NOBODY

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  • The True Meaning of Following Your Dreams

    A photo that was taken 2 years ago.

    Back in Laos, while some Canadians was sipping Lao beer, I said I wanted to become a photographer.

    What happened?

    Fast forward five months: still unemployed, but I recently volunteered as a videographer for an all-day beach event. Even though I didn’t get paid, I loved every second of it. When I excitedly shared the experience with my mum, her response was classic:

    I shared my experiences with my mum, telling her how excited I was. Her response was,

    “When can you turn these skills into money?”, she said.

    The rationale behind it

    I wasn’t surprised by her dispiriting answer. I wasn’t surprised by her dispiriting answer, but it got me thinking. My logic is simple: once you monetize your interest, the dynamic changes.

    Plus, as a novice, I know I need more “miles” behind the lens to build my credibility.

    To quiet her doubts, I told her I would need extra money to attend professional photography training and buy some professional but expensive equipment. Once she heard that, she shut up😅.

    A small Discovery

    After this small incident, I also reflected on the importance of making money with my interest. And I discovered a strange logic.

    If my dream is to be a photographer, what is the actual “dream”? Is it the reward (money/fame), or the action itself?

    After chewing on this for a day, I knew the answer – what truly matters to me is the activity itself, not the reward💰. Being able to help people take photos and record videos are enough to make me happy, and money does not matter. Appreciation from others can become a motivation, but the process itself is the core of my dream.

    Shift in attitude

    This shift has changed how I view all my ambitions. I used to want to be a writer to earn a living, but now I realize I just love expressing ideas and emotions through words. I don’t need the awards or the validation.

    I call this true love❤️.

    PS: I will make money from something that is not my interest, hahaha.

    What do you think of this idea? Feel free to share your thoughts and drop a comment below!

    One response to “The True Meaning of Following Your Dreams”

    1. The “Hero” Trap: Why I Sabotage My Own Success to Seek a Miracle – NOBODY avatar
      The “Hero” Trap: Why I Sabotage My Own Success to Seek a Miracle – NOBODY

      […] Here is another story. (if you are interested, please read the original post.) […]

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  • The Great Lie: Why Work Experience Won’t Save You from a Life Crisis

    While I am practicing to be more self-aware of my emotions, I reflected on the events in my life, and I discovered a lie I’ve heard for a long time.

    For a long time, we’ve been told a simple lie:

    The Academia Path📚: Slows down your development and makes you prone to a life crisis.

    The Practical Path (Work)🗃: Accelerates your socialization and helps you find your “direction.”

    That is to say if you choose work, you are “safe” from the existential dread that scholars face. But this is a trap.

    Two weeks ago, I spoke with an alumna of my UNV program.Two weeks ago, I talked to an alumnus of my UNV🇺🇳 program in Hong Kong.

    Despite our conversation lasted for 50 minutes only, her honest sharing was enough stress me out.

    Our only intersection was the program I joined. Unlike me, she was graduated from a competitive university and had been working for UNFPA for a year. Also, she won the Chevening scholarship. And her secondary school gives her the greatest networking opportunities in Hong Kong.

    Now, at 31, she’s a senior officer at an INGO.

    During our conversation, although she didn’t always express herself clearly, her answers were very honest.

    “Do you like your job?” I asked.

    “I just do the work,” she said.

    Then I asked another question.

    “If you were financially independent, would you stay in your current position? “

    “How can I achieve financial independence? I have to work for so many years! I can’t achieve financial freedom. If I am financially independent, I can do things I want. “

    “Have you found your direction→?”, I asked.

    When I asked about her direction, she said, “I’m still exploring. I’m not that old!”

    I had to laugh. 😂

    Even though I am not sure whether I will meet her again, she gave me a valuable lesson💎.

    I don’t want to play her game at her age…A life without passion and financial stability. If I don’t want to play the same game, I have to make different decisions.

    At the same time, she also proves that degrees from great schools and brilliant working experience can’t guarantee a satisfying life.

    When I shared this story with another friend, who is the same age of the alumna, she said she feels the same. But she just got her PHD.

    It is clear that a PhD and work experience cannot give you a sense of stability in life. And if there is no stability in life, then why do we need to worry about it?

    Feel free to drop your comment below to share your thoughts and opinions!😄

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  • An Ambitious Experiment: Moving out in Hong Kong

    There is no one-man fits all solution or life path.

    Panasonic GH5 P(Programe AE) mode, outside of the free hotel room I got

    I have a new goal: Moving out before the end of 2026.

    The story behind

    Soon after returning to Hong Kong from Lao PDR, I realized that I couldn’t endure the stress and tension in my family anymore. Compared to the freedom I had living in a foreign country, I suddenly felt trapped at home. I don’t even have my own bedroom or any real personal space. Deep down, I know very clearly: if I keep living like this with my family, I’ll go crazy.

    That’s why, despite all the real-world challenges staring me in the face, I’ve decided to move out before the end of 2026.

    Challenges:

    It can be a daunting challenge due to the expensive living cost in Hong Kong. But there are two ways to view it.

    There is a famous saying in our culture:

    “If a problem can be solved by money, it is not a problem.”

    In fact, it is true. If I have enough money, I can move out at any moment, or even hiring professional delivery people to bring my stuff to my new home. But what’s the problem?

    I am just a fresh graduate with 6 months of experience at a UN agency, a loads of unrelated working experiences/internship, and a translation and language studies degree that is going to be useless in this AI-driven era.

    And of course, I don’t have a pair of supportive parents.

    Meanwhile, the job market is stagnating. The number of job openings are cutting back, and people rarely resign from their jobs. Basically, getting a job is difficult as well.

    (Until this moment, I am still jobless 😅. But I have already foreseen myself living alone in a comfy house in Hong Kong. Yeah~)

    Every Cloud has a silver lining

    The external environment make things look gloomy and hopeless. However, since I have already known my strength and weaknesses, it will make things easier.

    I may have potential to become a good short video/documentary videographer. And I have just joined a sports coach training program for game sports. At the same time, I am trying to see if I can use my writing skills to get more job opportunities.

    Even if none of these turn into my “ideal” career right away, I’m ready to take whatever job comes to make sure I can save enough money to move out.

    What will happen?

    Starting today (February 26, 2026), I’ll post every day, sharing real progress, discoveries, failures, and breakthroughs. Job hunt updates, side-hustle experiments, money saved (or not), mindset shifts, and rental scouting tips in Hong Kong.

    If you’re reading this post and find it relatable, please leave a comment.😁

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