In this life of ours, the hardships endured in youth are not truly bitter; they are merely springboards. When standing on a springboard, the hardest part is not the moment of jumping down, but the struggle, hesitation, helplessness, and anxiety in one's mind before the jump—feelings that are impossible to fully explain to others. We often think we cannot make it, close our eyes, muster our courage, and then discover that we have leapt across.
No matter how clever or capable a person is, no matter how good their background or conditions, if they do not understand how to conduct themselves and handle affairs, their ultimate outcome will surely be failure. How to be a person and how to do things are both an art and a field of study. The reason many people remain mediocre all their lives is that they never truly figured out how to live and act properly.
Even the best things will eventually be lost. Even the deepest memories will fade one day. Even the most beloved people will eventually leave. Even the most beautiful dreams will end with awakening. Do not hold on to what should be let go of, and do not let go of what should be cherished. After a breakup, one cannot be a friend, because both have hurt each other. Nor can one be an enemy, because both once deeply loved each other.
Life is an endless performance, and we are all actors in it. The only difference is that some follow their own hearts, while others please the audience. Life is about taking one step at a time, letting go of burdens bit by bit. Life is inherently not easy, so there is no need to seek understanding or approval from others for everything. Quietly live your own life. If the heart is unmoved, what can the wind do?
Treat your life with care and settle your heart with peace, and life will be complete. Treating your life with care means preserving the simplicity of existence and cherishing an ordinary life. Settling your heart means accumulating spiritual wealth and focusing on inner life. In other words, the mission of a human being is to fulfill the two main duties granted by heaven: to be a good child of nature and to be a worthy spirit of all things.
