What is true happiness?

1. 2010 Please

2. When I was a little girl, I used to live On a small street with many differences… 2010

3. When new year came, I used to look through the window on the right of my house

4. The window led me To a different world

5. The world of luxury luxury furniture, luxury cars... and luxury decorations for the new year

6. I used to wish our new year celebrations would be like that 2010

7. Parties with many special dishes... 2010 Fashionable clothes... Expensive presents... Beautifully decorated house

8. 2010 I also used to wish that My parents could build such a big house Could afford such luxury things

9. My dad is a veteran The little pension from the government was not enough for the whole family

10. Everyday he worked on the street from early morning until late at night When he backed home, the first thing he did was holding me tigh

11. In his arm, I wished that... He hadn't had the odor after a hard working day In stead were the perfume I could smell from the other world

12. My mom is a worker Once a week, she put the cast-iron pan on the oven I knew that she was making 'Muoi Vung'

13. This dish is made from seasame, ground nut and salt Mom parched the materials separately Until they turned to brown and smelled good

14. Then she put them in a mortar She pestled them... and she mixed them evenly

15. Our new years used to have this dish 'Everything is expensive after holiday' Mom said 'We won't be hungry with this'

16. At meals, I used to wish that I did not have to eat such simple food I dreamt of the specialities I could see from the window

17. My dream of a luxury life urged me to study harder... To be successful in the future To work harder...

18. Now I have good qualification Good job Big luxury house And luxury New year celebrations Meals with special dishes

19. I was so proud of my success Until one day, When I was going to a party My son cried biterly

20. 'I want you with me' 'I want you to cook me' 'I hate that food'

21. I could feel a pain in my heart I had tried my best To bring my children the life that I dreamt of

22. 2010 Was I wrong? They weren't happy? What is the true happiness?

23. Suddently, I remembered the feeling of being loved When I was in my dad's hands Everyday

24. I missed the smell of 'Muoi vung' that my mom made And her sorry sight when we had a meal with only vegetables and 'muoi vung'

25. “ Love begins at home; love lives in homes,... Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other…” Suddently,I remembered Mother Teresa's words

26. I was so greedy and selfish to realize the happiness that my parents brought to my childhood

27. I did not realize that when I was trying to buy luxury things My children were so lonely at home

28. 2010 They could have luxury life But the feeling of beeing loved I had ever had

29. I had to pay an expensive fee: My children unhappiness To learn a lesson about happiness

30. This new year, I don't wish I could buy more luxury things

31. Only wish that My parents, my children and other people could forgive me

33. 2010

34. Created by Nguyen Lan Huong