The high-pressure work and study have left my partner and me with no chance to catch our breath. Besides work, we hardly have time to enjoy the pleasures of life. During our bedtime chats, we often talk about "once this busy period is over, we must... next year at this time." We have made many interesting wishes, but after waking up, we might not remember any of them.
Ten years ago, the young and naive me just wanted to study hard to have a career in the future and contribute to humanity. Now, I hope to have my own time, enjoy moments of tranquility, and realize one small hidden wish after another. No longer just focusing on those lofty goals while neglecting the beauty in life outside of work. When the pandemic first relaxed, a young professor, around 40 years old, who had just been hired by the school passed away; he should have been showcasing his talents to the fullest. Looking back at my four years of undergraduate study, I did indeed work hard. Major courses, minors, student organizations, my life was packed full of learning and work. I feel satisfied with myself but also regretful. Reflecting on my college life, it seems there weren't many joyful moments besides studying. There are no memories of skipping classes with roommates, nor colorful club experiences. It feels like I went through another four years of high school life, somewhat dull. Tomorrow and the unexpected, I really don't know which will come first. Rather than sacrificing all my desires for an unseen future, it’s better to create small shining moments in the present. At least when looking back on life, it won’t just be about work and study.
To motivate myself to live a better life, I decided to write down my life wish list. These wishes are things I want to do or have someday in the future. Writing them down is to make me clearly aware of how many unfulfilled wishes I once had. Displaying them is also to inspire myself to strive to achieve the goals I once set.
Before making wishes, I need to ask myself:
- Is it realistic?
- Is there a clear completion time?
- If not realized, will I feel regret?
I don't want to rush to write down 100 wishes as if to complete a task. After all, new wishes will always emerge in the future. I just hope that in my old age, when I open this list, it can light up the neurons in my brain that are fading, activating a network called memory.
Life is short, I wrote down my wish list Originally published on Jack's Space