Time flows like the wind and moon, passing through seasons and days with steady, unhurried steps. Looking back, the past feels like a shifting kaleidoscope, creating unique and irreproducible patterns; every gathering and parting, every joy and sorrow, becomes a unique edition. I have come to realize that youth is like a one-way train—it cannot return, and there are no stations along the way.
The morning bells and evening drums urge me to set sail, yet my heart remains like a leaf clinging to its branch, hesitating in the winds of yesterday. Although I know I must not delay my journey, I find it difficult to break free from emotional bonds and seal the past within the castle of memory. As I witness each sunrise and sunset, I feel as though I am standing in a clear river; that flowing water is my life, a gift I possess only once. Yet, too often, I stand still, letting the upstream water pass through me to become the downstream, watching my present become the past. By dwelling too much on yesterday, I risk losing today and tomorrow, leaving me with nothing.
I often wonder: when the blossoms and fruits of life have all become history, and I sit amidst the snow of old age, contemplating the stories hidden within the wrinkles on my face, what will my state of mind be? Perhaps, despite the wisdom gained through years, I will still be misled by simple tales; despite seeing the winters of life, I will still yearn for the innocence of fairy tales. The journey seems to be a circle; after a long trek, one returns to the starting point, constantly engaged in the same pursuit: finding purpose.
In the depths of my contemplation, I finally understood the profound mystery of life's cycles—flowers bloom only once, and grass stays green for only a season. The past vanishes like smoke in the wind; there is no need to cling to it. The train of youth carries countless passengers, and no one can predict what lies ahead or return to the moment they boarded. Since there is no other choice, I will crush my past triumphs and failures upon the tracks of time. I will open the windows to embrace the fresh air and sunlight, welcoming a brand-new journey. For I know now that youth is a one-way train, with no return and no stations.
