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According to various dictionaries the word “fearless” means lacking fear or without fear.  What those definitions lack is exemplified by my friend Ha T. Tran, a woman who conquered fear to be a successful author, mother, business woman, and inspirational speaker. Her life proves that “fearless” means not lacking fear but rather being afraid, facing fear head on and conquering it.

Was she afraid when she left her father’s home at twenty years old to marry a man she’d known for 17 days? Or as a young woman, living in a land ravaged by a bitter war and a government of the victors who saw her education as a reason for death?  Or perhaps when she fled her homeland, for a land where she knew not one soul, nor the customs of these strangers nor even their language?  You bet she was, but that didn’t stop her from learning, and leaving and insisting that her children have an opportunity for good lives, and freedom.  She faced the fear of marriage to a stranger, lived in hiding before she could leave the only life she’d known, to arrive in a strange land.  She arrived in was Chicago, Illinois in 1979 with twenty dollars and one suitcase for herself, her husband and their two young sons.  When she limped off the boat, she didn’t let fear stop her from achieving all she wanted for her family and herself.

And when, after a successful career in the business world, seeing her children grown and leading their own lives, when her world again changed due to circumstances beyond her control, she didn’t let fear stop her from pushing ahead again, in a new direction to achieve an old goal.  Ha overcame the fear of the unknown again to become an inspirational speaker and life coach, willing to share her story of how she lived with hope to help others face the fears in their lives and overcome those fears.

My friend Ha T. Tran faced each challenge ripe with fear, but determined to succeed, and succeed she did.  That’s why in my eyes, she epitomizes the true meaning of fearless: she doesn’t lack fear, she acknowledges fear, faces it head on, and comes out on top of that fear.  And isn’t that the true meaning of fearless: having fear but going ahead anyway and winning?

Nancy Ignazi, Beverly Massachusetts

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In 1975, Ha was studying to be a lawyer when the Viet Nam War ended and Saigon fell to the Communists.

Because Ha’s father was a rich merchant, the Communists put them in a concentration camp.  He bought their way out of the camp, giving up most of what they owned for their freedom. He felt that she must escape from Viet Nam to have a decent life. He couldn’t go with her but wanted someone to care for her, deciding a husband was best.

Arranged marriages are not the norm in Viet Nam, but at the age of 20, Ha married a stranger 10 years her senior.

Escape arrangements took 3 years.

In August 1978, at midnight an unknown man lead them to a boat. Ha and her husband took only what they could carry, which now included their 2 little sons.

One month earlier, going to the hospital to have her second son, Ha was thrown from a pedicab and broke her ankle. Midwives delivered her baby; nobody set her ankle, the doctors were all in concentration camps.

They had passage on a horrendously overcrowded fishing boat. 1 ½ days at sea, the engine died and they drifted for a day. A passing ship rescued them, bringing them to a refugee camp in Malaysia.

Ha lost consciousness on the boat. Nursing her month-old son, she became severely dehydrated and almost died, taking several weeks to recover.

Ha’s family shared a tent with 3 other families, separated by curtains, with 6’ of living space each.

After 15 months Ha’s family was sponsored to come to the United States, with $20.00 and no English.

They settled in Illinois. Ha’s husband worked 2 jobs while she went to school, learning English and earning her B.S. in Economics. She traveled 150 miles round trip daily, and spent 3 times as much time studying as native speakers. They also had 2 daughters.

Her family became citizens in 1987, after graduation, Ha worked for several large companies.
To give her children access to a good education, Ha moved her family to Massachusetts. She worked 2 jobs sending her children to college, all graduated successfully.

Ha left corporate America after a successful, high-paying career to become a business coach and inspirational speaker.

Ha is someone who has indeed left her comfort zone and defied convention to achieve her goals and pursue her dreams.

Iris Weaver
Spiritual Herbalist, Educator, Inspirational Speaker

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Ha Tran has risked life, death and capture as a 1978 war refugee from Vietnam.  She risked life and limb to save her life and the lives of her family.  Fearlessly and with incredible determination, Ha dragged her broken ankle behind her while carrying her newborn son in her arms-being careful not to cry out in pain.  As stealthily as she could, she raced through the shadows and darkness with a husband she barely knew as he clung tightly to their toddler.  Ha scarcely had time to mourn the life of privilege she was abruptly leaving behind- but if they were to survive, it was the only way.  Without knowing her own strength, courage, or ability to take care of her family, Ha kept going.  Moving ever so carefully to safety, with hope and courage as her only possessions.

Ha and her family landed safely with $20 in their pockets, not one word of English and nothing but hope in their hearts at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.  It took four long years to get this far.  As the matriarch of a family and without the full use of her leg, Ha Tran led her family in grabbing the American Dream with both hands and holding on tight.  Never wavering or giving up, Ha has riveted audiences with the story of how she did it and the guiding principles that helped her to survive, thrive and grow into the phenomenal author and speaker that she is today.  Mother of four successful children, living happily in Massachusetts, Ha Tran was inspired by hope.  She is fearless and helps empower others to have courage to follow their dreams.

I nominate Ha Tran for the Live Fearlessly Contest.  I believe that if she entertained the thoughts of fear that surely must have crept in, she never would have survived the awesome and unbelievable experience.  Her story is too inspiring NOT to share.

~ Rebecca R. Rooney Teacher, Author, Entrepreneur GrowinBizKids, Inc.

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When the mind, the spirit and the heart join together and collectively create a visualization of ‘living fearlessly’, it is an innate reaction to tap into a stream of consciousness, to develop a list of descriptive words.  Words like: living limitlessly . . .
in self-empowerment . . . with courage, bravely and valiantly . . . with a positive mindset . . . striving and living beyond circumstances  . . . living boldly . . . living and pursuing beyond what the world has brought to us . . . creating victory . . . are some interpretations.  After all, we all know we cannot control the outside world; however, with true certainty, we can control our inner world by our reactions and actions.   Living fearlessly is the manifestation of abundant wealth, the success to live one’s life to the fullest with hope, trust and love.
May I introduce you to Ha Tran, the epitome of ‘living fearlessly’ with honor, grace, perseverance and determination in spite of her adversities. During such dire times of danger, Ha clearly breathed hope in every breath in order to move from what one might perceive as peril to victory.  She is a true motivator, an inspiration to those that hear her journey, her escape from the communist regime of Viet Nam.  Her aspiring message embraces how one can achieve living fearlessly.
In order to live a fearless life, first you must shift away from fear into power and love, and see life from a different perspective.  Ha Tran views the world through the eyes of compassion and understanding.  She embraces deep and meaningful philosophical concepts modeled after her father’s teachings.  Her life started out as privileged; and at an early age, it was stripped away.  Leaving her native land was just the beginning as she encountered many adversities.  It was her father’s legacy that empowered her to build trust and hope for a better life.  Some individuals would have chosen hatred and bitterness; and, some seek acceptance and peace, learning powerful lessons from their experiences.  Ha Tran’s story is about just that, embracing her lessons, the powerful destiny of living a life through the eyes of hope, survival, love and triumph.  Through her eyes I have seen the power of faith and love, and how extraordinary beliefs create ‘living fearlessly’.
Create an Excellent Day!
Caryl Loper
727.667.4888

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When it comes to taking a risk, leaving my comfort zone, and defying convention, I’ve done it all!
I had a privileged life while growing up in Viet Nam. My life changed drastically and suddenly with the crushing fall of Saigon on April 30th, 1975. Overnight the entire country became paranoid. We were never sure whom we could trust. Imagine! Being suspicious of your closest friends and relatives; anyone could be arrested and tortured at any time. And they were.
On August 29, 1978, my husband, our two young children, and I fled Viet Nam in the middle of the night. We had only what we could carry in our hands and on our backs. At that time, we only knew what we were running away from and had no idea what we were running towards.
For many years I lived the life of a fugitive, the life of a war refugee, and the life of a wanderer in this great country. The journey from there to here has transformed me into a lioness protecting my cubs. It has transformed me into a “Ninja” warrior who continues to fight for what she believes in. And on that journey as a wanderer and fighter, I, also, discovered the boldness and the beauty of America and the generosity of its people. These experiences gave me profound insight. Today, I appreciate everything; but, most of all, I appreciate the freedom and the opportunity this country has offered me and my family.
We moved to Massachusetts in 1989. After an extensive research, I learned that schools and colleges in Massachusetts were found on every street corner. I worked two jobs to provide a college education for our children-two boys and two girls born in this country. I have worked in the corporate world for more than two decades and have helped all our four children graduate college. Today, I have pursued my passion of becoming an inspirational speaker and sharing my father’s philosophy.
Albert Einstein said, “Adversity introduces a man to himself.” For me, adversity triggered the lessons I learned from my father. Those lessons have always pulled me through the turbulent and darkest of times. My ultimate goal is to share my father’s philosophy with the world. His philosophy is neither new nor revolutionary; but, it is very powerful. It comes from experience and profound respect for all life.

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Hope, Alive and Well: an Interview with Ha Tran

By Lee Lewis

Ha Tran is a Vietnamese refugee, mother of four, and owner of a business called “Hope- Empowered,” through which she offers motivational philosophy and empowerment strategies, as well as business and leadership coaching. She has just published her first book, Empowered by Hope. We’ve arranged to meet for an interview at a restaurant in North Beverly, Massachusetts.

A short, dark-haired woman with a gentle smile and determined air walks up to my table, shakes my hand, and sits down.

Lee: Tell me about your book. Why did you write it?

Ha: I wrote it to honor my father. Through all the difficulties and obstacles I had to face, his wisdom was always there to guide me. He stayed in Viet Nam when my family and I escaped in 1978, after Saigon fell and the U.S. pulled out of Viet Nam. He died just this year, at the age of 99. I was able to go home and visit him before he died and then to bury him. My father was a wonderful man, and he always had words of wisdom and encouragement for me. During all my struggles after I left, his philosophy helped guide and sustain me, first when I was a “boat person” escaping to a refugee camp, and then in my new country, the United States. I wanted to give other people the gift that he gave me.

Lee: What was your life in Vietnam like before you left?

Ha: I had a life of privilege. My father was a wealthy rice merchant. We lived on a beautiful piece of land with many servants – a chauffeur, cook, housemaid, and I even had my own handmaid, a girl my age. I had delicious food to eat, beautiful hand-made clothes to wear – everything was the best. I was an only child. My mother died when I was very young, so my father was everything to me. I was very devoted to him and he was absolutely devoted to me.

Lee: What happened when Saigon fell, and the Communists took over?

Ha: On April 30, 1975, when the Communists took over the country, everything changed. Being a merchant, my father was seen as a capitalist and therefore an enemy of the state. There was an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust and we were watched by the Communists. We had to be very careful what we said or did. There were spies everywhere, even neighbors and friends couldn’t be trusted, and we could be detained and tortured at any time. Eventually we did get put in a concentration camp for “re-education.” When we got out, we knew we had to find a way to leave.

Lee: How did you manage to get out? Wasn’t it dangerous?

Ha: Oh, yes! It was very difficult. My father made the decision that he could not go; his disappearance could endanger many people left behind. So he arranged for me to marry a man he knew was a good person, who promised to love, protect, and take care of me. I was only 20 years old then, and my husband was 10 years older, a complete stranger.

Lee: Were arranged marriages the custom then?

Ha: No, not in our society. But my father knew a husband would be committed to me. So he secretly arranged for us to get away, but it took some time to put in place. By then I had two children, a 2-year-old son and a 28-day-old baby. And I had a broken ankle. On the way to the hospital to have my baby, the pedicab had an accident and I broke my ankle. There were no doctors to fix it—they had all been put in concentration camps.

Lee: So you left the country with two children and a broken ankle?

Ha: I went home with the baby and a few weeks later someone came in the night—our guide—and said we must leave immediately. We couldn’t take anything with us, just what was on our backs and the children. It was dark and we couldn’t make any noise. I prayed the children wouldn’t cry and luckily they didn’t. I had to drag my hurt foot, through the black night in the rice stubble, with strange hissing noises all around us—carrying my newborn son—I was very frightened. We were taken to a canoe in the Mekong River, and then to an old fishing boat on the coast.

Lee: How many people were on the boat?

Ha: The boat owner was greedy: he put 400 people on a boat that should only hold 100. We didn’t even have room to lie down; we had to sit up straight, back to back, side by side. It was hard to breathe. I got very seasick. We didn’t have food or water and I became extremely dehydrated. I was nursing the baby and my milk dried up. Then the captain announced the boat’s engine had died, and we were adrift for one and a half days in the ocean. Finally we were rescued and taken to a refugee camp in Malaysia, but I had nearly died and needed a long time to recover.

Lee: What was life in the refugee camp like?

Ha: It was crowded and there wasn’t enough food or good medical care. We were waiting for a sponsor to help us emigrate to the United States or another country – the U.S. was our choice. We had to wait almost two years before we heard that a women’s Bible study group in Illinois would be our sponsor. We arrived at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, with $20 between us. We couldn’t speak English, and we had no idea who to look for at the airport.

Lee: How did life go during your first years in the U.S.? How did you get back on your feet?

Ha: Our sponsor helped us a lot. They found us an apartment, and they found my husband a job doing maintenance in a hospital while I went to school. During this time, my father’s words and his vision would come to me; I relied on his philosophy to get me through. It was as if he had planted the seeds and they were there for nourishment when I needed it. One thing he said was, “Never give up – live your life to your very last breath.” Another was, “Keep your vision always in front of you, and know where you are going.” I believed that education was the key for us, so I focused on that.

Lee: How did you learn to speak English?

Ha: I realized that we would need to learn the English language and understand the American culture, which was very different from ours, to succeed, and I made that my goal. While my husband worked, I went to school for English as a Second Language, then to college, where I studied economics. It took me ten years to get my bachelor’s degree. I had to study very hard—six hours at home for every one hour in class.

Lee: Why did you move to Beverly, Massachusetts?

Ha: By then, we had four children. The women in Illinois had tried to talk to us about birth control, but in our culture we don’t discuss such things. We were embarrassed and didn’t understand them very well. So, four children. I wanted them to have good lives, to become professionals, and I knew they would need good educations. I had heard Massachusetts had a college on every corner, so we moved here in 1989 to make to easier for them to go to college. And they did. They are successful professionals now, with families of their own. I have five grandchildren, with another one on the way. And I became a successful businesswoman, first working in the insurance business and then as a consultant and coach.

Lee: What became of your father?

Ha: For many years, I thought we had lost him. We couldn’t find him in Vietnam. Finally, after 10 years here, I was able to get in touch with him and found that he had survived! He was very loved and respected by his friends, associates, and former employees. I’ve been back to visit him a number of times, and my children have been to meet him. He passed away this year at the age of 99. Now I want to share his philosophy, which is not new, but is a powerful, sturdy base on which to build a life. The house I grew up in was decorated with his ideas, written on paper or embroidered in needlework and framed throughout his library – they called it the “Fortune Cookie House” because of that. His wisdom saved me and my family and I believe it can help other people, too. There is no doubt in my mind that he became a saint after he died.

Lee: What is your husband doing now?

Ha: He is not well. He worked so hard for so many years, holding a full-time job and also helping to cook and take care of the children while I studied and worked. It’s taken a toll on him. A wonderful part of our story is that 20 years after our arranged marriage I fell in love with him. I had taken him for granted, but I saw how devotedly he took care of me. Now I take care of him, and I’m happy to do it, because I love him.

Lee: Why did you start your own business?

Ha: I wanted to have more time to give to my husband, and to be able to work from home. It is the best way I can think of to make people aware of my father’s philosophy, all those words and ideas that helped me so much. I know they are valuable for other people as well. It’s doing awesomely—people appreciate it. I have a blog, and a website, a biweekly internet radio show, 2500 Facebook friends, and 20,000 Twitter followers. I’ve written a book, I give talks and do radio interviews, and now I’ve written a book as well. Keeping my father’s philosophy alive is a way of keeping him alive.

Ha and I talk some about other things—her family, my life. Her story has given me lots to think about. In college I was among those who protested the Viet Nam war; I didn’t think we needed to be there. Now I see the other side of the story, the devastating effect that a totalitarian regime can have on a family, the reason we fight for the freedoms our country guarantees us. And I am personally deeply affected by her message – “Don’t ever give up,” she says, and “Live your life with no regrets.” I think about what that means. I tell her it makes me wonder about the things I’ve left undone. “You must do what you dream of doing,” she says. “If you want to sing – SING!” She smiles, and I feel like singing, even though that’s not exactly my dream!

You can reach Ha at:

hatran@hope-empowered.com

www.hope-empowered.com

http://www.facebook.com/#!/haforhope

http://twitter.com/haforhope

http://www.linkedin.com/in/haforhope

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/haforhope

Lee Lewis is a free-lance writer from the North Shore of Massachusetts.

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“Make your decisions principle-driven so you do what is most important to you at the time.” – David D’Arcangelo

10 Principles to Live By

1. Truly appreciate life just the way it is. Remember…only you have the power to change yourself and your life.

2. Learn to appreciate people more than things.

3. Recognize and live with Gratitude. When you say “thank you” – let it come from your heart.

4. Always do your best.

5. Work hard.

6. Never give up.

7. Be resilient, and keep persevering.

8. Be honest.

9. Keep your promises.

10. Have integrity:

a. Your integrity means everything; do not risk it.

b. Have respect and compassion for others. Recognize that the other person’s integrity means everything to him/her. Always honor other people’s integrity.