Another day where I somehow feel tired. Before I knew it, it was 1 PM. I took a shower and got ready as usual. I wonder if I've been feeling tired lately. But then again, we're human, so maybe it's okay to go with the flow.
It was written in a book I bought yesterday called 'The wealth money can't buy.' Listen more to your own flow. When you're tired, your body will follow, so rest properly. Because there are times like that, you'll be able to show your true strength when it really matters.
So I figured that I'm probably just generally tired right now.
Today I first went to a mobile company called Vittel. My SIM card is valid for one month, so it was almost a month and I needed to extend it by about five days. When I went there, it turned out they couldn't extend it right now; the only options were 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days, and I would have to buy a new SIM card. So I decided to go back seven days before my departure. After that, I walked to look for lunch. In the end I ate noodles at a food-court-like place underground near Bui Vien Street that I had been to before.
It was simply delicious. After that I took a motorbike taxi to the Saigon Post Office. I hadn't been here since 2023.
I wanted to send a letter to a friend this time, so I bought a postcard there, wrote the letter, and mailed it. There was a long line to buy stamps, but the Vietnamese clerk handled things at a normal, unhurried pace and didn't seem bothered, so I found myself wishing they'd hurry up.
This was the difference between my values and other people's. Maybe I'm impatient; I don't want to waste time. So I don't like waiting in line, and inefficiency really annoys me. Eventually I bought the stamps. They were 30,000 dong each, so about 150 yen. I thought 150 yen for postage was really cheap.
After that I took a taxi again and went to a place called Fuji X. I've been wanting a Fujifilm camera, and lately I've really wanted to take film-camera-style photos on this around-the-world trip. So I figured I'd take this chance to go see the model I want, the X1000Vi. But when I actually arrived and went in, it wasn't there!
Apparently it was so popular that they didn't have it in stock there. I was really disappointed, but I thought there was nothing I could do. Besides, my mental state was tired so I wasn't in the mood. I went to a nearby cafe and worked a bit. After about two hours I went outside and found a large plaza nearby. It was all grass and lots of people were running or having picnics. Everyone was really young and there were very few older people.
What I feel coming to Vietnam is that the average age here is just too young. It's really surprising — it feels like over 60% are between 20 and 25. It's full of couples and everyone is so energetic. It makes me feel again that Vietnam has a future.
Lying on that grass, I was reading a book and doing my self-introspection. I was thinking about what I felt and what I've been feeling lately.
Recently, something happened that made me feel a little sad.
The cause was very simple:I expected too much of the other personThat's what it was.
I took the casual phrase 'it would be nice if we could meet' and, before I knew it, treated it like a definite future.
Even though the other person's situation or feelings might change, I overloaded that with my own emotions.
Maybe distance grew because time passed, maybe we wanted different things from the start, or maybe the timing just didn't align.
It wasn't anyone's fault; it just happened.
Awkwardness at first meeting, someone's physical condition, the atmosphere of the place.
Those small factors can accumulate and a relationship can quietly drift apart.
The disappointment remains, but I realized it was an emotion born precisely because I had expectations.
And I realized there's no need to link an event that simply involved bad timing to my own worth more than necessary.
So on the grass I learned about my emotions. If you have many experiences like this — thinking you've been betrayed by the other person, or that someone left (it's only because I expected it; the other person didn't actually leave or betray me) — a resentment stack builds up inside, and you start seeing the world through colored lenses.
Even though nobody is being mean at all, everyone starts to look like a bad person and the world feels mean. The book said it's important to process this resentment stack — in other words, to be able to let it go more easily.
To do that, first fully accept the emotions you're feeling now; if you feel sadness or irritation, feel it. Don't deny it. Then acknowledge yourself. 'Ah, you're hurting now. You're sad. You're irritated. It's okay.' And finally, feel the emotion all the way through. I think people who cry are good at processing emotions.
Feel the emotion to the end. Doing this prevents the resentment stack from piling up, so you can process it on the spot.
If you do that, you'll spend more time facing yourself and your sense of self will gradually grow, so what others think won't matter. That was what I learned today. I also learned that when something painful happens and you're angry at someone, it's important to have compassion for them.
The other person doesn't have the advantages I have; their situation isn't visible from our side. So there's always intent behind someone's behavior or actions, and it doesn't necessarily mean it's all because you're at fault. People have their own circumstances. So be generous toward that unseen part. It's really amazing, and if you can do it, maybe that's what being a 'rich' person means.
In the evening I shopped at the supermarket in the basement of Vincom Center. I bought aloe yogurt and DOVE shampoo and conditioner.
Finally, I've been able to buy proper shampoo and conditioner! Sure, when traveling any shampoo might do, but I thought taking care of myself — treating myself kindly — leads to self-esteem and is truly important. So more than caring for my hair, in the sense of caring for myself, I thought this was a good purchase.
While I was in line at the register, I thought this area was full of wealthy residents so of course everyone would be well-dressed, but what I found interesting was that even wealthy people don't seem to have a culture of carrying wallets — they carry their bills bundled with rubber bands, which I thought was really amusing.
From that too, you can see how peaceful Vietnam is and that the security situation isn't that bad.
