"My World Vs. Real World"

Today I had lunch with my high school friend—the only person from high school whom I have stayed in touch with all these years. Our lives could not be more different. Back in high school, he already had a driver and a car. I rode a bicycle that belonged to my brother and sister. His path seemed arranged from the very beginning: study hard, go abroad, obtain another nationality, marry someone from a similar wealthy family, and eventually start a business. My path was completely different. I had to work hard, study hard, and fight for every opportunity. After high school, I did not simply get to leave the country. I had to earn my way out. I worked for scholarships and eventually won one to pursue my master’s degree at HKU. Today, he told me that he wants to build a legacy—to create generations of wealth for his family. I listened to him and thought about my own dream. Mine is much smaller. I dream of having a tiny house, with a few dogs and cats, a peaceful life, and enou...

As I step into 2026, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’ve saved enough to pay off my mortgage, which means I now have the freedom to walk away from corporate life—even if it means starting with empty hands. I’ve also managed to rent out both of my properties. It’s not much, but it’s a foundation. My next goal is to study in Europe. If I’m lucky enough to receive a scholarship, I’ll go. If not, I may remain in my small town longer than I hoped—but not without trying. I’m also aiming to obtain an additional bar license, either in Europe or New York. This is another reset, another final attempt before I choose a simpler farming life. Whatever happens, I’m choosing courage over comfort—again.

 Crush → Crushed, like a loser. I have shut down my heart and thrown the key into the ocean for at least the past ten years. However, after watching countless dramas and movies, I’ve been convinced that human beings need love to stay alive—or at least to feel alive. So I decided to give it a try, even though I don’t have much faith in men or in human beings in general. I think I’ve collected more trauma than memories. Many people said, “Your time will come,” and I kept wondering—when? how? who? All these years, it has just been me, myself, and I. I guess I have to do it all again: do it alone, do it sad, do it happy, do it tired, do it exhausted—because this is the life I chose from the start.