The Art of Being Human: a new blog
Life is nothing short of a magical gift. It’s like the most sophisticated subscription box — you never know what you’re going to get next, but you can bet it’ll be a mix of delightful, perplexing, and downright challenging surprises. And it’s only by signing up to this wild ride called existence that we truly get to unwrap the full spectrum of our lived experiences.
Now, before you roll your eyes and mumble, “Here goes another one of those ‘life is a rollercoaster’ metaphors,” let me stop you right there. I promise to keep the clichés at bay — mostly because my teenage self would cringe at the mere thought of being anything less than original. And we wouldn’t want to upset the delicate balance of being casually emotional while striving to be the most charismatic force in the room, would we?
Ah, the ups and downs. Those are the moments that should come with their own soundtrack, don’t you think? Perhaps a dramatic overture when you’re feeling at your lowest, or a jaunty tune to accompany those peak ‘I’ve got this’ instances. These oscillations in our mood and mentality aren’t just random fluctuations; they’re the very essence of our humanity. They are what set us apart from our friends, the ever-so-logical large language models and robots. (No offense to my AI companions reading this — your poker face game is strong.)
While I’ve spent my fair share of time being the archetype of the emotive adolescent, trying to harness the enigmatic allure of a young Marlon Brando (or so I’ve been told), it’s my insatiable curiosity that’s the real protagonist in my story. It’s the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the universe that keeps the plot thickening, that propels me forward even when the going gets tough.
Speaking of tough, let’s talk about my previous blogging venture at shenruililin.com, which, in an act of digital brutality, fell victim to a corporate DDoS attack. Ah, those were the days of digital drama — a reminder that not all players in the game of life play fair. Yet, it’s in these moments of adversity that I’ve found the deepest wells of introspection. I’ll dig within my hard drive and share what I can find, and gradually share with you here.
But enough of the gloom, because despite these hiccups, the world remains a breathtakingly beautiful place. I remind myself of this every time I play catch with my dog (who, by the way, is an absolute legend at the game), when I’m helping my little brother navigate the treacherous waters of algebra, or when a lightbulb moment hits me with what I’m convinced is the next big idea.
Through this new blog on Medium, I aim to document these thoughts, these slices of life that might otherwise be swept away by the relentless tide of time. I will delve into the deeper meaning behind it all, perhaps spending a little (read: a lot) more time than the average Joe on the whys of the world.
So, come along on this journey with me. Let’s explore, laugh, and maybe even shed a tear or two as we document our collective human experience — one blog post at a time. Because, if nothing else, we’ll have a trail of digital breadcrumbs to remind us of the path we walked, the thoughts we pondered, and the life we embraced, in all its chaotic glory.