Time Flies and Memories Fade

Week 3 flashed by. Just yesterday, I tried to calculate: if I live to 80 years old, then all I have left is about 16,878 days. It looks like a lot, but see how fast just seven days passed.

To be honest, without my dear Shepherd—my diary—and those daily entries, I wouldn’t even be able to collect one high note or low note from the past week easily. People’s memories blur into I-don’t-know-what. Time passes without us actually noticing it. That’s what I fear.

So here I am, entering another layer of my memory, trying to build my past life into something more concrete. As part of my tradition for 2026, I document one high note and one low note each week. It helps me capture the flow of life and see my growth, week by week.

High Note: Flow and Achievement

Last week’s absolute high note was that I finally made a video about all the books I read in 2025. It was longer than an hour, so I had to cut it into three pieces to fit most social platforms.

I was super excited that morning. I laid all the books out on my bed and then organized them on my table. I didn’t realize I could talk to the camera for more than an hour—but I did. And I didn’t notice time passing while I talked. That’s the feeling of flow.

Even when I watched the videos back, I felt a deep sense of achievement. I think I’ll remember that moment forever. I hope.

Low Note: Pressure vs. Passion

Many low notes followed shortly after that high.

I’ve been working on building my social media accounts for a long time, but only recently did I seriously consider making some extra money as a content creator. There’s a platform in China that rewards creators with commissions based on video views. To qualify, you need 100 followers.

That doesn’t sound like much, right?

I finally reached 100 followers last week and excitedly checked my balance—only to find it was still zero. That’s when I realized that to make any meaningful money, you need far more followers. But how many is enough?

I noticed myself becoming obsessed with messaging people and asking them to follow my account. It took away so much of my precious time. Worse, I started feeling pressured to post content.

Looking back, I remember why I started posting in the first place: because I enjoy sharing, and hopefully inspiring others. That was my original intention.

I should always remember why I started and learn to enjoy the journey. Myself first.

Money is important—I need it, and I acknowledge that. But if earning money means sacrificing my freedom and enjoyment, then I won’t do it.

So I pulled back from begging for followers and decided to interact only with meaningful content and people who genuinely liked my vibe and wanted to connect. After making that adjustment, I felt more relaxed and at ease with myself.

Living Life First

I believe in living my life first. If what I share is simply a reflection of my daily life—and I don’t feel pressured—then it becomes sustainable. It’s no longer a task; it’s a lifestyle.

Everyone wants to be rich, but nothing is worth sacrificing my present moments or my precious time.

That’s my high note and low note from last week. What about you? I’d love to hear your story as well.

If you like my content, please give it a like. If you don’t, I’d truly appreciate your thoughts and suggestions to help me improve.

Thank you!