I have one day left for my book to go to the print shop, eight for me to go on vacation, and thirty for the launch in Rio, my hometown, where everything (in my life) began. The countdown is inversely proportional to my anxiety.

When I started planning this vacation, I still didn’t have a release date for my book, I didn’t even know I was going to Brazil in August, but all the events converged. I’m here, trying to get everything ready to enjoy a few days off.

Taking the time to do nothing when we are freelancing (and close to such important dates) is an issue that I hope to overcome with lightness and elegance. In the last few weeks, I’ve had a few episodes of anxiety that I don’t want to repeat at the beach where I scheduled my vacation.

Taking a vacation can cause anxiety

I started writing my book two years ago. We have gone (me, the book, and the editor) through several phases, drafts, editing, doubts, diagrams, covers, proofs, and fears. There were many fears.

I don’t promise to be a good friend for the next four weeks. I’m probably going to be pretty monothematic, but I think I always have been like this. When I become obsessed with a subject, I only talk about it for weeks. Maybe that’s why the book took so long. I needed time to be enchanted by different plots and not print a one-essay book.

The other day, my wife pointed out that I have several old friends, which makes me believe that you, who read this post, are already used to my way of thinking. I’ll try to post here and on Instagram in the next few weeks.

I hope to see you at the book launch in Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. If you can, confirm your presence at the online event, it will help me a lot to control anxiety during the trip (please, I never asked you for anything ;D). And, of course, invite friends, colleagues, enemies, bosses, cousins, and whoever else you want. The event is open, and we will have a little wine to celebrate. =)

See you there!