Life Is Messy

In junior high school physics, I learned that when an object is in motion, it experiences resistance from its surroundings. The rougher the surface of the friction, the greater the force required to move it.

I’ve paid little attention to the small, everyday tasks in life, like how often to change the sheets, replace a razor head, check if the vacuum cleaner filter is dirty, clean mud off my shoes, or get a haircut. I also overlook how much seasoning is left in the kitchen. These trivial matters often go unnoticed until the moment they need addressing.

The rough aspects of life primarily consist of these mundane, scattered tasks. They cannot be neatly categorized as essential or urgent; instead, they resemble stones tucked away in a corner of a house. Although you might not notice them daily, they still occupy mental space. Only when you are forced to confront them do you realize they shape your actions, taking up precious time and attention.

When you decide to purchase, these rough tasks often accompany the decision. Whether lingering thoughts or physical objects, they can inadvertently become obstacles to your progress, creating unnecessary costs in the decision-making process.

Life’s roughness can occasionally emerge, interrupting your sense of purpose. These interruptions don’t consider what you’re doing, and each time they arise, they consume your time, even if they disrupt your flow.

The roughness of thought can be more distressing than the roughness of physical matters. If you don’t cultivate independent thoughts, all you perceive is fragmentation, which can be disheartening.

I often find myself reminiscing about the days when life felt smoother. Before I graduated from college, I focused on exercising, changing my shoes, and playing racket sports. People around me were energetic, engaging in philosophical discussions and forming friendships. When I wanted to embark on a new venture back then, the only cost was making that decision.

I forgot a phrase I came across somewhere.

I often left the paper towel in my pocket for a while. After being stirred in the washing machine, the debris was mottled and sticky to the clothes everywhere, and I couldn’t shake it off. This is very similar to our life: forgotten, dizzy by life, and finally broken.