Dag Hammarskjöld, the Swedish politician who served as UN Secretary-General, once said, “We cannot choose the framework of fate, but what we put into it is our own.” We cannot choose our destiny, but we can choose the path of our life. Though we may face hardships and wandering, we can still endure and shape a life that belongs to us. It is precisely through these trials that we become more resilient and capable of withstanding challenges.
When Jackie Chan left his parents to join a drama school as a child, life there was extremely monotonous; he had to practice martial arts rigorously and endure frequent beatings. Yet, this laid the foundation for bringing Chinese martial arts to the global stage. Tony Leung grew up in poverty in a single-parent family, bearing life’s burdens early on; at his toughest, he survived on rice mixed with soy sauce, and after middle school, unable to afford further education, he worked as a waiter. These experiences motivated him to work harder and cherish opportunities, ultimately becoming a “Best Actor.” Chow Yun-fat grew up in slums, doing odd jobs in hotels, carrying luggage, and selling newspapers, which gave him rich life experiences that later informed his roles as adventurous heroes. Enduring hardship and wandering is not unique to any one person; for those who can withstand trials, adversity becomes a forge for success, while those who cannot only fall victim to misfortune.