Splendor is but a grain of sand, aging is but a passing era, and a century is but a blooming flower. Liberation is the cessation of all troubles. When we have no friends, we long for them; once we have them, we fear losing them. While one can accept criticism from an ordinary person, criticism from a friend is harder to bear, often feeling like a betrayal. Because they are friends, we hold higher expectations, greater hopes, and more illusions. In reality, friends are also ordinary people. Treat friends like ordinary people—without excessive expectations or dependency. Only with a sincere heart can you find true friendship. If you cannot maintain cleanliness and order, even the most expensive clothes will not enhance your image. Image is what others see; cleanliness leaves a good impression and creates a sense of approachability. You must keep your eyes open and choose a competitor who is stronger than you in all aspects. However, be realistic; if a competitor's ability far exceeds yours, you may find it impossible to contend with them, which might dampen your motivation. Ideally, your competitor should be ahead of you, but not by such a vast margin that you cannot bridge the gap with effort. Competitors who are too far ahead can leave you exhausted and devoid of energy to try again. Therefore, the best way to improve your ability is to find someone stronger to compete against.
