Standing on the shore of history, we look back upon the deep traces left by time: Qu Yuan, the minister of Chu, lamented by the riverside yet remained unyielding despite countless hardships; Emperor Wu of Wei raised his whip and marched eastward with unwavering ambition; Tao Yuanming lived peacefully by the southern mountain, drinking wine and picking chrysanthemums... They chose eternity. Even when faced with flattery and slander, they refused to drift with the current, which was a choice of perseverance; even when their bodies were wrapped in battle armor and their souls returned amid the smoke of war, it was a choice of heroism; even when living in poverty and struggling for daily necessities, they still chose contentment and cultivated the fields themselves, which was a choice of elegance. Through countless choices in life, emperors and generals achieved remarkable accomplishments, while scholars and wanderers created writings that have endured for ages.
Love is a ray of sunlight shining in winter, bringing warmth to those suffering from poverty and illness; Love is a spring appearing in the desert, allowing people on the edge of despair to see hope again; love is a song drifting through the night sky, offering comfort to lonely and helpless souls.
Those who are capable of being broken must have truly lived. Lin Daiyu's brokenness came from her unforgettable love; Sanmao's brokenness came from a moment of clarity and transcendence after experiencing the hardships of life; Van Gogh's brokenness was like the sun carving him with a golden knife, causing endless pain amid the light; Beethoven's brokenness was a tragic symphony of life created by the black and white keys touched by an extraordinary spirit.
If the brokenness of ordinary people reveals the purest and most beautiful sparks of humanity, then the brokenness of these remarkable souls is like silver pear blossoms blooming across the sky above us.
