When I cracked open my IELTS study book again, the authors’ guide said to practice reading and writing within a set time. Doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong—what counts is getting used to the time pressure, catching the gist of the text, and just starting to write the second pen hits paper. That’s where this 500-words-a-day blog thing came from.

1. Writing just to write. To sharpen that feel for words, so the moment I pop open a Word doc, my fingers start clacking away, even if I’ve got no idea what I’m typing. 😀

2. To capture that fresh feeling of waking up at 5 a.m., stepping onto the balcony, and gazing toward the Sài Gòn River as an orange sunrise flares up fast to kick off the day.

3. To jot down the little stories from my husband—like when he drags home something new, say a fish tank, and spends ages fiddling with plants, rocks, and dried twigs, turning it into this cool underwater world.

4. To realize that if I didn’t trust him, I’d miss out on these daily sparks of fun he’s always bringing home with a grin.

5. To vent the stress from stuff—named or nameless—tied to work and life.

6. To make something I can show my kids or grandkids one day and say, “Yep, at least I gave it a shot and made something of my own.”

7. To admit there are times when I’m so stuck it’s brutal—like at 27, still fumbling through things like some clueless fresh grad.

8. To keep track of the books I’ve read, the places I’ve been, and what I’ve seen. All through words I’ve honed day by day.

9. To figure out a path when I don’t even know where to start.

And there’s more, too. If I want to find my way, there’s no choice but to get moving and start somewhere—anywhere.