Anger is Better Than Striving II: Life Wisdom in Adjusting Mindset for Dealing with People and Matters

Author: Li Jin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: To be determined, one must have the perseverance and courage to fight for oneself. It's better to learn to fight with oneself than to always be angry with others. If I start low, I want to show myself that I can rise higher; if things don't go smoothly, I want to show myself that I can make them right. For most people, it's easy to think about turning anger into determination, but it's hard to do. There's often a gap that many can't cross—lack of firm will and perseverance. Opportunity only belongs to those who are prepared. Everyone wants to become an extraordinary person, and everyone is waiting for a chance that can bring them success. Some people only know how to lie in bed, staring at the sky, complaining that good opportunities are rare. In reality, for such people, even if an opportunity really comes, they won't be able to seize it. Vice President Henry Wilson was born into a poor family. When he was still in his crib, poverty had already shown its ugly face to him. At the age of 10, Wilson left home and worked as an apprentice for 11 years, receiving only one month of schooling each year. After 11 years of hard work, he finally earned a cow and six sheep as compensation. He traded them for 84 dollars. He knew the money was hard-earned, so he never wasted it. He never spent a dollar on entertainment, and every penny was carefully calculated. Before the age of 21, he had managed to read 1,000 good books—such a daunting task for a farm boy! After leaving the farm, he walked 100 miles to Nantucket, Massachusetts, to learn the leatherworking trade. He traveled through Boston, where he could see the Bunker Hill Monument and other historical landmarks. The entire journey cost him only one dollar and a few cents. A few months after his 21st birthday, he led a team into a remote forest to cut timber. Wilson would wake up before the first light of dawn every day and work tirelessly until the stars appeared. After a month of relentless effort, he earned six dollars. In such dire circumstances, Mr. Wilson made a firm decision: he would not let any opportunity to improve himself slip away. Few people understand the value of leisure time as deeply as he did. He seized every spare moment, refusing to let even a single second pass by in vain. Twelve years later, he made a name for himself in politics, entered Congress, and began his political career. Jack London had never attended high school before the age of 19, but he was incredibly diligent and, through relentless effort, transformed himself from a petty delinquent into a literary giant. Outstanding individuals often share certain qualities, and Jack London was no exception. Jack London's childhood was filled with poverty and hardship. He spent his days wandering around the San Francisco Bay with a gang of thugs, as if he were crazy. As for school, he couldn't care less and spent most of his time engaging in theft and other misdeeds. However, one day, he casually walked into a public library and began reading the classic Robinson Crusoe, becoming utterly captivated and deeply moved.