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2021

  • 2 min read

On My Leisure Activities in the Future

Learning new things will be my primary leisure activity. There are numerous methods for learning, such as reading, listening, and hands-on practice.

I plan to study books and learn from industry professionals by regularly visiting libraries. Although some of these authors may no longer be alive, their historical perspectives can still provide valuable insights. In addition to the knowledge I gain firsthand, the insights I acquire from others can be quite meaningful. By reading practical books, I can also learn specific skills and topical knowledge at my own pace. Keeping up with newspapers and periodicals will further enhance my understanding of the world.

Another effective learning method is listening, which could be through podcasts, YouTube videos, or even our daily interactions. By focusing on extracting relevant information, I can absorb new knowledge in various contexts, especially when I don't have the time to sit down and read. Listening to audiobooks or lectures is an excellent approach because some presenters are particularly engaging, making the subject matter more enjoyable than reading alone.

Lastly, the best way to acquire a new skill is to practice it. This applies to areas such as coding, public speaking, and leadership. To improve, one must practice consistently and seek feedback. Writing down what I've learned in blog articles and sharing my thoughts in everyday conversations can help solidify new facts and deepen my understanding of new concepts.

Overall, the process of learning brings me personal fulfillment and is far from being a waste of time. While the learning process can sometimes be frustrating, it is often rewarding and enjoyable once obstacles are overcome. Having a study plan that covers a range of topics—including both technical knowledge and soft skills—will not only enrich my life but also improve my productivity and efficiency in completing tasks and dealing with uncertainties.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

關於我未來的休閒活動

學習新事物將是我主要的休閒活動。有許多種學習的方法，如閱讀，聆聽和實踐。

我計劃定期訪問圖書館，研讀書籍並向業界專業人士學習。雖然其中一些作者可能已不在人世，但他們的歷史觀點仍然可以提供寶貴的見解。除了我第一手得到的知識外，我從他人那裡獲得的見解也可能相當有意義。通過閱讀實用的書籍，我可以按自己的步調學習特定的技能和專門知識。跟上報紙和期刊將進一步提高我對世界的理解。

另一種有效的學習方法是聆聽，可能是透過播客，YouTube影片，或甚至是我們的日常互動。通過專注於提取相關資訊，我可以在各種情況下吸收新知識，特別是當我沒有時間坐下來閱讀時。聆聽有聲書或講座是一種出色的方法，因為有些主持人特別吸引人，使得主題更享受，比單獨閱讀更有趣。

最後，習得新技能的最好方法是實踐。這適用於編程，公開演講和領導力等領域。要提高，就必須持續練習並尋求反饋。將我所學的寫成博客文章，並在日常對話中分享我的想法，可以幫助我鞏固新的事實並加深我對新概念的理解。

總的來說，學習的過程給我帶來個人的滿足，並遠非浪費時間。雖然學習過程有時可能令人沮喪，但一旦克服障礙，這往往是有回報並且愉快的。擁有一個涵蓋各種主題的學習計劃，包括技術知識和軟技能，不僅會豐富我的生活，還會提高我完成任務和應對不確定性的生產力和效率。

  • 2 min read

On My Social Life in the Future

In my ideal future social life, I envision having many friends, a significant number of whom would be close to me. Instead of being a shy, awkward individual who often feels invisible, I would be outgoing and sociable.

I aim to overcome shyness, form meaningful connections with others, and make a positive impact globally. At social gatherings and events, I would circulate the room, engaging with as many people as possible and asking about their lives. A robust social network would earn me the respect and friendship of others. I would be comfortable initiating conversations, maintaining meaningful dialogues, and forging new relationships.

A strong social connection plays a crucial role in happiness. Our brains respond to social interactions similarly to the way they respond to physical warmth. I would have the confidence to face social rejection fearlessly, and at events or functions, I would be at ease exchanging pleasantries with everyone.

Moreover, I would be approachable and capable of assisting others. When my friends faced challenges, I would be there to help solve their problems while also adding value to the community.

Additionally, I envision having a wife with whom I could share secrets and go through all the highs and lows of life. She would be my soulmate, understanding and supporting me in every endeavor. Together, as part of a broader social network and community, we would raise a family. These social connections would allow us to seek advice and support from those we trust, enhance our career prospects, and make better decisions by considering the viewpoints of our friends.

By working together, we would gain a more objective understanding of the world and achieve greater things. Humans are social animals, and this ideal future social life would prioritize collaboration over competition; it would be characterized by peace rather than conflict.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

關於我未來的社交生活

在我理想的未來社交生活中，我期待擁有許多朋友，其中一大部分都是與我關係親近的。我將不再是一個害羞、笨拙且容易被人忽視的人，而是開朗和好交際的。

我希望能克服害羞，與他人建立有意義的聯繫，並在全球範圍內產生積極影響。在社交聚會和活動上，我將在房間裡四處走動，與盡可能多的人進行交談，詢問他們的生活。強大的社交網絡將為我贏得他人的尊重和友誼。我將能夠自如地發起對話，保持有意義的對話，並建立新的人際關係。

強烈的社會聯繫在幸福中起著至關重要的作用。我們的大腦對社交互動的反應與對生理上的溫暖的反應相似。我將有信心勇敢地面對社交的拒絕，並且在活動或社交場合，我將能舒適地與每個人交談。

此外，我會變得平易近人，能夠幫助他人。當我的朋友面臨困難時，我將在他們身邊，幫助他們解決問題，同時為社區增添價值。

另外，我期待擁有一位妻子，我可以與她分享秘密，一起經歷生活的高低起伏。她將是我心靈的伴侶，在我每一次的努力中給予我理解和支持。我們將作為一個更廣泛的社交網絡和社區的一部分，共同養育一個家庭。這些社交聯繫將使我們可以從信任的人那裡尋求建議和支援，提高我們的職業前景，並通過考慮朋友的觀點來做出更好的決定。

通過合作，我們將能夠更客觀地理解世界，並達到更大的事業。人是社交動物，這個理想的未來社交生活將把合作置於競爭之上；它將以和平而非衝突為特點。

  • 2 min read

On Improving Our Habits

We can change our habits to become healthier. There are three key aspects of health: physical, dietary, and mental.

Regular exercise is crucial for physical fitness and maintaining a healthy body. Every week, I jog for at least 30 minutes along the river. On weekends, instead of staying indoors all day, I opt for cycling or swimming. These activities facilitate the release of dopamine in the brain, which helps regulate mood and prevent depression. However, there are times when I get too busy or lazy to maintain my fitness routine. To stay motivated, I find it helpful to maintain a calendar and join a community.

Secondly, it's important to consume nutritious foods like vegetables and fruits. As we age, our metabolism slows down, and carrying extra weight can negatively impact our body shape. To lose weight, we need to restrict our caloric intake while burning more calories than we consume. During COVID-19 lockdowns, many of us work from home and spend the entire day in front of the computer, burning very few calories. It's advisable to limit our consumption of sugary beverages like regular Coke and iced lemon tea.

Lastly, improving our mental health is essential. The goal is to achieve a better work-life balance and broaden our social networks to receive more emotional support from family and friends. Maintaining positive relationships and contributing to the community are crucial. Achieving this goal can significantly impact both our happiness and our sense of purpose in life. Rather than being timid and hiding in a corner, we should make an effort to grow our networks and meet new people. To improve my public speaking and communication skills, I strive to make small daily improvements over the previous day.

Overall, maintaining a healthy body and mind is essential for thriving in our environment and becoming successful individuals.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

關於改善我們的習慣

我們可以改變我們的習慣以變得更健康。健康有三個關鍵方面：身體、飲食和心理。

規律的運動對於身體健康和維持健康的身體至關重要。每週，我至少沿著河邊慢跑30分鐘。在週末，我選擇騎自行車或游泳，而不是整天待在室內。這些活動能促使大腦釋放多巴胺，有助於調節情緒和防止抑鬱。然而，有時我會因為太忙或太懶而無法維持我的運動習慣。為了保持動力，我發現維持日曆並加入社群非常有幫助。

其次，攝取像蔬菜和水果這樣的營養食品非常重要。隨著年齡的增長，我們的新陳代謝會放慢，體重過重可能會對我們的身材產生負面影響。要減肥，我們需要限制我們的熱量攝取，同時要燃燒的熱量要多於我們攝取的。在COVID-19封鎖期間，我們中的許多人在家工作，整日面對電腦，燃燒的熱量很少。建議我們應限制飲用像可口可樂和檸檬冰茶這樣的含糖飲料。

最後，改善我們的心理健康是必不可少的。目標是實現更好的工作生活平衡，並擴大我們的社會網絡，以從家人和朋友那裡獲得更多的情感支持。維持積極的人際關係和對社區的貢獻是至關重要的。實現這個目標可以顯著影響我們的幸福感和生活的目標感。我們應該努力擴大我們的網絡並結識新的朋友，而不是害羞地躲在角落裡。為了提升我的公眾演講和溝通技巧，我努力每天都比前一天進步一點。

總的來說，維持健康的身體和心理對於在我們的環境中繁榮並成為成功的個體至關重要。

  • 3 min read

A Love Not Meant for Me

I was 28 years old at the time, and she was likely around 32—although the age difference is purely conjectural on my part. I never actually asked her age. In some cultures, women consider their age a well-guarded secret, and it can be deemed impolite to inquire. My best guess is that she was a year or two older than me. And it's worth noting that many Asian women age gracefully.

We met in a bar. After a night of drinks, she agreed to go out with me. How could I refuse? She was the most stunning companion I had ever had. Her name was Kim, and she hailed from Busan, South Korea. We both shared a love for travel. She had visited Canada, the United States, and Australia. Kim even became my Korean language tutor; I was enamored every time she spoke in her native tongue. She was a mature young woman who no longer harbored naïve notions about relationships or romance.

We traveled extensively. We visited the tallest building in Hong Kong, dined at amazing restaurants, and shared stories from our respective pasts. She affectionately called me "Oppa," the term Korean women use for their boyfriends, which technically means 'older brother'. Ironically, I think I was younger than her. I called her "Noona" (older sister), which seemed to irritate her. One thing about Korean women is that they highly value their appearance and worry about aging, often turning to cosmetic surgery to maintain their looks.

One day, she announced a change. "I'm moving to a new place, Oppa. Will you join me on my journey?" she asked. Without hesitation, I said, "Of course." But then it dawned on me: I also valued my career. How could I just leave for another city? We exchanged glances, and she took my hand. "Alright," she said, "you're coming with me." I nodded, hiding my inner turmoil. I needed time to weigh my options.

The next day, she flew to Australia for a short-term English course. Yet that wasn't the end of our story. We continued to message each other on KakaoTalk for another month, saying how much we missed each other. We made every effort to communicate, as English was neither her first language nor mine. Although we both yearned to be together, we knew it was impossible. I had my career, she had hers, and my family wouldn't understand. Besides, my friends weren't supportive—they teased me for dating a Korean woman.

It was New Year's Eve, and I decided to fly to Sydney on a 7-hour journey during my long vacation. We met at a lovely restaurant in Darling Harbour. I had brought an expensive gift, hoping she would like it. The evening was magical. We held hands and spoke intimately about our future.

The next day, we visited Watsons Bay, indulging our shared love for travel. It was one of the happiest days of my life. As I was getting ready to pick her up for another adventure, she sent me a KakaoTalk message. She said she couldn't continue the journey with me. She needed a more mature, financially stable man who was older than she was.

After she left, I was alone but resolved to be mature about it. Instead of begging her to come back, I told her that I respected her decision. I realized that whether I traveled alone or with someone, it didn't matter—I was capable of looking after myself. I'd traveled alone to various countries, but the journey would have been complete with a beautiful traveling companion. How wonderful it would have been to hold her hand while strolling along the River Seine in Paris, or embracing tightly near the Matterhorn in the Alps. I may have forgotten the names of many places we visited, but I'll never forget my beautiful journey's companion.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

一個不屬於我的愛

當時，我28歲，她大概32歲 -- 儘管這只是我個人的猜想。我從來沒有實際問過她的年齡。在一些文化中，女性認為她們的年齡是一種嚴密守護的秘密，這可能被認為是不禮貌的詢問。我最好的猜測是她比我大一兩歲。值得注意的是，許多亞洲女性都有著優雅的老去方式。

我們在一個酒吧相遇。經過一夜的飲酒，她答應和我一起出去。我怎麼可能拒絕呢？她是我曾經交過的最美的伴侶。她的名字叫Kim，來自韓國的釜山。我們都熱愛旅行。她曾經去過加拿大，美國和澳大利亞。Kim甚至成為了我的韓語家教；每次她用她的母語說話，我都會被迷住。她是一位成熟的年輕女性，不再抱著關於關係或浪漫的天真想法。

我們遊歷了很多地方。我們參觀了香港最高的建築，在驚人的餐廳用餐，並分享了我們各自過去的故事。她深情地叫我"Oppa"，這是韓國女性用來稱呼男朋友的詞語，實際上意味著'哥哥'。諷刺的是，我認為我比她年輕。我叫她"Noona"（姐姐），這似乎使她感到惱火。韓國女性非常重視自己的外貌，並擔心衰老，經常去做整形手術以保持自己的外貌。

有一天，她宣布了改變。 “我要搬到一個新的地方，Oppa，你會跟我一起去嗎？”她問。 我毫不猶豫地說，“當然。” 但是，我也意識到，我也重視我的職業生涯。我怎麼可能只是為了另一座城市而離開呢？我們交換了眼神，她拉起我的手。 “好的，”她說，“你跟我一起去。” 我點了點頭，隱藏了我內心的掙扎。我需要時間來衡量我的選擇。

隔天，她飛往澳大利亞參加一門短期英語課程。但是我們的故事並未結束。我們在KakaoTalk聊天了一個月，說我們多麼想念對方。我們盡一切可能的溝通，因為英語既不是她的母語也不是我的母語。儘管我們都渴望在一起，但我們都知道這是無法實現的。我有我的職業生涯，她有她的，我的家人也不會理解。此外，我的朋友們也不支持，他們嘲笑我和一個韓國女性約會。

在除夕夜，我決定在長假期間飛行7小時去悉尼。我們在達令港的一家可愛的餐廳見面。我帶了一份昂貴的禮物，希望她會喜歡它。那個晚上即如魔法般美好。我們握著手，私下談論我們的未來。

隔天，我們去了華森灣，沉醉於我們共同的旅行愛好中。那是我人生中最快樂的日子之一。當我準備去接她去另一個冒險旅程時，她給我送來一條KakaoTalk消息。她說她不能和我一起繼續旅程。她需要一個比她年長，更成熟，經濟穩定的男人。

她離開後，我孤獨地決定以成熟的態度面對。我沒有乞求她回來，我告訴她我尊重她的決定。我意識到，無論我是獨自旅行還是與他人同行，都無所謂——我有能力照顧自己。我一個人去了許多國家旅行，但如果有一個美麗的旅伴陪我，這次旅行就會更加完整。如果能毫无顾忌地在塞納河邊牽著她的手，或者在阿爾卑斯山的馬特洪峰附近緊緊相擁，那將會有多美好！我可能忘記了許多我們曾經去的地方的名字，但我永遠不會忘記我的美麗的旅伴。

  • 3 min read

A Story of an Important Moment in My Life

As a child, my parents would often share life lessons through stories. I would listen intently, though I didn't fully grasp their implications. Now that I'm an adult, life has taken on new meanings.

What is the purpose of life? Generally, there are three types of responses:

  1. Yes, life has meaning, as argued by many philosophers;
  2. No, life has no meaning, a belief held by many ordinary people;
  3. I don't care.

The last type of response is common, possibly because people are too busy to consider it, perhaps because the question has been posed too often without yielding a satisfying answer, or maybe because they simply don't care.

I may not have all the answers to your questions about life's purpose, but I firmly believe that you should care. Different people find different meanings and purposes in life, and here's how I discovered mine:

I have a knack for getting into troublesome situations. During high school, I had ambitions to be the student union president; I didn't want to squander my youth on mundane activities. I grew up and was educated in Hong Kong, where we have one of the most rigorous public examination systems. Most students aim for good grades to get into top universities and secure stable, well-paying careers. I was no different, except that I also chose to run for student union president, thus inviting more challenges into my life.

My physics teacher warned me, "If you become the president of the student union, you're likely to fail your public exams and miss out on university. Statistically, most presidents are too busy organizing events and balancing their personal lives to prepare adequately for exams."

At the time, I had a girlfriend who was an exceptional student, aiming to enter business school and become an accountant. She had a more conventional path in mind: work, save, buy a house, and start a family. We had contrasting aspirations; she was a realist, while I was an idealist.

Amidst this, I was also attending university orientations and had a conversation with a philosophy professor whose books I had read. His talks on the meaning of life captivated me. Additionally, I was studying Chinese philosophy, which emphasized the qualities that distinguish humans from animals: empathy, justice, and altruism. These ideas greatly influenced my decision-making.

Influenced by these humanitarian concepts, I decided to run for the President of the Student Union. Despite numerous challenges and constraints, I was elected. The term I served remains one of the most memorable periods of my life.

In the end, I managed to score an A, a B, and a C in my public exams—good enough to gain university admission for my chosen subject. The life lessons I learned from serving as president were invaluable, far outweighing any academic grades.

This experience helped me understand the key components that give my life meaning:

  1. Learning to be a leader enriched my youth. The unique learning experience was valuable in itself, requiring no further justification.

  2. The ups and downs I experienced with my partner gave me a sense of purpose at that time.

  3. My service in the student union allowed me to contribute to my community and society. Giving up my time mattered to me because I cared for my peers, and I developed lasting friendships with fellow student leaders.

In summary, for me, the meaning of life revolves around learning, relationships, and contribution. I came to this understanding because I was deeply committed to seeking an answer to this pivotal question. While you'll have to discover your own life's meaning, the first step is recognizing the importance of caring in the grand scheme of life.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

我的生活中一個重要時刻的故事

當我還是個孩子的時候，父母常常會以故事的方式分享生活課程。我會專心聆聽，儘管我並不完全理解它們的含義。現在我已經成年，生活有了新的含義。

生命的目的是什麼？一般來說，有三種回答：

  1. 是的，生命有意義，這是許多哲學家的觀點；
  2. 不，生命沒有意義，這是許多普通人的信仰；
  3. 我不在乎。

最後一種回答很常見，可能是因為人們太忙而無暇去考慮它，也許是因為這個問題被提出太多次，卻沒有得到令人滿意的答案，或者是因為他們只是不在乎。

我可能不能回答你對生命目的的所有問題，但我堅信你應該關心。不同的人在生命中找到不同的意義和目的，以下是我如何發現我的：

我對陷入麻煩的情況有一種天分。在高中的時候，我有野心想成為學生會主席；我不想浪費我的青春在平凡的活動上。我在香港長大並接受教育，我們有一個最嚴格的公開考試制度。大多數學生都希望獲得好成績，以便進入頂尖的大學並獲得穩定、高薪的工作。我與眾不同的是，除此之外，我還選擇參選學生會主席，從而給我的生活帶來了更多的挑戰。

我的物理老師警告我，“如果你成為學生會主席，你可能會在公開考試中失敗，從而錯過大學。統計上來說，大多數主席都忙於組織活動和平衡他們的私人生活，而無法充分準備考試。”

那時，我有一個女朋友，她是一個傑出的學生，她的目標是進入商學院並成為會計師。她有一條更傳統的道路：工作，儲蓄，買房，然後開始一個家庭。我們有對立的抱負；她是現實主義者，而我是理想主義者。

在這其中，我也參加了大學的新生研討會，並與一位我讀過他書的哲學教授交談。他對生命的含義的演講吸引了我。此外，我也在學習中國哲學，該哲學強調區分人與動物的特質：同理心，正義，和利他主義。這些思想大大影響了我的決策。

受到這些人道主義理念的影響，我決定參選學生會主席。儘管面臨無數挑戰和限制，我最終當選，並且我的任期是我生命中最難忘的一段時期。

最後，我在公開考試中得到了一個A，一個B和一個C—足以讓我以我所選的專業進入大學。我從擔任主席的過程中所學到的生活教訓無比寶貴，遠超過任何學業成績。

這次經驗幫助我理解了給我的生活添加意義的關鍵要素：

  1. 學習成為一個領導者豐富了我的青春。這種獨特的學習體驗本身就很有價值，不需要進一步的解釋。

  2. 我與伴侶一起經歷的起起伏伏在那時給了我一種目的感。

  3. 我在學生會的服務讓我有機會對我的社區和社會作出貢獻。我願意放棄我的時間是因為我關心我的同伴，並且我與其他學生領導人建立了長久的友誼。

總結來說，對我來說，生命的意義圍繞著學習，關係和貢獻。我之所以有這樣的理解，是因為我深入地尋求這個至關重要的問題的答案。雖然你需要自己去發現你生命的意義，但第一步是在生命的宏觀架構中認識到關愛的重要性。