Never get angry in life - Maybe. This book will benefit you all your life.

Author: Haiyang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Calm and composed
Someone proposed a topic to two painters: "Calmness." They were to each paint a picture that expressed the same meaning. One painter depicted a lake, with a calm surface like a mirror. He also painted distant mountains and flowers and grass by the lake, making them reflect clearly on the water. The other painter, however, painted a waterfall cascading rapidly, with a small tree beside it. On the tree, there was a small branch with a bird's nest, and in the nest, there was a small bird, but the bird was sleeping. This painter truly understood the true meaning of calmness. The lake depicted by the first painter was merely a stagnant pool. We should be like a small bird sleeping peacefully in the midst of the waterfall's roar, not being swayed by the environment—neither arrogant in victory nor disheartened in defeat; not complacent in light nor sorrowful in darkness; not forgetting hardship when things are smooth, nor being disheartened when facing adversity; not being proud when in a high position, nor resentful when in a low one.
Life Insight: When things go smoothly and as planned, don't think everything is perfect. And when things don't go as expected, don't assume everything is a disappointment. This is cultivation.
General MacArthur, a young five-star general, was one of the most decorated military figures in American history. He devoted 52 years to the military, experiencing two wars, always keeping "Duty, Honor, Country" in mind. His famous quote, "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away," echoes deeply in people's hearts. Throughout his life, MacArthur remained confident, hopeful, optimistic, and unwavering. In his later years, he shared his views on youth: "Age wrinkles the skin and the soul, and makes you give up your interests and hobbies. You are young when you have faith, and old when you doubt. You are young when you are confident, and old when you are fearful. You are young when you have hope, and old when you are despairing. If your innermost records room always receives signals of beauty, hope, joy, and courage, you will always remain young. But when your heart is overshadowed by pessimism and cynicism, you will only gradually grow old and fade away."
Life Insight: The desire of the elderly to stay young will make their bodies younger too. Conversely, if one is always burdened with worries, afraid of aging, often sighs, "I am old," and becomes a captive of aging in spirit, one will quickly fall into the state of old age.