Little things #11

#35. It is not that bad after that

The day I realized I was not good as I think. It sucked. I felt totally sad and disappointed about myself. In addition, I feel embarrassed about how people would look at me. Fortunately, it didn't last the whole day. I had to stand up and move forward. Whatever people think, I have to stay stronger to be better. Because it seems I don’t have choices other than that. 

After that, there are more days I figured out still more things I am fooled about and have to improve a lot. However, it was not that bad compared to the initial discovering day. I know to embrace imperfection while staying committed to my goals. In another word, I get used to feel I am not good at something lol.

#36. Preparation to say goodbye

If you tell me that you're sad because you'll soon leave to your familiar place to go to another one. I'll tell you that I also used to say goodbye a place that closed to me suddenly, unexpectedly, and didn't know whether I can come back or not. I feel grateful if I have time to prepare and say goodbye.

If you tell me that you're sad because you are attending your last lesson in class. I'll tell that I used to be in class with everything is as usual but I will drop unexpectedly. I pretended like nothing happens

If you tell me that your day is normal. I'll tell you that there are days I just want it to be normal. I feel like I get used to with days with everyone and everything is normal but I am not (For example: go to the supermarket on daytime Monday :))

These experiences deepen my understanding of the value of normal moments. I desire to create my stable and ordinary days with incredible moments instead. 

#37.  How to show it matter

I have learned that it is fine to accept and show my feeling, emotions, the time I struggled. Why I should hide them when it is still there and nothing wrong with it. It is obvious to be sad, depressed and frustrated when you are transformed and growth. 

I confirm that if you pass through the darkest time, you will see the light. That was my case, too. I encountered hardship and challenges early on. After going through it, I didn’t feel empty but fulfilled. It seems painful and sadness experiences create a deep bond with self-awareness and resilience. I believe in myself about my continuous learning process. I've learned to reframe hardships as an revealing my immense strength and what truly matter to me. 

I express all of them as the approach of authenticity, openness, example of resilience. I would love you to perceive it positively as the way it is. I strongly believe that you can gain something from my lessons which I have learned mostly on the path of pain. Experiences lead to wisdom. To be less painful, I know I can learn from the pain of others (the path of light: ask for help, reading books, etc). That is a reason I show my journey here that hope it helps.

I refer the path of pain and the path of light in this YouTube video The two paths: how people learn. It reassures my outlook about earning wisdom in life.

#38. Personal brand

I’d love to produce something instead of just consuming or an audience. I’m thinking what I can produce. Absolutely, I am researcher. I can create something that have never invented in science (not yet lol). However, I am thinking about producing something outside that. Like a poem, a book, a novel story, YouTube videos, drawings, songs or whatever. 

The bigger questions is what I can bring to people? How to make mine different with others?  What is my brand? What make people can recognize it immediately my products. I found out. It is far more easy to talk about myself, my journey, my experience and my feeling. They are absolutely unique. It's hard to find someone having same family culture, childhood, same education and thinking process etc. It would be unique and definitely become my brand. What I am writing here all uniqueness about my journey. Perhaps, I have to consider more about authorship and copyright :)

Anyway, I concluded that just need to start, begin to build. By letting go the pressure of overly unique from the outset, just do what I am passionate about, I will find out, adapt, refine and shape my path as I go. My ultimate goal is just to give myself freedom to produce, to be creative, to grow will open many doors for me and motivate me everyday. Obviously, along this journey I can expand my knowledge by searching resources, references and reading books. I can see myself more confident and interesting which many topics to talk about all day long :)

#39. My time

My 20s through several photos below. I have gone through the highs and lows of life that shaped who I am today. I have tried as best as I can in my 20s. I don’t regret anything because I don’t think I could do better with that version of myself. That was best things I could think and act back then. 

Some say thanks to hardship, it helps us to become stronger and better. It is not totally true. The hardship happens in life just the way it is and it has to in reality without exact meaning and purpose. The way you react and response define that hardship and reveal who you really are. How strong and brave you are depends on the story you tell to yourself, how you reflect and what you have learn from it. Mostly, it is about you. Don’t save some compliments for yourself.

Hanoi, January 12th, 2025