Letter
I've received 7 letters from Haibo, one after another. In them, he simply recounts some of his experiences and thoughts from the recent period. This format is really interesting – it gives you a clear snapshot of what a friend's been up to, and it has this old-school, scholarly vibe. I much prefer getting these kinds of messages than scrolling through social media. Because you really get to see some genuine reflections on life.
Slow down a bit.
During my time working on Yuque (a Chinese knowledge-sharing platform), I transitioned from a designer to a product manager. My personality has also changed a lot. The impetuous me has become more reserved. Over the past two years, while I've rarely spoken up or shared my opinions publicly, I've spent more time quietly reflecting. Time flies by so fast, but I always want to slow myself down. When others are moving fast, I need to learn how to slow down.
Renovation Costs
When buying a new car, I especially noticed the decoration fee. I just went ahead and accepted it. But looking back, I'm wondering, could this have been avoided? If you don't choose it, would the dealership really refuse to sell you the car? It feels like traditional car sales are due for an internet revolution.
Passport confiscated.
DaBao's passport got taken away. It's the first time I've heard of a company having the authority to confiscate an employee's passport. So, looks like no trip for me again this year. I haven't traveled since buying the house, but my limbs haven't gone numb yet, haha. If I had to pick a place to go next, I'd choose North Korea. Recently, I've watched a lot of documentaries and tourist photos about North Korea, and the country seems more and more interesting. It's also become much more open than before, so it would definitely be worth experiencing.