Pain is always part of the journey

Meili Snow Mountain, taking from Yunnan, 2025

Decision

I believe that everyone, at some point in their lives, will experience regrets—whether it’s missing out on love, losing opportunities, or parting from loved ones. Perhaps we often look back and wonder why we didn’t do things differently, but that is simply the nature of life. We are constantly making choices, and every choice means giving up something in exchange for something else. Regret, in many ways, is the underlying theme of life—something we cannot avoid.

Learning how to make decisions is a lifelong process. The reason each person’s life turns out differently is, ultimately, because of the different choices they make. Life is like a series of multiple-choice questions. No matter what we choose, there will always be some regret. What determines whether our choices are “right” or “wrong” is not the choice itself, but whether we have the determination to stick with it and see it through.

Some people choose to start working after graduation, only to regret it later and wonder why they didn’t pursue further studies. They think that if they had chosen differently, perhaps their lives would be better now. We are often captivated by what we never had or what we have lost—just like the lyric goes, “What we cannot obtain is always stirring within us.” Humans are rarely satisfied with what they have. Contentment is a natural form of wealth, yet unfortunately, most people—including myself—have yet to truly understand this.

Kalajun Grassland, taking from Xinjiang, 2025

Perseverance

In fact, when I first started university, a seed had already been planted deep in my heart—the desire to study abroad. Later, during my junior year, for various reasons, I gave up the 2+2 program in the United States and chose to stay in China. But staying meant facing another dilemma: should I prepare for postgraduate entrance exams, apply for civil service, or find a job? Once again, I found myself lost.

Although I didn’t manage to go abroad in my junior year, the idea of studying overseas had already become a dream of mine. In that sense, I consider myself fortunate. Not long after I decided to prepare for a postgraduate degree in law, my parents suddenly agreed to let me study in Australia. I was overwhelmed with excitement. I simply said, “Yes.” After all the twists and turns, I still chose to leave. I am deeply grateful for my parents’ unconditional support—without them, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far so smoothly.

Then began the long journey of preparing for IELTS. Every day was filled with endless practice—doing exercises and speaking drills. (By the way, I spent a lot of time practicing speaking by listening to Jackson’s English interviews, which worked quite well.) I woke up at 6 a.m. and went to bed at midnight. Honestly, I can hardly believe I managed to stick with it. For someone like me, who usually loses interest quickly, this was quite an achievement.

But this is only the beginning. Life and study abroad will undoubtedly be far more exhausting and challenging. So what? Once I’ve made my choice, I don’t want to turn back. Pain is always part of the journey. As Socrates once said, “There are two kinds of people in this world: satisfied pigs and dissatisfied humans.” If that’s the case, why not choose to be a dissatisfied human? At least then, I remain truly human.

Many people say they don’t know what they want or how to choose when standing at a crossroads in life. But perhaps it’s not that complicated. I once read that the mind is not always trustworthy—it tends to deceive us. Its protective mechanisms make us retreat when faced with difficulty, pushing us toward comfort and easy pleasures. What truly understands what we want is our inner voice.

So why can’t we hear it? Because the world around us is too noisy, and the mind’s illusions often drown out that quiet voice within us—the voice that seeks truth. So find a quiet night, calm yourself, and give yourself the time and space to listen. Only then can you begin to discover what you truly need.

Life is only a little over thirty thousand days, and the universe itself will eventually fade into heat death. We simply don’t have that much time to dwell on the past or be consumed by regret. Once you’ve made a choice, commit to it. Don’t obsess over the outcome—just focus on taking the next step well. Leave the rest to fate.