Tonight I didn’t have time to write anything long — I’d been sharing a few quiet drinks with some friends at an old colonial villa on Fumin Road.
Funny thing is, every time I’m the slightest bit tipsy, I get this strong urge to have a little heart-to-heart with all of you.
So right now, in this moment, I just want to tell you sincerely: this year, don’t voluntarily load yourself down with too much pressure.
Don’t let setbacks in your career or finances push you into frantically chasing a comeback.
And please — don’t let life’s frustrations make you blame yourself for not working hard enough, not being smart enough, not being good enough, and then drive yourself every single day to prove something.
Don’t go fishing when the sea is asleep. Don’t go hunting when the forest has gone dark.
To be honest, I also want you to understand this: so much of what hasn’t been going your way lately — none of it is actually your fault.
No matter how hard you push, what’s meant to happen will still happen.
These are the forces of the times we’re living in. You and I both have to adapt.
Learn to adapt to all the challenges this era throws at us, and then we take them on one by one, as they come.
A few years ago, I used to share a lot of ambitious, driven perspectives. I’d encourage you to push forward boldly in your work, be nimble with wealth, and navigate society with ease and grace.
But this year — though I’ll still write articles to help us all sharpen our inner strength and not waste our days — when it comes to ambition, desire, and striving, let’s set those aside for a while. No need to race against the clock.
As for your personal life, I have no demands of you at all.
My only hope is that through all of 2024, you have a reasonably stable livelihood, a body that can eat well and sleep soundly, and a small home where you can rest in peace. That’s enough.
If you can hold onto that — if you can protect that home — that’s genuinely remarkable.
Stay steady. Don’t spiral. No matter how difficult the passage, we will get through it.
Tomorrow is Friday. Once you’ve taken care of work, stop being so hard on yourself. Just rest.
Go home. Chat with your family. Take a hot shower. Then stretch out on the sofa and take in something uplifting. When it’s time, go to sleep.
You’ll find that life has always been quite simple. And living well — that’s simple too. [hug]