Redefine ‘Happiness’
Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, 2026.
I chose an auspicious hour to write these notes, believing that what is written with sincerity may become reality.
The first word that comes to my mind is Gratitude.
Gratitude for the present moment.
For this Tet holiday.
For reunion.
I see the smiles of the people I love — slowly, deeply.
My parents.
My wife.
My children.
My sister.
My big family.
My wife’s family.
My sister’s family.
So much love.
Something entirely different from ordinary days.
Different from the outside world.
Different from non-Tet time.
Gratitude to my ancestors for everything they left behind — foundations, values, blood, protection.
This is family time.
Reunion time.
Reflection time.
A quiet space without work mode.
No daily messages.
No urgent emails.
No constant conversations.
Freedom to choose my time.
Only for myself and my family.
So what am I thinking now?
I am thinking about happiness.
About meaning.
The definition keeps changing.
Over time.
Over stages of life.
In the past, happiness meant achievement.
Career success.
Social position.
Degrees earned.
Cars bought.
Houses owned.
Maybe I never truly studied what happiness meant.
Maybe I equated it with recognition.
Now it feels different.
Completely different.
There is no final answer.
The definition will evolve again.
But today, happiness feels like this:
Quality time with the people I love most.
Moving slowly.
Feeling what is truly happening.
Being present.
Loving my parents. My parents’ loved ones.
My wife & my wife’s family.
My children. My children’s world.
My sister. My sister’s family.
For a long time, I told myself that focusing on career was my language of love.
It was not fully true.
Deep inside, it was about proving who I am.
An expression of individualism.
And today, it feels different.
If I simplify everything, the core is this:
love and gratitude for my parents, the ones who gave me life, who raised me through every high and low, with unconditional love and quiet sacrifice.
——
Keep walking toward the sun— with a smile, every moment.
Hải Thật. A reflective Vietnamese son-husband-father-founder in education, writing life notes to live more meaningfully.
