My Tet Moment: 10 Days of Quitting Phone and Facebook Addiction

Trải nghiệm khó quên năm 2024 - Ảnh: Ucenlist

Unforgettable experience in 2024 - Photo: Ucenlist

At the end of the year, I was shocked to realize that my addiction to social media had become serious. At night, I often surfed the internet, immersing myself in useless information from all over the world. Many nights, I went to bed with red eyes and dizziness.

At my friend's invitation, I decided to temporarily disconnect from the virtual world and join a 10-day residential meditation course during the Year of the Dragon.

On the 28th of Tet, I went to do the paperwork. My phone was turned off and put in the locker. Like a drug addict on a break without his drugs, I was tense and restless. Could I survive without my "inseparable" object? I thought about chatting with my friend and got caught up in the "law" of silence.

Day 1

At 4am, the bell rang, more than 100 people quietly woke up, gently walked to the meditation hall. The daily routine: sit still - cross your legs - close your eyes - observe your breath. Simple! After 5 minutes, the pain, ants crawling and needles pricking from somewhere came back to my feet. Every time I closed my eyes, countless images, sometimes sad, sometimes bright, from somewhere, rushed up and then disappeared.

During the morning break, I was exhausted counting how many areca nuts there were in the bunch. During the afternoon break, I counted how many petals there were in the chrysanthemums, how many rows of tiles there were on the floor... Feeling completely stuck, the idea of giving up appeared. In the evening, I was tormented by the "status" I had read, the "like" and "share" buttons...

Day 2

The days seemed endless. Each moment dragged on like a century. Still more than 10 hours sitting observing the breath going in and out, fast or slow, shallow or deep… In the morning, I meditated with my eyes closed and dozed off. All day, the only joy was hearing the bell ringing for breakfast and lunch.

Unable to concentrate on the present, I am still restless with the future and thinking about the joys and sorrows of the past. Having become accustomed to a "dynamic" life, accepting a "static" life is not easy. After today, many people choose to stay, but some also leave.

Vẻ đẹp của bông hoa nhỏ - Ảnh: THU NGUYỄN

The beauty of small flowers - Photo: THU NGUYEN

Day 3

Exactly on the 30th of Tet. On New Year's Eve, fireworks exploded. Feeling lost, I walked up to the temple in a daze. My mind was like a monkey constantly jumping from branch to branch, thinking about my ex-lover, then dreaming about a new lover, sometimes remembering a messy argument online, sometimes some scandal in the entertainment industry... I was surprised to discover that my mind had been like a giant bottomless trash can for a long time. I don't know where I "picked up" all kinds of things in the world to "store", no wonder I always felt stressed and overloaded.

Day 4, Day 5

On the first day of Tet. For breakfast, the dining room had banh chung, making me feel more excited. Thinking about my phone again, wondering if anyone had texted me to wish me a happy new year.

Taking a nap, I opened my eyes and saw a puppy running around outside the door. Perhaps, at this hour, that puppy was freer and more carefree than me. The 4th day has passed…

The back seems straighter, the head clearer on day 5. Slowly observing the emotions that continuously come and go in the mind, everything from disappointment to hope; from rage to peace... Taking a nap, pulling out the sunscreen jar to read the words. At least, there is something to entertain.

Day 6, Day 7

Today I practiced quite seriously. But I still counted the minutes until day 10… Afternoon walk, white bougainvillea flowers falling and fluttering all over the yard, the afternoon sunlight shining gently also had a strange beauty. Day 6 has ended.

New day, solemn atmosphere surrounds the meditation hall. Still sitting silently for more than 10 hours observing and feeling all over the body. Rest for the night, go count the stars. It's been a long time since I've calmed down to observe the stars near and far on a dark background.

Ngày kết thúc khóa thiền - Ảnh: Ucenlist

The end of the meditation course - Photo: Ucenlist

Day 8, Day 9

The practice discipline was still strictly maintained. I asked to consult the assistant Zen master. After her guidance, I felt more relieved... In the afternoon, I went for a walk, the sky was clearer and bluer, the afternoon sunlight was golden like pouring honey. The flowers and grass around the garden had a subtle fragrance.

Day 10

The "law" of silence was lifted. The meditators were overwhelmed. But having been used to silence for so long, the process of re-integrating into the community was initially strange. My roommate and I hugged each other and burst into tears.

Morning of 11th

We got our phones back. Strangely, the feeling of infatuation was gone. The phone was now simply a tool created to assist humans.

Experience this strange Tet 2024 as a rest stop to regenerate fresh energy throughout the youth train.

After Tet, we get back on the train, moving forward with a more balanced and steady mindset. Perhaps, if some of the old habits of 2023 did not help you improve, 2024 is the best time to form new, more beneficial habits.

February 24 (full moon of the first lunar month) is the deadline for receiving entries for the contest "My Tet Moments"

My Tet Moments contest is an opportunity for readers to introduce the most beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences during Tet with relatives and friends.

Each article should be a maximum of 1,000 words in Vietnamese, and should include photos, photo albums or videos.

Contest entries share ideal destinations and unique lands . Through your stories, you will help many people have the opportunity to know new lands and places not to be missed when traveling during spring.

It could be an article recording the moments when friends and relatives gather, celebrate Tet and have fun together.

These are notes and recounts of personal experiences from trips and business trips away from home during Tet that you have experienced.

The photo contest highlights the beauty of the landscape, place or land you have visited. This is an opportunity to recount the vibrant colors and beautiful scenery of Vietnam or the countries you have visited.

From January 25 to February 24, readers can send their entries to [email protected].

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.