A Valley That Didn’t Exist—So I Created It
Some journeys don’t begin with a bold announcement. They begin quietly—with a question, a moment of pause, a longing we don’t yet have words for.
For me, Sunny Valley began like that.
I was sitting with a cup of green tea one morning, as the soft hum of early light streamed through the window. My to-do list was long, but my mind kept circling back to a different kind of task—one that had no checkbox, no clear deadline. It was a desire, a quiet call: to create a space. A digital home that didn’t yet exist.
A place for purpose and peace.
A place where ambition didn’t mean burnout.
A place where we could be curious, not just productive.
A place to breathe, reflect, and grow.
So, I built it.
And I called it Sunny Valley.
1. A Life Between Extremes
I’ve always lived at the intersection of many worlds.
I was born and raised in Vietnam, but I spent more than a decade studying and working abroad—in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. I’ve sat in hedge fund conference rooms talking about strategies, and I’ve sat quietly in meditation halls, focusing on my breath. I’ve run triathlons that pushed my body to its edge, and I’ve spent weekends journaling in cafés, reflecting on the purpose behind it all.
From the outside, my life may look like a collection of accomplishments. But on the inside, it has always been a search for wholeness.
I’ve chased deadlines and chased sunrises. I’ve burned out and bounced back. I’ve had moments of clarity and moments of deep confusion.
Through it all, I’ve come to believe this:
We all need a valley.
A space to come home to ourselves.
A space that holds both our ambition and our softness.
A space that invites us to be real, even when we don’t have all the answers.
2. Why I Chose the Name “Sunny Valley”
The name came to me on a quiet morning, during one of my journaling sessions.
“Sunny” speaks to warmth, joy, and light. It’s how I want people to feel when they visit this space—welcomed, encouraged, and gently uplifted.
“Valley” symbolizes a place of peace. Not the peak, not the pressure, but the space in between—the place where things grow slowly, quietly, steadily.
I didn’t want to build a mountain of motivation.
I wanted to create a valley of meaning.
Sunny Valley is that invitation:
🌞 to pause,
🌿 to reflect,
💛 and to come home—to yourself.
3. What Sunny Valley Means to Me
Sunny Valley is more than a blog or a project. It’s a reflection of who I am—and who I’m becoming.
It’s where I get to integrate all the parts of my life that once felt separate:
The Athlete
Training for endurance races like the Ironman has taught me about grit, commitment, and how to keep showing up when things get hard. It has also taught me how important rest, recovery, and listening to my body truly are.
The Meditator
Since 2018, I’ve practiced mindfulness and meditation almost daily. Some days are still. Others are scattered. But no matter what, this practice anchors me. It reminds me to return to the breath, to presence, to simplicity.
The Writer and Reflector
Writing has always been my way of making sense of the world. Through journaling, blogging, and sharing stories, I’ve come to realize how deeply we all crave authenticity. Not perfection. Not noise. Just truth—spoken softly and from the heart.
The Purpose Seeker
My background in sustainability, education, and social impact has shaped how I see the world. I believe in conscious work. I believe that we can grow our careers and our compassion. I believe success doesn’t have to come at the cost of our peace.
Sunny Valley brings all of these elements together—body, mind, and spirit—into one gentle rhythm.
4. Who This Space Is For
Sunny Valley is for anyone who’s ever whispered to themselves:
-
“I want to live more intentionally.”
-
“I want to slow down but still grow.”
-
“I want to be strong without being hard.”
-
“I want to feel like I’m enough—even when I’m still becoming.”
Whether you’re a student trying to figure out your next step, a professional searching for balance, or an athlete tuning into your inner strength—this is your space.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be curious, open, and kind to yourself.
5. What You’ll Find in the Valley
Sunny Valley is a growing collection of stories, reflections, and tools that support a peaceful and purposeful life.
Here are a few things you’ll find here:
Reflections from the Journey
These are honest journal-style blog posts from my everyday life—morning rituals, training thoughts, moments of stillness, and what I’m learning along the way.
Posts like:
-
“A Quiet Sunday: How I Reset for the Week”
-
“5 Journal Prompts That Changed My Life”
-
“How Ironman Training Taught Me Discipline and Grit”
Each post is written from a place of warmth and care, like letters from a friend who’s also walking the path.
Gentle Encouragement
Sometimes we need strategies. Sometimes we just need a sentence that feels like a hug. Sunny Valley offers both. Through quotes, affirmations, and mindful practices, I try to offer small moments of hope.
Book-Loving Community
Books have changed my life. I often share recommendations, quotes, and reflections on the books that have helped me grow—especially on themes like self-discovery, mindfulness, and resilience.
6. The Deeper “Why”
I created Sunny Valley because I wish I had a place like this when I needed it the most.
There were seasons when I felt overwhelmed by ambition, by expectations, by uncertainty. During those times, I would look for spaces that offered calm without pressure. Purpose without stress. Presence without perfection.
And to be honest, I didn’t always find them.
So I decided to create one.
Sunny Valley is for the in-between moments—between big races, big decisions, big changes. It’s for the mornings you need a little light. The evenings you want to wind down. The Sundays you feel reflective. The Wednesdays when life feels like a blur.
It’s not about always being “on.” It’s about always being you.
7. A Home, Not Just a Website
People often ask me: “What is Sunny Valley exactly? A blog? A platform? A brand?”
To me, Sunny Valley is a home.
Not the kind made of walls and windows.
But the kind you feel when something speaks to your soul.
I want you to arrive here and feel seen. I want you to read a sentence that makes your heart soften. I want you to walk away not with answers, but with deeper questions—the good kind. The kind that bring you closer to your true self.
8. You’re Welcome Here
Whether this is your first visit or your fiftieth, I want you to know something:
You are welcome here.
You don’t have to prove anything. You don’t have to fix yourself. You don’t have to have the “perfect morning routine” or “5-year plan.”
This space is not about performance. It’s about presence.
Come as you are.
Come curious.
Come open.
Come human.
We’re all walking each other home.
May You Find Light Here
I often write and reflect early in the morning, before the noise of the world kicks in. In those quiet hours, I think about the people who might one day read these words. I imagine your tea mug, your breath, your thoughts tumbling quietly in your mind.
And I hope you find something here that feels like sunlight on your skin.
Sunny Valley isn’t a place you need to earn your way into. It’s a place you get to remember—the part of you that already knows how to live with intention, with courage, and with care.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for sharing this space with me.
With love,
Sunny
