Clouds drift at the horizon, and my backpack is before me, with a boundless road leading to the sun. Green grass lines the path, accompanied by youth; in the distance, rolling sands connect with maturity. We walk on, day by day, year by year, listening to the wind carry messages of rain, feeling raindrops strike the lake surface. The ropes of time eventually become lightning cast into the sky.
Youth pulses brilliantly, laying the foundation of life with a multitude of experiences. We cannot choose what the future holds; life is a horizon, and as we run, all the world sees is the ever-lengthening shadow we leave behind. Each person’s youth is a journey, moving further away from childhood and adolescence. Looking back, we realize the world is far different from what we imagined. You may feel lonely, encounter exclusion, or face challenges. You may feel confused and endure life’s hardships, with cold stares and ridicule rushing in like turbulent waters—this is the essence of youth.
No one can possess Steve Jobs' wisdom, Mozart's talent, Han Han's individuality, or the miraculous experiences of novel protagonists. Yet, their brilliance can serve as inspiration. They stand like golden benchmarks under the sun, enviable in their radiance, yet accompanied by shadows of hardship. As life’s canvas stretches, fairy-tale colors fade, dawn comes slowly, and unsatisfactory shades splash over you—this is society.
Life has no “ifs”; what cannot be erased with an eraser is imagination and pain. On the platform of life, there are moments of hesitation and places with consequences. Pure avoidance leaves life blank. You may feel helpless, saddened, or fail, but in reflection, you will see that at least you did not regret, and perhaps it was even remarkable.
As said in Flipped: Some live in high towers, some in deep ditches; some shine brightly, some are rusted; the world has countless varieties, yet do not chase fleeting clouds.
Pour your blood and tears into your fiery years, and the outcome is merely the murmurs and glances of passersby. On this journey, ask yourself: where is my youth meant to go?
