Leisure talk: The windows

Across the street from my house, there were two apartments that had been vacant for quite some time. Today, one of them suddenly turned on its lights. Curiosity kept me sitting quietly, enjoying the breeze, watching the new landlady fiddle with the curtains.

She hung them up and took them down, examining them carefully. The smell of fresh paint, the sound of the fabric rubbing against the window frame, the streaks of afternoon sunlight through the glass… all reminded me of the windows I had passed through in my life.

I have stayed in many places, scattered throughout the corners of this bustling city. Each place marked a different stage in the journey of building a life. The first rented room was tiny, with a window even smaller than "tiny", you had to stand on tiptoe to see a little bit of the roof next door. That room witnessed the tears of a girl who left her family's arms for the first time, walking on the university path by herself. Every time I looked out that small window, I felt like I saw a world out there, very strange but full of promise, and it was that place that taught me how to stand on my own two feet.

I also remember the room near the bus station, damp but spacious. The landlady owned a small street vendor. The smell of porridge and onions wafted into the room through the blue window. Every afternoon, I could see her busily cleaning up her stall and taking care of her children. That diligence and dedication made me believe in the value of quiet but persistent efforts.

Then another room, with two windows, one downstairs and one upstairs. There, I lived completely alone for the first time. Studying alone, cooking alone, reading alone. I realized that it was not loneliness, but a quiet space to understand myself, listen to my soul and nurture my aspirations.

Perhaps, those windows were never just a place to look outside, but also a mirror to look inside. Every time I stopped in front of the window, I saw more clearly my changes, from a clumsy student, to a person building a home.

Today, the house I live in has many large windows that open to the ground. I can lie on my bed, wrapped in blankets and hugging pillows, watching the planes fly by every day, watching countless raindrops reflecting the sparkling lights. Strangely, I believe that those windows are the witnesses to my journey of trying to reach out to the wider sky, and also the simple but meaningful reward given to me.

Out there, there are thousands of different windows, silently witnessing the relentless efforts of millions of people. Some people go to school and work part-time, some people take care of their families and work overtime to make a living... Not everyone can quickly own the window they want. Because it is a long process, step by step searching, little by little cultivating in a society full of pressure and competition.

They are busy with making a living, but still reserve a little joy for themselves. They put a pretty flower in a green ceramic vase, letting the pink of the dahlias and the white and yellow of the daisies shine brightly by the window. Although the day passes quickly, they still patiently take care of the succulent pots that welcome the sun on the wooden pedestal, just like how they cherish their own dreams.

I hope that in the coming months and years, each of us, by our own window of happiness, can be at peace, leisurely, and enjoy the cool skies. And no matter how small or large the window is today, remember that every effort is expanding the sky we have, every step brings us closer to a better version of ourselves.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhan-dam-nhung-o-cua-so-185251122173417458.htm