Don't let other people's opinions limit your life.
The most foolish thing you can do in life is to live the way others want you to. If you love sweets, don't force yourself to eat spicy food; if you crave stability, don't force yourself to take risks. Life is for yourself, not for others to see.
Some people enjoy burning the midnight oil in office buildings striving for promotions, while others prefer to brew a pot of tea in the mountains and watch the clouds drift by. Can these two ways of living be judged as superior or inferior? Absolutely not. The key is whether the life you live is what you truly want from the bottom of your heart.
Too many people around us are bound by the opinions of others. My neighbor Xiaomin is like that. To appear "successful" on social media, she scrimps and saves on designer bags and luxury jewelry even though her salary barely covers living expenses. Every time she posts on social media, she meticulously edits nine photos with the caption "Another exquisite day." But in private, she eats instant noodles every meal and can't even afford a cup of milk tea. And my cousin, not even thirty years old, is being pressured by his family to go on blind dates and get married. He didn't actually feel anything for his blind date, but his relatives kept nagging him, "You're not getting any younger, if you don't get married soon, no one will want you." He reluctantly got married, but they clashed constantly, arguing every day. He spent his nights smoking on the balcony, living a stifled and lonely life.
You see, putting on an act for others' approval, appearing glamorous on the surface, but empty inside, becoming a soulless shell.
On the other hand, those who live life with clarity, even when strapped for cash, can still live a fulfilling life. My downstairs neighbor, Aunt Zhang, doesn't have a high retirement pension, but she lives a more comfortable life than anyone else. On weekend mornings, she never sets an alarm; she wakes up slowly, cooks a bowl of porridge, has a dish of her own pickled vegetables, and listens to opera on the radio while eating. On her way home from get off work, she always liked to detour to the old noodle shop in the alley, order a bowl of hot soup noodles, watch the owner skillfully toss and cook the noodles, and listen to the elderly folks chatting about whose grandson got into university, whose cat had kittens. That sense of peace and contentment was a hundred times better than attending those superficial drinking parties. Aunt Zhang also loved to grow flowers on her balcony; her several pots of roses and jasmine thrived under her care. Watching the withered branches sprout tender green buds, watching the flower buds slowly bloom, she couldn't stop smiling. These inconspicuous little joys were life's most genuine gifts.
Life is never smooth sailing; everyone inevitably encounters setbacks at work or in relationships. At times like these, escapism and complaining are completely useless. It's like walking in the rain and getting splashed with mud by a car; what good will standing there and cursing do? It only makes you angrier. Instead of rushing home, take a hot shower, change into clean clothes, and you can still live happily.
Difficulties are like whetstones. The weaker you are, the stronger they become; the stronger you are, the weaker they become. Keep a calm mindset, treat each setback as a chance to cool down and temper your character. Like my friend Lao Zhou, a few years ago he lost a lot of money in business and was heavily in debt. Everyone around him advised him, "Accept your fate, find a stable job," but he didn't give up. He worked as a street vendor and a food deliveryman, saving money little by little to pay off his debts. Those days were tough, but he never complained. He said, "If I lose, I lose. At worst, I'll start over. I can't let this defeat me." Now Lao Zhou's business is slowly improving, and his life is becoming more stable. You see, life becomes more resilient through repeated repairs.
In fact, true happiness doesn't cost much money. It's hidden in the fresh air after the rain, in a tissue handed to you by a stranger, in the sudden surge of emotion while reading a good book. It's not a meticulously staged photo on social media, nor is it someone else's "You're amazing!" It's the peace and joy in your heart.
Stop drooling over other people's stories; everyone's life has its own rhythm. You don't have to chase after others, nor do you have to mold yourself into their mold. Even if your pace is slower, even if the path you take is different, as long as you walk lightly and your heart is joyful, that is the best answer to life's challenges.