Why UNLEASHED?

Out of all the things on this website – this page is the most difficult. I’ve never been one to talk about myself, except in humorous ways. A quick joke usually satisfies, and the subject matter moves on to the weather, the President, world hunger, etc.

Anything but me. So instead, I’ll talk about ADD:

Attention Deficit Disorder (or, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, if you happen to be rather bouncy), is a normal life killer. You are not focused, dropping the ball on everything but the most important tasks – and only when someone shouts at you to get them done. You are consistently finishing projects under the wire (or missing deadlines all together). Your relationships suck. You never keep in contact with anyone. And all those dreams that you had – well, you’ll get around to them someday. Probably tomorrow. Right after lunch – unless a cool movie is premiering. Frankly, your entire life can be railroaded by a repeat of Happy Days, if the television happens to be on when you walk past it on the way to the door.

But, ADD can be dealt with. Good diet. Plenty of rest. Medication. Heck, the easiest way to deal with it is to simply know that you have it, how it affects you, and take steps to deal with it.

Too bad I never knew I had it.

At least, not until I was about forty years old. By then it was a bit too late for many of the plans that I made in my twenties. I had never known why I didn’t go try to “make it big” in Hollywood, never known why I had bounced from relationship to relationship. I was always feeling like I was slipping. When I finally went in to see my doctor, I was convinced that I was going insane.

Insanity was not the diagnosis. After some tests (cool things with mazes and word-games, and… well, I digress) ADD was the answer.

That knowledge was a blessing and a curse: A blessing because now I knew I wasn’t “broken.” A curse, because I lamented the dreams and people that were left behind. It wasn’t that I went out and gave things my best attempt, but missed the mark – it was that I never bothered to step out (or step up) at all.

In my 20’s, life was for the taking. I was young, good-looking (face it, everyone is good-looking when they are 20), and talented. All I had to do was take the bull by the horns and go get ‘em. And I did – sort of. I moved out to the Los Angeles area, a young man ready to do up his picture and resume and get out there. I was going to be an actor.

A year or so later, I returned to the Inland Empire, my old home, and went back to a regular job. The whole time I was in LA, I never went out. Never took my picture. never auditioned for anything. My existence was never known.

After returning home, I hung out in the community theater circuit, and did rather well on the stage. I managed to convince some of them that I could produce my own work, and I wrote, directed and starred in two comedy productions. They were actually reviewed well, and one or two people even asked, “what are you doing out here?” I was good enough to go try the acting thing, the comedy circuit, or lock myself away to attempt the Great American Novel – But I never got started.

So, here I am, twenty years later. Now I stand on the other side of my diagnosis. This website is one of the results. I keep moving forward. True, I still don’t follow up on every cool plan, and my communication with friends and family is still choppy – but it’s all getting better. Besides, they all know they can find me on Facebook, and pummel me with emails until I answer them.

Vince is unleashing himself on an unsuspecting world. Many may never find this site, but you have. And you have even read the boring parts – I salute you. Please come back and look around often, say hello, and join me in my endeavors.