Although we cannot fight against the years nor outstrip the passing of time, we can choose to spend every ordinary, precious sunrise and sunset in a way that we truly love. Dedicate two parts to taking things lightly, three parts to letting go, and five parts to loving yourself. Just as the Supreme Ancestor Lao Tzu taught in the Tao Te Ching: "He who knows contentment is not disgraced; he who knows when to stop does not meet danger. Thus, he can endure for a long time." When we learn to cherish exactly what we hold in the present moment, we will never be disgraced by the endless pull of greed. When we understand how to halt our steps at the proper moment, we naturally avoid falling into peril. This is the true wisdom through which the heart discovers lasting, unshakeable peace.
In the years to come, we should learn to treat our own bodies and minds with profound kindness. We must not drain our precious emotional energy on irrelevant people or trivial matters, nor should we ever rely on the validation of the outside world to find our happiness. Maintain a soft, quiet smile, offer gentle kindness to the world, look lightly upon all gains and losses, and cherish everything you currently have. This, ultimately, is the true essence of life.
