Xiao Hai is one of my readers. Two months ago, he sent me a private message expressing his deep frustration with his current job. The daily mechanical repetition, the rigid nine-to-five schedule, and the evenings spent solely on dramas or video games made his life feel like it had already reached its end. He said he wanted to quit and move to Dali for a while to find his former self.
People like Xiao Hai are certainly not rare. Living in big cities and being trapped in high-speed, high-efficiency lifestyles can easily lead to a sense of confusion. As life goes on, one may lose sight of the purpose behind it. In the mind, a subconscious battle erupts between money and self, creating a dilemma between material and spiritual well-being.
Such confusion is actually the norm in life. Everyone is searching for a point of balance, especially young people. I told Xiao Hai that while he could visit Dali, quitting his job was unnecessary. Instead, he should take some annual leave to relax. By traveling to a distant place, he might realize that the most beautiful scenery is often right beside him.
Xiao Hai took my advice. After his vacation was approved, he set off alone for Dali. During that time, I often received photos from him via private messages. On the streets of the old town, he was captivated by the songs of street performers, squinting gently in the sunset. By the Butterfly Spring, wearing a beautiful flower crown, he opened his arms wide and laughed with unrestrained joy. By the shores of Erhai Lake, he gazed quietly at the calm water while a yellow cat napped nearby; in that moment, the whole world seemed to fall silent.
When his vacation ended, Xiao Hai returned to his original city and resumed his previous job. He calmly told me that even in Dali, confusion still lingered, especially in the silent midnight hours when he was alone in a foreign place, feeling as if life were merely a temporary stay. Clarity comes and goes, as does confusion; perhaps that is simply what life is.
Whose life is without confusion? Confusion is the normal state of life. Often, the reason we get stuck in this emotion and cannot extricate ourselves is that we place too much weight on it, exaggerating its significance.
In the long course of our lives, confusion is a trivial part. Everyone encounters periods of confusion to varying degrees, and everyone has moments when they cannot find their way. At such moments, do not be afraid. Stop, close your eyes for a short rest, and then continue moving forward. Your vision may become clearer.
Please believe that confusion is never the underlying color of life. It is merely a cloud overhead. Clouds gather, and they disperse. Just walk past them, and you will see a clear, sunny sky.
