In the early morning, a burst of orange sunlight rises from the horizon, coating the mist-covered earth in a layer of radiant glow. Although it is winter, with heavy frost covering the grass, fields, and wildlands, the golden rays dispel the morning fog and frost, as if reanimating the blood of creatures long dormant. Under this bright sun, households scramble to wash clothes and sun their bedding. Sunlight has a scent; at night, lying in bedding warmed by UV rays, the rich fragrance makes even one's dreams sweet.
Time passes swiftly like flowing water, and the years slip through our fingers like a bending bow. Sitting in the depths of time, savoring a hint of fragrance, one reflects on the quiet joys left by the passing years. The roads traveled and the emotions experienced bloom into an elegance within the heart, enriching life. In the stream of time, some people come and go, and some connections gather and scatter. Amidst the gains and losses and the fluctuating state of mind, certain thoughts follow us like shadows, and certain realizations remain etched in the heart. Time is like aged wine; the deeper we walk into it, the more we discover that beyond the long distances and endless grass, there lies subtle tranquility and gentle joy. The perfection of life lies in maturing through the frosts and winds of experience, so that when the prosperity fades, the heart remains simple, tranquil, and at peace.
We cannot sink into despair, for we have responsibilities; our hearts cannot be cold, for we have friends; love cannot turn to hopelessness, for we have kin; life cannot be devalued, for we have parents; tears should not be shed lightly, for we have self-respect; emotions should not be too persistent, for there is pain; connections should not be forced, for there is separation; suffering need not always be voiced, for we have ourselves; wounds should not be exposed, for there are scars; promises should not be made lightly, for there is the hereafter. Life is best kept simple; life is best kept healthy; and life is best kept happy.
In a lifetime, there are always unforgettable attachments. The vicissitudes of the world, the warmth and coldness of human relations, the joys and sorrows of the earthly realm, and the various flavors of life—all are part of the journey. The feeling of being unable to let go is what haunts us most.
The passing years are like a wordless, continuous song flowing through the heart; those people and those events are always remembered, making it difficult to sever the emotional ties.
Missed landscapes and coincidental encounters are often deeply etched in the soul. Time drifts further away in the space between "remembering" and "letting go." The heart travels a path that is half bright and half sorrowful. Some passions, though brief, have touched the soul; some people, though close, are destined to never be part of our lives. We think that if we stop thinking of them, we will no longer yearn, or that if we stop dwelling, we will no longer grieve. We think we can walk away when tears fall, not realizing that sometimes, a single turn is a permanent departure.
These past events shall be tucked away in the heart, and these memories shall be sealed away. We will no longer ask if the flowing water is heartless or if the falling flowers are indifferent, nor will we obsessively search for the horizons where you once were.
May all lingering thoughts be transformed into deep blessings: may you be even happier than I am. If love meets us, remembering is enough. How much time can be spent waiting? How many people are worth looking back for? Eventually, we realize that the things we once clung to fade away, and the people we once cared for drift apart. Who can hold a single heart forever? Who is willing to hold a hand through the changing eons? In the fading light of the years, there is a kind of encounter called "deep love but shallow fate," and an ending where the music stops and the crowd disperses.
We have loved, hurt, cried, and laughed; then, we borrow a patch of clear sky, embrace the sunlight, and continue to be strong. Let go of what must be let go, cherish what we have, smile, and live in peace. Time is like a mirror; no matter how one paints, the original flavor cannot be recreated. No matter how beautiful the past landscapes were, they are merely the past.
There is only a past we cannot return to, but no present we cannot live through. Scars may remain in the heart, but after the pain, a cocoon will eventually form. In truth, each of us is stronger than we imagine. As the tea grows cool in our hands, only a lingering warmth remains. Reflecting on it later, the songs we once sang still echo in our hearts; the people we once loved, we no longer feel hatred toward. Whether it was fate or a tribulation, whether the bond was deep or shallow, cherishing it is enough to make it eternal. Leave a trail of light fragrance for each other in the heart; if remembered, it will be warmth.
