Journey of the mind

#68. Sometimes, I don't need to be a winner. But I want to achieve my goal, as always. Can you differentiate between a winner and a goal achiever? #69. T he pork slice   While cooking noodles, I noticed a slice of pork in my refrigerator. I didn't plan to cook it, but somehow, it brought back memories of my time in Korea. Back then, I used to work nearly ten-hour shifts, from 8:30 AM to 7 PM,  doing manual labor  with only a humble lunch --- kimchi and a few side dishes during a short break. I even made a YouTube video about that experience  Where is the limit of human being?? On days when we had fish or pork, it felt more special. After standing for four and a half hours and feeling really hungry, I would go eat lunch with my coworkers at 1 PM. The company provided our meals, a part of its culture, so we didn't have to bring our own. I remember appreciating the pork slice and eating happily. But after I almost finished it, my coworker said the pork was cheap an...

Luckily, I finished my third book in March, keeping up with my goal of reading 12 books a year. As I mentioned in an earlier post , I decided to buy Chuyện của Ngân after reading her Blog about her love story. Her love story is as pink as the book's cover --- something she also affirms in her writing. She met the right person at the very beginning of her love journey. This book is a must-read for those who want to believe in love --- not the kind found on screens or fairy tales, but love that is real, simple, and full of small, beautiful moments. However, I noticed that the book doesn't explore the early stages of her love story as much as her blog did, which I personally found more captivating. Perhaps it's something she intended to keep special for her Blog. Instead, it tells scattered stories from her daily family life, including those about her childhood, her sisters, and her husband's family --- yet it remains engaging. Honestly, I was deeply emotional, with tears...

Collected sentences 1. Stop explaining yourself. 2. Happiness is not for those who refuse to grow. 3. The next place where flowers will bloom. Flowers bloom, and we will meet Buddha. 4. Freedom is for those who dare to move forward. 5. The more disciplined you are, the freer you become 6. We only lose what we once had. 7.  Consider it normal to walk some paths alone, because the goal is personal 8. You already have everything you need 9.  You need to stop only seeing the good, and start seeing what they're not showing you 10.  Learn to heal without complaining to everyone                                                                                                       ...

I printed my old posts as letters --- promises, motivations, and reminders for my future self (you can click to enlarge the images for clear reading).                                                                                                                                                                     Hanoi, March 28, 2025

The most recent film I watched was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ngọa Hổ Tàng Long, directed by Ang Lee). It is a mention in a YouTube video titled LOVE has NOTHING to do with RELARIONSHIP: setting the record straight . This is my favorite way to discover films - stumbling upon recommendations while searching for something else, rather than following trends, direct suggestions, or actively looking for a movie to watch. It had been a long time since I last watched a Chinese-language film. The last time was probably in childhood when I had plenty of time, boundless excitement, and endless curiosity to fully immerse myself in long dramas - series with at least 50 episodes airing daily on television. I grew up familiar with Chinese films spanning various dynasties and genres. As I got older, while my friends gravitated toward idol dramas and school romance, I wasn't particularly interested, having already seen many similar Korean dramas. Later, my focus shifted to English-language f...

If being myself is wrong, I don't want to be right. Honestly, I don't want to be right when I am eager to follow my dreams. I don't want to be right when I carry the purest belief. I don't want to be right when I trust someone as deeply as I trust myself. I don't want to be right when I am kind and help others. I don't want to be right when I see life as simple. I don't want to be right when I am emotional I don't want to be right when I cherish the past with nostalgia. I don't want to be right when I am curious, asking lots of questions. I don't want to be right when I am different. I don't want to be right when I move at my own pace. I don't want to be right if finding joy in little things makes me happy I don't want to be right when I am sensitive I don't want to be right when I feel deeply. I don't want to be right when I take the time to learn to love myself - so I can truly love others. But the wisdom life has taught me:...

The most recent film I watched was Unforgiven (directed by Clint Eastwood), based on a recommendation. After a quick  Google image search and seeing that it was a historical film with a strong IMDb score (8.2/10), I decided to watch it. Historical themes have always attracted me because they align with my curiosity for exploration, my desire to discover something new, and my inclination toward immersing myself in a reality that once existed. Unforgiven is a classic take on the Western genre and cowboy-action films, released in 1992 in America. I'll share my thoughts on a few aspects that stood out to me, without diving too deeply into historical analysis - just as a casual film watcher. As always, I pay close attention to technique, imagery, and music. This film features many stunning shots of the steppe, creating lasting memories for me. The story is quite simple, but it includes several memorable details, such as the friendship between Bill and Ned, The  Schofield Kid's...

--------------------------------- --------- My hand writing follows from  Meddon   ( M eddon)  typeface, a handwriting font created from the handwritten script of an Eighteenth century legal document. --------------------------------- ---------   Everything you are, more than you know You told me you're not perfect, Yet you fit perfectly into my world in ways no one else could You told me you're not romantic, Yet you are the love story I've always dreamed of. You told me you're not beautiful, Yet in you, I see the purest kind of beauty. You told me you're not patient, Yet you wait for me, as if time doesn't matter. You told me you're not wise, Yet your words reshape the way I see the world You told me you often forget Yet you hold onto the little things that matter most. You told me you're picky, Yet you savor every bite of my cooking with a smile. And now, I tell you- You are everything I never knew I was looking for.           ...

#60 Wait for flowers to bloom I was given a succulent as a gift from my company on International Women's Day (March 8), just like all the other women in my company. It's such a beautiful and symbolic gift! We say,  "wait for it to bloom,"  much like we wait for life to bloom. It reminds me of a Vietnamese song I really love, Chờ ngày lời hứa nở hoa ( Wait for the promise to bloom ). A succulent is strong, resilient, and grows with time - just like personal growth and the unfolding of life's promises. It carries the hope that whatever we nurture - whether in life, love, or dreams - will eventually blossom. #61. My  balanced lifestyle I have two days off on weekends. I usually dedicate one day to socializing - to be more active, have fun,  develop interpersonal skills and expand my comfort zone. The other day is just for me, where I do whatever I feel like. This balance makes my weekends fulfilling and keeps me from feeling empty. I already have go-to social ac...

#54.  Answers with clear intentions I come across so many videos that aim to help women in relationships, but to be honest, I don't like them much. They often make it seem like men are the center of everything. But a healthy, lasting relationship is built on mutual effort and choices --- both sides meeting each other halfway. If that balance isn't there, you simply won't get what you want. As I mentioned before, Little things #12 ,  advice  shouldn't be followed blindly. Here are some examples: Signs he truly loves you -  These videos list things a man does when he loves you, but it isn't just about actions - it's also about the person behind them. It's not just about your side. It's about both of you. You have to consider whether "he" in your relationship truly possesses the qualities to become a "man" they are describing. Men love women who are detached -  There's some truth to this. A relationship needs space, and a woma...