It has been almost 21 years since I first published on this site. If this site were a human, it would have reached legal age everywhere. No more restrictions on drinking, smoking, anal sex, or anything else. Adults don’t need restrictions because they automatically chooses more carefully what to do and what not to do.

The same is true for this site. I used to share every thought of mine on this site. I even made this site’s motto back then “my thoughts in plain text”. But as time passed, I realized that not everyone is interested in what I think, and I’m not interested in letting everyone know what I think either. So I resorted to only sharing articulated thoughts.

As one slowly matures, reality kicks in, and things, exciting or not, become routine in life. One bears more responsibility than self-actualization. So there’s not much to share in life.

Life is not very exciting these days. My glass has become more half-empty than ever. True, there have been triumphant moments, such as being the first author of a journal article, graduating MDS, and passing another membership exam. But as one grows up, one realizes that those are not really triumphs, but consequences of personal responsibility. The more one analyzes impassively, the less exciting things in life become.

Now, I want to challenge myself, not academically, but in terms of personal growth. How can I learn to appreciate my own personal achievements and the little things in life that, when added up, may equal a big triumphant moment?

Just as people thought social atmosphere couldn’t have been worse amid HK’s protests last December, things hit rockbottom these days, with the global outbreak of COVID-19.

Travelling is banned. Ordering takeouts become a norm. Social gatherings become a taboo.

I guess everyone in society is somehow affected by the disease. I have an acquaintance whose favourite activities are all banned: going to fitness classes, large group gatherings, going to the cinema, you name it. For me, I don’t do those activities a lot, but business is indeed worse these days. Everyone has to suffer.

Yet social distancing shouldn’t be that much of a hassle. I’ve always thought the collective intelligence of a group is less than the sum of the individuals’. When we’re alone, instead of missing the days we hang out with friends, it perhaps is a good idea to clear our thoughts and prepare what’s next. Learning to be alone, enjoying to be alone without feeling lonely, those are the cures for isolation depression.

Please stay safe everyone.