The alarm clock buzzed at 4:30 AM. I pulled the curtain aside and peered into the quiet darkness. A gentle rain was falling, painting the world outside with a serene, misty glow. I inhaled deeply, letting the fresh, rain-scented air fill my lungs. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude just to be alive.
Ever since the passing of my cousin last year—someone the same age as me—I have made a promise to appreciate life in its entirety: the highs and lows, the light and the shadowed moments. It is an ongoing journey, learning to live authentically and embracing the impermanence of existence.
I sipped warm water infused with a hint of lemon and sat in the stillness to meditate. The darkness felt comforting, like a quiet embrace. Meditation always brings me back to myself, grounding me in the present. After this peaceful moment of connection, I laced up my shoes and prepared for my morning run.
The Rhythm of the Run
Today’s session was a tempo run—a workout designed to build endurance and improve speed. A tempo run is often described as running at a “comfortably hard” pace, one that pushes the limits without tipping into exhaustion. It is a dance with endurance, a balance between challenge and control.
Dressed in my favorite neon T-shirt, running shorts, and my trusted Nike Air Zoom Alphafly 3, I stepped outside. These shoes have carried me through many miles, offering a perfect blend of support and responsiveness. As I walked to the warm-up area by the river, the raindrops kissed my skin, invigorating me with their cool touch.
The run was demanding—after last week’s race, I rested to heal an injury and my body had not yet fully recovered. My breath was heavier than usual, my legs sluggish at first. Yet, there was beauty in the struggle. I pushed through, embracing the discomfort, knowing that growth often lies just beyond it. By the time I finished, my body was exhausted but my spirit felt renewed. There is a profound clarity that follows a hard run, a quiet sense of accomplishment that lingers long after the sweat has dried.
Reflective Moment
Back home, I prepared breakfast and brewed a pot of tea. As I took slow sips, my mind drifted to memories of London—afternoons spent in charming tea houses, sharing laughter and warmth with friends. The tea I was enjoying today was Snow Shan tea, a delicate and aromatic variety from Vietnam, gifted by a friend at work.
Snow Shan tea, also known as Shan Tuyết, is a treasure of Vietnamese culture. Its name, meaning “snow upon a high mountain,” reflects the delicate white hairs that cover its tender buds. Grown at altitudes of 2,000 meters above sea level, these ancient tea trees—some over a century old—flourish in the cool, mist-laden regions of northern Vietnam.
Each variety of Snow Shan tea tells its own story. The white tea, with its soft, downy leaves, carries a gentle sweetness with floral and fruity notes. The green tea, rich and mellow, offers hints of honey and wildflowers. The black tea, traditionally fermented and smoked over an open fire by the Dao ethnic group in Hà Giang, presents a bold, complex flavor. With each sip, I felt an appreciation for the simple yet profound moments that shape our days.
The Beauty of Presence
The morning unfolded in a rhythm of quiet awareness—one of gratitude, movement, and reflection. In a world that often moves too fast, these moments of stillness are precious. They remind us to pause, to breathe deeply, and to embrace the beauty of now.
Life is fleeting, ever-changing like the patterns of rain on a windowpane. Yet, within its impermanence lies its greatest gift: the invitation to truly live, to love, to savor each sip of tea. As the day stretched ahead, I carried with me the peace of the morning—the knowledge that even amidst life’s challenges, there is always room for gratitude, for renewal, and for embracing the journey with an open heart.
