Good or evil? Only you know yourself better. No one can judge you from afar, nor can anyone possibly know you entirely. So, don’t be too flattered by their praises or too upset by their criticisms. They don’t know you; they haven't been with you long enough to know the whole story.
To some people, I am a pretentious person. I only show goodness and ask others to support good causes for ulterior motives. But to others, I’m their inspiration, their friend, and mentor.
So, who is Crystal H. Vo? Who am I? I am who I have always been. I have never pretended to be someone else. I speak from my heart and treat others as I want to be treated. For that, I am okay with criticisms. Maybe it hurts at first because I’m still a human being, but I will learn to let go. It’s part of being in the public eye. Nobody is loved by all. I am nobody. I am still an unknown writer. As my name becomes more known to the public, I will have to learn to accept more criticisms. It’s time for me to accept that it’s part of being in the public eye. I have no control over what others think of me, but what I do have control over is not allowing their negativity to affect me.
Yesterday, I spent the whole afternoon packing some of my belongings into a box. None of them have monetary value, but they carry sentimental value from many years. I need to take them home with me to Vietnam. At this rate, I think I might have to pay for an extra suitcase. I’ll be going through more of my personal belongings today and for the rest of this week. I'm getting a bit more nervous as each day gets closer to the day I move back home. I have been experiencing mixed emotions. It’s normal to go through this. I just have to take it one day at a time.
The weather outside is beautiful now. It’s sunny! It has been cold at night lately. I have to put on socks and wear thicker clothes. As I cleaned out my car last week, I found a sleeping bag from the last time I bought for the homeless. I'll probably buy a couple more to give to those who are sleeping in the cold. It’s my unwavering love for the homeless. I will do much more for them whenever I can. I used to feel so depressed when the weather got cold or when it rained outside, but once I started donating money to good causes, my depression went away. I believe that serving the helpless is the key to curing your depression.
Happiness is being authentic—being yourself. It doesn't matter what others think of you. What matters is that you are genuine, and you try to be a better version of yourself each day. Happiness is making this life better than it was before you entered it. Happiness is within you. Smile. ♥️
Crystal H. Vo
January 2, 2024