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First Step in Returning to Form

June 11, 2019 Β· By Vincent Nguyen Β· 20 Comments

First Step to Returning to Form

Writing wasn’t always this difficult… was it? You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to delete the intro to this article and start all over.

If I remember correctly, I used to be able to get in front of the laptop and start typing until I finished an entire article in one sitting. Well, I recall struggling with coming up with topics a lot, but once I had something in mind, it was like magic.

I don’t know, dude, it’s been over three years. Maybe my memory’s a bit fuzzy and my brain’s downplaying how difficult it has always been.

But here I am. It only took me 3 years and three months.

I know, I know. No one asked for this. Too bad, fucker. You’ve already opened the article so might as well finish my rambling piece about nothing.

So what brings me back? I was reading an article by one of my favorite authors when he briefly talked about how he rediscovered his love for writing in his 20s.

Below is the exact excerpt that made me think long and hard… That’s what she said.

“It wasn’t until I was in my mid-20s that I rediscovered how much I loved writing.”

Were you expecting it to have been incredibly profound and life-changing? No, because that was literally the one sentence that made it “click” for me.

It was a simple statement, but that sentence alone sent me through a powerful movie-like flashback. It made me ask myself when I was last so driven I could wake up at 3 am, work for hours before falling asleep, get up again a few hours later to continue working so deeply that I would regularly forget to eat breakfast and lunch.

Damn, I miss that feeling! Just the thought of it is giving me a funny feeling down south (open to interpretation how far down I’m talking about.)

It made me re-examine why I’ve felt so fucking lost these past few years, despite creating a life for myself where I want for nothing and can do just about anything I desire. Or even worse, I can often choose to do jack shit all day, which becomes super depressing and dull.

No amount of tennis, rock climbing, biking, or Virtual Reality gaming ever satiated me in the long-run.

The disappointment in myself for not knowing what I want out of life regularly took me out of the present when spending time with my friends.

It’s extremely obvious now that writing has always energized me in ways nothing else could. The total abandonment of it has thrown me into a desperate search for meaning to where I was considering bartending, sheepherding, dumb private investing, and who knows what other ideas I’ve thrown at my friends.

God, you wouldn’t believe how excited I was after this simple revelation. I was PUMPED! I was singing more emphatically than ever in the shower, so loudly that my neighbors’ knocking to get me to stop would never be audible.

Let’s get to it, Vincenzo, King of Tequila. Sit your butt at the coffee shop downstairs, the apartment pool, wherever, and start typing away, you wannabe writer you.

Yeah, here I am, once again. Here’s my re-debut, a ramble-licious and pointless article with nothing insightful to offer.

I don’t know what I’m trying to say or who I’m writing this article for.

All I know is I needed to write this and hit “Publish.”

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Davis says

    June 13, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Welcome back Vincent!

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 13, 2019 at 7:28 pm

      Thanks, Davis!

      Reply
  2. Agatha Castro says

    June 15, 2019 at 10:34 am

    Haven’t followed you back then, but looking foward to what’s coming!

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 16, 2019 at 1:22 am

      Thanks for following now. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Benjamin Houy says

    June 18, 2019 at 11:11 am

    I’m glad to see you are back. I tend not to read self help blogs because I find most of them too cheesy and not real enough but yours was one the few I used to read so I was quite disappointed when you announced you were taking a break.

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 18, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      Glad to hear it! I’m still polishing up the site’s new design (what do you think, by the way?) and when it’s where I want it, I’ll start promoting this post a bit more on social media plus the email list. I’ll then start publishing again but on a less strict schedule this time around. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Laura says

    June 18, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    Has it been 3 years?! Welcome back! I look forward to reading more from you.

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 18, 2019 at 7:22 pm

      Isn’t it crazy? Time flies!

      Reply
  5. Rams G says

    June 18, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Great to see you are writing again. Sometimes we need to return to what takes us to a happy place, whether it’s a meaningless ramble or playing vinyl on our turntables. In any case glad you are back.

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 18, 2019 at 9:57 pm

      Speaking of turntables and vinyl… I miss my collection! It’s been sitting in my storage unit along with all of my furniture for over a year and a half now. πŸ™

      Reply
  6. Lei Lani says

    June 18, 2019 at 9:40 pm

    Wow. I am so glad that you are writing again, and publishing it for us to read!
    It will be interesting to see how you have grown in the space between. Welcome back to the internets!

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 18, 2019 at 9:58 pm

      Thanks! Happy to see another familiar name in the comments again despite all the time that’s passed.

      Reply
  7. jakks says

    June 19, 2019 at 12:46 am

    Hey fucker! I missed your posts. I got older waiting for your new posts. lol!

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 19, 2019 at 1:42 am

      Hahah well wait no longer! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Ting says

    June 19, 2019 at 9:10 am

    What a time to be back! I remember reading your self help posts when I was looking for a job, trying to make it and now I’m going on my self -funded sabbatical! Welcome back Vincent πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 19, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      Wow! Sounds like you’re doing very well for yourself now. πŸ™‚ Grats!!

      Reply
  9. Nick says

    June 19, 2019 at 1:05 pm

    New design looking good. You’ll have to describe your sabbatical. Begin with Why, as Simon says. Glad to see you again my friend. Stay well.

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 19, 2019 at 9:21 pm

      Soon!

      Reply
  10. Sam Primo says

    June 21, 2019 at 1:03 am

    Welcome back!
    Though I honestly think you put too much pressure on yourself. From the successes you have in your previous posts, I’d say you’ve done a lot of wonderful things.

    Then again, I suffer from sever anxiety, if I put pressure on myself like you did, I’d burn out. 😁😁😁😁

    The fact that you didn’t is completely awesome!

    Though I don’t remember you swearing in any of your previous posts…. 😁😁😁

    What new habits have you picked up?

    Still a nomad? Get a gf? How’s your life changed in three years?

    I graduated from school, top of my class, yet I don’t consider it an accomplishment, I feel empty so it’s nice to have someone to relate with!

    I’m glad you’re back!!!!!

    Reply
    • Vincent Nguyen says

      June 21, 2019 at 1:58 am

      Hahaha I always swore, man! One of my last articles, before I stopped writing, was literally titled “Carefully Allocating the Fucks You Give.”

      I’ll share a bit more about what’s been going on in the last few years in some article(s) in the future. πŸ™‚

      Reply

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