新的起点

Last night, a friend called. He asked me to come over to watch New Year's Eve with Dick Clark. I had been in the United States for a number of years, but I had never bought a TV set. I had no idea who Dick Clark was, and neither did I care who he was. I told my friend that I would prefer to take a walk outside and watch fireworks if any.

Snow was still drifting as I stepped my feet out of the door. The ground was again all white and there was no trace of the shoveling work I did earlier in the day. The new year's eve here was quiet, no squeaking, no screeching, no barking and no chattering. While murmuring, I found myself at a crossroads. 'Which road is less traveled?', I was trying to amuse myself when I saw two snow-covered roads in front of me which it seemed that no one had ever trod on yet. I then chose a road randomly and continued my walk.

Around midnight, I came back. Still no fireworks, but only snow floating. I picked up a book from my bookshelf that I had not finished reading. This was a book that I had spent the whole year on. Yet, on the new year's eve, I was not even half way through. Perhaps a little disappointed with myself or with the boring details of the book, without a second thought, I tossed the book into the trash can. 'Why not, I need a new beginning', I was saying to myself. Then I hit the sack.

When I woke up on the first morning of the year after a sound sleep, 'a new beginning' came to mind again: how do I live my life from now on? Should I spend an extra hour like millions do in order to make that extra dollar which likely makes no difference in their life? The more I ruminated upon life, the more I realized mistakes I had made.  No, I need to change, and I was adamant. And I decided to live differently.

After much musing, I am now seeing a better picture of life. If anything, for this year or any year after, I will work less and relax more. When I work, I will think less. When I read, I will only open half of my eyes. I admire no one who works hard, and admire no fancy car, no big house and no large paycheck. I won't go the extra mile to improve my English accent or correct my grammar. 'Eat well and sleep well', and that is what life is about.