Tuổi 15 – Khi Tôi Học Cách Lớn Lên Một Mình

Bài viết bằng tiếng Việt (English version below)

Có những người lớn lên trong vòng tay của gia đình.

Còn tôi, tôi lớn lên cùng những quyết định của chính mình.

Năm 15 tuổi, tôi rời Việt Nam để sang Úc. Ở cái tuổi mà nhiều bạn còn được ba mẹ chăm sóc từng bữa ăn, nhắc nhở chuyện học hành và che chở trước những khó khăn, tôi bắt đầu học cách tự đứng trên đôi chân của mình ở một đất nước hoàn toàn xa lạ.

Nhìn lại chặng đường ấy, tôi nhận ra rằng những thử thách mình trải qua đã trở thành những người thầy tuyệt vời nhất.

1. Không ai nợ mình điều gì

Cuộc sống không hứa hẹn sẽ công bằng.

Không ai có trách nhiệm phải giúp mình thành công.

Khi chấp nhận điều đó, tôi thôi đổ lỗi cho hoàn cảnh và bắt đầu chịu trách nhiệm hoàn toàn cho cuộc đời mình.

Đó là lúc tôi thực sự trưởng thành.

2. Tự do luôn đi kèm với trách nhiệm

Sống một mình đồng nghĩa với việc mọi quyết định đều là của mình.

Nếu thành công, mình biết ơn những nỗ lực đã bỏ ra.

Nếu thất bại, mình cũng học cách chịu trách nhiệm thay vì tìm người để trách.

Đó là cái giá của sự tự do.

3. Kỷ luật quan trọng hơn động lực

Có rất nhiều ngày tôi không muốn học.

Không muốn làm việc.

Không muốn cố gắng thêm nữa.

Nhưng tôi vẫn tiếp tục.

Động lực sẽ đến rồi đi.

Kỷ luật mới là điều giúp chúng ta tiến xa.

4. Thất bại chỉ là một bài học

Tôi từng bị từ chối.

Từng cảm thấy mình chưa đủ giỏi.

Từng nghi ngờ chính bản thân.

Nhưng mỗi lần vấp ngã đều giúp tôi mạnh mẽ và khiêm tốn hơn.

5. Đừng chỉ xây dựng sự nghiệp, hãy xây dựng chính mình

Công việc rất quan trọng.

Nhưng con người mình trở thành còn quan trọng hơn.

Tôi học yoga.

Tôi học diễn xuất.

Tôi tham gia Toastmasters.

Tôi đọc sách.

Tôi gặp gỡ những con người truyền cảm hứng.

Mỗi trải nghiệm đều giúp tôi hiểu bản thân hơn.

6. So sánh là kẻ đánh cắp niềm vui

Ai cũng có một hành trình riêng.

Tôi không còn cố gắng sống cuộc đời của người khác.

Tôi chỉ cố gắng trở thành phiên bản tốt hơn của chính mình mỗi ngày.

7. Gia đình không chỉ là nơi mình sinh ra

Sống xa quê dạy tôi rằng gia đình còn là những người luôn ở bên mình bằng tình yêu và sự chân thành.

Đôi khi, những người ấy không cùng huyết thống.

Nhưng họ luôn xuất hiện đúng lúc cuộc sống cần nhất.

8. Không bao giờ là quá muộn để bắt đầu

Tôi đã thay đổi nghề nghiệp.

Học thêm nhiều kỹ năng mới.

Theo đuổi những đam mê mới.

Mỗi lần bắt đầu lại không phải là quay về số không.

Mà là bước tiếp với nhiều kinh nghiệm hơn.

9. Thành công là được sống đúng với giá trị của mình

Ngày trước tôi nghĩ thành công là kiếm thật nhiều tiền.

Bây giờ tôi nghĩ thành công là mỗi sáng thức dậy với một cuộc sống có ý nghĩa.

Được giúp đỡ người khác.

Được học hỏi.

Được phát triển.

Được là chính mình.

Lời kết

Nếu có thể nói với cậu bé 15 tuổi năm ấy một điều, tôi sẽ nói:

“Đừng sợ. Con đường phía trước sẽ không dễ dàng. Nhưng chính những ngày tháng khó khăn sẽ tạo nên phiên bản mạnh mẽ nhất của em.”

Hôm nay, tôi biết ơn tất cả những gì mình đã trải qua.

Bởi vì nếu không có cậu bé 15 tuổi dũng cảm năm ấy, sẽ không có tôi của ngày hôm nay.

Cảm ơn bạn đã dành thời gian đọc câu chuyện của tôi.

Chúc bạn luôn đủ can đảm để bước tiếp trên hành trình của riêng mình.

Binh

Age 15 – Learning to Grow Up on My Own

English Version

Some people grow up surrounded by the comfort of family.

I grew up through my own decisions.

At the age of fifteen, I left Vietnam and moved to Australia. While many teenagers still relied on their parents for guidance and support, I was learning how to build a life on my own in a country that felt completely unfamiliar.

Looking back, I realise that life’s greatest lessons never came from a classroom.

They came from experience.

1. Nobody owes you anything

Life isn’t always fair.

No one is responsible for making you successful.

The moment I accepted that, I stopped blaming circumstances and started taking ownership of my life.

That was the beginning of true adulthood.

2. Freedom always comes with responsibility

Living independently means every decision is yours.

When you succeed, you appreciate your hard work.

When you fail, you learn instead of looking for someone else to blame.

That is the price—and the privilege—of freedom.

3. Discipline will always outlast motivation

There were many days I didn’t feel like studying.

Many days I didn’t feel like working.

Many days I wanted to quit.

But I kept going.

Motivation comes and goes.

Discipline is what carries you through.

4. Failure is simply another lesson

I’ve been rejected.

I’ve doubted myself.

I’ve wondered if I was good enough.

Every setback made me stronger, wiser and more humble.

5. Don’t just build a career—build yourself

A successful career is important.

But the person you become matters even more.

I learned yoga.

I studied acting.

I joined Toastmasters.

I read constantly.

I sought out inspiring people.

Every experience shaped who I am today.

6. Comparison steals happiness

Everyone is on a different journey.

I stopped comparing myself to others.

Instead, I focus on becoming a little better than I was yesterday.

7. Family is more than where you come from

Living far from home taught me that family is also the people who genuinely care about you.

They may not share your blood.

But they stand beside you when you need them most.

8. It’s never too late to begin again

I’ve changed careers.

Learned new skills.

Pursued new passions.

Starting over isn’t going back to zero.

It’s beginning again with more wisdom than before.

9. Success is living according to your values

I used to think success meant earning a lot of money.

Today, success means waking up each morning knowing that my life has purpose.

Helping others.

Continuing to learn.

Growing as a person.

Living authentically.

Final Thoughts

If I could speak to my fifteen-year-old self, I would simply say:

“Don’t be afraid. The road ahead won’t be easy, but every challenge will shape you into someone you’ll one day be proud of becoming.”

Today, I am grateful for every struggle, every mistake, and every difficult decision.

Because without that brave fifteen-year-old who stepped onto a plane and left Vietnam, I would not be the person I am today.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

I wish you the courage to keep moving forward on your own journey.

Binh

December 29, 2025

The Quiet Space Between Years

There’s a strange, gentle pause that lives between Christmas and New Year.

The emails slow.

The noise softens.

Time feels less demanding.

It’s not quite the end, and not quite the beginning.

And I think we rush this space too often.

We’re quick to label the year as good or bad.

We want neat summaries, clean lessons, tidy growth.

But real life isn’t bullet-pointed.

Some things this year were clear wins.

Some were quiet losses no one else noticed.

Some are still unfinished and that doesn’t mean they failed.

I’ve learned that reflection doesn’t always need answers.

Sometimes it just needs honesty.

Not What did I achieve?

But What did I carry?

What did I carry when things felt uncertain?

What did I carry when motivation dipped?

Growth isn’t always loud.

Often it looks like staying.

Like pausing.

Like choosing not to quit on yourself.

As this year closes, I’m not rushing to redesign my life.

I’m simply acknowledging it.

The effort.

The stretch.

The stillness.

The becoming.

If you’re reading this in that in-between space – tired, reflective, hopeful, unsure, then you’re exactly where you need to be.

You don’t need a new version of yourself by midnight.

You don’t need a perfect plan.

You’re allowed to arrive in the new year as you are.

Quietly.

Honestly.

Intact.

Wishing you a steady and kind year ahead.

Bình

December 23, 2025December 23, 2025

12 Lessons 2025 Taught Me

From acting, business, pole, yoga, travel, and relationships

2025 wasn’t a year of dramatic reinvention.

It was a year of refinement.

It’s a year where different parts of my life – acting, running a business, pole, yoga, travel, and relationships quietly started talking to each other. Patterns repeated. Lessons echoed. And slowly, things began to integrate.

Here are 12 lessons 2025 taught me.

1. Craft beats talent every time

Acting reminded me of this daily.

Talent might get you noticed, but craft keeps you grounded, employable, and calm under pressure. The same applies to business, teaching, and even relationships as showing up prepared is an act of respect.

2. Consistency matters more than intensity

Pole training taught me that dramatic bursts lead to burnout.

Slow, steady practice especially on the days I didn’t feel like it created real progress. The body remembers what the ego forgets.

3. Boundaries are a form of generosity

In business, clearer boundaries didn’t reduce connection – they improved it.

Clients felt safer. I felt less depleted. Saying no early prevented resentment later.

4. Strength without softness is incomplete

Yoga reminded me that flexibility isn’t weakness.

The strongest shapes came when I stopped forcing and started listening on the mat and in life.

5. You don’t need to be everything to everyone

Acting rooms, auditions, and creative spaces reinforced this truth.

The goal isn’t to be right for everyone but to be specific. The right people find you when you stop trying to blend in.

6. Rest is productive even when it looks like nothing

Some of my best ideas arrived after pauses, not pushes.

Travel days, quiet mornings, moments of stillness – they weren’t wasted time. They were incubation.

7. Your body tells the truth faster than your mind

Pole and yoga made this undeniable.

Tension, fatigue, resistance – these signals appeared before my thoughts caught up. Learning to listen saved me from pushing past my limits unnecessarily.

8. Systems create freedom

In business, structure wasn’t restrictive – it was liberating.

Clear systems meant fewer decisions, less mental clutter, and more energy for creativity and connection.

9. Not every relationship is meant to last forever

Some relationships are seasonal.

2025 taught me to honour what was shared without forcing longevity. Letting go gracefully became a skill not a failure.

10. Confidence grows through repetition not affirmation

Whether on stage, on the pole, or in front of a room – confidence arrived after doing the thing many times, imperfectly.

11. Travel teaches humility

Different cultures, languages, and rhythms reminded me how small and connected we all are.

Travel softened my judgments and widened my patience.

12. Integration is the real work

The biggest lesson of 2025 wasn’t found in any single area.

It was in noticing how everything overlaps.

Acting sharpened my presence

Yoga grounded my nervous system

Pole strengthened my discipline

Business clarified my values

Relationships mirrored my growth

Travel expanded my perspective

Nothing existed in isolation anymore.

Closing reflection

2025 didn’t ask me to become someone new.

It asked me to become more whole.

Less proving.

More trusting.

Less rushing.

More listening.

And if there’s one thing I’m carrying into the next year, it’s this

Growth doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes it looks like alignment.

Thank you for reading. I hope that these lessons have been helpful and in some ways reflective of your year too!

Wishing you and your loved ones good health and a fantastic year ahead!

Bình

July 13, 2025

10 Life Lessons I Learned Working in Hospitality During Uni

Back when I was living in Brisbane for university, I worked part-time at a family-run restaurant to help cover my expenses. What started as a casual job to pay the bills turned into one of the best experiences of my life.

I spent four years waiting tables at a busy Vietnamese restaurant and in that time, I learned lessons about people, resilience, and real-world problem-solving that no university course could have taught me.

Here are ten lessons that I’ve learned:

1. Service is an attitude, not just a task

Being a good waiter wasn’t just about delivering food – it was about being present, attentive, and kind, even when I was exhausted. I learned that how you make someone feel is just as important as what you serve them.

2. People remember how you treat them

From customers celebrating special occasions to tired parents just needing a night off from cooking, each interaction mattered. A warm smile or remembering a regular’s order made a big impact and often led to better tips too!

3. Multitasking is a skill you can master

Juggling ten tables, a full drinks tray, and a mental list of who needed what taught me to prioritise, stay calm under pressure, and move fast without panicking. That ability to multitask has helped me in every job since.

4. Clear communication prevents chaos

Misheard orders, wrong table numbers, or unclear notes for the kitchen could snowball into unhappy customers and wasted food. I quickly learned to communicate clearly and double-check everything. These are the skills I now use daily.

5. It’s never personal

Not all customers were kind. Some were rude, impatient, or dismissive. Learning not to take it personally helped me stay grounded, professional, and focused on doing my job well without carrying emotional baggage into the next table.

6. Cultural pride can be found in the smallest moments

Working in a Vietnamese restaurant gave me the chance to proudly share my culture with people who may have been trying dishes like pho, bun bo hue, or goi cuon for the first time. I loved explaining the ingredients, the stories behind dishes, and why certain sauces were paired with specific foods.

7. Listening is a superpower

I got better at reading the room, noticing when someone needed help, or just giving space to people having a rough day. Listening with my ears, eyes, and instincts made me better at connecting with people from all walks of life.

8. A strong team makes all the difference

You can’t run a busy floor alone. We backed each other up, swapped shifts, and helped clear each other’s tables. There was no ego but just teamwork, trust, and a shared goal to make each night run smoothly.

9. Respect the hustle behind the scenes

The chefs who prepped broth from 6am. The owner who handled the books after hours. The kitchenhands who stayed late to clean. Seeing their dedication helped me appreciate the value of hard work and what it really takes to run a small business.

10. The smallest moments leave the biggest impressions

A quiet thank-you. A small tip from a regular. A child who gave me their drawing as a “tip.” These moments reminded me that even in a fast-paced, often thankless job, there’s always space for human connection and joy.

Working in hospitality in Brisbane while studying wasn’t easy, but it taught me grit, grace, and gratitude. It grounded me. It connected me with people I never would’ve met otherwise. Most importantly, it gave me life skills I still use today in business, relationships, and everyday life.

If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you’ll understand – you walk in for a paycheck, but if you pay attention, you leave with so much more. Those years taught me that no job is ever “just a job” as every experience, if you let it, shapes who you become.

Bình

May 19, 2022

Where can a “hello” take you?

How often do we travel to another country and would ask a local “Can you speak English?”

Say ‘hi’ or ‘thank you’ in the local language can open up a new dialogue or opportunity.

Learn the basics such as saying “hi” and “thank you” can be beneficial.

Try the following – with the biggest smile on your face 😃

Bonjour

Xin chào

Ciao

Konichiwa

Ni hao

Hola

Chúc một ngày tốt lành (Have a wonderful day in Vietnamese) 😘

Bình

March 4, 2016March 4, 2016

Incredible India

When people tell you not to go to India, that’s their story. Not yours!

“You’re going to get sick! You’ll get Delhi belly. You’ll get bitten by dogs. It’s too dirty for you!” and the list goes on.

Regardless of the above opinions, I decided to see for myself.

Got a few injections at my GP’s, paid for the visa, found a connecting flight to Delhi from Sydney, and off to India I went in mid-December 2015. For some reason, India had always been on my mind. Maybe it’s the colourful pictures, the food, or yoga. Who knows?! I just knew in my guts that I had to be there.

Arriving safely in Delhi after a long fight with China Southern, it felt surreal. The smell, the heat, the sight and sounds, and of course, the dirt. Getting from the airport to the hotel was exhausting due to the city’s heavy traffic. Luckily it was the beginning of winter in the north of India, so it was much cooler than normal.

View from the rooftop of my hotel in the middle of Delhi.

After checking in, I took a nap and went downstairs to meet with my tour leader, Tony, and group members. As this was my first time in India, I decided to join Gecko’s 10 days touring around Rajasthan. There were 15 of us including Tony – who was an awesome tour leader. The group members were from Australia, England, Ireland and New Zealand.

The next day we woke up very early and took a 2-hour train from Dehli to Agra to check out the Taj Mahal.

Hello, Taj. With the lovely Jane & Victoria.

On a cold winter day, a warm cup of chai tea can taste so good, made with milk, ginger and cinnamon. On the right is my first vegetarian meal in Dehli! So delicious!

With my awesome roomie, Alfie, from London.

For the next few days, we spent time chilling out in Tordi – a small village in Rajasthan – without any Wifi or Internet connection. It was a great opportunity to share yoga with the group.

Hitting the dirt road and watching the beautiful sunset in Tordi. A cold Kingfisher beer completed the picture.

Over the next few days, we visited Jaipur, the pink city. Above is the Hawa Mahal – a palace built with a high screen wall, so the women of the royal household could observe street festivals while unseen from the outside.

Learning about the Hindu gods.

In India, the cows rule the streets.

Good morning, Tordi.

The sacred lake in the middle of Pushkar. Being blessed here was an experience that I’d never forget.

On the way back to Dehli, we visited Jodhpur – the blue city. What a sight!

After spending Christmas Eve in Nimaj, we were back to Dehli and hanging out in Old Dehli. In life it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.

India is chaotic, enchanting and true. I’d go back there in a heartbeat!

Go and experience this amazing country and see for yourself. Your experience is yours to keep.

Once you’ve stepped your foot on this spiritual land, come back and tell me how you go!

Namaste!

Binh

Live out Loud