Year 7

Foreword

At the very beginning, I'll draw a rough line separating myself from the past:

My blog has been idle for an entire year. Although I haven't missed a single day of ATA, I must admit that my technical progress is nowhere near what it used to be. Energy is one factor, but it's mostly laziness.
The road to becoming an architect is long and arduous. On one hand, technology looks for business scenarios, and business looks for technical fun; both sides look for their own things from their respective ends, making it hard to form a bond. On the other hand, after gaining a business perspective capable of zooming in and out, the real challenge lies in deciding which scale to use when looking at different problems.
I didn't finish my 600km run. I stopped for a winter, a spring, and soon a summer, becoming obsessed with ** and unable to pull myself away. The muscles are still there, but the strength is gone.
The friendships I wanted to improve have indeed improved; sincerity is the key to opening any door.
I have been reflecting and introspecting; I've learned some lessons from my mistakes, but not much wisdom has been gained. The frequency of reflection is too low, and the speed is too slow.

Taking it one footprint at a time, growth isn't fast, but the insights are genuine.

Cause and Effect vs. Fate

I have always believed that the sum of all past experiences forms our unique selves, but it has nothing to do with cause and effect or fate. This is because the present is the past of the future, and every choice made in every second has the chance to change the future.

The Wisdom of Facing Problems Directly

Since childhood, we have been encouraged to be brave and face problems directly. It seems that as long as we puff out our chests and summon great courage, any difficulty will surrender.

However, in the end, we find that puffing out our chest is nothing more than bluster. Like anxiety and guilt, courage alone doesn't actually help. Facing problems directly requires wisdom above all else. First, ask yourself: what would Dory do?

An Arena Without a Referee

In a classroom, there are teachers; in a school, there is a principal; on a ball court, there is a referee. When there is a grievance or injustice, we only need to appeal to them because we believe this figure, representing fairness and justice, can help us solve our difficulties.

However, we are in an arena without a referee. There are no reasons, no excuses, and no question of fairness here. Regardless of historical reasons or objective factors, there is no one to tell our story to. All that lies before us are difficulties and the seconds of time rushing past. Complaining in grievance is meaningless; the only thing to do is to take hold of the present and solve the difficulties.

Doing Nothing Is Not Necessarily the Worst Choice

I used to think that indecision was the worst choice, and I didn't want to waste time hesitating, so I was always rushing back and forth between the "south wall" and the "north wall," trial-and-error style.

If you make a mistake, you must bear the consequences. This so-called cost of trial and error sounds like no big deal, almost like a positive growth cycle. However, in reality, some things only offer one chance. If doing it will result in a mistake, then it's better to do nothing until you've thought it through.

The Trap of Being Unique

Innovation is encouraged, so I'm always racking my brains, trying to come up with a unique answer.

However, being able to quickly and comprehensively state the answers that everyone can think of is a more important ability. Compared to innovative answers, conventional answers have a consensus advantage and are more likely to be accepted by people.

What's more, even the means of innovation themselves have conventional methods. Aside from true pioneering innovation, there are micro-innovations such as incremental innovation, differential innovation, combinational innovation, transplanted innovation, spiritual innovation, and disruptive innovation. Micro-innovation may not be as amazing as a conventional answer, but its cost-effectiveness is far higher than that of a pioneering innovation born from a sudden flash of inspiration.

In Silence, in the Prime of Youth

In my 28th year, I got married.

Just as the hair at my temples was starting to fail at covering my forehead, I took a handsome wedding photo and began a life of unbridled joy.

After marriage, it is indeed as my partner says: "happy wife, happy life." With a good wife, life truly goes smoothly and everything is as desired. In the future, I hope you will be as happy as a child; in the prime of your youth, you still feel very safe holding me.