The skin, the delicate parchment of the soul, is not just a boundary but also a gateway. It is the surface of the brain, and to touch it is to awaken the essence of life. Each caress is like a whisper through the nervous system, reviving memories, dreams, and instincts. To touch the skin is not to skim the surface but to stir the deep layers of connection—to call forth the currents of life.

This sacred boundary, this shimmering threshold, is more important than we usually realize. Like air, like water, like sunlight, touch sustains us. Deprived of it, we do not just endure but wither. Newborns, denied loving touch, will slowly fade even if well-fed and kept warm. Children who are somewhat luckier but still lack true affection grow up with deficiencies, their development stunted by an emotional, not nutritional, famine. Adults are not immune either; without this primal nourishment, the mind weakens, and the spirit contracts.

There is a profound truth here, resonating like poetry: flesh touching flesh is not just connection but communion. Without it, we cannot grow. With it, we awaken—vibrant with each other, with ourselves, and with the universe singing in every cell of our skin. What stronger evidence could there be that we are beings of love and desire, born not just to exist but to flourish in the warmth of touch, in the electrochemical miracle of connection?

To touch and be touched is to remember that we are alive—marvelous, complex, and wondrous beings, carrying within us both the wild hunger of creation and the infinite grace of belonging. Reach out, with courage and gentleness, for in that touch lies the light of humanity.

human touch studies

emotional intelligence

Càng sống động với nhịp đập của khát khao, tâm trí càng trở nên rực rỡ—một bản giao hưởng tuyệt vời được dệt nên từ những hợp âm nguyên sơ của đam mê. Để sống trọn vẹn với sự gợi cảm là để sống trọn vẹn với sự sáng tạo, bởi tình dục không chỉ là một hành động, mà là một khát vọng—một sự tò mò không ngừng để khám phá những điều ẩn giấu bên trong. Đó không chỉ là sự hòa quyện của thân xác mà còn là hành trình tìm kiếm bí ẩn ẩn náu trong sự tồn tại của chính chúng ta.

Làn da, tấm giấy mỏng manh của tâm hồn, không chỉ là ranh giới mà còn là cánh cổng. Đó là bề mặt của não bộ, và chạm vào nó là đánh thức bản chất của sự sống. Mỗi cái vuốt ve như một lời thì thầm qua hệ thần kinh, làm sống dậy những ký ức, giấc mơ và bản năng. Chạm vào làn da không phải để lướt qua bề mặt mà là để khuấy động những tầng sâu thẳm của sự kết nối—để gọi về những dòng chảy của sự sống.

Ranh giới thiêng liêng này, ngưỡng cửa lấp lánh này, quan trọng hơn chúng ta thường nhận ra. Như không khí, như nước, như ánh mặt trời, sự chạm vào duy trì chúng ta. Khi bị tước đi, chúng ta không chỉ chịu đựng mà còn héo mòn. Những đứa trẻ sơ sinh, bị từ chối sự tiếp xúc đầy yêu thương, sẽ dần lụi tàn dù được nuôi no bụng và nằm trong chiếc nôi ấm áp. Những đứa trẻ có phần may mắn hơn nhưng vẫn thiếu đi sự âu yếm vuốt ve đúng nghĩa, sẽ lớn lên một cách khiếm khuyết, sự phát triển của chúng bị kìm hãm bởi nạn đói không phải từ thực phẩm mà từ cảm xúc. Người trưởng thành cũng không thoát khỏi điều này; thiếu vắng sự nuôi dưỡng nguyên sơ ấy, tâm trí sẽ suy yếu, và tinh thần sẽ co lại.

Có một sự thật sâu sắc ở đây, rung lên như thơ ca: da thịt chạm vào da thịt không chỉ là sự kết nối mà còn là một sự giao hòa. Không có nó, chúng ta không thể phát triển. Với nó, chúng ta tỉnh thức—sống động với nhau, với chính mình, và với vũ trụ đang ngân vang trong từng tế bào da thịt. Có bằng chứng nào mạnh mẽ hơn rằng chúng ta là những sinh vật của tình yêu và khát khao, sinh ra không chỉ để tồn tại mà còn để thăng hoa trong hơi ấm của sự chạm vào, trong phép màu điện hóa của sự kết nối?

Chạm vào và được chạm vào chính là để nhớ rằng chúng ta đang sống—những sinh thể kỳ diệu, rối ren và diệu kỳ, mang trong mình cả cơn đói hoang dại của sự sáng tạo lẫn ân sủng vô hạn của sự thuộc về. Hãy vươn tay ra, can đảm và dịu dàng, bởi trong sự chạm vào đó chính là tia sáng của nhân tính.

"You don't even like France, do you?"

"Then I like it now!" she replied, adding a laughing emoji.

I didn't know what to say. Well, we had broken up, so what was the point of lingering?

On the day I saw her off at the airport, I went to her side. The apartment I had left a year before still felt strangely familiar. She took Lắc - our cat - to France. That was also what connected us.

"Two weeks, I'll pick up Lắc for the weekend!" That was our rule.

I reminded her of everything, from the trivial stuff to clothes. Looking at me, she said:

"I'm not like I used to be."

At that moment, I was reminded that we had broken up a long time ago.

We occasionally keep in touch via Facebook.

About two years after our official breakup, I met someone new. The New Love had some similarities with her. Quiet, interesting. However, the New Love was sharper and more practical. This made our relationship balanced.

"I want to go abroad." - One time, the New Love was acting coy - "I haven't left the city in years."

"So where do you want to go?"

"To France."

"Didn't you say France was dirty?"

"Did I say that?"

The New Love furrowed her brows. For a moment, I felt guilty. No, that was what the old one said.

"Haha, my mistake then." - I said to brush it off.

That night, I checked my ex's Facebook again. In France, she took many pictures. She looked quite refreshed. Maybe she was happy.

In the middle of the night, I got up to drink beer. Sitting blankly on the chair, the New Love stood beside me, clearing her throat. Startled, I whispered:

"Did I wake you?"

"Yeah. How could I sleep when your ex is calling you in the middle of the night?"

The New Love joked, then sat opposite me, took out a cigarette, and lit it. Her slender legs were casually propped up on the table. The New Love looked so different from the gentle old love of the past.

"You knew I would guess."

"Easy to guess. But I don't blame you. You two were together for six years."

"So, are you upset?"

The New Love laughed loudly:

"Of course. But I have my own exes. Sometimes, you remind me of them."

"Yeah. We always love similar types without realizing it."

We both laughed. The New Love flicked her cigarette into the ashtray and said:

"That's life. We must move on."

"But how can you move on if you're still in pain?"

The New Love didn't answer immediately. She stood up, kissed my cheek. Before entering the bedroom, the New Love said:

"How can one forget? It will stay with you for life. But over time, it gets lighter. You'll get used to it."

The New Love and I continued our relationship. Later, we left the city to start anew in Da Lat. Our love was like many others, full of joy and arguments.

Occasionally, I still texted my ex. She often shared stories about France. I asked if she had found someone new. She said not yet.

Then one day, the ex confessed:

"You know what I hate being asked? What am I doing in France? I can't say it's a way for us to move on. Nor can I say I'm betting my future on studying abroad without knowing what life will be like."

I heard her voice through the microphone. At that moment, her voice was calm. I understood, we were in the middle of that journey. Between forgetting and remembering. Between moving on and looking back.

"Yeah." - I replied - "I also want to say we'll remember each other forever. But eventually, everything lightens up. You'll love someone new."

On the other end, she gave a faint laugh.

We ended the conversation. Outside, I saw the New Love picking mushrooms. After the rain, the ground was damp. The mushrooms were fresh.

"Let me."

I said. The New Love smiled. And together, we created new memories.

Diogenes scorned the need for conventional shelter and comforts, which he believed corrupted people. Instead, he chose to sleep in a large ceramic jar and begged for food, even from inanimate statues, explaining that this prepared him for rejection. He believed that humans, with their excessive desires, have lost their simplicity and authenticity, and we could learn much from dogs, creatures that "never complicate the simple gifts of the gods." The term "Cynic" might derive from the Greek "kynikos," meaning "dog-like."

During a harsh winter, Diogenes was seen hugging bronze statues, bare-chested. A Spartan, witnessing this, asked, "Aren't you cold?" When Diogenes replied he was not, the Spartan responded, "Then what's admirable about what you're doing?"

Like the Cynics and Spartans before them, Stoics also valued hardship, albeit to a more moderate degree. Stoics argue that we should practice living in poverty or placing ourselves in difficult situations for several reasons:

1. To discover what we can live without and lessen our fear of losing these things. Seneca advised Lucilius in his letters: "Set aside a certain number of days, during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, wear the same clothes, and ask of yourself: 'Is this the condition that I feared?'"

2. To realize the simple pleasures from small things: a piece of bread, a bit of olive oil, a good night's sleep. These joys are just as fulfilling as lavish feasts and are easily attainable.

3. To reflect deeply on our true goals and focus on pursuing that ideal. Seneca wrote: "If you wish to turn yourself over to your mind, you must either become poor or like the poor. Training is useless if not accompanied by simplicity, and simplicity at its best is nothing other than voluntary poverty."

Here are six additional benefits of self-imposed hardship according to the Stoics:

• Appreciate and enjoy life: Valuing small things makes us cherish what we have.

• Break the chains of habit: Stepping out of comfort zones reveals hidden capabilities and reinforces inner freedom.

• Steadfast in adversity: Hardship is inevitable; prepare to face it.

• Master emotions: Pain largely comes from our perception, not the events themselves.

• Discipline: Hardship tests and builds Stoic resilience and willpower.

• Empathy and connection: Understanding others' difficulties expands compassion and connects us with less fortunate fates.

Moreover, self-imposed poverty or difficulty can offer practical benefits like weight loss, time, or money savings. Most importantly, these experiences forge a strong, resilient soul. Marcus Aurelius said, "Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to live. Death stands at your elbow." Seneca also affirmed, "Soldiers endure all kinds of hardships to conquer an enemy, so why hesitate to live austerely to liberate the mind from suffering?"

The strongest barrier to experiencing stillness is judgment.

The mind - following its stubborn value system - always judges the consequences of an action (or series of actions), whether it's right or wrong, good or bad, should or should not. Like when a child hits another child, and you immediately get angry and scold them: "Why are you being so naughty, you shouldn't (aren't allowed to) do this!" But you don't take the time to be understanding, compassionate, and filled with love to truly find out what happened, about the so-called cause. Because consequences all have causes, and if there were no causes, they wouldn't have happened. But the human mind usually only judges the results; they are lazy, impatient, and impulsive, thus not willing to investigate thoroughly. To see, every process leading to a result has a reason behind it, and so, it's logical when it's happening according to the law we call cause and effect. But the mind is only focused on judging, condemning, and punishing. When you judge someone, it's also a way for the ego to think you're punishing them and they deserve it. But you don't realize that this judgment creates negative emotional consequences and an unhealthy mind for yourself. And so, when you condemn or punish, judge others, you are doing that to yourself.

Everything that happens has a cause, and therefore it's logical following the law of cause and effect. But when you see everything happening objectively, all having causes, it doesn't mean you just let things happen. If your child hits another, would you just be indifferent and let them continue hitting? It demands a serious awareness here. First, you see your child is feeling dissatisfied with the other child, and this dissatisfaction drives the behavior of hitting. Therefore, your mind no longer criticizes or condemns your child. Because you've seen the cause driving the process of creating the result, so it's unnecessary or unwise to blame a child when they are not even aware of the thoughts and behaviors they cling to are causing such undeserved consequences.

Instead of teaching children dogmas that only fill their minds with moral concepts, help the child experience what's happening inside them before, during, and after the behavior. "How did you feel before hitting your friend, how about during, and how now?" Doing so helps the child's consciousness return to itself, and see everything clearly. Meaning you're teaching them self-awareness, not filling their minds with a series of moral dogmas. Because profound change only happens when the child is willing to be aware of themselves. When they start being internally aware, positive change will happen naturally. Therefore, instead of teaching concepts, teach the child to experience the inner self practically and vividly. Teach them to feel, express those feelings objectively without any judgment. Such education would create a cognitive revolution for the whole world.

But our minds are taught to focus only on dogmas, on concepts, on what's called beautiful or ugly, good or not good, should or should not. Even those who have practiced in temples, keeping many precepts, many of them cannot resist going out, enjoying with money, or engaging in lustful behaviors. Because practice, as you call it, is the ability to quietly experience (without rejecting, opposing, or criticizing) what's truly happening. Because all that's happening in this world isn't really contradictory as you might think. They support each other, and all are opportunities for awareness. Even war isn't an issue, right? Yes, but it doesn't mean you support it, or try from the mind to oppose it. You understand why it happens. All external wars come from internal battles. When your mind fights for peace, you also create an external fight for that, and thus, all wars in this world are fought in the name of noble causes.

What you can do is help people be aware of themselves. That they have been slaves to dogmas, to concepts, to thoughts, to images, to emotions, to mental habits... They forget the important part, which is truly being aware of what they are doing. Truly being aware of what's happening in the mind, in the inner space, in words, and in behavior. To see objectively how they are driven and created externally and what consequences they leave behind.

When you teach a child that hitting a friend out of hate isn't really worth it, you must help them be aware of the consequences of clinging to negative thoughts that cause uncomfortable feelings inside them. Ask them, do you really want these hateful, uncomfortable feelings? Because our true consciousness never chooses suffering and likewise, it doesn't choose to cause suffering to others. And from then on, the child will not choose to listen to negative thoughts producing uncomfortable feelings. Help the child know how to choose (consciously choose) beautiful thoughts instead of negative ones, and help them experience that their nature is joy, not hatred or sorrow. But you'll see, our education system teaches people to think they are bad, evil, greedy, suffering is inevitable... We haven't taught children that joy is their nature. We rarely teach children to think positively, and direct those positive, peaceful thoughts inside to experience the readily available and infinite spiritual peace.

If you speak out about stopping wars, it must come from understanding, tolerance, and love. Because God doesn't blame or judge any of His children. He simply awakens them. So now, you must awaken yourself from the dogmas - the thought habits you've clung to for so long, to truly choose consciousness filled with love in everything happening, even the uncomfortable thoughts or feelings happening within you. Everything happening is to remind you that you are unconditional love.

Are you feeling lonely because no one understands you? When you start living differently and transforming your life, some people won't like it. That's normal. You will lose friends. People you thought would always stand by you will start talking about you. They will call you crazy. They will call you boring. They will stop inviting you out.

It's similar to many of my students who, when they begin to share their professional expertise and views about their work on social media instead of just personal stories, start getting teased or judged. Friends might tease, "You've become so philosophical lately," making you feel embarrassed. Family might disagree with your choices, making you feel both worried and discouraged. Colleagues might engage in heated debates, making you doubt your abilities.

You might feel that no one understands or supports you, and many times you might want to give up.

In summary,

Personal transformation can bring a sense of loneliness. But if you can endure the short-term friction of loneliness, meaningful rewards are sure to come. You will start attracting new, dynamic people who share your vision and values into your world. People who are in tune with the energy you're emitting.

It's like daring to paint your nails red at 80, and no one around you mocks or judges you. You feel worthy and want to live your life, no matter how young or old you are. You meet new people and live in a place where no one is petty or busy judging others by appearances.

So yes, people might say you've changed... but that's precisely the point!

1. Among the people I know, there's a young man who's very good at theory and paperwork. Every time we meet, he talks about a new project, very logically and persuasively, but he never actually starts working on it. It's all plans and projects, but no results are ever seen.I don't like this young man and no longer hang out with him. I realized what I dislike is actually something I once did myself: talking about future projects and their feasibility without actually starting them. Ultimately, this comes from hating that trait in myself. This young man is just a mirror reflecting my own inner self, and that reflection is too clear, almost brutally direct.

2. Today, in an MMO group, someone asked how to make 1 million VND per month for pocket money and extra income.I read the comments and offered my opinions on three possible directions. Generally, these directions require persistence, hard work, and most importantly, TAKING ACTION.Just like how writing 1,000 analytical articles doesn't compare to actually executing a plan you've devised; all the theoretical fluff disappears, leaving only reality and results.Taking action is the simplest and shortest way to test if that direction is correct. It reminds me of myself 10-12 years ago, reading tech blogs and affiliate marketing for 2-3 years with no results.The results only came when I started doing the work: setting up a blog, writing articles, hiring SEO to target keywords for sales...

3. Similarly, there are people who analyze cases very well, and theoretically, they are correct. However, they still miss other factors:

• The market will change; if you adapt, so will your competitors.

• Emotions often outweigh logic.

• Each person is different, with different strengths. You can't apply a method that works for a good coder to someone who excels at content creation. This starts with understanding oneself: who am I, what am I good at, what are my weaknesses, what do I CHOOSE...

4. Ultimately, knowledge only has value when it's turned into action. Instead of indulging in the "illusion of knowledge," I choose to execute my plan to learn more about myself and to live true to myself.

Praise like "standard" or "excellent" is only found in video games, virtual worlds, or easy exercises with clear answers given to elementary or middle school kids. In real life, when working on a project without an absolutely correct answer, the feedback we often get is a disappointed shake of the head and a reluctant "uh-huh" (while internally they might be thinking you're doing it like an amateur or worse).

From cooking a decent dish, performing a martial arts move (adequately), doing a pull-up, making a cup of coffee, to building a house, investing, or starting a business, reaching a level that's "acceptable" - "mediocre" requires a tremendous amount of effort.

And because it's difficult and complex, if you have a habit of mimicking appearances - monkey see, monkey do, copying exactly what you see without caring about the essence, your chances of failure are extremely high.

When people are tired or weak, their mindset easily falls into the trap of just copying appearances to get by, rather than focusing on the quality of the content.

The meme is the "specialized knowledge" I have. It's all about following silly trends, then talking about them and thinking you're highly knowledgeable. Then you wonder why life is hard when the actual specialized knowledge needed for work and life is almost zero.

Perhaps very few people ask you this question. This question popped into Thương's mind while reading the book "One Hour of Gold After Waking Up."

Thương's dream when getting old is to travel with family. When stopping at a café, Thương would take out a book to read, savoring a good cup of coffee, surrounded by family. Through these trips, everyone would create more memories and connect with each other. Memories are the most precious thing in the world.

Let me share a memory about Thương's grandmother, who passed away nearly ten years ago. When Thương was little, on warm sunny days, she liked to sit in front of the door. She would comb Thương's hair with a fine-tooth comb, telling stories about Thương's father when he was young. It seemed like memories of her children were her treasures. Her teeth were black because in the old days, some elderly women dyed their teeth as a beauty practice. If an old woman passed by, she would ask her to buy some betel nuts for her to chew. The stories she told were very simple and intimate. She lived carefree until she passed away.

As Thương grew older, Thương realized that some people will live in your heart forever through memories. The body may disappear, but memories remain intact.

When Thương reads, Thương touches the memories and life experiences of the author. People we might never meet in life, but through books, it's like we're sitting down for hours chatting with them.

So, what is your dream when you get old?

Be a person with dreams so that every morning you wake up with more motivation to get up. Even though we know not everyone will reach old age, as long as we are alive, we have hope and the opportunity for a brighter tomorrow.

Programmable IP (PIP) Labs, the developer of the Layer-1 blockchain for intellectual property rights solution Story Protocol, has raised $80 million in a Series B round led by a16z Crypto.

Other investors in this round include Polychain Capital, Scott Trowbridge, President and Board Member of Stability AI, billionaire and founder Adrian Cheng, and digital art collector Cozomo de' Medici.

The Series B round was structured as equity with token purchase rights, bringing PIP Labs' total funding to $140 million. Previously, in September 2023, the company raised $54 million in a Series A round, also led by a16z crypto. Following that, they conducted an additional fundraising round from angel investors between the Series A and Series B. The newly raised funds will be used to expand the team from 40 to 60 members across technical, marketing, product development, and design departments. Additionally, it will accelerate the process towards launching the mainnet, which is planned for the end of 2024.

Story Protocol is a Layer-1 blockchain designed to revolutionize how intellectual property (IP) is managed and monetized in the digital age, particularly within the context of Web3 and artificial intelligence (AI). Here's a breakdown of what it entails:

• Development and Compatibility: It's built using the Cosmos SDK, which means it leverages the benefits of the Cosmos ecosystem like interoperability with other blockchains. Additionally, it aims for full compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing for seamless integration with the broader Ethereum ecosystem.

• Tokenization of IP: Story Protocol seeks to tokenize intellectual property, turning traditional, static IP into programmable assets. This means creators can represent their IP as tokens on the blockchain, which can then be managed, licensed, or sold in a more flexible and automated manner.

• Proof-of-Creativity (PoC): This is a unique protocol within Story Protocol that allows creators to prove ownership and creativity over their IP. It's designed to reward creators whenever their IP is used or shared, ensuring they benefit from the utilization of their creations.

• Ecosystem for Creators: The protocol provides infrastructure for content creators to register, manage, and monetize their IP. This ecosystem supports a variety of applications from AI tools, DeFi (Decentralized Finance) solutions adapted for IP (IPFi), consumer markets, content creation platforms, to social networks in Web3 (SocialFi).

• Community and Development: Over 200 teams are currently working on Story Protocol, with more than 20 million IPs being developed. This indicates a robust community and development environment, focusing on various applications that leverage the unique capabilities of Story Protocol.

• Vision: The overarching goal of Story Protocol is to empower creators by giving them control over their intellectual property in a digital environment where it can be easily integrated, shared, and monetized in new, innovative ways.

In essence, Story Protocol is not just a blockchain but a comprehensive platform aimed at redefining how creators interact with their intellectual property in the digital realm, fostering a new era of creativity and ownership in the age of AI and Web3.

Overview of Story Protocol's Partner Ecosystem

If you focus on yourself, you will have no time to compare yourself to others.

Whatever you want, you can achieve.

The question is, do you give yourself enough patience, enough time, enough effort to achieve each one?

Many people ask me: "What is the secret to becoming an author, content creator, freelancer like today?". I answer: "I don't have any secret, any secret. I took it step by step, to get here!"

It sounds obvious, but focusing on taking each step every day will help you get to where you want to go. The secret is probably simply focusing on the act of taking steps regularly. Focusing on your own progress instead of constantly looking at what others are doing?

If you focus on yourself, you will have no time to compare yourself to others. We often feel impatient when we see someone achieve success sooner than us. We easily feel anxious when we see someone who seems to have a better, richer life. But have you ever wondered if the criteria that society often uses to evaluate a successful person is the criteria for success that you are aiming for?

Don't compare yourself to others. Don't look at other people's journeys to feel sorry for yourself or blame yourself, because you never know what those who "seem" to have a better life than you have gone through. And when you achieve the same achievements as them, are you sure that you will be happy?

We simply travel on different paths, different routes, at different speeds.

You have to build your own definition of success and happiness. From there, cling to that definition like a lighthouse to make decisions to steer your life.

For me, the definition of personal success or happiness is probably seeing myself slowly moving forward every day.

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato asked Socrates: “What is love?”

Socrates asked Plato to go to the wheat field without turning back, the goal was to pick the biggest and most beautiful wheat on the way, but only once. Plato thought it was easy and was very confident. After a long time, he returned empty-handed, dejectedly telling his teacher: “I saw a beautiful wheat, but I don’t know if it was the most beautiful. Since I could only pick it once, I had to skip it and see if there was a more beautiful one. When I got to the end of the field, I realized that I didn’t have a single wheat ear in my hand.”

Socrates said: “That’s love.”

Then Plato asked his teacher again: “What is marriage?”

Socrates asked him to go back to the wheat field and follow the same rule. After a while, Plato brought back an ear of wheat that wasn’t very good but not too bad either. The teacher asked: “Why did you choose such an ordinary ear of wheat?” Plato replied: “With my previous experience, when I was halfway there and still empty-handed, I saw that this wheat was not so bad, so I picked it, otherwise I would not be able to bring anything back.”

Socrates said: “That is marriage.”

...

Looking for the most beautiful wheat in the field is like the experience of looking for love, you expect beautiful things but in the end you do not know where to start and return empty-handed. However, when looking for marriage, if you are a thoughtful person, have values,... in your heart you will have specific expectations, because you have adjusted your mindset, you will find the right person, even if that person is not the best.

The writer has met many people when their inward turning becomes strong, they often tend to want to be alone (a pure desire without mental struggle). It means that even though the body is sick, even though life's uncertainties happen, the soul is still comfortable with being alone, and is never miserable, never weak.

For women, they need to learn to be independent to free themselves from the thought that they need a strong shoulder. Saying that does not mean that they have to force themselves, but they need to free themselves from the false belief that they are the weaker sex. Women are often sensitive, often easily hurt, when immersing themselves in emotions triggers illusions that have become a habit within them. They often want to have the privileges of the weaker sex like men... need to take care of them, pamper them, must put them as a priority in the relationship, and by doing so, women often get angry, easily push themselves into a miserable situation, because life is never set up to satisfy that selfish desire.

During the years of being alone, there is a deep feeling that as long as the mind can be calm, can be fixed inside, then all the illusions, all the thoughts that arise when falling into difficult situations will not appear. And at this time, people will feel a calm, strong and open inner self instead of being immersed in a play of being a victim, or being pitiful. All the emotions that arise only come from the play of the mind, do not seek satisfaction there, be sober and look inside, feel the relaxation that is inherently an extremely great power. Take advantage of solitude, if the universe is giving you that reward, to go deep within, so as not to fall into complaining, into complaining, into the illusion of being a victim. One of the most important lessons of spiritual practice is not to complain. When we are attached to the image of ourselves as weaker, we often complain to others in order to gain some comfort, encouragement or attention from them. But inner strength can only be experienced when we are directly aware of pure reality, not when we seek temporary satisfaction from the mind.

In the modern economy, the ability to focus on deep work is becoming increasingly valuable. Those who can practice and make this skill the center of their work life will have the opportunity to develop significantly.

Recently, I read the book "Deep Work" by Cal Newport and really think this is a book that everyone should read. "Deep Work" is the concept of deep work, which is the ability to focus maximally on a task that requires deep thinking without interruption for a long period of time.

Think about it, in the time it takes you to read this article, how many notifications, emails and messages have you received? Probably quite a few. How does this affect your ability to concentrate?

Many people think that multitasking is the most efficient way to use time, but this logic is completely wrong. Multitasking does not mean productivity. In fact, when you constantly switch between different tasks, your brain needs time to adapt and adjust, which reduces the efficiency and quality of work.

Scientific studies have shown that when we switch between tasks, we face a so-called “switching cost”. Each time we switch, the brain has to take time to reboot and refocus, leading to a loss of valuable energy and time. This is why you may feel tired and exhausted after a day of multitasking.

Every day, I have to write content for many different platforms, from blogs, social networks to advertising articles. When writing, I have to exchange information with the working group, answer the phone, see notifications, check emails... the work becomes chaotic and the time to complete an article can be three times longer than usual. However, if you focus on writing early in the morning, when everything around is still quiet and not distracted by external factors, you can complete a quality article in just 30 minutes.

By dedicating time in the morning to writing, I not only save time but also significantly increase my work efficiency. Deep work is really effective and helps me maintain creativity and improve the quality of content.

Some strategies from "Deep Work" to increase the ability to work deeply are:

1. The "monk" strategy: This means you will eliminate all sources of distraction and isolate yourself like a monk.

2. The Two-Phase Strategy: You define a long period of time to work and leave the rest of the time for other activities.

3. The Rhythm Strategy: You create a habit of doing deep work in blocks of time, such as 90 minutes, and use a clock/calendar to track your progress.

4. The Journalist Strategy: You will take advantage of unexpected free time in your daily routine to do deep work.

And one more thing, "Work Meditation" can rewire your brain and help you focus better. Schedule both work and rest time specifically, this will help you manage your time effectively and use it more carefully.

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A little tip: Create a schedule divided into time blocks of at least 30 minutes for both work and personal tasks such as time to relax, eat, or answer emails.

When you feel exhausted at the end of the day, consider taking an "internet break." Try to identify and write down specific times when you allow yourself to use the internet, such as in the morning and evening, and absolutely avoid using it outside of these hours. This way, you won’t be tempted to constantly check notifications, emails or messages, thereby minimizing distractions. As a result, you will find that your concentration levels will skyrocket, because you have created an uninterrupted work environment.

You will be completely surprised at the efficiency and focus you can achieve, just by controlling and limiting your internet usage appropriately.

If you are ready to try deep work, try applying the above strategies and don’t hesitate to share your results with me!

A corner of Tran Phu Ward's boat dock

Since 1995 - 1996, some Quy Nhon fishermen, through their practical exploitation and effective fishing, have also "kept an eye" on this profession. But at that time, the conditions of boats and technical equipment... ensuring offshore fishing for long periods at sea did not allow it, so they had to resort to the tactic of "lurking" - meaning that when the weather is calm and the sea is calm, they "rush out" to catch two or three trips and then quickly run back to shore, not daring to stay for long periods, because they are still afraid that offshore fishing will be subject to unpredictable storms and winds, which are not safe!

The method of catching "tree fish" is actually not new, but is completely based on the "version" of the purse seine fishing profession specializing in catching tuna fish such as: chu, bong, bo, melon, o... that two localities in Quy Nhon City, Tran Phu ward and Nhon Ly commune, have been doing for more than 20 years. But the new thing about this profession today is that the fishing boats are built larger; the fishing nets are "expanded" to be higher and longer. Especially, they are equipped with modern technical equipment such as: fish finders, locators, long-range walkie-talkies, multi-function binoculars... to ensure long-term fishing trips at sea. Although it is the same type of offshore fishing, the fishing time in a trip of this profession is shorter. The exploitation time is year-round and does not depend on the season.

In addition to normal fishing, boats doing this job also go around looking for tree roots, pieces of planks, foam boards, damaged barrels... of ships passing by at sea that are no longer used, and are left floating on the sea. Over time, these objects rot, forming pieces of moss, which then give birth to countless oysters, snails, crabs, sea lice, etc., and drift along the ocean currents. Fishermen often call these moss patches "water's edge". Under the shade of these moss patches are countless types of fish such as: pickled fish, sour fish, squash fish, mackerel, clams... gathering to eat moss and other animals. According to the experience of fishermen, fish that "stand" along the "tree" are very effective when caught, sometimes "catching" the whole school. Mr. Tran Trang - a fisherman in Tran Phu ward, who has many years of experience in catching "tree fish" said: Currently in Tran Phu ward, there are more than 80 boats with capacity from 150 to more than 300 CV specializing in this profession and have quite high income. In 2004, any boat that rarely caught "trees" also reached the level of 300 - 400 million VND. His own boat before and after Tet also earned nearly 150 million... He added: "Because we fish far out at sea, hundreds of nautical miles from shore and are very afraid of risks at sea, we often "join together" (cooperate with each other) 2-3 boats to work together. The other day, a boat fishing for tuna met a "tree" and "talked" to call my boat to come fish. I sold more than a hundred million, I gave them 1/3 because they had the merit of meeting the "tree" and calling me to come work. This has become a "custom", a kind of... "unwritten law" of our fishermen".

Coming to Ban soy sauce craft village, Ban Yen Nhan ward (My Hao town, Hung Yen province) met Mr. Le Dinh Dat, Chairman of the Ban soy sauce craft village association and also the owner of a famous soy sauce production facility in the locality.

Mr. Dat said: Soy sauce is available in many places, but Hung Yen's Ban soy sauce is still considered a famous specialty of the whole country. According to the elders in the village, the soy sauce making profession here has existed for hundreds of years, in the past it was a product offered to the king, and was produced in Ban village, so it was called Ban soy sauce.

The main ingredients for making soy sauce include soybeans (soybeans) that must be large, even, with bright and shiny skin. Next is yellow sticky rice, white salt and clean water. The ingredients for making Ban sauce are not difficult to find, but the process of making the sauce is extremely elaborate and time-consuming. To produce a fragrant, golden sauce requires experience and family secrets. After soaking, put the sticky rice in a steamer, dry it on a tray, and wait for the mold to turn yellow like a betel nut flower. After cleaning, roast the soybeans until they are golden and fragrant. After roasting, soak the beans in water for about 7 days, the same time as the mold is incubated.

During the past three years, the number of tourists has sharly increased, especially during public holidays such as Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1). For the first time in memory, all hotels and guest houses in Tuy Hòa City (2,600 rooms) have been fully occupied.

Phú Yên is one of the most beautiful provinces in the centre of the country. It has nearly 190km of coastline bordered with zigzag mountains and dotted with many bays, lagoons, cliffs and reefs.

Break of day

The central coastal province of Phú Yên attracted more visitors after the launch of Victor Vũ’s movie Yellow Flowers on Green Grass in 2015. During the past three years, the number of tourists has sharly increased, especially during public holidays such as Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1). For the first time in memory, all hotels and guest houses in Tuy Hòa City (2,600 rooms) have been fully occupied. Phú Yên is one of the most beautiful provinces in the centre of the country. It has nearly 190km of coastline bordered with zigzag mountains and dotted with many bays, lagoons, cliffs and reefs. Break of day For those who like trekking up mountains to watch the sunrise, Mũi Điện (Đại Lãnh) light house is a must. I was stunned at its location, but it was worth all the sweat and energy I lost during the 1km trek up. The lighthouse stands on top of Mũi Điện (Điện Cape), which towers over the sea. The cape is 35km southeast of Tuy Hòa City, so to catch the first sunrise, the journey up should begin very early from Tuy Hòa City. Trekking up the steep winding path, a junction appears with three signposts: one points to the lighthouse, another leads to Mũi Điện, while the other points to Sunrise Cape. At Mũi Điện, a signpost reads: "The easternmost point of Việt Nam, where the first sunrise appears". However, others believe that the first area to receive sunlight is Mũi Đôi (Đôi Cape) in the central province of Khánh Hòa. However, I didn’t care which was the easternmost cape, I just felt moved to see a skyline not hidden behind high-rise buildings. And doing morning yoga in the early sunlight is one of my most enjoyable past-times. Standing on top of Sunrise Cape watching the sun emerge over the horizon, my lungs filled with cool breeze, I felt as if time stopped. The lighthouse was built by the French in 1890. It measures 26.5m and rises 110m above sea level and helps orient ships passing nearby Vũng Rô (Rô Bay). The lighthouse was severely damaged during war time and was re-opened in 1995. It is one of eight light houses aged over 100 years in Việt Nam. Many young people arrive at the light house late at night to wait for the sunrise.For those who like trekking up mountains to watch the sunrise, Mũi Điện (Đại Lãnh) light house is a must.

I was stunned at its location, but it was worth all the sweat and energy I lost during the 1km trek up.

The lighthouse stands on top of Mũi Điện (Điện Cape), which towers over the sea.

The cape is 35km southeast of Tuy Hòa City, so to catch the first sunrise, the journey up should begin very early from Tuy Hòa City.

Trekking up the steep winding path, a junction appears with three signposts: one points to the lighthouse, another leads to Mũi Điện, while the other points to Sunrise Cape.

At Mũi Điện, a signpost reads: "The easternmost point of Việt Nam, where the first sunrise appears". However, others believe that the first area to receive sunlight is Mũi Đôi (Đôi Cape) in the central province of Khánh Hòa.

However, I didn’t care which was the easternmost cape, I just felt moved to see a skyline not hidden behind high-rise  buildings. And doing morning yoga in the early sunlight is one of my most enjoyable past-times.

Standing on top of Sunrise Cape watching the sun emerge over the horizon, my lungs filled with cool breeze, I felt as if time stopped.

The lighthouse was built by the French in 1890. It measures 26.5m and rises 110m above sea level and helps orient ships passing nearby Vũng Rô (Rô Bay). 

The lighthouse was severely damaged during war time and was re-opened in 1995. It is one of eight light houses aged over 100 years in Việt Nam.

Many young people arrive at the light house late at night to wait for the sunrise.

The lesson I learned is that when I started studying, I often wrote a list of things to learn, the result was confusion, not knowing which lesson to start with first, leading to a situation where I didn’t finish one lesson but then jumped to another => extremely poor efficiency.

Doing one thing at a time helps to focus more, giving me the motivation to continue doing other things when I have finished task number 1.

- Tip 2: No phones and “Distraction sheet” in the classroom.

Don’t blame the phones, blame us for being addicted to social media.

Leave your phones and food out of the classroom, just have some water.

Start studying/working for 25-30 minutes (use a timer, this is the average time each person can concentrate)

Put the “Distraction sheet” next to it: while studying or working, if there is a distraction (having to hold the phone to text, call or go out to get something to eat), write those distractions on the paper. Put it aside and continue working.

When the 25-30 minutes are up, go out and comfortably do the distractions for a maximum of 15-20 minutes.

Return to the desk and continue the 25-minute cycle. If you do it continuously, you will gradually practice 4 cycles => 1 hour but extremely productive.

Effectiveness: Practice concentration by creating your own rules and motivating yourself, forcing yourself into a framework. Just go through 25 minutes of intense concentration once, you will automatically be conscious of doing it many times in the future.

- Tip 3: Make sure your study tools are complete. 

Computers, internet, books, pens, study tools, work tools, etc. must be complete, sharp, usable, and within reach. Don't let the pen run out of ink or the internet drop discourage you and lead to loss of concentration and giving up.

- Tip 4: Use your phone to record the entire learning process in time-lapse. The phone is a tool to remind yourself “focus, you are being watched”, and moreover, reviewing the entire learning process is also very interesting, we will not want to pick up the phone, turn off the camera and scroll through social networks, we are recording. So just focus.

- Tip 5: Use 1 minute to prepare mentally before starting a study session

Set a 1-minute countdown timer

Take a deep breath, exhale through your mouth, do this continuously for 10 times

Look at the piece of paper and write down the only thing you need to do in this study session

After 1 minute, start studying right away.

Effectiveness: There will be many times when we feel uninspired to study or work, this countdown timer prevents us from being distracted and procrastinating, not really starting, and sends a signal to the brain when the 60s are about to run out to wind up the spirit => start.