Forget your age

     Our nation seems to care more about age than any other in the world. Confucius explicitly stated: at thirty, one stands firm; at forty, one is free from doubt; at fifty, one knows the mandate of Heaven; at sixty, one's ear is attuned to the truth; at seventy, one's heart can follow its desires without transgressing the rules. Modern folk rhymes put it even more simply: at thirty, one is carefree; at forty, one's backside is smoking (riding in a car); at fifty, one is listless; at sixty, one is sidelined. Whether it's the teachings of ancient sages or modern folk rhymes and proverbs, they all clearly state what one should do at each age. If someone forgets their age, acting like a child in autumn is a laughingstock. However, remembering one's age too clearly, and being too bound by the rigid rules of what to do at what age, can turn age into an invisible shackle on one's life. If one is overly concerned with age, in one's twenties one might feel "young and inexperienced," unfit for important matters or decision-making, and decide to wait it out; over fifty, one might feel "knowing one's destiny," and should be more cautious, drifting through life; by sixty or seventy, one might consider oneself past sixty, frail and old, with no energy left for unfinished tasks, deciding to leave them for the next life. Rather than this, it's better to simply forget about age. Forgetting age breaks these invisible mental shackles, liberates the mind, prolongs youth and life, and allows one to fully utilize mental and physical strength to reach the peak and limits of one's life. Forgetting age allows even a twelve-year-old like Gan Luo to receive the seal of a high-ranking official, negotiating with authority and fulfilling his mission; it also allows the heroic Zhou Yu to command veteran generals like Cheng Pu and Huang Gai at the Battle of Red Cliffs, "annihilating the powerful enemy with a laugh." Forget age. Only then could Cao Cao utter the timeless saying, "An old steed in its stall still aspires to gallop a thousand miles," and Marshal Ye Jianying the immortal lines, "This old man delights in composing odes to the twilight, as the setting sun illuminates the green mountains before my eyes." If we were to rank people by seniority and use age as a dividing line, how many young heroes would be "stillborn," and how many old heroes would retire prematurely, their ambitions unfulfilled. Of course, everything in excess is harmful. Forgetting age simply means downplaying the concept of age and adopting a more "fuzzy" approach. What one can and cannot do should be determined based on one's energy, physical strength, interests, and needs, not by letting age become an invisible constraint. Forget age, forget worldly conventions and outdated customs, and shake off the invisible rope of age. Fill every space in your life with purpose, and you will find yourself living a more carefree and relaxed life.