Little things #19

 #79. My favorite way to tie my hair

I looked at my old pictures today. I really love them.

My favorite hairstyle --- a high ponytail, tilted to one side. The clothes were styled by me, in my own way. Back then, I don’t think I ever saw anyone on the street dressed quite like that. I also love the angle the photo was taken and there's something special about feeling, the story behind it that it brings back to me.

But I remember… those photos were taken on one of my sad days.

Now, after time has passed and life has brought its results, I look at that sadness differently. What once felt so heavy now feels softer, quieter --- changed.

Maybe right now, the barriers in front of you seem impossibly big.

But one day, you'll see them from a different angle, and maybe that view is even better than you imagined.

You just need to go through it.

I did.

#80. Get motivated again.

Our company welcomed high-level authorities last week, and I had the chance to attend a meeting between our president and them.
Being in that room, I felt motivated again.

Power has its own kind of energy.
These people didn't just end up here by chance.
They brought something unique. They built something.
There's talent, vision, and relentless drive behind their success.

#81. I have my own move

You have your own moves, your own expectations. 

But don't forget --- I have mine too.

Just like in chess, every player has a turn.
Every piece has its purpose.
And I'm not just waiting. I'm thinking. I'm choosing.

My move might be different, unexpected but it's mine.

#82. Somethings about Chess (and Life)

• The opening moves requires patience.
  Small steps count

• There must be an exchange to get results.
  Sometimes, you have to give something up to move forward.

• Losing your strongest piece early --- that's not fun for either side.
  It shifts the tone of the game. It hurts, but it also tests you.

• Your strongest piece still remains. So caution still remains for them too.
  Because one strong piece, played with precision, can turn the whole game around.

• It's not fun if you give up early.
  The game isn't over until it's truly over. You never know what might turn around.

• Time matters. Follow the rules. 
  If you run out of time, you lose even if you're winning on the board.
  Manage your time. It's part of the game.

• The outcome is full of surprises.
  What looks like defeat can still turn into victory. You never really know until the end.

• To get better, you have to look back and practice.
  No one improves just by playing. You improve by reflecting.

• The goal is the most important.
  Never forget what you're playing for. It is the King. Every move you make, protects your King and aims for theirs.

• The game you remember most is the one you tried the hardest at.

I still remember one match: I was down by 6 minutes in a 10-minute game.
I had lost strong pieces early. It looked hopeless. I don't even know where I found the courage. But I stayed patient. I kept going and somehow, in the last minute, literally, I won. I was so happy. 😄 And yes, I now understand why I was so behind on time!

(Looking back, this might be one of the examples of how hard I used to be on myself when I was younger. Even when I win, I feel like it's not enough. 

I was not careful. I lost key pieces too early. I ran out of time. I focus so much on what I did wrong and forget to celebrate what I did right. 

I'm learning to be gentler with myself. To say: Yes, I made mistakes but I still won. And that matters. That's reality --- not perfection, but progress, courage, growth. They show up. Perfection doesn't come in just a few tries. And now, I choose to let my drive for perfection push me toward excellence not against myself.

Hanoi, June 01, 2025