Face all the difficulties in life squarely. Mountains have peaks and valleys; water has calm stretches and eddies. The road of life is the same, unpredictable and full of obstacles. But fate is fair; when God closes a door, He opens a window. There's always a way out. Remember, the way you got in is the same way you'll get out.
Just a few days after returning from a trip to Qiandao Lake on January 27th, I suddenly experienced pain in my left hip and lower back, making it difficult to straighten my back and take a step. This had never happened before. I initially suspected a herniated disc, and online research revealed that the cause was often prolonged standing or sitting, lack of exercise, and compression of the sciatic nerve, leading to pain. However, considering my own situation, although I spend most of my day sitting in front of the computer reading articles, writing, and watching excellent movies and TV shows, I also hike twice a day, 40 minutes each time, totaling 1 hour and 20 minutes (over 10,000 steps). In addition, I spend nearly 2 hours preparing two meals a day for my family of six. It shouldn't have caused such a serious problem. Therefore, I deduced from my lifestyle during that period. It must have been the hiking trip on the last day of our trip to Qiandao Lake that injured my lower back, leading to lumbar muscle strain.
That morning, I woke up with excruciating back pain and wanted to go to the hospital. I initially planned to see an orthopedic doctor at the nearby Shanghai First People's Hospital, but my wife said, "The hospital is always crowded; waiting in line for registration, seeing the doctor, and getting medication will take several hours. Why don't we go to the community health center first?" I agreed; it's about a 10-minute walk from our neighborhood. However, given my current symptoms, even walking there would be extremely difficult. I considered asking my son to take me, but then I thought: he leaves early and comes home late, he's busy with work, and it's his precious weekend; he should rest properly. Besides, I was afraid he'd resent me for not listening to him; sitting in front of the computer all day, it's no wonder he gets sick. I know his filial piety is understandable, but why make myself unhappy? So I kept quiet. In the end, I held back. With a sore back, I slowly walked for over 20 minutes before finally reaching the community health center. Sure enough, it wasn't crowded. After registering, I went to the second floor, where a young doctor saw me. After asking about my symptoms, he gave me two suggestions: one, to try some medicated plasters and see how they worked; two, acupuncture and massage, which I would have to do for five days, attending regularly each day. I thought about it and, convinced I probably had lumbar muscle strain, decided to try the plasters first. If that didn't work, then acupuncture and massage could follow. Back home, I applied one plaster daily as prescribed. After four or five days, the pain lessened somewhat. However, I still experienced pain at night. Lying on my right side, I also felt a dull ache in my lower abdomen, making it difficult to fall asleep. This
was especially concerning for someone who regularly hikes. After staying home for several days, I felt restless and wanted to go for a walk. However, I struggled for less than five minutes and experienced pain in my left abdomen, forcing me to turn back immediately. I looked up a diagram of internal organs online and suspected appendicitis, but after reviewing the symptoms, I ruled that out. I concluded it was discomfort caused by muscle soreness migrating to the affected area. This was a stark contrast to my previous day when I could easily walk for 40 minutes. Reflecting on the cause and lessons learned, I realized that one can't defy age. Take my hiking trip to Qiandao Lake, for example. Reaching the summit to watch the sunrise showed a lack of self-awareness and a failure to assess my own capabilities. Instead, I was driven by a desire to show off and be competitive, believing that my daily 10,000 steps provided a strong foundation for climbing the steep mountain. It was no surprise that I was far behind. Seeing my family and relatives left far behind, a little thought started to surface: I wanted to show off in front of them, forgetting that I was almost seventy years old. This illness gave me a harsh slap in the face, a lesson that couldn't be more profound. Fortunately, after more than a month of recuperation and moderate activity, my health gradually improved, and I have now basically returned to normal.
As a provincial-level writer, I not only enjoy the sense of accomplishment and praise that comes from mental work, but I also have to face all sorts of troubles, difficulties, and complaints. Prolonged sitting at a desk or in front of a computer reading and writing often becomes the root cause of illness. Every time my health deteriorates, without exception, it is attributed to: excessive mental exertion from writing. Indeed, there have been cases of illness caused by prolonged computer use. While writing can cause cerebral ischemia and sudden fainting, it's important not to generalize. Reflecting on my own writing, I see it merely as a form of relaxation. Moderate mental activity can prolong life, prevent Alzheimer's, and enrich one's spiritual life. I'm not a prolific writer; I produce at most two or three short articles a month, less than 10,000 words—that's already quite restrained, even bordering on stingy with my words. Combined with daily walking and housework, I maintain a good balance between work and rest, so I shouldn't be overworking myself. How has this become what some people perceive as prioritizing fame and fortune over health, warning of potentially more serious consequences if the situation doesn't change? Some even advise me, given my health, to stop... I've finished writing. After my family and friends learned of my back pain, most assumed it was a result of prolonged reading and writing. They advised me to rest, avoid staying up late, and reduce physical activity. I appreciate their concern and care, but I've already made reasonable arrangements for my health and have a scientific approach to my writing.
Some people don't understand my love for words and writing, saying I already have a certain reputation, and besides, I don't publish in newspapers or magazines, so writing doesn't bring in money, publishing a book requires self-funding, and submitting articles to online media is a thankless task. While my family and friends' good intentions stem from concern and love, they also create considerable mental pressure, especially when my writing involves people or events, even if it's just... A truthful reflection of positive energy can also cause displeasure and resentment among some parties involved. After receiving feedback, I will immediately remove any content that can be promptly taken down online, even if it means painfully. For those that cannot be removed, I can only offer a sincere apology, a few words of comfort, and a promise not to repeat the mistake. This makes the writing process and submissions extremely precarious; one wrong step could lead to disaster. However, they can hardly imagine that for a literature enthusiast, asking them to stop writing is as painful as depriving them of food and sleep; writing has become an indispensable part of their spiritual life.
Faced with this predicament, I try to understand their perspective, after all, we are both getting on in years and have experienced many ups and downs in life. A friend once kindly told me about an incident where an official in a certain area was reported after discovering clues in a published article. Following an investigation by law enforcement, the official was arrested, causing intense conflict and distress between the official, their family, and the writer.
I understand their concerns and worries; after all, human nature is unpredictable, and there's the fear of being envied or targeted. I'll try to be more careful in the future, communicating with the intended recipient beforehand, obtaining their consent, and carefully considering the wording to ensure accuracy and appropriateness. My mother, a middle school Chinese teacher, gave me excellent advice on this point, inspiring me that writing can be flexible. What's inconvenient to depict in a factual way can be presented in the form of fiction, cleverly incorporating examples from life. Her guidance was enlightening.
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