Notes to Thyself

Look at your feet. You have walked this earth for nearly half a century, carrying the weight of years, duties, and ambitions. Yet only now do you realize your feet are a size 43, while you have been forcing them into a 42 all this time. You bound yourself to a tight fit and called it reality. If you could misjudge the very foundation that holds you up, what else have you misunderstood? Consider what other illusions you are wearing out of sheer habit or stubbornness. Examine what assumptions you have long outgrown but still refuse to change. Reflect on what false constraints you have needlessly placed on your mind, your work, or your judgments. If the shoe does not fit, it is not the fault of the foot. Correct the measure, acknowledge the error without regret, and walk forward in truth.

Money signals competence; beauty signals health. Women are attracted to competent men; men are attracted to healthy women.

មនុស្សជោគជ័យក្នុងសង្គមមានតិចតួចណាស់ ព្រោះជ័យជំនះជារឿងកម្រ។ ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែលកម្រជាងនេះទៅទៀត គឺមនុស្សដែលអាចស៊ូទ្រាំនឹងការបរាជ័យជាច្រើនលើកច្រើនសារ ហើយនៅតែបន្តតស៊ូ និងជឿជាក់លើគោលដៅរបស់ខ្លួន។ ព្រោះនៅទីបំផុត ជ័យជំនះមិនមែនជារបស់អ្នកដែលមានទេពកោសល្យបំផុតនោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែជារបស់អ្នកដែលមិនបោះបង់។

មនុស្សជោគជ័យក្នុងសង្គមមានតិចតួចណាស់។ ជ័យជំនះក្នុងជីវិតរបស់មនុស្សម្នាក់ៗគឺជារឿងកម្រ ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែលកម្រជាងនេះទៅទៀត គឺមនុស្សដែលអាចស៊ូទ្រាំនឹងការបរាជ័យជាច្រើនលើកច្រើនសារ ហើយនៅតែបន្តតស៊ូ និងជឿជាក់លើគោលដៅរបស់ខ្លួន។ ព្រោះនៅទីបំផុត ជ័យជំនះមិនមែនជារបស់អ្នកដែលមានទេពកោសល្យបំផុតនោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែជារបស់អ្នកដែលមិនចេះលះបង់។

How often today did I change my mind on a thing that did not matter? Which tea. Which road. Whether to send the message now or wait. Where to park before the journey has even begun. How to park a car I have not yet entered. What to eat, where to eat — even when my stomach is full. Back and forth, the mind gnawing on nothing — and calling it deliberation. I am not thinking. I am just restless and pretending I'm thinking. Observe it. The moment I begin to weigh two equally empty options, I am no longer deciding — I am burning time I cannot get back. The hours do not return. The discipline: when the choice is between two things that change nothing, pick the first one and move on. Kill the contradiction before it breathes. Not because the decision matters — but because choosing is what trains the mind to own itself. A mind that cannot rule itself in small things will not rule itself in large ones.

On walking the wrong side of the road. The wrong side shows you what approaches. The right side hides it until it is upon you. A man who cannot see what comes cannot prepare. And a man unprepared is a man undone. Walk where the danger is visible. Prefer the face of the threat to the back of ignorance. What you see, you navigate. What you do not see, masters you.

Angkor Wat was not built by one people. The engineering, the vision, the scale — that required thousands of hands from across empires. Prisoners of war, skilled laborers, architects from different lands. The stone doesn't care who laid it. The French drew the borders a hundred years ago. Without that line, this land could've been Vietnam or Thailand. But Angkor sits in Cambodia. That's where it is. Claiming it was built solely by Khmer hands is a stretch. But claiming it as Khmer heritage isn't. It stands on Khmer soil. It's been Khmer for centuries. That matters. What makes Angkor remarkable isn't who built it. It's that it still stands. Empires rise, borders shift, languages disappear. The temple remains. A flower blooms today. Who tended the soil before us? Who will tend it a thousand years from now? The river doesn't remember the stone that shaped its bank. But the bank is still there.

Operational brain extension active. Systems online. Nimmit.

Start today!

It is a simple truth: to walk in the light is better than to dwell in the dark. To be at peace is superior to being troubled. Yet, consider the nature of things: the universe assigns no purpose to your joy, nor does it demand your sorrow. To be happy or unhappy is ultimately indifferent to the cosmos. But you possess the power of judgment. Since you know the difference between what is pleasant and what is harsh, why would you choose to linger in misery? Do not think that you can force your soul to rejoice in an instant—that is impossible. But it is entirely within your power to recognize that feeling unfulfilled is not a sweet thing to taste. Look at your unhappiness and see that it serves no end. Therefore, strip away the illusion. If there is no point to your suffering, lay the burden down. And even if you believe you have a just cause to be unhappy, you should still refuse to be. What good does it do you? The aim is not to chase a fleeting feeling, but to cultivate a life where the good outweighs the bad. Remember: sometimes events are beyond your control, but your will is your own. When the choice is yours, choose happiness. Since the final outcome is the same either way, you might as well walk the path that brings you peace.

Bob Marley was once asked if the perfect woman existed. He replied, “Who cares about perfection?” The moon is not perfect — it is full of craters. The sea is incredibly beautiful, but it is salty and dark in its depths. The sky is always infinite, but often covered with clouds. So, everything that is beautiful is not perfect — it is special. That is why every woman can be special to someone. Stop striving to be “perfect.” Strive to be free and to live, doing what you love, not trying to impress others.

You have bound yourself to the condition that you must retreat once every month. Be wary: what you call a necessity, many—both the rich and the poor—can never claim. Recognize this for what it is: a condition born of habit and a soul grown soft through indulgence. You must not allow this self-imposed requirement to govern your character or dictate the terms of your life. A man is not free if he is a slave to his own comforts. When the opportunity arises to seek the wilderness and find stillness in nature, accept it with profound gratitude. Do not treat these moments with indifference or as if they are owed to you. Enter into these spaces with full awareness. Cherish the time, yet remember that this, too, is fleeting. These luxuries are but borrowed moments. Remain grateful for the respite, but remain the master of yourself when it is gone.

The duty of the historian is not merely to record the past, but to illuminate the bridges that have long existed between peoples. In our region, the threads of history are so intertwined that no nationalist agenda can truly sever them. We must look to our shared cultural space as a sanctuary from the volatility of modern politics. Only through understanding can we achieve true harmony. The Mekong flows through one heart.

ជាតិនិយមជាការល្អ តែជាតិនិយមជ្រុលគឺជាកំហុសដ៏ធំ។ ជាក់ស្ដែង ក្នុងសម័យប៉ុលពត ជាតិនិយមជ្រុលត្រូវបានគេយកមកប្រើដើម្បីបិទភ្នែកមហាជន ដែលបង្កជាគំនុំ និងការសងសឹក ធ្វើឱ្យប្រទេសជាតិដើរថយក្រោយរាប់ឆ្នាំ។ ដើម្បីចៀសវាងកំហុសនេះ យើងគួរប្រកាន់ជាតិនិយមដោយមានវិចារណញ្ញាណ គឺ៖ ការស្រឡាញ់ជាតិ ដែលផ្សារភ្ជាប់ជាមួយទឹកចិត្តអាណិតស្រឡាញ់មនុស្សជាតិទូទៅ។ ការមានមោទនភាពចំពោះជាតិ តែមិនអំនួតក្អេងក្អាង និងចេះគោរពអ្នកដទៃ។ --- Nationalism is good, but ultranationalism is a massive mistake. During the Pol Pot era, ultranationalism was used to blind the people. The resulting hatred and revenge set our country back many years. To avoid this mistake, we should practice nationalism with wisdom: Love your nation while remaining compassionate toward all of humanity. Have pride in your country without being arrogant, and always show respect to others.

The people who reach the moon aren't aiming at the moon. They're obsessed with the craft of building the rocket. They're not thinking about the destination every day — they're thinking about the next engineering problem.

Virtue. Easy to understand. Hard to embody. You have within you what is needed. Stop looking elsewhere. When you rise, ask: what is the work of a human being? To be just. To be truthful. To be moderate in appetite and steady in adversity. These are not ornaments—they are the thing itself. You will be provoked. You will be tired. You will want to act from irritation or vanity or fear. Notice this. Then return to what you know: that your portion is this present moment, this action, this choice. Nothing more is given. Nothing more is required. Do not waste your life imagining what others think of you. Their judgments are not yours to control, and the time spent worrying is time stolen from the good. Embody virtue. Virtue isn't a destination but a practice—something built through small, repeated choices. Be honest even when it's uncomfortable. Be courageous enough to act on what you believe is right. Be temperate with your impulses and generous with your attention. Seek wisdom not to appear clever but to live well. Treat others justly, which means seeing them clearly and giving them their due. When you fail—and you will—do not indulge in self-pity. That too is vanity. Simply begin again. Character is shaped over a lifetime, not in a moment. The obstacle is the path. Every difficulty is training. Remember death. Not to be morbid but to be awake. You do not have endless time to become who you intend to be. Act now. Not perfectly—there is no such thing—but sincerely. What is good? Wisdom, justice, courage, self-mastery. What is worthless? Reputation, comfort, the praise of fools. You already know this. Stop forgetting.

កម្ពុជាគួរយល់ដឹង… 1.ដោយហេតុតែវាកើតឡើងឥតល្ហែតាំងពីឆ្នាំ១៩៥៣មក, ជម្លោះព្រំដែនជាមួយប្រទេសខាងលិចយើង, ជាបញ្ហាមួយរុំារ៉ៃ ។ ម្ល៉ោះហើយ, រាល់ដំណោះស្រាយ (នៅឆ្នាំ១៩៦២, នៅឆ្នាំ២០១៣, ឬក៏នៅឆ្នាំ២០២៥នេះ បើសិនជាសម្រេចបាន) គ្រាន់តែជាការត្រូវរ៉ូវគ្នាមួយដែលមានលក្ខណៈបណ្តោះអាសន្ន សម្រាប់រយៈកាលខ្លីឬរយៈកាលមធ្យមតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ ។ កុំសង្ឃឹមថា នឹងមានសន្តិភាពយូរអង្វែងនិងជាស្ថាពរ ។ 2.ហេតុអ្វី? ពីព្រោះម្យ៉ាង អ្នកជិតខាងមួយនេះ បង្រៀនប្រជាជនគេ ជាច្រើនជំនាន់កន្លងមកហើយ ឱ្យស្រណោះសោកស្តាយសម័យកាល មុនអនុសញ្ញាឆ្នាំ១៩០៤ និងសន្ធិសញ្ញាឆ្នាំ១៩០៧ រវាងគេ និងបារាំងដែលកាលណោះជាអាណាព្យាបាលនៃកម្ពុជាយើង ។ ពីព្រោះម្យ៉ាងទៀត អស្ថិរភាពនយោបាយសឹងថាជាអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍នៃអ្នកជិតខាងមួយនេះ ពិសេសតាំងពីឆ្នាំ២០០១មក ជម្រុញថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំឱកាសនិយមមួយចំនួនរបស់គេ ទាំងសុីវិល និងទាំងយោធា ឱ្យផ្ទេររឿងរ៉ាវផ្ទៃក្នុង មកជាបញ្ហាព្រំដែន ។ គោលដៅ គឺសាកល្បងនាំមកវិញនូវស្ថិរភាពជាតិនិងពង្រឹងឯកភាពជាតិរបស់គេឡើងវិញ តាមរយៈការបង្វែរកំហឹងប្រជាជនគេមកលើយើង ដោយចង្អុលមុខយើងនិងចោទយើងផ្តេសផ្តាសថា «បាននិងកំពុងបន្តឈ្លានពានទឹកដីគេ» ។ អុីចឹងហើយបានជា ពីរដ្ឋាភិបាលមួយទៅរដ្ឋាភិបាលមួយទៀត គេទទួលស្គាល់រួចហើយកិកកុកមិនព្រមទទួលស្គាល់វិញ សន្ធិសញ្ញា, សេចក្តីសម្រេចចិត្តរបស់តុលាការយុត្តិធម៌អន្តរជាតិ, ផែនទីផ្លូវការ, និងកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងផ្សេងៗ… 3.នៅចំពោះមុខបញ្ហាតជំនាន់នេះ, កម្ពុជាយើង និងខ្មែរយើង ត្រូវមានជំហរច្បាស់ និងត្រូវចេះប្តេជ្ញាចិត្តច្បាស់ ។ ជំហរច្បាស់ គឺយល់ដឹងថា ៖ a.ពលិកម្ម ក្តីក្លាហាននិងភាពធន់របស់កងទ័ពយើងនៅខាងមុខ ត្រូវ តែជម្រុញជនរួមជាតិយើងនៅខាងក្រោយឱ្យចេះនិងចង់ពង្រឹងឯកភាពជាតិឱ្យរឹងរឹតតែមាំនិងខ្លាំង ។ b.សន្តិសុខនៃកងទ័ពនៅខាងមុខ ជាសន្តិសុខរបស់ប្រជាជាតិយើងទាំងមូល ។ លាក់ការណ៍ឬមិនត្រូវផ្សព្វផ្សាយព័ត៌មានសម្ងាត់ ដើម្បីរក្សាការពារប្រយោជន៍ជាតិទាំងមូល ជាការចាំបាច់ ។ c.ចាញ់-ឈ្នះ មិនមែនជាដំណោះស្រាយ ហើយ ឈ្នះ-ឈ្នះ (ដោយឱ្យតម្លៃដល់កិច្ចចរចានិងចៀសវាងសង្គ្រាម) មិនមែនជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រកំសាក តែចាស់ទុំនិងប្រកបដោយចក្ខុវិស័យវែងឆ្ងាយ ។ ទាំងនេះជាជំហរច្បាស់ដែលយើងត្រូវប្រកាន់។ រីឯការប្តេជ្ញាចិត្តច្បាស់ គឺយល់ដឹងថា ៖ a.បណ្តុះបណ្តាល និងអភិវឌ្ឍស្មារតីស្នេហាជាតិ ហើយទន្ទឹមនេះច្រានចោលជាតិនិយមជ្រុលដែលជាមនោគមន៍វិជ្ជាប្រកបដោយគ្រោះថ្នាក់ ជាការចាំបាច់បំផុត ពីអំណើះតទៅ ។ b.ទាំងថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំ ទាំងពលរដ្ឋ(ពិសេសយុវជននិងយុវនារី) ត្រូវបន្តប្រឹងប្រែងអភិវឌ្ឍខ្លួន(ពិសេសពេលសុខសាន្តត្រាន) និងអភិវឌ្ឍកម្ពុជា ឱ្យក្លាយជាប្រទេសនិងប្រជាជនខ្លាំងពូកែ ដើម្បីទប់ទល់ នឹងការប្រមាថ ការជាន់ឈ្លី និងការឈ្លានពាន ដែលនឹងនៅតែបន្តកើតឡើង មិនយូរមិនឆាប់ ក្នុងអនាគតកាលជិតឬឆ្ងាយ ៕ By https://t.me/jeanfrancois_tain

The ultimate wisdom is knowing when to stop seeking ultimate wisdom and do the work in front of you. The searching is what keeps you from finding. The trying is what prevents succeeding. The understanding is what obscures true. Stop.

Human languages. Learn English, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic. The more languages one can master in the morning of life, the better it gets. At least, be proficient in English. The AI only intensifies the need to command English well. Computer languages. One should at least learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the basics. Then pick up Python, Rust, Go, or any other they feel drawn to. Also know a little SQL at the base. Master Linux. That’s what I would do if I had to start over after high school.