly has lived up to the creature’s promises of opportunities, changes and challenges – I would venture to say here at ABAT it has also been the year of the woman. We have seen such an uprising of amazing women in our industry that have a passion to see it grow and become better by their contributions.
We saw this at our Ladies Night of Honor in Lubbock and then it was further confirmed at the Ladies Event at the Texas Auto Body Trade Show. We planned for just a handful of women to attend as they have in years past, but this year we busted right out of the doors of Salt Bar at the Texican Court. The best energy of the entire weekend could be felt in the 90 minutes spent at this event. So many connections were made and I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish together!
While my personal beliefs differ from those of the zodiac, it is fun to make connections to something with a little mystery and magic. And with several months left in the Dragon’s reign this year, who knows what he – or probably SHE – has up her sleeve!
Want more? Check out the August 2024 issue of Texas Automotive!