Zeng Guofan once proposed the principle of "Eight to Be Associated With, Nine to Be Avoided" in making friends. The "eight" one should associate with include: those who are superior to oneself; people of high virtue; those with shared interests; those willing to take a loss; those who speak frankly; those with broad ambitions; those who offer help in times of distress; and those who are considerate of others. The "nine" one should avoid are: those with different ambitions; flatterers; those who are confused about gratitude and resentment; those who like to take advantage; those lacking in temperament; those who are unfilial and disrespectful to siblings; the foolish; those who kick people when they are down; and those with thin virtue.
Some people are irreplaceable; some memories can only be made beautiful by you. Just like the warmth of a cup of coffee in the late night, it is enough to settle a restless heart and listen to those long-accumulated voices. In fact, lack of contact is often just an excuse for being busy; the real reason is that we have lost ourselves. A lost life and lost beliefs cause us to miss out on many things and leave behind many regrets.
Some say that if you deeply desire something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it is yours forever; if it does not come back, there is no need to wait, for it was never yours to begin with. Life is full of unexpected warmth, moving moments, understanding, appreciation, cherishing, and beauty. However, surprises may be momentary, but they cannot last a lifetime.
There are people we have many opportunities to meet but always make excuses to avoid; by the time we want to see them, the chance is gone. There are things we postpone until it is too late, and when the opportunity finally arises, we no longer wish to do them. Life is essentially a journey forward. Whoever appreciates more scenery along the way and takes more steps through difficulties embodies the value of living. Life carries too many regrets and helplessness; there is no need to blame oneself excessively. Leave a touch of green for the soul and a smile for others, regardless of the phases of the moon or the coming and going of fate. The most comforting aspect of life is waking up one morning to find the sun still rising, yourself still alive, and the world around you still beautiful.
