In "Getting There", the narrow Hanoi alley serves as a bridge between a nation’s history and the intimate journeys of the human heart. As a counselor, I often walk through "dark alleys" with those I support—spaces of shadow, memory, and quiet struggle. This painting, created for the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s independence, mirrors that therapeutic path.
The vibrant red flags glowing against the dim, weathered walls are the milestones of healing. They represent the immense pride of having survived and the courage to finally stand in one’s own light. To "get there" is to inhabit a beautiful, aching tension: the profound satisfaction of how far a counsellee has come, paired with the hopeful realisation that they are still unfolding.
It is an anthem for the "I am not done yet." It acknowledges that while we celebrate the sovereignty of the soul today, the best is truly yet to be. We are not just looking back at history for history sake; we look back so we can look forward to a future still being written. In every shadow and every stitch of silk, there is the quiet confidence that while we have arrived, the journey itself is where we continue to find our purpose.
