Thang Nguyen 555

Nature has plenty to teach us.

No beauty could ever surpass the fresh bloom of a flower, wild one more counting. Tip of the iceberg to deceive us all about what’s buried (unseen) underneath. And the snowball, started out on top with just a squeeze to harden the “snow” ball, then critical mass at the bottom.

Just name two phenomena in nature to set the stage for Jung’s subconscious theory, or what’s in our brain, unused and yet-to-be-explored.

Last frontier. Or else, wasted talent and potential.

We judge folks by a blip on the screen, without realizing we too will someday be just a blip in perspective.

Some triggers are worse than others since they can pull out what’s underneath. “Do cho chet!” (dead dog).

I grew up in a neighborhood where if you didn’t hear cursing and yelling, then it’s Tet (new year) or the collapse of government.

We believe still in restraining ourselves on New Year, so as its one-day luck would extend year long.

The iceberg and its tip. The snowball that rolls down hill.

We understood what had come before would repeat. That one cannot fall far from the tree.

Of ancestry and of manner. Of character and personality (the later may affect us, but not much, being so restrained with centuries of guard rails and guardianship).

Mandarin we all were and still are. First learning, then comes farming. “I to rit”, to avoid the ultimate stigma of “mu chu” (illiteracy).

Learning for those hours in school. But rest of the time, learning at home: clean proper, speech proper, manner proper…

Beneath the faces we see hidden those dignity and etiquette, speeches unspoken and manners enduring.

Never judge the book by its cover. What’s invisible at times dictate and dominate more than what’s seen.

Not size, but substance that grows over time.

It took decades to learn this lesson, that time and nature have a lot to teach us, way outside of the classroom.

Even and especially wildflowers that speak about beauty.