When You Look Back and See the Path

The past few years have been anything but dull. A part of my time is spent within the walls of the family Museum of motorcycles in Vransko, a place that feels like a second home. It genuinely inspires me to watch its recognition grow — not only through the awards we’ve received, but through the rise in visitors who arrive with curiosity, respect, and a desire to understand the heritage we preserve.

Meanwhile, my work as CEO of the Slovenian Federation for Historic Vehicles (SVAMZ) continues to drive meaningful and visible progress. Membership grows, our long-standing members stay loyal, and our projects deepen and evolve. Even Avto Motor Classic magazine, which began as a brave experiment years ago, now stands as a confident voice of our movement.

And then, of course, there is FIVA — where I have had the privilege of leading the Culture and Youth Commission for several years now.

And of course, my family and my growing children, who remind me every day that life rarely follows our plans — and that this is its magic.

People often ask how I manage all of this. I simply answer: because it matters. And because I truly love what I do.

“Mom, why do you work all the time, even on Sundays?”

This question follows me every day. And it cuts right to the essence. Is it enough to say that I love what I do? Perhaps it isn’t a perfect answer — but it is a true one.

When your work is something you love, the limits fall away.

I am driven by progress — not by perfection, but by evolution. By the quiet, steady unfolding of something that gains meaning through time and dedication.

When I took over the FIVA Culture and Youth Commissions, I inherited a few ideas, little structure, and quite a bit of resistance. I was the youngest on the board and in the commissions, surrounded by seasoned personalities — or as my children affectionately call them, the Gandalfs — who often find it difficult to let go of their roles, and sometimes even try to reclaim them after they have stepped aside.

This is not something unique to FIVA. It is how many organizations breathe, shift, and resist change.

Which is exactly why I believe in mentoring. Growth needs guidance. Transition needs support. And renewal needs people who are willing to lift others up — not guard their place.

The Energy That Returns

Do I get tired? Yes. Sometimes deeply so.

But then — something happens.

A message of support.

A simple “Good job, Nataša!”

A successful project.

A young member stepping forward with courage.

A colleague saying: “These matters.”

And the strength returns. Not forced — but renewed.

Some jokingly call me Mama Nataša.

Maybe because I insist things get done. Maybe because I don’t allow us to sink into endless discussions without resolution. Maybe because I keep my promises.

Am I sometimes impulsive? Yes — because I am human. And alive. And deeply invested.

Work as Meaning

The greatest thing I have helped shape — and have been shaped by — is a community. A living, breathing, committed one.

A circle of people who do not work out of obligation, but out of conviction.

This is our glue. This is our direction. This is our strength.

A Step That Feels Natural

When I consider the candidacy for FIVA Vice President Internal Affairs, I do not see a title. I see continuity. A further weaving together of what we have already begun.

The relationships, the trust, the energy — none of it appeared by accident. It is the result of work, patience, resilience, and choosing collaboration and transparency over politics.

I do not compete with anyone.

I do not promise what cannot be done.

I promise only what I know to be true:

I will show up. I will lead. I will build. I will finish what I begin.

Not instantly. But always.

MY PROGRAM AND PRESENTATION FOR ELECTIONS: