Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed

Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed | The Plight Of A Writer | To Be A Writer

A fellow blogger (WellsFiction) moved to the platform Vocal recently and I decided to subscribe since I enjoy their content. And when I signed in, Vocal kindly reminded me that I already have an account with them. Oops. I guess I forgot about that lol. So this was my something old that was technically my something new. Turns out, I had actually written a short story kind of thing on Vocal. Rereading it brought back so many memories.

Usually, rereading old content makes me cringe. I tend to really dislike some of my older posts, I feel like they weren’t good enough. But I love that my writing has improved over the years. However, this short post was something I am incredibly proud of. I was reading through it and I kept thinking- that’s my voice. Like as a writer, I mean. I guess it’s more relatable for me since it’s about me, lol, but I just love the way I wrote it. I don’t know how to explain it.

I love having these little blasts from the past. Finding something old like this can bring back so many memories. It’s so well written (in my opinion) that I wouldn’t believe I wrote it if I didn’t have hazy memories of writing it lol. I need to find this voice again, I hope I can.

Anyway, if you’re interested in reading it on Vocal use this link: https://vocal.media/psyche/the-life-of-an-anxious-brown-girl

I really hope you read it and let me know what you think of it in the comments below because I’m seriously curious to hear your thoughts on it!

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124 responses to “Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed”

  1. You really spoke your mind six years ago, Pooja! I never cared for The Office which is still on the air via my cable channels. You mentioned that you can never get enough sleep in that post, you’ve said that in this space too. Sleep well, Pooja. 😊

    1. Yeah, I was more outspoken then and I tend to censor myself a little on WP lol! Thanks, I slept quite well last night actually! 😴

      1. Sleep is good! I just woke up. I’m more outspoken these days.

  2. Both post are amazing. Kudos to 20 year Pooja for writing such an insightful post. I can feel the anxiety jumping out at me. Impressive!

    1. Thanks so much, really appreciate that!

  3. I have to admit, my previous blog posts have never bothered me. I think because I view all my posts as a snapshot in time of who I am at that moment. So when I look back, I’m not looking back at the current me, but the me who I used to be. I also don’t write fiction, so that probably helps 😀

    Is vocal just another blogging platform?

    1. That makes sense and is a healthy way to look at it. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist so I hate seeing the flaws in my old writing.

      Yeah, Vocal is a blogging/writing platform but it pays per view.

      1. Ahhhh, a perfectionist. You have my sympathies 🙂

        Is it free to join? Or do people have to pay to join? I’m always on the look out for alternate blogging platforms, even if 99% of them don’t work out for me. I like having options 😀

        1. We didn’t have to pay when I joined but not sure about what it’s like now. I believe they have a free and a premium paid option. But the free one is really good, I found it easy to use even after several years. Would definitely recommend trying it out. It’s a good idea to join new platforms and try them out 😀

            1. No problem.

  4. That was an awesome post! Excessive use of the f word and it totally worked, so I’m envious. I would love to write like I talk but censorship boards are just waiting for the slightest slip up to get rid of me. Great post, really enjoyed it.

    1. Thanks so much! I generally tend to censor myself a little more these days and especially on WP as they are more strict.

  5. 🤔 Hmm. Creating an account over on Vocal and forgetting all about it is interesting.

    By the way, I do not think that you should be bothered by your past writing style because that was the way you wrote back then and there is nothing much that you can do about it.

    Yes, your style of writing has evolved over the years (And, that is a good thing because it has shown that you made progress).

    Be proud of your past and your present!

    1. Thanks, I know I should just accept my older posts as they are but being a perfectionist I tend to cringe at the flaws. Still, some of those old posts I really enjoy.

      1. Perfectionism, that’s anxiety speaking isn’t it? Looking for any flaws before anyone else can see them, and trying to avoid criticism at all costs.

        Anxiety finds its roots when we haven’t learned to accept ourselves or learned to give ourselves grace for being normal, for being human. Those things usually come from messaging we have internalized, but when we teach ourselves to like ourselves, we create a safe space within our minds to be able to make mistakes, and not be a failure!

        Kudos to the awareness you have shown and for all the ways you have grown!

        1. I think more than anxiety, it’s rooted from trauma. Or perhaps the trauma is the reason for the anxiety. Well, something to talk to my therapist about during the next session I guess lol.

          Thanks so much. True, it’s so vital to love ourselves and accept our flaws. No one is perfect and searching for perfectionism is a lost cause.

  6. I love it raw, unedited, takes you right into the heart of the matter, intriguing, bold, very relatable. Brilliant! You need to write more stream of consciousness kind of things IMHO anyways. No pressure there.

    1. Thank you so much. I hope to do some more in the future but I think I need to get back into it since it’s been a long time.

      1. Back to the future

  7. Hopefully now mature Pooja is not as anxious as the previous younger version😄

    1. Yes, I’m much better now 😊

  8. Thank
    This was indeed lovely.

    I’m curious to know more about that 20 year old who’s trying to get out of your comfort zone.

    Your style has changed a lot. I wonder if you want to write like that now.

    Is this the same best friend we all know now? 😊

    Now I want to read more of your work. I think I should do that now 😇

    1. Thanks so much. I don’t think you would have liked 20 year old me. I don’t even like her. But she was a damn good writer, I have to hand it to her.
      I honestly don’t remember which best friend it was tbh. Such a long time ago 😭

      1. Do you think that version of you can become the finest blogger?
        I strongly believe you are the finest blogger over here, but can 20 year old PG become finest blogger, if she had started LFW in 2013?
        If we not talk about writing style.
        Yes, she can write wonderfully, but I can guarantee, she cannot write like lifesfinewhine.
        Regular reader can easily find difference in both the PGs.
        what you think?

        and when Dentmistry came into your life?

        1. Yeah, I don’t think that PG could make it on WP like I did. However, she was blogging too lol. Just not as well as me 😅
          I was friends with DentMistry back then too. We’ve been friends since we were kids lol. But I have multiple best friends and don’t know which I was talking about then.

          1. So yeah it’s all your hardwork for last 8 years.

            You have become what you are today. This is best version and extremely lovely.

            Last qs, would that PG be helpful and supportive like you are??
            Like would she care to reply to mails, seeking help and being this supportive as you are?

            1. That PG would straight up have blocked you, lol. She was ruthless 😅

              1. Good thing I never interacted with her. Can’t be friends with her 😨

                1. She’s not friendly so yeah, it’s good you never met that version of me 😅

  9. I would say that the one thing you did right that day was to binge watch The Office. Always a good choice. How do you like vocals?

    1. Agreed, The Office is always a win. I liked Vocal back then and they pay per view which is nice. I had apparently made $0.20 off this story back then lol. Vocal is also a bit easier to use that WP since it’s more straightforward. But I don’t know about SEO and stuff like that.

  10. Reading your tagline from that account… it seems you have succeeded at getting out of your comfort zone. 😊🌻It is a process, that never seems to end!

    1. Thanks so much, true we always have to keep working on it! 😊

      1. You are welcome. 😊 I suppose that keeps life interesting!

  11. I liked it and found it highly relatable. I do not like the way you speak to yourself, but also, I talk about myself the same way.

    1. Thanks so much. Yeah, I know I should be kinder to myself but it’s hard to break old habits.

  12. Oh, I’ve never heard of vocal before. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely check it out. I am a little … doubtful of myself. I guess we should learn to love ourselves. I mean our voice, our writing, our past, our looks. Everything about us.

    1. Thanks so much. Yeah, true I think we should try to love ourselves more. But easier said than done I guess.

  13. Thanks for the shoutout, Pooja! I get really anxious reading my old post too. Yet it’s fun to go back and re-read the classics sometimes 🙂

    1. You’re very welcome and totally agree!

  14. It was a totally relatable post. We all go through it at some or the other point of our life. And I actually like rereading my old posts or stories.

    1. Thanks so much and that’s nice. I’m glad you enjoy your old posts/stories.

  15. I loved that post. I was cracking up towards the end because I could see my younger self (and maybe my present self 🙄) in those situations. But then I felt guilty because I thought I should be feeling better empathy for your stress and anxiety. You have almost 26K followers, so you must be doing something right 🙂

    1. Haha thanks. Yeah, anxiety does that and we end up overthinking everything. Oh well, life goes on I guess. 🙃

  16. Your story is so relatable. I have low concentration because random things keep going on in my mind all the time. The ‘Thank’ incident is so relatable and hilarious. Many times, I say or do things that keep bothering me later.

    1. Thanks so much. I tend to do and say silly things too that embarrass me for ages.

  17. So well written post Pooja. Sleep is so very important and one should make it a priority.

    1. Thanks so much. I totally agree, I’ve been trying to get my sleep schedule back in line these days.

      1. I hope you get there. 🤗

        1. Thanks 🤗

          1. Take care

              1. 🩵🩵🩵

  18. Your writing was good back then…it has evolved now surely..

    1. Thanks so much. In some ways it has evolved and in some ways I’ve lost some of what made my writing good back then. But that’s life I guess.

  19. Scary stuff Pooj. You need to overcome this anxiety. There’s too much life.

    1. Thanks, that was written a while back and I’m actually better these days!

  20. It flows very naturally and expresses your state of mind quite well. I think I first went to a University around 1966. We had no personal computers or internet. There was no way to express ourselves this way. The word anxiety wasn’t used. You had to show up or be expelled. There was no sympathy anywhere. My Father told me NOT to see a psychiatrist because he said you don’t want them to put down on your permanent record that you’re “crazy.” I wanted to understand things but no one explained to me that in calculus and physics it’s to be expected that many things are not to be understood. You could come up with an equation or function which could NOT be solved or understood, but they just gave it a special name and saw how it could be used in other equations to get useful results. It was like “|The thing we don’t understand|” multiplied by |something we do know = “|Something Useful|”. I wasted too much time trying to understand things and going in circles while feeling more and more stupid. Most kids just learned to do the calculations, get the right answer, learn the jargon, and say, yes of course I understand, and I got a good grade etc. Very intimidating. And no friends, no social life, no excuses. Just a nothing. That’s when I died, and my soul was destroyed by torture.

    1. Sorry to hear your experience wasn’t great. Things were different back then. But I can relate to an extent too. I was always “smart” in high school but university made me feel stupid. I passed and did well but my self-esteem too a hit.

  21. “I fall asleep with a smile on my face….”through that day I’m glad it ended this way for you.

    to many more smiles as you fall asleep every night, dear Pooja🤍🤗

    1. Thanks so much 😊

      1. my pleasure 🤍

  22. On finding your voice: I’ve been at my blog since 2016 but my entries are sporadic and irregular. I don’t have a very large readership, maybe 300 people, but I make no effort to promote the blog. I had originally intended for it to keep friends and family in the loop and I am, frankly, stunned when I find that complete strangers read it. As for my voice, it has definitely evolved over the years. I do care about the people who I do know read my blog and so I find that I have reigned in some of my edgier characteristics, I can be quite opinionated on certain topics and pretty brash. I am also very enthusiastic about science topics but I know that this will bore many people, so I try to keep that down to a dull roar. Still, when I read past entries, I find that when I talk about the things that are important to me, I think that is my best writing and I say, yeah, that’s me.
    I read your old entry and I relate to much of what you’ve been through and still struggle with.

    1. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes, I believe as writers we’ve constantly evolving and that means our voice changes over time. I tend to censor myself more on WP too. I have some younger or more sensitive readers and want to take them into account too. But I was more myself on Vocal back then. I wrote how I thought without filtering it.
      Thanks and I’m both glad and sad you could relate. Anxiety is a struggle and so is overthinking.

      1. I like to say that Overthinking is my superpower.

        1. Haha yes, it’s a gift and a curse depending on the moment.

  23. I enjoyed your story, Pooja. It is matter of fact and down to earth. Every now and then, I peruse my archives and sometimes I am surprised at what I wrote and others are just meh.

    1. Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I’m the same way. Some things I like and some I don’t.

      1. You’re welcome, Pooja.

  24. Honey, the meds didn’t give you a false sense of anything. It balanced your body chemistry. The problem was true and real. If it was doctor prescribed and it worked then it helped your body to be more balanced. Would you tell a person that the feeling better taking insulin because they were diabetic was fake? Just a different way to look at it. As old Willy Shakespeare said, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” Sorry, not putting down anything. It was a great post. You weren’t feeling something fake, you were feeling how you were meant to feel with your body in balance. You thought of it as fake. Hope this is some help and makes some sense. Sorry if it offends you.

    1. I think you misunderstood what I meant or jumped to conclusions a little bit. The meds did not help me at all. The anxiety and depression didn’t go away after taking the medications. They were still there, the meds simply made me feel numb. I couldn’t even get out of bed due to the medications. I don’t know how to describe it other than it felt like I was alive but dead on the inside. I literally couldn’t feel anything. It was like I was watching my life from a window. The “false sense of happiness” I mentioned came in waves. I would feel extremely happy sometimes and then randomly extremely depressed where I couldn’t do anything at all. And some of the others I tried gave me really bad side effects like extreme acid reflux to a point that I couldn’t eat anymore. I think medication is an amazing option for those that it works for. However, I also think it’s not for everyone. Personally, I’ve found therapy and natural remedies so much more helpful and they don’t make me feel ill all the time. Hope that cleared it up and no offence taken at all. I always appreciate my readers being honest with me 🙂

      1. Interesting because you said you got out of bed feeling happy…which seems to be a plus and not a minus. Numb is a sign of too much for your system. Some people it seems to take a lot of time and trial to get the right thing and dose as well. One of my friend’s kids went through … it might have been literally a year+ and more toward the plus until she found the right thing. However if therapy and stuff is helping then that’s great. Nothing is one size fits all. I’m often more nervous about negative reviews on meds because there is a tendency for everyone to jump on a bandwagon of mental health meds are bad which is also bad. It’s not an easy balance. My main concern is that there are also people who would have wound up dead without proper meds and they tend to feel better and pull off them…catastrophic things could follow. Kind of a two sides to the coin thing. So, that is where my concerns come from. Any time anyone was talking pulling off meds, I would refer to their doctors and specialists. Not a thing to mess with lightly. Anyway, that’s just my thing. Best wishes.

        1. With some of the meds I tried I did get out of bed feeling happy for the first few days and then the side effects kicked in, unfortunately. I didn’t add every detail to the story since it’s irrelevant to the plot. Also, the story is based on me but not fully true.

          Yeah, for many it takes a while to adjust, find the right medication etc. But I consulted my psychiatrist before taking the meds and when deciding to stop them. And I talk to her every time my mental health gets bad because sometimes we may not know when we need meds but the medical professionals do. She’s actually the one who recommended my current therapist. And the three of us discussed everything in detail before deciding that therapy and natural remedies along with meditation/yoga was enough for now. However, she’s in contact with the therapist and if they feel I need meds I’m still open to it.

          I know where you’re coming from. There’s so much stigma behind mental health and taking medications for mental health issues. I know lots of people suffer or end up taking their own lives rather than take their meds. It’s really sad. And honestly, meds are the best option for a lot of people depending on their circumstances. I think no matter what, it’s best to listen to the professionals when possible. I know not everyone can afford professional help but those that can absolutely should get it.

  25. That’s so you. So now, six years later – do you know what you want? If so, do you know how to get it? To achieve what you want? Your goals?
    I think that you, and your voice, hasn’t changed much.
    ~
    IMO – The internet isn’t really a substitute for face-to-face therapy. And therapy can only do so much. In the real world, well, “it’s a shitty world” as my psych-girl says. But, she also says, “It’s up to you.”
    Talk it over with your psych-girl/guy?
    Hang in there; and Take care of ourself.

    1. Yes, I have much clearer goals now and a better plan on how to achieve them. And an in-person therapist lol. I agree, online therapy isn’t always a good substitute for the real thing.

  26. Nice story Pooja!

    1. Thank you!

  27. Well-written article, pooja! Your writing is always fantastic.

    1. Thank you so much!

  28. I never heard of Vocal so thank you for sharing about it. Writing itself is an evolving process and it showcases our emotions and personality. It’s always a good idea to find different ways to voice your thoughts.

    1. Thanks so much. I very much agree, as writers our voice is constantly evolving.

  29. come on now gupta just janov! you ll feel better.

      1. anxious? yes. the dog barked . the ex called pope st son tom. and i went back to bed gupta.

      2. we are what we eat

  30. I used to feel weird reading things I wrote way back …. but now not anymore, I honour each stage of my journey… helps that have been blogging in the same space for close to a decade so have had a world of a time to adjust my perception.

    Loved the article, so authentic and relateable… thing with being a veteran blogger is after awhile you sort of become a brand and your writing voice becomes more ‘structured’ a blessing and a curse.

    ~B

    1. That’s a really great way to look at it. I’m trying to do that too but the little voice in my head is annoying.

      Thanks so much. True, a blessing and a curse.

      1. hahaha the little voice in the head is always a hater but you know what they say about haters, they are what make you famous… 🌟
        ~B

  31. Hey, I read your short story on vocal. It was good. It was emotive and there is a struggle in the words, but it ends light-hearted which is really nice. I liked it 🙂

    1. Thanks so much. Really happy to hear that you liked it 🙂

  32. Your post on Vocal is so relatable especially the best friend part. It feels as though it’s me you’re talking about. I have never felt this exposed 🫣. Great one!

    1. Aw, thanks. Glad I’m not alone in feeling that way 😅💕

  33. I absolutely enjoyed reading your post! Six years ago is a long time. You told it like it was and didn’t hold back one bit! Keep on speaking your mind.

    1. Thanks so much, I’m trying to go back to writing like that and it’s nice to read unedited work sometimes.

      1. I go back and read some of my first posts and I have improved a lot in my writing.

        1. I feel the same way. I think as writers we all evolve over time.

          1. Yes, I think so too because we all started somewhere on our writing journey that has brought us to where we are now.

      2. Pooja I agree with Shaunelius, the work is wonderful as it is, and is just as valid now as it was then! Bravo!

        1. Thank you!

  34. That was a very expressive and well understood story of your past life on Vocal. You have certainly matured a lot since then. Nice job though.

    1. Thanks so much, yes I’ve grown a lot since then.

  35. I loved how you shared your thoughts in your post in Vocal.

    1. Thank you so much, really appreciate it.

      1. You are welcome.

  36. Yes. I read the other post Pooja and found it very interesting. I too have trouble getting out of bed so I can relate to that well. I have to take a sleeping pill or I wouldn’t sleep at all. I hate it though. I always wake feeling drained of energy. Oh well… You should be proud; very good article. I’d like to see more like it, revealing more about your character.

    1. Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed the post and I guess it sucks you could relate but it’s always nice to know we aren’t alone.

  37. I think it’s good that you wrote what you felt. It was raw, and it sounded like you stepped out of your comfort zone as well. I don’t think pass posts should be feared. If anything, we grow over the years, and I’m glad you’re doing better now. ❤️

    1. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it. It’s so true, it reminds us of how much we’re grown ❤️

  38. There’re so many blogging platforms out there I’ve never heard of most of them! Vocal is new to me. A new(ish) one I was recently introduced to is Zirkels (https://zirkels.com/). It runs on DeSo, which I’ve talked about before and frankly am not a huge fan of, but the Zirkels platform itself seems quite nice (although I’m not a huge fan of the name). Reading a post there feels quite similar to WordPress but I haven’t tried writing one yet, so I can’t speak to that.

    1. That’s interesting, I hadn’t heard of Zirkels before. I hate the name, not going to lie, but it does sound like a good option for bloggers. Vocal is very similar, you get paid per view.

      1. Yeah I think crypto presents great opportunities for earning income for content, it’s just that nobody is implementing it very well. I’d do it if I had the time and skill! I know WP has at least one plug-in that lets you add tipping with bitcoin to your blog but you need a business account.

        1. I didn’t know about that plugin but probably a good idea for those interested in Bitcoin. Sucks that it’s not offered to everyone though.

  39. I cringe at my old posts too, because I know I write better, too. And at the same time, I smile at my voice as well. So this post totally resonates with me.

    1. Yeah, it’s a bit of both when we read old posts.

  40. Sometimes we can forget we opened up web sites and get a surprise to be reminded. I have a couple of those too I just remembered after reading your blog.

    1. So true, it happens to me once in a while too.

  41. it was good ! 🙂

    1. Thank you!

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