[ENG]
How many times have you seen the slogan “What and where you eat is not as important as who you eat with”? It's abundant on Facebook, Instagram, inspirational blogs, and even on the dinner table when your mom tells you to enjoy her slightly burned omelet.
Have you ever felt disheartened because of them? Have you ever experienced sitting in a convenience store in a foreign country in the middle of the night, sinking your teeth into an expensive hamburger, feeling your heart aching and empty, your mouth bitter, and suddenly bursting into tears? How much do you feel regretful at that lonesome time, wishing to have someone by your side to share your happiness with? Truly, no one can avoid moments of weakness and pain, my friend, everyone is the same. Since our bodies are innocent, they will need someone to confide in. Especially in mealtime, when the mind is empty so that blood can be sent to the stomach to digest food, the body and mind are both in a state of maximum vulnerability and relaxation. Therefore, it is not wrong to conclude that mealtime is better to enjoy together with your loved ones.
BUT JUST SOMETHING IS NOT WRONG DOESN'T MEAN THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY OMISSIONS.
Not only Vietnam but many Southeast Asian countries have a long tradition of eating with the family. Gradually as people grow up, such practice becomes a difficult habit to break. Therefore, people rarely want to, or even 'afraid' of eat alone. We're not 'afraid' of eating alone but we're afraid of being seen eating alone, afraid of feeling left out. We are afraid of becoming the victim in the nosy chat of our bored neighbor. We don't want people to pity us or be concerned for our 'aloneness'. We are always afraid that our lives will become bland and difficult without anyone caring (or being thought so). Everyone wants to be seen as strong, independent, and to not be pitied by anyone. So you always try not to be seen eating alone.
But my friend, that thinking is so wrong. EATING ALONE IS VERY NORMAL and sometimes I really enjoy it. Imagine a day of heavy rain as if it wanted to wash everything away outside the window. After a tiring day, you change into the most comfortable and luxurious pajamas in your closet and reward yourself with a meal. It's a romantic evening under candlelight and a glass of wine is taken from the the shelf because you haven’t had a chance to take it out and enjoy it. Under the dim candlelight like a light curtain spread across the kitchen, you sit there, silent. Unusually quiet, your mind is completely blank, enjoying and relaxing with the music that you once felt bored. Time and space seemed to stop as if lingering like the taste of wine on your lips. Those will be the moments alone that you can't exchange for any other noisy, bustling, crowded time, and you don't want to exchange either.
Eating alone is the moment when our soul calmly organizes the thoughts that are spinning in our head, gives our hearts rest, and gives us time to truly enjoy ourselves, be alone, and discover for ourselves. There are many other aspects of yourself that you don't know, you don't pretend to be in front of anyone. It is just you, eat how much, however, whatever you like. It's also an opportunity for you to meet many new and interesting people that you might otherwise miss.
In short, who, what, and where you eat are all important, but the most important thing is still yourself and how you feel. Having a luxurious meal with a handsome friend while feeling tired and frustrated will make neither of you happy, right? Cherish every meal you have, with yourself, with your family, or with that person. Those are all wonderful experiences that perhaps looking back later, you will miss a lot.
Remember to eat enough meals and enjoy them well, love.
[VIET] Không quan trọng bạn ăn gì, ở đâu, quan trọng là bạn ăn với ai. Hoặc không.
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