Life is full of worries, I take time to heal

Hoa anh đào ở Chiang Mai - Ảnh: TRỊNH TRÚC QUỲNH — Cherry blossoms in Chiang Mai - Photo: TRINH TRUC QUYNH

During a conversation at the end of the year, my close friend, who is a psychology expert, shared that he was very surprised when, during his research, he realized that "healing" was a keyword that was searched a lot on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and podcast series in the past few years.

It is worth noting that the number of people searching are all young people with ages ranging from 18 to 25 years old. The information made us very surprised and wondered why more and more of us young people are in need of healing? What have they suffered and what do they expect in a modern society like this?

Dizzy and lost because of life's pressures

Personally, I think that mental health, an aspect that was almost ignored by the previous generation, has now become a top concern for young people in modern life.

In the modern world, when material needs are increasingly convenient, the interaction between people and technology increasingly overwhelms spiritual life and interactions between people.

The young generation also becomes more lonely and lost in the process of finding their own identity and life needs.

Me too. Due to the nature of my teaching job, I often face a lot of pressure during the 9 months of the school year. Sometimes, because of worrying about school, I return to my rented room exhausted, with a headache, a weak body, unable to sleep.

Not to mention the mental pressure that any young person has to bear when living in a bustling city.

As the year comes to an end, my mind becomes more and more dizzy with a series of worries and concerns as I have to finish my work before Tet to return home to my family.

There were even years when I traveled a long distance to get home, I just slept through the Tet holidays, not wanting to go out and have fun or gather with my family.

Several times, when some relatives came to wish me a happy new year, they saw me tired and said hello a few times, then quietly returned to my room or opened my laptop to continue the unfinished work in the city.

My parents were very worried when they saw their daughter's situation. I was their only daughter, and our family was isolated as both sides of the family had few members. So my parents booked a tour to Thailand so that the whole family could celebrate Tet together in a new land.

Simple and happy moments

Chiang Mai in early spring is a peaceful and poetic scene in my eyes. Returning to Thailand for the second time, I was extremely surprised by the bustling, bustling but still very traditional beauty of this plateau.

The local government has no intention of developing this beautiful highland into a modern one, only wanting to retain its rustic, natural appearance to attract tourists. But somehow, Chiang Mai still changes its appearance, becoming extremely attractive in the eyes of people from afar.

Ăn sáng trong resort — Breakfast in resort

Leaving behind all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, my parents and I walked around the lush green tea hills, feeling my heart calm and gentle.

In spring in Thailand, what I like most is to slowly walk with my parents at the foot of the mountain, stop by a small Thai-style lemon tea shop in the middle of the forest, watch the cherry blossoms bloom in silence, sit and stroke the tail of the gray-white cat, feeling gentle as if lost in dreams.

Occasionally, a few shimmering rays of sunlight gently landed on my shoulders, filtering through a cup of fragrant tea and a piece of sweet cheesecake, as if reminding me to cherish the peaceful time before my eyes.

Traveling to a strange land accidentally made me feel happy, even if only for a few simple moments like that.

What I remember most is the feeling of waking up on a sunny weekend morning in Chiang Rai, listening to the chirping of birds and the murmuring of water around the resort where I live, feeling all the stress and worries seem to have been blown away by the wind.

Looking out into the yard, I saw my parents sitting down to eat breakfast with fried bread and some Thai sausage, happily chatting with their new companions. The older uncles and aunts on the trip excitedly told my parents about the countries they had visited and the beautiful and charming landscapes they had seen.

My parents seemed to catch the sympathetic rhythm, comfortably sharing many of the dreams they had forgotten from their youth.

Thanks to this trip, I understood my parents better and was surprised to know that my parents had many beautiful dreams just like our young generation. The bond between everyone in the family became much closer after the Tet trips.

Find freedom after every trip

Chữa lành với thiên nhiên - Ảnh chụp màn hình Guidepost — Healing with Nature - Guidepost Screenshot

Traveling always gives me a sense of spiritual "escape", because I get to live in a strange place, see strange things, and do things that are far from my daily routine.

That moment of Tet brought me so many strange emotions, helping me understand the value of freedom, broaden my vision and realize that no limits really exist in an infinitely large world.

I remember most the moment I stood at the Blue Temple, a temple with a special architecture, painted in an eye-catching blue color on a peaceful afternoon, among thousands of strange tourists from all over the world. I chose a small corner, listened to the temple bell, watched each bird flying in the windy sky.

That moment made me understand the value of the days when I was free to live the life I wanted. And I know that, at any time in life, happiness should still come from the freedom to choose the best things for yourself.

Accepting articles from readers from January 25 to February 24, the My Tet Moments contest is an opportunity for readers to introduce the most beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences during Tet with relatives and friends.

The Organizing Committee has received nearly 600 articles from readers in the past month. More than 50 articles have been selected and are being published on Tuoi Tre Online . We would like to thank readers for submitting their entries and following the contest taking place during the Tet Giap Thin this year.

Some articles will continue to be posted in the near future.

The award ceremony and summary are expected to take place in March 2024. The prize structure includes 1 first prize (15 million VND in cash and gifts), 2 second prizes (7 million VND and gifts), 3 third prizes (5 million VND and gifts).

The program is sponsored by HDBank.