The kind of person you are determines who you meet. The kind of friends you have shapes who you become. The partner you choose defines the life you lead. By caring for those around you, you ultimately fulfill yourself. As we age and our experiences deepen, we should adjust the focus of our lives over time. Loss is a pain, yet it can also be a blessing.
The greatest regret in life is persisting in the wrong direction or giving up too easily. What tires you is not the distant mountains, but the grain of sand in your shoe. In a queue, the true comfort is not that the people ahead are decreasing, but that those behind are increasing. Mistakes are temporary regrets, but missed opportunities are lifelong ones. Occasional impulsiveness shows that life still has passion; constant impulsiveness suggests you do not yet understand life.
The more genuine and innocent your friends are, the more sincere you should be, for those with fewest schemes are the most precious. If you care for less and desire less, life becomes much simpler. A woman’s best dowry is a heart full of tenderness and warmth; a man’s best gift is a lifetime of accommodation and love. The most precious things in the world are often free, yet few see through this illusion.
Crying to yourself and smiling for others—that is life. Viewing the world with a calm attitude brings more happiness. We often lack understanding of human nature while being blindly confident in ourselves. In truth, understanding who you like and who you need to accompany you prevents you from being led into emotional dead ends by superficial kindness or naive heart-flutters amidst suitors.
The world is full of karma and connections. Each connection can propel you to a new peak. Do not overlook any person, nor neglect any opportunity to help others. Learn to treat everyone with enthusiasm, to perfect every task, and to be grateful for every opportunity. In life, maintain stillness: arrive quietly, depart quietly, work quietly, and harvest quietly. Avoid noise.
