Moments of reflection

Passionate, hurried, living life to the fullest so that when the years pass, I look back without regret. I smile at the values and experiences I have woven together. As Xuan Dieu once said: "Better a moment of glory that suddenly fades / Than a dull glimmer for a hundred years." I have defined this modern way of life for myself, and upon deep reflection, it has instilled in me thoughts about sitting down and reflecting, even if only for a few moments...

Illustrative image

I have journeyed through the years with my own self and those around me. Along the way, I opened my heart, receiving, giving, being tolerant, and forgiving. And it was after these moments of reflection that I sat down and quietly contemplated. It was then, in a miraculous way, that I gently touched my own heart, yet this very act awakened countless thoughts and emotions within me.

Where did I sit on that journey? I leaned against countless trees throughout my life; when I was tired, I sought them out, resting my slender shoulders against them, and conversing and sharing my thoughts. The green of countless branches and leaves dripped down on me like precious dewdrops. I stretched out my legs and tilted my head back to gaze at the sky behind the leaves, listening to the peaceful chirping of birds. I admired the trees, and then I even compared myself to a tree, using it as a guide to live.

Just keep clinging firmly to the roots of Mother Earth, and keep rising, growing lush and green, calmly and peacefully, using the act of casting a shadow as a value to contribute to a beautiful life. I also sit at a bus stop by the roadside in this city and gaze at the streetscape. I see the bustling crowds, the long, echoing cries of street vendors filling the alleyways. I see the peaceful leaves falling amidst the dust of the city streets. And I, I sit wherever I can sit: a hill, a rustling reed bank in the winter afternoon, a field, a patch of grass...

At that moment, I heard the silence, the sound of rain, the sound of time—years that had passed through this life, now condensed into sediment. Perhaps, in doing so, our path will become wider, more meaningful, and easier to understand?

In those moments of quiet reflection, I truly immerse myself in the silence. This silence doesn't erode my energy; rather, it acts as a catalyst, nurturing my inner calmness. It allows me to unleash my full potential, to understand myself better, and to comprehend the boundless and mysterious world that I've often found myself playing, like an actor forced to embody multiple characters. My feet ache, so I take off my shoes and gaze at them intently. I love my shoes; they're my companions on every journey. They must be happy to have traveled with me through so many lands.

In those moments of reflection, I was lost in a labyrinth of emotions. I was happy to have met, to have bonded with, and to have stored beautiful memories in my mind. I felt a pang of sadness at the fleeting nature of time. I felt even more sorrowful for the pain and loss I had witnessed. I regretted the unfinished plans, the things I hadn't fully realized there. I felt disappointed by the genuine desires that hadn't been fulfilled. Each stage of life I experienced reflected a different spectrum of emotions. And then, my heart became like a multicolored painting, making me ever more sensitive to life.

Sitting still allows me to slow down with time, with myself. After that slowness, I love myself more, and true self-love is the secret to happiness. I know how to nurture and cultivate myself to become more and more perfect because of that. It's like the quiet pause in a piece of music, the empty space in a poem, a beautiful, silent flash of light.

This beautiful life continues to unfold day after day, and whether I like it or not, I cannot separate myself from the opposing aspects within a whole. Life itself is the same; it must have moments of stillness, of silence, of peace, of enjoyment, of self-awareness, of appreciating life more, and of course, from there, of living more passionately...

Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5433/202504/nhung-phut-giay-ngoi-lai-4003521/