Don't easily dream of a perfect life.

 　　I saw a very eye-catching title on a website: "A Life is More Perfect Only After Visiting These Places." As a "country bumpkin" who hasn't even visited a tenth of China's land and is already over sixty, approaching seventy, I was curious, so I clicked the mouse and looked at "these places."

　　The article was rich in text and pictures, very visually impactful, truly a feast for the eyes and the palate. The places listed were: Sudan, Peru, Croatia, Tanzania, Bangkok (Thailand), New Zealand, Sicily (Italy), Brazil, Cuba, and Iran.

　　"You don't know until you see it, and then you're shocked!" I felt a mix of emotions. My life, which I usually considered "perfect," suddenly seemed inadequate. This wasn't sour grapes; rather, I felt my "life" was actually "significantly imperfect." As mentioned before, "I haven't even visited a tenth of China's land," I haven't experienced even a fraction of the listed foreign landscapes' "boundless scenery," so how can my life be considered "more perfect"?

　　But upon reflection, this is just an online article, not to be taken seriously; even if it's just "playing a joke," it's essentially a frivolous talk of a "perfect life," a clamor for an unattainable "illusory life." Taking it seriously easily leads to "blind vanity." What's worth reflecting on and being wary of is that many literary works and films today intentionally or unintentionally glorify a perfect life, which is extremely harmful to young people.

　　Isn't that so? The countries and locations listed are scattered across the world, involving five continents and four oceans. Anyone wanting to go must meet two essential conditions: first, they must have money; second, they must have time. If these two "essential conditions" aren't met, it's nonsense. Think about it: having money without time is not enough; having time without money is even more "absolutely unacceptable." Furthermore, even if one has both money and time to "visit" every place, it doesn't necessarily make life more perfect. Confucius traveled extensively throughout China, his footsteps echoing in later generations, but in reality, his life was not "perfect." As the opera goes, "Confucius went hungry in Cai and Chen." "Cai" and "Chen" likely refer to two ancient states. When Confucius arrived in Cai and Chen, even basic sustenance was a problem; he had to endure hunger, let alone achieve "perfection." There are also the enduring and popular stories of the "Four Beauties," which, in my opinion, were not only imperfect but also unfortunate and tragic, conforming to the natural law that "the moon has its phases, and people have their joys and sorrows." Discussing a perfect life

　　and pursuing an even more perfect life is not wrong, because "people strive for higher positions, water flows downhill," and seeking blessings and benefits is human nature. The problem is that one cannot talk about perfection detached from reality, nor can one make assumptions, engaging in boundless, unrealistic talk of perfection. It's like grabbing one's own hair and thinking one will fly—this is self-deception and pretentious mystification. I recall

　　a story: An old Zen master, during his leisure time from chanting scriptures, led the young monks on a walk. Gazing at the rolling waves of wheat fields, soon to be harvested, the old Zen master said, "Let's see who can find the biggest ear of wheat." The young monks rushed towards the wheat, from east to west, from south to north, searching for what they considered the largest ear. Some returned with ears of wheat, while others returned empty-handed. The old Zen master calmly asked, "Who found the biggest ear of wheat?" Those with ears of wheat said shyly, "This doesn't seem to be the biggest," while those without said, "I didn't see the biggest one." The old Zen master said, "What you have in your hand and what you see before you is actually the biggest ear of wheat." Hearing their master's words, the young monks nodded, understanding the principle that "what you already have is the best."

　　The perfection of life lies in doing your best, that is, being realistic, assessing the situation, and "from having to having when you need it." As the country folk say, "Use all your money to make tofu." If one is greedy and seeks everything, excessively pursuing or even exaggerating a "perfect" and "flawless" life, it often backfires, resulting in more harm than good. Because being able to "not be picky" is a skill, and "going with the flow" is a blessing.

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