Random Walk Newsletter, Issue 11#
Observations & Insights#
Working from Home
I have been working from home since the day before the May Day holiday, and now it has been over half a month. Of course, at the beginning, the community was under lockdown, and now the community has been unsealed. However, the overall situation in Beijing is not optimistic. Despite various strict measures, there are still more than 50 new confirmed cases every day, including cases from the community. So, I estimate that I will still be working from home this week, and it will be difficult to go to the office.
Actually, working from home is not bad for me. It saves commuting time. But relatively speaking, I have less time for exercise. When I used to work, I would take a walk at noon and in the evening. Now I basically don't leave the house all day. To comfort myself a little, I do some exercises every night. The only consolation is that I still stick to my weekly running. Speaking of which, I should go for a run tomorrow morning.
Audiobooks & Reading#
The Ghost of Tao Yuanming
Recently, I have read two books that interpret Tao Yuanming. Tao Yuanming is respected because he truly embodies the concept of "knowledge and action as one." For example, in this famous poem, "Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains," he says that he is naturally true to himself. In his actual life, he chose to resign from his official position and return to the countryside, living a simple and frugal life. Especially in today's society, it is very difficult to resist material desires and pursue inner peace and harmony. For example, the text says:
"In the city, office workers wake up early, commute by crowded subway, and clock in and out on time every day. Many people work day after day for the sole purpose of paying off their mortgages and sending their children to school. Children's playtime is squeezed out by various competitions, exams, and homework. Of course, hard work is necessary to improve our lives and advance society, but have we ever thought about whether the increasing material wealth really makes our lives happier?"
I don't know how others feel, but personally, I haven't felt happier. On the contrary, I always think it would be better to escape. It's like the lyrics say, "What we can't have is always in turmoil." Of course, I may overlook some things that I already have, but the increase in material wealth does not significantly enhance our sense of happiness. For example, "The How of Happiness" mentions that sometimes the bags and clothes we impulsively buy do not improve our quality of life. But reading, traveling, and paying attention to our daily meals, these little things can help us achieve inner peace. Try to slow down, because only by slowing down can we see many things around us clearly. Sometimes, stop and take a look at the path we walk every day, and we will discover something different.
I mentioned earlier that I have read two books about Tao Yuanming. The other book is more interesting. The author says that Tao Yuanming is not as extraordinary as he is portrayed, and many of his deeds have been embellished. The reason why many later generations admire him so much is mainly to establish an image that everyone needs.
Collective Solitude
This is a book that discusses how the internet affects the lives of ordinary people. First of all, we need to acknowledge that the internet has many positive meanings in our lives. It brings a lot of convenience, improves efficiency, and promotes social progress. However, the key is how we use it. If we rely on or indulge in it excessively to the point where we sacrifice our exercise time or even our sleep time, then we need to be cautious. The author says, although the internet has realized the vision of "the world is a global village," the paradox lies in the fact that our neighbors who are close by have also been exiled to the ends of the earth. It is easy to understand. How long has it been since we had a face-to-face conversation with a friend? Or during a gathering, how many times do we see everyone with a phone in hand, chatting absentmindedly? We can contact people on the other side of the earth through the internet, but we also neglect the people around us because of the internet.
I recently read another book, "Digital Age Parenting Guide." Both books mention a point that many people nowadays increasingly need the affirmation of others to find themselves. The internet has turned "know yourself" into "show yourself." This point may not have a significant impact on adults, as they have already established their own values and have the ability to think independently. But for children, the consequences are more serious than imagined. They will lose themselves in the process of growing up.
For example, among children under 5 years old, 58% play computer games, but only 43% can ride a bike; 10% can use a smartphone, but only 9% can tie shoelaces; there are more children who can open a webpage than those who can swim. I believe these data, after all, the internet and digital products have taken away most of people's time, and the total amount of time is limited. Therefore, when we focus on one thing, we naturally have less time for other things, such as outdoor activities. I remember when I was a child, during holidays, I would spend almost the whole day outside until I was called back home for dinner. Now, it is already difficult to spend an hour outdoors every day.
Finally, I would like to share a short poem: "Build a hut in a human world, free from the noise of carriages and horses. How can you achieve this? By having a distant heart, the land will naturally be biased."
That's all for this issue of the newsletter. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Thank you for reading.