#18/30｜我摘下有色眼镜的尝试。
The true essence of learning lies in suddenly gaining a completely new understanding of something that was taken for granted.
The past two weeks, I have been completely captivated by a series called "The Story of America." Perhaps it's because I've lived in North America for a long time, under the "quilt" of this society, yet I've never truly uncovered the past to feel the roots here. I finished reading five books in one go.
These books, in concise and clear language, depict how North America slowly moved from a colony to independence, and through that generation of American founding fathers' deep longing and persistent pursuit of freedom, constructed a set of rules of the game that belonged to them, which was also the American dream my ancestors pursued.
It seems that these books are not only telling a distant story, but are pointing out:What kind of culture and ideology truly envelop the sky under which I live.
Reading history books and reading novels are very different; it makes you inevitably ask yourself, where do I come from, and where am I going?
This set of books answers a question I have never been able to answer: What do you consider most important to you?
For the past 10 years, I have been trying to find this answer.
At 30 years old, I suddenly look back and realize it has always been with me like a shadow: Passion 🫶, is the Passion that brings tears to my eyes.
The characters in the book, their love for freedom, their love for their birthplace, their love for art, for the people, comrades, wives, children, husbands, friends.It's born to be alive, a love for life after being reborn from the ashes, it burns my eyes, giving me the courage to take off my tinted glasses.
In the afternoon, my brother and I sat on the sofa talking about these books, and he excitedly recommended a game called"Red Dead Redemption"—said to be a AAA masterpiece that recreates American colonial history. He said this game can immerse me in experiencingthe turbulent and magnificent history.
Although I have never been good at 3D games and easily get dizzy, this time I approached it with an open mind to give it a try. I dug out the long-dusty Switch at home and immediately downloaded the game while it was on sale.
The moment the game started was indeed shocking, as the visual impact and sound effects seemed to instantly drag you into that world. However, in less than half an hour, I began to feel dizzy and disoriented, and the wilderness in the game felt like a maze to me.
Once again, I sigh that I'm not suited for AAA games. This might be why my brother and I often watchothers play games on YouTube—we watch with great interest, but can'ttruly immerse ourselves in them. My brother laughs and says:Maybe, for us, life has been a game from early on, starting in hardcore mode, so there's no need to seek challenges in games.
The benefit of starting the hardcore mode of life early is that, while I was once obsessed with various games as a child, I gradually became immune to them as I grew up. I think, perhaps, this is not only an immunity to games, buta gradual discovery of my inner passion and flow.
When we talked about"flow"this concept, I suddenly realized thatreading history books, running, fitness, and musiccan bring me a profound sense of engagement and enjoyment. They can immerse me completely at any time,as if I am becoming one with those stories, the air, and the mountains.
Perhaps it was the passion of these storytellers that inspired me, and I realized there are so many possibilities.
This kind of passion drives me to constantly try new things, continuously exploring my interests and limits. Even if I ultimately conclude that this is not suitable for me, the understanding and perception of myself gained in the process still make me feel fulfilled.
Perhaps, after finishing this set of books, my next step will be to explore the places depicted in them—San Diego, New York, Virginia, to personally feel the warmth of history.
Silently in my heart, a new wish list grew.
Aha, refreshing! It's another milestone in my life worth looking forward to.
Hello Summer
