Searching for Words in the Fog

Stephen McHugh
This post was last updated on
December 2, 2025

When I was young and growing up, sometimes trying to speak to someone talking to me felt like I was walking straight into thick fog.

A thought would be clear, the idea ready, and then the words just wander off like, “Right, we’re off on an adventure. See you whenever.”

I stand there looking perfectly calm on the outside, but inside I’m pacing around with a tiny torch calling, “Helloooo? Words? Where are you?”

And the longer the wait, the thicker the fog would became. Pressure works like bad weather. The bad weather rolls in, settles down, and moves away, all in its own time, as and when nature may determine.

People would sometimes assume I was just quiet or unsure. Looking back it was like trying to catch one slippery sentence that kept playing hide-and-seek with me.

But here’s the comforting part and one thing I learned. ‘The fog’ wasn't a failure. Fog is just another form of weather. It shifts. It lifts. It clears in its own time.

And when it does, the words stroll back in casually and become more visible, acting as if they were never missing at all.

If this happens to you too, or ever has already, remember you’re not alone. Some of us simply do our thinking in ‘slightly foggy conditions’, and that’s perfectly okay.

Want to hear more about this phrase?

I’ve created a short video where I explore what it’s felt like to “search for words in the fog”.

You can watch it below:


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