There was a time when I always dreaded the end of a break — knowing I’d have to turn around and face the weight of work again. I was genuinely unhappy about it.
But as my career slowly found its footing and my mindset matured, something shifted: whether resting or working, both are simply part of how we experience life.
When you’re resting, rest fully — don’t carry the burden of feeling like you’re wasting time.
…travel would be rather inconvenient during this stretch.
So beyond keeping up with the day-to-day work obligations, I spent most of the time at home with family — tending to my bonsai collection, reading, doing reviews and reflections, getting in some exercise — and using this quieter period to prepare better content to share with everyone after the holiday.
The few times I did go out were for a handful of social dinners. Nothing more.
Many people don’t understand why they need to keep adjusting their social circle. Why is it that the higher someone rises — the more established their wealth and status — the more exacting they become about who they keep close? Almost to the point of obsession.
The reason is simple. Let Master Chi explain.
Jealous people won’t offer you blessings — they’ll offer you betrayal. Petty people won’t give you support — they’ll give you dead weight. Angry people won’t give you stability — they’ll give you dread. People consumed by inner turmoil won’t nourish you — they’ll wear you down.
As time passes and memories fade, perhaps someone will eventually ask: “What is the point of remembering September 18th?”
In my personal view, the significance of remembering September 18th lies in this: it serves as a constant reminder that a large nation, once it falls into weakness, will inevitably invite the predatory gaze and aggression of wolves.
What can be done?
The only answer is to remind ourselves, always: the world stage is a cruel dark forest. For large nations especially, one must pursue self-reliance and self-strengthening — the power to withstand crisis.
You need to understand something.
The reason your life is miserable ultimately comes down to you yourself.
Because you’re not smart enough, not strong enough — you lack a clear way of thinking and the ability to create wealth. That is why misfortune keeps descending upon you again and again, and because you don’t have the wealth or capability to handle it, everything accumulates into the various sufferings of your life.
1 — Honestly, most people don’t have a problem with pre-made food in itself. Plenty of affordable fast-food brands use it, and everyone knows it. Even office workers buy pre-made meals to get through the week — so pre-made food isn’t really the issue.
What actually bothers people is the pricing. It’s genuinely too high. At the same price point, you could walk into a proper high-end stir-fry restaurant and eat comfortably. Look at Saizeriya — another pre-made food brand, yet almost no one criticizes them. The prices are where they should be, and people accept it naturally.
Read. Think. Understand. Contemplate. Awaken. Execute. Review. Earn. Hold long. Protect. Invest. Analyze. Seek. Reflect. Stand alone with integrity. Sleep well. Speak less. Exercise. Show restraint. Cultivate the mind. Stay far from noise, debt, petty people, waste, greed, and inner conflict.
Make this your standard for life. Pare down to the absolute essential — and your path will flow with absolute ease.
Once you pass the age of thirty, you can no longer rely on brute force and sheer willpower to change your destiny. What carries you forward from here is sustained, deep thinking.
In Master Chi’s view, there are four reflections every person must practice.
Think About What You Seek. Think About What You Release. Think About Others. Think About Yourself.
Thinking About What You Seek means getting clear on what you actually want — and what effective effort it takes to get there. Once you’ve obtained something, how do you hold onto it?
Master Chi speaking: Let me tell you a true story — then you can decide for yourself what to make of it.
A close friend of mine, a wealthy businessman, is past fifty with considerable assets. After thirty-some years of hard work, his combined holdings in securities, equity, and property total around four to five hundred million.
His routine life was a rotation between Shanghai, Singapore, and New York — always chasing business, always in business or first class, and on rare occasions catching a ride on a private jet through his higher-tier connections.
…will not be particularly optimistic.
Why do I, Master Chi, say this? There are several things I hope parents clearly understand:
1 - Whether a child is academically gifted has little to do with intensive tutoring, but has everything to do with genetics, life pattern (destiny framework), and family environment. Pushing children hard can add polish at best — it cannot rewrite destiny.
2 - In elementary and middle school, drilling through practice problems can still get results. But once high school begins, it becomes purely a matter of natural talent and whether parents have instilled strong problem-solving frameworks.