The happiest thing for a person is probably to live in their own passion. With passion, you have a continuous source of motivation.—— Yang JiangHi, friends! It’s great to see you again! It’s been a long time since I updated (opened) this public account, and I feel quite ashamed. Recently inspired by the flomo signal biweekly, I, Peng Shener, also plan to record some thoughts, people, and new knowledge every two weeks… This is the first issue of the biweekly, and let’s talk about the topic of “passion“!Recently, the term “internal friction” has been frequently mentioned. Once trapped in its vicious cycle, it feels like falling into a non-Newtonian fluid— the more you struggle, the deeper you sink. Many people overlook the beautiful little stars in life, exhausted by daily trivialities. But friends, please believe that the antidote to life is often hidden in your steaming passion. Let’s rekindle our passion and find back our own little starlight!
- PART.01The Glimmer of Passion Reveals the True Essence of Life
Last year, while traveling in Quanzhou, I passed by a small guesthouse. The courtyard of the guesthouse was filled with flowers and plants whose names I couldn’t recall, and in the corner were handmade pottery semi-finished products. Even the stair railing was entwined with dried vines, resembling a secret garden from a fairy tale.At that moment, a little girl combing a cat under the eaves caught my eye. Sunlight filtered through the grape trellis, falling on her shoulders and the cat. I don’t know if I was too mesmerized or if she wanted to break the morning silence, but she suddenly turned and smiled at me: “This stray cat sunbathes in the same spot every day, it’s really proud!”
P1 The Orange Cat SunbathingAt that moment, I suddenly realized: passion may not necessarily mean rushing to distant places. Just like the cat, which has its favorite thing to do every day, basking in the sun can also shine!
- PART.02Passion is the Best Medicine for Internal Friction
In psychology, there is a concept called “flow,” which refers to a state of immersion where a person becomes so focused on doing something that they lose themselves. In this state, anxiety and distractions are automatically filtered out, leaving only the fullness and satisfaction of the present moment.I, Peng Shener, am an amateur craft enthusiast. When I reach “flow” in crafting, I become immersed in the unity of hand and eye, and time often feels wonderfully compressed. Although I may have been at my desk for hours, it feels like only ten minutes have passed when I look up.
P2 Handmade Book LampAt this moment, the instant messages popping up on my phone and the sound of the electric drill outside become similar to background white noise, until the work is perfectly presented. Perhaps the magic of handmade crafts lies in this: it builds an ark for modern people to escape the fragmented information with tangible materials and touchable processes.In the fast-paced modern life, we often find ourselves caught in internal friction and consumed by anxiety. But as long as there is passion in our hearts, we can always find a place to retreat into the “flow”.
- PART.03Finding Your Own Peach Blossom Spring in the Ordinary
True passion never picks the occasion. Even when trapped in the trivialities of daily life, it can still bloom poetic flowers. My colleague, an orchid enthusiast, has a balcony that resembles a miniature orchid garden. He can recite the scientific names of each orchid and even handwrite name tags for them, taking exquisite photos of the flowers.Influenced by him, I also started to get into plants, planting flowers and plants on my balcony. Now I have an extra task every day—watering them. The sound of watering the plants sounds like they are gurgling with joy, which is particularly healing. Watching the plants grow little by little, with green leaves turning yellow and flowers blooming and wilting, the troubles of life quietly dissipate like a wisp of smoke, carried away by the wind.
P3 My Balcony Plant “Center”This way of infusing a little ritual into ordinary days may be the form of a passionate life. Just like Wang Zengqi wrote in “The Grass and Trees of the Human World”: “If you visit me and I am not here, please sit with the flowers outside my door for a while; they are very warm.” Whether it’s a moment of pause during a journey, a handmade work at your fingertips, or a miniature plant garden on your balcony… these small passions are the Peach Blossom Springs we cultivate in the concrete jungle.The best state of life is probably like this: shining like stars with focus, exploring with the curiosity of a child, and loving freely like a cat. There is no need to chase others’ light, nor to be anxious about the pace of life. When you turn your attention back to yourself, treating every meal, every sunrise, and every moment of inspiration seriously, you will discover:the antidote to life has always been hidden in your steaming passion.This issue’s topic ends here. If you also want to discuss new topics with Peng Shener, feel free to drop a “whisper” in!See you next time!
