Family! Those two sacred words always have an important meaning to anyone. It is the most peaceful place in this life, it also contains and nurtures the emotional levels of each person. You may have arguments, you may have resentments, but after all, what you receive is still the boundless love of your loved ones.
And you know, “People have many places to go, but only one place to return to”. We can go anywhere in this world, you can go on business or travel, but surely nowhere is like your own home. During the precarious days of 2018, the times you are most tired, most sad, most disappointed, the first thing you think of is also family. That place has dad, mom, siblings, and loved ones ready to comfort, encourage, and be a solid support for you.
People have many places to go, but only one place to return to
You see, even if you have made mistakes, or blamed your parents, in the end, they still give you love, they are still tolerant and welcome you back. Still remember in the poem 'The Stork', poet Che Lan Vien wrote: “Though a child grows up, they are still their mother's child / Throughout life, a mother's heart still follows the child”...
Family is also the place where you can take off the mask you wear every day. You don't have to force a smile at someone you don't like, and you don't need to “pretend to be okay but deep inside the tears are a wide ocean”... Returning to family, you are free to laugh, free to cry, or express any of your emotions. When strangers out there are jealous when you are talented, and gloat when you fail, your family members are proud, empathetic, and appreciate you unconditionally. I dare not imagine if one day my loved ones disappeared from this world, how I would face the storms of life, where would I turn to receive tight hugs... I dare not even think about it!
2018 has passed, do you have any regrets? Set aside the busy work and return to your family. Take a little time to go home to help your parents clean the house, rearrange some household items, surely those will be moments you will cherish immensely. The whole family will go to the kitchen together to cook delicious food, you will have the opportunity to “ask” mom for the dishes you like that you haven't tasted in a long time. Then in the evening, over a traditional pot of tea, you and your parents enjoy delicious 'banh cha' and peanut candy that you used to eat when you were a child. You will tell your parents stories about your daily life, and they will share with you little things about the peaceful countryside... That will certainly be the most wonderful thing you can give to your family and yourself in these early days of the year.
A meaningful thing is simply sitting with your parents around a pot of tea and enjoying traditional cakes and candies
It is not that you must be truly successful and earn a lot of money to be happy. Sometimes those seemingly small things are the meaningful and wonderful things you need in this life.
Out there, the caravans have started rolling... Everyone is excited to return to their family. How about you? Have you had a warm Tet with your family yet!?
