Lately this year has been feeling like it's a completely new stage in my life. I've been purposely going without video games this month to focus on other things and it opened up some doors for me. I started going back to old hobbies that I can still enjoy, such as making short stories.

On Wednesday was officially my 2-year anniversary of my baptism so that really felt special. I was very excited to share that with others. I've noticed that one of my friends has opened up a lot more in the past month, and I have with him (not just to him, to everyone).

A couple weeks ago I returned to being active on vizzed's forums. I guess you could consider that one of the old hobbies I got back into. Eliminating video games from my life has been fun, but of course I miss playing them. Only 2 more days until I play them again I don't want to let it go back to the way it was before. I became pretty lazy and all I wanted to do was play video games here instead of interacting with the users that motivated me to keep coming here to post. I can say for sure that I'll be limiting the video games. Still playing them but not letting them take over my life.

The final thing is that today I got my learner's permit, so I have the added responsibility of learning how to drive. I'm happy about all of this but it feels like life is moving too fast. I want to make the most of it but it's hard to do what I want to do when there's so much homework I have to do and busyness in general.

Despite all this happening, I still feel sad because I'm still waiting on being able to communicate with some of my best real life friends who happened to all no longer be able to use their phones to contact me. I'm glad I have vizzed to help me through that, and God and family of course

It is good to step back every now and then and do things that do not involve a game controller or keyboard. We all could benefit from that.

As for driving,I hope you have a licensed driver going with you that will be patient. I would suggest an empty parking lot at first just to get you used to things. You can also practice parking while you are at it. Then go onto small roads that are one lane each,to get some practical experience and then get it into your head that highways are the same thing,just with more lanes.

I guess one bit of advice I can give you is this: Assume the other guy does not have a brain. I have lost count of how many times someone cut me off or got onto the highway when I am driving at 50-60 mph.

The important thing to remember, is that your best friend in life is going to be yourself, and that no matter what you do, you yourself have to be happy with it.

It sounds like you did something important to make you more healthy (yes, video games can be tied into health), and it turned out extremely well for you, to the point where you now have more non-gaming hobbies. I'll probably never do the same thing, but it's nice knowing someone had success quitting cold turkey.

I would advise against getting too sucked into Vizzed however, it's a black hole and you had escaped from it, even if momentarily. Purposefully jetting into it could have complications for your new found health.

It's good to hear you are doing well. Thank you for the update!

Oldschool777 : Yeah, I plan on learning to adapt to the steering wheel and brakes in an empty parking lot close to my house. I'll be careful not to trust that the other driver(s) know what they're doing since I've seen many things happen close to my mom's car while I'm riding in there with her.

legacyme3 : I don't plan on being on vizzed very much aside from trying to post a bit more and play games. I think I won't have much time for it aside from weekends anyways.

Thank you both for the advice!

Be thankful you are not learning on an old car with no power steering or power brakes. I learned to drive in a 1981 Chevette. That was a small hatchback,good on gas,and was an economical little car.