The Game of Life
Treating Life as a Game
Some people tread through life with trepidation, seeing it as a relentless battleground, quick to declare themselves failures at the slightest deviation from their expectations. Others rush into the most conventional and ‘safe’ career paths, never taking the time to discover their true passions or strengths. Many remain trapped in unfulfilling jobs, feeling powerless to change their circumstances, their days filled with nothing but complaints. Some find themselves repeatedly sinking into emotional quicksand, unable to break free. Still others chase immediate gratification, sacrificing their long-term well-being and making one regrettable decision after another…
Why not step outside the conventional framework and instead view life as a massive multiplayer online role-playing game – one with no ‘reloads’ or ‘save points’ – and play it with the utmost dedication?
The fluctuating numbers in your bank account are your in-game currency. Your medical check-up report displays your health bar/HP. Books and the internet offer a wealth of game guides. WikiHow serves as your beginner’s tutorial. Wikipedia is your game’s encyclopedia or item catalog. Books contain advanced strategies for completion. …
Some players chase maximum in-game currency, while others strive for a spot on the leaderboards. Some seek love and to be loved. Many embark on epic journeys, traversing mountains and rivers, yearning to witness every landscape firsthand. Some willingly challenge ultimate difficulties to achieve self-realization, while others bravely ascend the peaks of wisdom. Then there are those who wander guided by their feelings and interests, eager to taste and see everything the world has to offer. Some choose to surf the waves, and still others simply wish to settle in a quiet corner, savoring the truest essence of a simple, peaceful life…
Who are you? What do you truly desire? What are your game objectives? What are your main quests and side quests? What if you only live once? If you had ten lives, would you still live the way you do now?
Modern Chinese people, it seems, are plagued by anxiety. For many, there appears to be only one prescribed path, relentlessly labeled ‘success.’ Before they can truly appreciate life’s abundant gifts, they’ve already lost their playful spirit. Yet, life offers countless ways to live, with many interesting and worthwhile paths to choose from.
If you seek freedom, then pursue it. If you seek happiness, then pursue it. If you seek wisdom, then pursue it. Continuously refine yourself, both physically and mentally. And if you can, why not set your goals a little higher? Aim for the highest, and you might achieve the good; aim for the good, and you’ll likely fall short.
For me, life is a game, and there’s still so much to explore. I want to uncover the world’s operating rules, experimenting and discovering as I go. What will this adventurous way of living bring? Who knows? But I’ll always look forward, never back. I’ll reject boredom, learn countless new things, and strive to become the most dazzling version of myself.
Even when I’m working diligently with my feet firmly on the ground, I must never forget to look up at the stars. And if possible, always strive to be an interesting person – that’s a personal demand I place on myself.
Further Thoughts
In the midst of the current pandemic, it’s highly probable that our present circumstances are simply the new normal. For those of us born and raised in times of peace, these past few years have likely been the darkest we’ve experienced in our lives. Yet, even the coldest winter eventually yields to spring, and the longest night gives way to dawn. The ice will melt, spring will bloom, and tomorrow’s sun will rise again, just as it always has. How to navigate this long night is a question each of us must ponder.
I truly can’t bear to watch countless people suffer. Is shutting down my feelings, refusing to see or think, my only option? Even as an insignificant presence, I’m trying to figure out what I can contribute. I want to do what I can to light a bonfire, to help forge connections, and to offer companionship. To let you know you’re not alone, that many others are here, standing with you.
May we find solace in the stars during this long night, and may our spirits remain bright with flickering flames and resilient, beating hearts.