In Vietnamese, we have a proverb “Uống nước nhớ nguồn,” which means “When drinking water, remember its source.” Simple words, but they carry generations of wisdom. It’s a gentle reminder to never forget where what sustains us comes from. And somehow… in some miraculous way, I find myself returning to this ancient truth, with lots to reflect on lately and more to share in the days ahead. In a world that moves fast and glorifies what’s new, it’s easy to take the “water” in our

The older I get, the more clearly I feel my root as a Vietnamese woman and the indelible imprint it leaves on me. Our homeland’s history is the work of making and keeping a country, and through every chapter, women have held the line. Beyond the heroines who fought on battlefields were the women at home who did it all—stocking the front with food and medicine, holding families together, raising children alone, cooking, mending, nursing. If something needed doing, they did it.

may i be like the moon this year casting light to dissolve fear guiding tides with a quiet sway whole as one, no matter what they say may i be like the sky this year hugging the stars, holding them dear rising so high, unbound and free a shelter of love for those who long to be may i be like the wind this year blowing away sadness, whispering cheer letting go of all with ease at peace i am, a gentle breeze may i be like bamboo this year standing tall as the storms draw near b

Thank you for all the unexpected lessons and invaluable guidance. For being tough yet incredibly patient. For giving me opportunities to step out of my comfort zone. For awakening parts of myself I didn’t know existed and expanding my consciousness in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Thank you for cheering me on as I transformed my relationship with myself. For bringing out the courage in me through your gentle nudges. For not stopping me from giving but teaching me how to give

- How old are you? - How old do you think I am? - You must be a few years older than me... so I’m guessing you were born in 2000? - Haha! You’re very sweet. So, I noticed you were reading. - Ahhh… yes. I want to be successful, so this book caught my interest. - I see. What does being successful mean to you? - I want to make lots of money and get rich quickly. - Interesting. Any reason it’s top of mind for you right now? - I want to make money fast so I can retire my mom… She’

There are many things that come to mind when we talk about feminine energy, and one of them is the immense strength and power in softness. Being a Vietnamese woman means I grew up celebrating today which is Vietnamese Women’s Day every year back home, but I didn’t fully grasp how it’s shaped who I am, despite the joy of always receiving gifts for the occasion. Our country has overcome so many wars that someone as privileged as me, born in peacetime, can only try to understand

- I don’t know which one to choose… they’re both very nice. - Maybe both! - Haha, I know… I have a friend who’s leaving New York soon, so I think this could be a nice gift for him. - How long have you been here? - Almost 10 years! - Oh, and where were you before that? - Also New York, but I was upstate… haha. So about 13 years in total. I’m originally from Vietnam, though. - So you are Vietnamese? I had a feeling. - Ha, is it because of my accent? Yes, I am indeed! - No. I wa

Dear Class of 2024, Instead of a commencement speech, I have a story to share with you. Two years ago, I found myself stuck in a place of profound discontentment, trying to break free from old patterns and desperately yearning to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, the tunnel seemed so dark and long that I started to question my own optimism, which is rare for someone who tends to look on the bright side of things, like me. I longed for a light. I longed

To me, this Year of the Cat feels like a crash course. Perhaps it’s the most intense year that I’ve been through with so much to learn not only about life in general but also about myself. So much so that it tests my limits and helps me learn the art of acceptance. So much so that it teaches me what I’m made of and brings me the answers I didn’t know I would need. So much so that I surrender to everything I can’t control and laser-focus on what I can. So much so that I intern

Watch the full Part 2 of our conversation to learn about the practice of non-self that can help you both tame your ego while also overcoming self-doubt ✨ Link to watch Part 1: Overcome suffering and find hope in any situation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPEhmdtMVRM&t=166s

Many people find it surprising when I say I don’t often go to temples or read spiritual books, even though deep down, I know that I’m very spiritual and have been practicing mindfulness intuitively for a long time. While I’ve heard of the Blue Cliff Monastery for the last eight years and had always wanted to visit, it hadn’t been at the forefront of my mind until last weekend when I finally made the trip... and despite the rain, I’m so glad I did! I’ll never forget the song ‘

In this video, I want to share with you guys the life-changing lessons that I'm lucky enough to learn directly from my dad. Growing up, I've always known a man who's so determined and kind. I'm grateful to have been able to observe his lifestyle and work ethic from a young age, both of which have profoundly transformed me and shaped who I am today. Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there! Here are the lyrics to my original song, 'Tâm Sự Của Con' (My Confession

- My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer at the final stage, but I didn’t learn about it firsthand... it was my sister-in-law who told me over the phone. He told her that he didn’t think he’d last for more than 10 days. Even my mom was unaware. I booked a next-day flight back to Vietnam to see him right after I heard the news. When I arrived, he nagged the family why they let me know because he didn’t want me to worry. And it turned out that he was right… he didn’t even make

- Do you like living in America? - Yeah, I find that it's a good fit for me... Would you like to come one day? - I do. I'm actually waiting for my paperwork to be done, hopefully I'll be able to come soon! - That's great! Are you going to be there for school? - Yes… but also, my dad's been living there while I live with my mom and my younger brother. We haven't got a chance to meet him again in 6 years… - Oh wow, are your parents still considered being together? - They are… w

For many of us who celebrate Lunar New Year, January probably feels a bit odd — as if we had at least a month-long time to celebrate two new years in a row (or again?) — especially this year as the first day of the lunar new year takes place on the first of February. End-of-year reflections and New Year’s resolutions can feel a bit awkward — when is the end and when is the beginning? I don’t know about a month of celebration, but January reminds me of a second chance. Like la

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” We’ve heard this saying many times, but is it right? The past week got me rethinking the meaning of luck, and as much as I’m tempted to agree with the above statement because it’s been shared so widely, I disagree with how luck is defined here. When I was younger, one of the greatest fears that I had was that all my achievements in life would be viewed as luck, no matter how hard I tried — if I failed, it was my bad

If you read my last blog post , you may recall that I mentioned my dad and the significant influence he's had on me since I was a little girl. The man has officially turned 60 today while I'm on the other side of the globe, so I think the best way to honor him is to share with you three important lessons my dad taught me that I find relevant to all of us, especially during such difficult times like this. The first lesson — also the most important one — is self-care . His fa