Take it one step at a time

In my living room, there is a painting of Da Lat scenery. The scene has dozens of pine trees stretching their strong trunks and branches up to the sky with blue and white clouds. There are hundreds of small wild flowers blooming along the curved path. In the distance are villas hidden among the vast green pine trees. The main color is a vibrant green. Most people who understand painting are probably not satisfied with that painting, because it is simply a copy of a real scene, there is nothing unique, creative or individual about that painting.

That painting has been there for decades. I bought it when I was in a sad, very sad situation, and the owner of the painting encouraged me tremendously.

“Look, Huong, I drew this picture when I was very sad. It took a long time, a very long time, I don’t remember how long. I drew it little by little. Before I drew it, I didn’t think I could draw such a big picture. When I finished, I looked back at my sadness, but it was already somewhere far away.”

Hang has a very special situation. Her unfaithful and ungrateful husband chased her away, did not let her raise or visit her children, and left her penniless. She went to work for an old painter. Every day she worked hard at the housework but was silent as a shadow because she did not want to open her mouth to speak when her heart was filled with worries. The painter taught Hang to draw, saying, “Draw, you will see miracles. Painting will help you change.”

“But I have no talent, I can't draw.”

Nothing is impossible. You can do it. I will teach you, step by step, and you can do it. As long as you are willing to learn and don't give up, you can do it.

That was the advice and also the "magic spell" that painter Duong Dinh Hy used to change Hang.

The first drawing lesson was to draw a white daisy. Is it difficult to draw a flower? It is difficult – for someone like Hang who has never held a brush before. Just draw each petal, each petal together will form a flower. Draw many flowers, the shaky strokes, the ugly flowers will gradually become less ugly, practice slowly and you will be able to draw beautiful flowers.

Once a customer wanted to order a large painting to hang in the living room. It was a painting of a flock of baby birds perching, flying, and spreading their wings in the sky. It was a scene she saw in front of the church every day on her way to work. Hang was shocked and said to her: How can I draw that? - Can I draw one bird? - Yes. - Just draw one bird at a time. A few dozen birds make a flock. Birds are like people, they are only beautiful when they have a soul and color, no two are alike, some stand, some fly, even more so. It's that simple.

The customer was moved when receiving the painting Hang drew.

And the painting of Da Lat by Hang at my house, to be fair, I found it beautiful ten years ago, but now it is not as beautiful as it was then when, over time, I have learned to look at other more beautiful paintings. But because of Hang's story, I still want to leave that painting there, to slowly remind myself that no matter how difficult it is, just do it, step by step. You will do it. And no matter what the circumstances, choose for yourself a joy in life. If Hang is suffering to the point of wanting to die, she can still live, let alone me?

* * * * *

Talking about Hang’s story, I suddenly remembered Thuy Muoi, a character in the book I wrote. Thuy was a patient with terminal lung cancer when she was not yet 30 years old. Thuy especially loved mountain climbing. She chose to climb Wilson Mountain (USA) at that very final stage. Even though, conquering Wilson Peak is still a challenge for even young and healthy girls.

Thuy said that Wilson Mountain was definitely the hardest climb she had ever done. When she saw the event on the group “Los Angeles Girls Climbing,” Thuy didn’t think she could join, but a friend suggested: “This climb is for all levels.” Thuy agreed, but still thought: “What level is suitable for lung cancer patients?” But you know, why can’t lung cancer patients choose a difficult journey for themselves?

Delia, the leader of the group, advised: “Climb at your own pace, step by step, don’t push yourself too hard.” And this was the best advice Thuy got on this climb. Thuy was the slowest person in the group, some of the uphill sections were extremely difficult. However, as long as you are determined, don’t stop, one stick then another, right foot then left foot. Don’t give up!

Instead of looking ahead, she looked down at her feet and for the last few miles, Thuy listened to her iPod and finished the climb.

That must have been Thuy's longest and hardest climb. Many things went through my mind:

“If I can reach the top of the mountain, I will defeat this stupid cancer! Just try a little harder, just a little harder!”. It was just encouragement, of course, something strange like that could not happen. Mountain climbing and cancer have nothing to do with each other, if there is any, it is only a very indirect connection: creating more willpower and health to fight the incurable disease.

Thuy told me that from childhood to adulthood, she did not have big dreams or goals like other people. Sometimes, Thuy was even jealous of people who had big dreams of becoming doctors or lawyers. Her parents did not set any dreams or goals for their children, and she just grew up without any goals. But her "stubbornness" as her mother used to say has helped Thuy overcome many things in life. She is the only girl in her 20s in Vietnam to date that Forbes has named the "Queen of Entrepreneurship" when she sold the company she founded and operated to influential investors in Silicon Valley (the Valley that concentrates many famous technology companies in the US).

Thuy told me,Being slow is not the problem, being last is not the problem, the important thing is not to give up!And also, it is possible that luck "heavenly time, favorable location, favorable people" is very necessary, but if you do not have those things, surely with diligence, hard work, step by step, you will still reach your destination.