A female colleague of mine often complained about work pressure, so she took a vacation, believing that the beautiful scenery and delicious food would lift her spirits. During her vacation, every time I chatted with her on WeChat, she would bring up work within three sentences. I advised her that since it was a rare opportunity to relax, she should enjoy herself and put work aside for now. Although she agreed, the next time we chatted, she still avoided talking about her travels, focusing instead on work progress and trivial matters at work.
Appreciating nature is not just about aesthetics, but also about one's state of mind. A farmer in the fields sees nothing more than ordinary seedlings and soil, while a poet might see verdant fields, blue skies, white clouds, and the poetic beauty derived from them. One's mood and aesthetic sense determine how the scenery appears to one. If a sad person sees even colorful clouds with melancholy, that's the state of mind. If the person viewing the scenery carries a restless, urban heart, how can they appreciate the exquisite beauty of green mountains and clear waters, the wonders of nature?
The Tang Dynasty poet Xue Ying wrote, "The setting sun casts its glow on the Five Lakes, where sorrow pervades the misty waves." Du Fu, on the other hand, depicted the scenery with the lines, "Two orioles sing in the green willows, a line of egrets soars into the blue sky." Both lines evoke lofty imagery, yet convey vastly different emotions: one is melancholic and desolate, the other vibrant and lively. Xue Ying perceives the bleakness of autumn because his heart is filled with helplessness in the face of reality; Du Fu experiences the liveliness of birdsong in the green willows because of his optimistic outlook.
My female colleague, wherever she goes, is filled with worldly calculations; even the most beautiful scenery is merely fleeting to her. Therefore, don't expect to use nature to escape a restless mind. Nature is only truly beautiful and captivating to those who have a landscape within their hearts. To relieve fatigue and stress, what you need is not nature, but a clear and tranquil heart.
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