20 TEACHERS

"Everyone is a teacher..."

(The one who said that, certainly, is a great teacher too. Thank you)

It is teacher day in Vietnam, 20 Nov 2021; thanks to everyone, you are a teacher of someone in one or another way.

I am particularly thankful for my 20 teachers What are yours?

1. My younger sister & GRATITUDE: my younger sister passed away when I was young, she was a secret for me and she taught me to be curious to discover life and be grateful to be alive

2. My second elder sister & OPTIMISM: my second elder sister, despite facing different tragedies, she always brought the OPTIMISM about a better future for me

3. My eldest sister & UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: each day, she would ask me if I am doing great, she taught me to LOVE unconditionally

4. My elder brother & COURAGE: he taught me to fish, tame the buffalo…, he stood by his own two feet, working to support his education; he taught me to have the courage to work on my DREAM

5. My nephew “Hello” & HOPE: Hello is the English name I chose for my nephew – the first son of my second elder sister. My sister wanted to have a baby in the same dragon year as me, she chose to arrange to give birth to Hello on the dragon year ^^ I saw Hello, I saw HOPE

6. My father’s friend & FORGIVENESS & POSSIBILITY: a friend of my father told me once that I could not do what I wanted to do, going to a science university or going abroad, I, later on, reflected and realized he was just saying what others often said but I had that limiting belief in me so I felt bitter; it always helped me to try better to make it possible. He taught me to forgive myself and anyone who by accident said something that was not empowering to me. And he taught me anything is possible if it is important enough to us to do, we do it, commit to it

7. My teacher in university and VISION: I had some doubts about myself, very deep down, without knowing it…I remember my math teacher used to tell me “ I can see you can do something very big…” I was not the greatest student in the class, but hearing that, I felt a bigger vision for myself

8. My teacher at university and I CAN: I had a deep-down thought inside me that I was not good enough, and this voice made me not believe I could go abroad as other talented friends; my sister once time told me as it is something obvious “Sure, you can do too…” It awakened the giant within me, believe that I could

9. My friend Paul and PASSION: I met Paul in a public speaking club when I was a student, Paul helped me to join his journey of starting my very first community-based business, I discovered my passion in a new career by helping others

10. My mentor in Malaysia and BE MYSELF: as I grew up, I left my hometown, I turned from a quiet kid to an outgoing one, I went to public speaking clubs, and often gave a speech. I used all chances to speak up for myself, I spoke aloud. Sometimes people came to tell me to lower my voice…but my mentor always reminded me “Keep that energy, keep that awesome energy, don’t let anyone tell you to limit you. They may not get that energy yet”

11. My teacher in Spain & SLOW DOWN: I was always rushed, I am now sometimes still because I wanted to finish, I wanted to create results…When I was in Spain, I admired my professor because of his fitness and wisdom. Before I left Spain, I asked him “one thing I should do differently?” he told me “Slow down…” I went to the yard of my university and lied down, and just smiled and talked to myself “slow down”

12. My professor in the UK and CURIOSITY: I was told by my professor that a why person, I kept asking questions, a lot of questions, sometimes he couldn’t finish his teaching plan because I asked so many questions….Also because of that, he later gave me lots of opportunities and keep encouraging my dream

13. My “Sư Phụ” & SUSTAINABLE IMPACT: he taught me if we choose to do anything, we do it with excellence and sustainably, passion has to come with practical impact

14. My “Sư Huynh” & NURTURE: he is always there for me, going with my craziness, naughtiness; he gave me opportunities to do bigger things with bigger impact

15. My close friend from Spain & PERSPECTIVES: he was always against what I had to say, but all in all to make me better; he taught me that I could always do better

16. My mentor Stuart and BIG THINKING: one time, Stuart asked me if I played safe? I could do more than what I did, working from the future, not from the fear

17. My team & COLLABORATION: my team taught me that there is a place of happiness and fulfillment and greatness when people work toward the same goal…it seems a challenge still for me, but it is a practice

18. The stranger in a coffee shop in the UK and THE SIMPLE BEAUTY OF LIFE: I was coming back from a conversation with a psychologist, thinking about what I was doing…the stranger stared at the painting, I thought he was a traveler…it turned out he just saw it daily but felt it beautiful

19. The stranger in the coffee shop in Malaysia and KINDNESS: he gave up the seat for me, his kindness made me get back to life – there are always things to feel grateful for

20. Now: any moment of now is a great moment