If reading feels a bit tiring, come listen to me talk with you in voice instead — it expresses the heart more fully, and that works just as well.
These past days, I’ve written relatively fewer practical tips, and instead warm, personal words have taken center stage. This was deliberate on my part. Because starting two or three months ago, messages began pouring in from brothers and sisters sharing just how hard life has been lately. Honestly, “it’s not easy” has become something we hear so often it barely registers anymore — everyone has their own mountains to climb. Who among us has it truly easy these days?
And yet, after listening to so many of those messages, I noticed something subtle. Many people, no matter how bitter or exhausting their circumstances, consistently lack one thing: someone close by to cheer them on and soothe their pain. A person without that kind of care around them is in a vulnerable place. Negative emotions take root far too easily — the kind that harm both body and mind, and over time can cast a long shadow over one’s entire outlook on life.
That’s why I’ve been using more of my space lately to simply sit and chat with you about everyday things — to give your spirit a little room to breathe. I know words can only do so much, but at the very least, you’ll know: there is someone in this world who cares about you and wants good things for you. That’s enough.
Now, let me share a few humble observations on the broader situation. The current environment may need a bit more time to work itself out — spring isn’t just around the corner. Especially given what came out of yesterday’s meetings, many things will still need time to be absorbed and addressed. So we all have a little more sitting-through to do. Honestly, that’s how it’s always been — progress and development have always come with problems at every step. The fact that we can see these problems clearly means we have both the resolve and the capacity to deal with them. So let those in position do their work, and let’s not lose too much sleep over it. Things will get better — they always do.
And look around the world: there aren’t many places right now that could genuinely be called comfortable. I lived in Canada for a long time and spent years in the US as well, so I have friends across all kinds of industries and circles. Are they living easy? Hardly. America’s massive money-printing has deepened the gap between rich and poor and brought a surge in prices. That underlying tension is a large part of why so many social conflicts have been erupting — why we’ve seen so many shootings in recent weeks. So as I said in yesterday’s piece: if you have your health and life is getting by, that’s already something to be grateful for.
As for near-term financial advice? My advice is: no advice. Wait until the second half of this year. Keep your hands still and your eyes open. Master Chi knows many readers are hoping to catch this window to get into real estate or make a big bet at the bottom. And precisely because you feel that urgency — you need to be patient. Good opportunities are the ones you wait for. I believe the second half of this year will bring increasing clarity on support policies and key directions, more favorable policies and open cities. Make decisions then. Far safer.
In short — June is almost here, the second half of the year is almost upon us. And I hope you can settle into a calm state of mind. Don’t let an oversized sense of responsibility or an overly results-driven mindset push you into unnecessary, unhealthy pressure. Whether you’re a young person struggling to find work, a middle-aged professional hitting a ceiling, or a parent trying to earn money while keeping the whole family together — do your best, and leave the rest to fate (尽人事，听天命). As long as your effort during this stretch has been sincere, the outcome — whatever it is — isn’t worth agonizing over.
Earn a little, have enough to get by, and feel genuinely content — that is the greatest wealth. If you made 600,000 last year and 400,000 this year and spend all your time feeling crushed and miserable, that’s not wealth — that’s just burden.
Hey — if I were there beside you, I’d wrap you in a warm embrace the way a family member would, pat you on the back, and tell you: don’t be sad. You’ve done really, really well. Truly. Whether or not anyone else sees it or knows it, I see it — these days haven’t been easy for you. Please don’t punish yourself for what the pandemic left behind. Right now, as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. Overthinking helps nothing and only wears you out.
Look at the time — you’re probably almost off work. Stay safe on the way home, put on some happy songs through your earphones. A good mood is priceless.
P.S. Quite a few readers have been asking me to dedicate a piece specifically to men’s growth and advancement — since the last several articles in a row were written for the ladies, which may have left the brothers feeling a little left out.
So the next piece will be purely about masculine strength and culture. I’ll also be sharing observations from all these years — what I’ve noticed about the men who truly rise above, along with some important life lessons.
Brothers, get ready to save and study it. Stay tuned.