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1. Essay for Uncertain Days Number 4
I feel uncertain.
They say that 25 is the age of uncertainty. At this point in life, we often reflect and ask ourselves: Am I happy with the choices I've made? Have I done my best? Am I on the right path? Have I loved the right person? At this age, we start facing life's challenges, worrying about finances, relationships, and even our small homes. Actually, I think 'confused' is the best word to describe being 25. We pivot left, lean right, take a step forward, then step back, carefully calculating every move because the adult world isn't kind to missteps. At 25, there's something at stake.
At 21, there’s nothing to lose but still the fear of loss. That’s both tragic and humorous! It’s at 21 that 'uncertainty' fits perfectly — a state that feels ambiguous, undefined, and precarious. We dare not turn left or right because even walking seems unsteady.
We often feel uncertain when standing at the threshold of life because we see ourselves as too small. Today’s youth tend to suffer from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), which makes it hard to feel content with any choice. For example, when offered a choice of 10 destinations, a person with FOMO will regret the 9 other options instead of enjoying where they are. This mindset prevents us from truly experiencing life, as we constantly seek something better without appreciating what we have. In this era, with endless options and opportunities, we find ourselves uncertain, not knowing which path to take. From an economic perspective, it's hard to make a choice that truly satisfies because the opportunity cost is too high.
Uncertainty also arises when there are no choices. Those in their 20s, or just after, are like children learning to become adults, navigating a path full of obstacles. It feels like one wrong move could push them into a dead-end, despite their best efforts. After a few setbacks, young adults long for a time when they can freeze time and escape its rush.
Uncertainty is actually a privilege of youth. It’s perfectly okay to take a break and spend some time in quiet reflection to answer the tough questions within. The term “escaping” from rapper Đen Vâu might capture the spirit of young people feeling overwhelmed by the grind of life.
Yes, escape if you need to. But remember, don’t run away or, more accurately, don’t stay uncertain for too long. Youth comes only once and passes quickly like a summer rain. Don’t waste your youth by fearing the present. Uncertainty isn’t an excuse for laziness or irresponsibility. By the time you're 40 or 50, you’ll be someone without ideals, instead of uncertain.
In the movie 'Mr. Nobody', before the main character (Nemo Nobody) was born, angels forgot to erase his memory, allowing him to see all possible future scenarios. The film shows how every choice he makes leads to different versions of his life. By the end, Nemo has lived hundreds of lives, but no one knows who he really is or where he comes from when he reaches 118 years old.
Rather than asking, “Which choice is right?”, we should believe that every choice is correct. Every fork in the road leads us to where we need to be, to meet the people we must meet, and to become who we need to become. All roads eventually lead to destiny, as long as we trust in it.
To all the young people feeling uncertain,
When uncertain, make sure you don’t fall. Don’t spend long nights tossing and turning, blaming yourself for not being good enough. Don’t regret your choices or wish you could have done things differently. Don’t let life’s burdens crush your pride and self-worth. Courage is the key to breaking free from uncertainty. Courage to live, to choose, to stumble. Courage to break out of the cocoon you’ve been in for too long, to rise above the trivial worries and soar towards the sun, collecting both flowers and pollen to make yourself shine with glory.
It seems that only by experiencing this uncertainty can we reach those certain days.
2. An Essay for the Unstable Days #5
Upon reflection, it's not entirely random that life is often compared to a river. After all, no one sails along its course without feeling unsteady. Perhaps true stability only comes when one stops advancing.
3. An Essay for the Unstable Days #6
In everyone's life, there are moments when we feel unstable, when we find ourselves unable to stand firm in the face of everything. This is natural, as everyone has moments of vulnerability, times when we lack wisdom, or, more often, when we are weak and lost in our thoughts, failing to see the issue. Sometimes, what seems like a simple matter becomes exaggerated, causing us unnecessary suffering and exhaustion.
In reality, there are events that are truly terrifying, thought-provoking, and significantly influence us. These could be external instabilities related to the general living conditions, such as the political, social, and economic environment impacting both body and mind. They could also be internal struggles within ourselves, such as emotional issues, health problems, or personal shortcomings that we view as private, hidden aspects we protect and try to keep to ourselves. We are born into an era, a country, a specific environment, a social-political structure that often feels unstable, making us feel distrustful or narrow-minded. Some people are born into societies where oppression prevails, where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, and the majority lives as slaves, both physically and mentally, like machines. In such conditions, we too would feel unstable, constantly living in fear, unsure when we might become victims of oppression. Living in times of war, many recount how the constant anxiety shaped their past, leaving an indelible scar. Similarly, living through an economic crisis, we may fear poverty, unemployment, and hunger, which can be overwhelming. Ultimately, such unstable living conditions, failing to satisfy our desires for freedom, peace, and fulfillment, are the root causes of poor mental well-being. Fear, anxiety, and insecurity arise from material factors, such as poverty, deprivation, and the loss of personal freedom, all of which modern philosophy refers to as 'materialism determines consciousness.' Alongside material concerns, there are emotional or 'psychological wounds' caused by personal deficiencies that we deem private and unspoken. The weight of psychological burdens, especially those stemming from a perceived lack of self-worth, can follow us like a shadow. Everyone has experienced this to some extent, for no one is perfect. Some are born with all senses intact, while others are missing certain faculties. They often feel insecure, at times even inferior, because of the way society treats them. The term 'normal person' is frequently contrasted with those deemed 'abnormal,' such as those with disabilities, which causes them to ponder their own fate. In the past, people with disabilities were labeled as 'cripples,' but many of them have since asserted, 'we may be disabled, but we are not useless,' proving that even without limbs or when bedridden, one can still live a meaningful life. With this mindset, many people with disabilities have found strength in the parts of their bodies that are healthy, or they live joyfully, full of love, offering teachings about the path we all walk, which is right at our feet, as long as we are willing to walk it. So, sometimes we encounter individuals with physical or gender differences who live courageously in the face of judgment and prejudice, contributing love and valuable lessons that others do not, or cannot, give. The media often praises them as exemplary figures, role models for life. Farewell, sorrow! There is a practice suggested by a Zen master, cherished and recorded by many as a manual for overcoming suffering and creating joy and happiness. It is: 'Wake up with a smile, twenty-four hours bright, may I live fully, with eyes full of love for life.' This practice encourages us to pause, reflect deeply, and cleanse our minds from the darkness, from a perspective that sees everything as bleak and hopeless, into one where we see a path to follow, simply by loving and cherishing ourselves and what we have. Smiling each morning is a practice in creating joy. Smile truly, brightly (like a blooming flower), to greet the present moment of our life, respecting and appreciating our existence. It is a recognition of the truth that the human body is rare and precious, a happiness not easily attained. Therefore, we should be happy! Furthermore, in this world, there are many who suffer far more than we do, who struggle to survive, fighting against serious illnesses in the battle for life. If we think broadly, encompassing society and the world, even the realms of the Three Evil Paths (hell, hungry ghosts, animals), we realize that those in hell, suffering endlessly, are far more deserving of sympathy than ourselves. Our current suffering pales in comparison. By reflecting in this way, we can 'gently gaze upon life,' understanding that the happiness we experience is already a gift, and that the perceived suffering we endure is not the worst. Farewell, sorrow! This too is a practice, a Zen teaching that encourages us to gently face the heavy sadness in our minds. Zen teaches us to acknowledge and calmly greet the sadness, saying 'hello' to it. By doing so, we prevent ourselves from resisting or rejecting it, as modern medicine does through surgical removal. This form of 'surgical' approach to our mental struggles is different from what modern medicine does. To truly overcome these issues, we must slow down, pause, and gather the energy necessary for deep reflection. When we are constantly rushing, trying to avoid suffering and seeking happiness instantly, we only create more pain for ourselves and others through wrongful thoughts, harsh words, and unkind actions. Therefore, the Buddha teaches his disciples that meditation is one of the core practices for eliminating suffering and creating happiness. But, before practicing meditation, we must first maintain ethical principles (the precepts), as they help the body and mind become stable, allowing wisdom to emerge, guiding us to walk securely without feeling unstable. In Buddhism, this is known as 'the Three Trainings' (Precepts-Concentration-Wisdom), a path from darkness to light, a way to liberation from suffering and arrival at a place of peace, which every practitioner must follow in order to experience its benefits. The world often reminds those who are anxious, suffering, or unsettled: 'Take it slow, things will work out.' For a Buddhist, looking deeply into this phrase, we see it as a Zen koan, a lesson to reflect upon. 'Take it slow' is a practice of stopping (meditation), and 'things will work out' reminds us to see that all things, events, and phenomena occur according to the law of cause and effect. What is meant to happen will happen, and no matter how much we try to run away, it will follow us because it is our karma. The important thing is how we respond to what happens with understanding and compassion. Understanding that cause and effect are clear and fair, our current suffering or happiness is a result of what we have created. Our deficiencies or completeness, the peaceful or toxic environment we live in, are all results of our past actions. By recognizing this truth, we can respond with kindness and start planting seeds of goodness, healing our own flaws and imperfections little by little, creating a peaceful world through our thoughts, words, and actions. In short, we stop evil, do good, and first and foremost, stop blaming ourselves, stop the inner turmoil that has lingered from day to day, year to year, and lifetime to lifetime. Thus, we stop the childish thoughts, the harsh words that sow pain, sorrow, and regret, and we vow to never harm ourselves or others in the present and future. If we believe this and act on it, we will be able to move past the instability and foolishness, quickly enough!
4. A Reflective Essay for Those Unsteady Days #1
Just one simple phrase, yet so much loneliness and heartache flood within, as though it's about to burst. It's a spark of motivation to overcome the deep abyss that the mind is relentlessly trying to deceive you into believing.
Push forward, strive, but also relax and let go to avoid forcing things. Let go of the invisible, nameless pressures.
If given the choice, who wouldn’t prefer to live carefree and joyful? To be at peace before life’s storms. But if life were too easy, it would lose its charm.
Storms, challenges—they may wear you down, but they bring life to the journey. The scenes of your life unfold, shifting from one to another. You change roles continuously. Some roles don’t align with what you want, but they’re assigned to you for a reason. If you embrace them with a little more creativity and less resistance, you might find those roles more bearable.
Sometimes you don’t even know what role you’re playing, but it’s still a role. You just need to recognize it.
No matter the role, it’s still you, with all your different shades. Good and bad. Negative and positive. The key is, after each experience, you continue to believe in your own value and move forward.
So, hang in there, my friend!
Everything will be fine, eventually. Everyone will get there.
5. A Reflective Essay for Those Unsteady Days #2
The hardest part isn’t building a house, but transforming it into a home. The toughest part isn’t getting married, but after the grand wedding, can you live happily together? Many people think that when you love each other and view your partner as everything, simply being together will naturally bring happiness.
Marriage is not simple. Only those who experience it truly understand that it’s a ‘battle.’
Getting married is easy. If you can afford it, a lavish banquet will suffice; if not, a small, warm gathering is enough. But in today’s world, many people go to great lengths to organize an extravagant wedding, almost as if to show off their love and happiness to the world.
However, a grand wedding doesn’t guarantee that the couple will live together happily forever.
When you marry, it’s not just love; it’s also about duties and responsibilities. Gone are the romantic dates, the happiness from just seeing each other and holding hands.
Before marriage, everyone thinks that living under one roof with the person you love, sharing meals and sleeping together, would be the ultimate happiness. But marriage also involves tears, hurts, the burdens of livelihood, and temptations outside the marriage. A home is like a small boat in the water—if both partners are not in harmony, that boat will sink.
Marriage forces people to change; to put aside selfishness and ego. It teaches you to listen to your partner, to accept and love more. It also makes you less dreamy and more practical.
Both the husband and wife will no longer be the perfect image they once were when they were in love. Instead, they are lifelong companions with their flaws. Marriage helps individuals mature day by day.
There are moments when marriage is most vulnerable to failure: when the wife is pregnant and the husband can’t satisfy his desires, during the first child’s birth, when financial struggles arise, or when a third party enters the picture… Countless temptations and wounds make both partners doubt each other. Marriage is not always smooth sailing, filled with romantic nights—it’s also about the struggles of deciding whether to stay or go, whether to forgive or let go.
Living happily together is really hard. The outside world holds countless challenges that can harm our little family. Both partners need strength, trust, and patience to overcome years together.
6. A Reflective Essay for Those Unsteady Days #3
On social media, people often ask the question: "If you're not striving for a better life, then why leave your hometown?" Some leave their hometowns to further their education, experience more, or work for a living. As for me, it's simply because I don't have to go back home. That's enough of a better life for me!
Living in the city, working up to 14-16 hours a day in a place far from home, sometimes facing hardship and feeling humiliated, when I return to my tiny 15m2 room, I still feel more comfortable than when I go home.
Every time I return to my hometown, I see a big house, but it's just old people sitting alone, waiting for their children to return. However, the children only stay for two or three days before leaving because it’s too hard for their parents. Any little thing can trigger anger and shouting. I know it's a generation gap, I know they care, but no matter how hard I try, I can't find harmony with them.
The pressure from the outside world has never been as terrifying as receiving a message or phone call from home in the middle of the night.
The yelling and shouting, the sobbing in the middle of the night, all blend together. A whole lifetime is too long, so why should we torment each other this way?
Someone once told me, "If you don't follow your parents' wishes, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life."
- And what about my life?
I have done everything I can do—fulfilled all my responsibilities and obligations, tried my best as a child, but it’s never enough.
Do I regret it? Yes. I regret many times when I compromised, many times when I let others do as they pleased.
But now, it’s different. I also need to live my own life.
The phrase "I never asked to be born" may sound cold and amusing, but it’s truly bitter! Has anyone ever wondered why people say such things? And has anyone asked if they've truly lived as a human being all this time?
Family bonds are what help people through hard times, they’re the motivation when we fall. But they can also trap us in a vicious cycle of life’s game...
