1. Childhood:
My childhood was quite intense with times of picking fruits at the neighbor's orchard with my friends, times of skinny dipping or getting bitten by dragonflies while learning to swim. We were not hesitant to go to the fields to catch snails, after one summer, our necks and arms were darkened, everyone tried to even out their tan.
Childhood was also the days when my parents were not home, I ran to the neighbor's house to play, promising to come back soon but ended up staying until noon. When I heard my parents calling, I ran back home and got scolded for sneaking out to play. The neighborhood kids laughed when they saw someone getting punished, but eventually, everyone took turns getting scolded, it was just a matter of time.
Among the neighborhood kids, I was the oldest girl and the most mischievous, like cutting the hair of the younger ones. Hairstyles like mango heads, cutting one side short and one side long were born amidst the screams of two girls and the curses of the neighbors' parents. I also got scolded by my mom for daring to use scissors to cut hair short on one side and long on the other like a singer on TV. The kids stared at me wide-eyed like I was My Linh, but in reality, I just messed up the haircut, beyond repair. A little older, I knew that a dark-skinned girl was not pretty, so I usually stayed home reading books all summer.
My book world was quite diverse, from national comic books like Doraemon, Conan, Cleopatra Queen to short stories, medium stories, essays, memoirs, and novels by authors inside and outside the country. These wordy books were sent by my sister's boyfriend, who was studying at Hanoi University of Science and Technology back then. Many books still had the author's signature, which was a priceless treasure to me. I read them over and over again, some books I still remember like The Last Barrier, The December Boys, The Mysterious Lost Stories of Humans. Sadly, that treasure was donated to the pile of old books in a house cleaning by my mom when I went to college. Knowing that, I felt as if I lost a piece of my childhood sky.
2. Psychology:
My childhood also had numerous times of asking my mom for money to buy stamps to send articles to the newspaper. I told my mom that I needed postage to buy ice cream for her. My mom just laughed and said, "Just sit there and dream, dear." And mothers are always right, because after memorizing the address of the editorial office of Hoa Hoc Tro magazine at 5 Hoa Ma, I wrote the envelope about 10 times and completely gave up the dream of a writing career.
The most memorable part of my childhood was probably when high school ended. Because after entering high school, the fast-paced and assertive phase of life made me always want to assert myself. Unfortunately, when you keep dreaming about the distant things in the adult world, your childhood seems to slip away without you noticing.
With the flow of time, I grew up with my own dreams. Initially, I wanted to become a dynamic, pretty, and confident interpreter. However, after focusing on university studies, my aspirations changed. I wanted to study social sciences, geography, and history, then move on to studying English to pursue a career in this field.
The old dream is still unfinished, I already have a teaching certificate and am ready for an English teaching career since my second year of university. But with the decision to work abroad and edit articles from Chinese diplomats, I have had many interesting experiences. However, I realized that I truly felt lonely, sometimes feeling like a bird locked in a cage, longing to fly away to find my mother.
I have wavered between many choices and thought I was okay, until someone talked to me and I realized that I still had trouble expressing emotions. Sometimes I am optimistic and cheerful, sometimes I sink into despair and self-pity. I realize that I still have a lot to learn.
3. Learning:
Every birthday, I only wish I could go back in time with Doraemon's Time Machine, to be kinder, hug someone tighter, and look more closely at them. We often give ourselves the right to hurt others until we grow up and learn how to love, but sometimes it makes them no longer stay by our side.
Self-assessment always comes with feelings of joy and regret. I rarely write sad articles because I feel they are too personal and have no value for readers. This is not my writing criterion, but I should not force myself to become a mature version of myself that is not really me.
At least, I feel sincere with my emotions when writing these lines. I realize that I also have times when I am not okay, like many other young people going through the ups and downs of life choices. Life has its ups and downs, and I have been sad too. Once sad, short poems, once very sad, then I become numb, but in the end, all sadness will pass.
Time will make everything easier, and when we think we have figured it out, practice is the real challenge. Perhaps we need to listen and understand ourselves better, but also need to show affection for ourselves. My neighborhood remains the same, just a change in my mindset will change everything.
I understand that I need to deal with this life to become a legend. If feeling empty, write down the lines to relieve, it is also a way to calm the soul. Despite pessimistic thoughts, they are just part of life, and can also be an opportunity for us to create our own light. Let go of self-blame and self-criticism, because sometimes, mistakes lead us to where we need to be.
3. Life:
There are days when the pressures of life and daily challenges weigh heavily on your shoulders, making your heart feel heavy and your spirit weary. In those moments, nothing compares to the feeling of wanting to go home, seeking comfort and peace in a familiar and loving space.
Everyone has an image of their home, a place where they connect with memories, emotions, and feelings. For some, it may be the house where they grew up, where every small detail reminds them of an endless childhood. For others, home is not only a place that holds beautiful memories but also a place of warmth and peace of family.
The feeling of wanting to go home is not just about wanting to lie on a soft bed or savor the taste of a family meal. It is also a desire to share emotions, thoughts, and joys with loved ones. Sometimes, people feel tired of the hectic life and constant race against time, and want to find warmth and peace within their own nest.
Home is not just a place to rest after a long day's work, but also a place that holds dreams and hopes. In a small room, each individual finds a part of themselves, and from there, they feel the strength and encouragement to overcome difficulties. Home is a place of understanding and sharing, where souls merge into one, creating a strong power to face life's challenges.
There are days when feelings of loneliness and strangeness envelop, making the heart ache and sadness overwhelming. In those moments, people long to embrace the arms of family and friends, to feel comfort and warmth. Home is where all difficulties and sorrows become lighter, because there are people always willing to share and accompany us.
On rainy days, when the rain pours and the cold wind blows, people often think of the days spent enjoying the warmth and peace of family home. The image of conversations by the fireplace, family meals, and tight hugs all make the heart warmer on gloomy days.
Everyone has their own way of expressing love and affection for their home. Some people often rearrange the space, creating new highlights and freshness for the room. Others like to cook and prepare delicious meals for the family, creating warm and memorable moments.
4. Life:
There are days when life seems too harsh and difficult, making the heart weary and the spirit weary. In those moments, the feeling of wanting to go home becomes more important than ever. Home is not just a place to return to after a long day's work, but also a place to find oneself, to refresh the spirit and recharge energy.
In modern life, when work and personal life seem to intertwine, home becomes an important anchor, where you can find balance and immerse yourself in privacy. The feeling of wanting to go home is not just about wanting to escape from external stress and pressure, but also about wanting to return to yourself, to see the true value and meaning of life.
Home is not just a place to stop, but also a place where you can be yourself, not bound by any rules. It is where you can show love and care for family and loved ones, where people share joy and sorrow, build memories, and create wonders.
Whenever feeling tired and bored with the current life, the feeling of wanting to go home becomes stronger than ever. Because at home, you can find comfort and empathy from loved ones, and from there, you can recharge energy and move forward.
And no matter how many difficulties and challenges lie ahead, home is always a place you can return to, where you are welcomed and loved, where you can find peace and happiness. So, it's no wonder there are days when you just want to go home, because there, you can find everything you are looking for.