the bird on fire

The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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Inner Peace–call it what you want

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By Quintus Ni

Photo by Quintus Ni

Inner peace is kinda the beauty of life, with which, the storm outside the window stops and the world of mortals seems not that noisy anymore. Sitting still, we can hear the crystal sound when the raindrops fall down the tiles. Or, we can take the fishing rod and sit quietly beside the river, seeking for the initial peace that we first knew.

Inner peace is kinda unconventional grace.

We are not talking about those converted to Buddhism, but the ones living in this world of mortals. There may be not so many people that could find real inner peace and keep calm all the time in this complicated world.

With inner peace, people won’t be flighty or impetuous, won’t be overambitious, won’t put all efforts in intrigue, and won’t care about fame or success.

With inner peace, one can read books, write poems, or appreciate paintings in the light alone; get packed and travel, approach nature, see grasses and blossoms, or have a drink of wine or a cup of tea while listening to beautiful music and enjoying sweet memories…

Once we get ourselves calmed down, the whole world seems quiet as well. Gently closing our eyes, we can listen to the sound of nature with our hearts, create the colorful world of emotion, and warm everything touchable around us with love.

Inner peace, like the clean spring, though sometimes has ripples in the breeze, can restore its original pure and quiet state finally.

Whenever we lose inner peace, we can go and find a quiet place, to think, lie down on the ground, or look up to the vast sky, and then listen to the breezes and the bug buzz. In this way, we may find the truth of life, purify the soul, and get inner peace back!

In this materialistic world, we could easily drift with the trends if we were trapped in fame and success and desire, which could make us lose ourselves. If we lose the most precious innocence and calmness in our life, the boat of life will become precarious in the bitter life of mankind.

So, no matter who we are or what we are doing, as long as we are alive, we should live contented with our inner world. That’s the only way for us to feel happy.

The rule of life is to grasp appropriate occasions for various kinds of experience, like creatures should adapt to four different seasons: sowing in spring, hoeing in summer, and harvesting in autumn, and reserving in winter. When the official is out of office, he should not look for the feeling of sitting on the podium and giving the command; if the rich become poor, he should not look for the feeling of sitting in luxury cars. Many of us feel upset, just because the changing occasions and environments disturb our mood, which further disturbs our life and happiness. However, when we get over it and let it go, we could also have the opportunity to live a happy life.

With inner peace, we could get rid of lots of worries when talking with others. For example, a calm person always chats about domestic trivia, caring about no theme or tones. This kind of person always treats the past personal experience and the current times with great composure.

Inner peace is so amazing! It allows us live a purer, easier, and more contented life. Call it what you want, it is a enjoyable beauty of life!


Humanity Editor: Doreen Yuan

My Introspection

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By Quintus Ni

In my world, the dark night blinds me from stars all over the sky and deprives me of the vast universe. Only cool breezes blow me awake.

Looking back, my life over the past dozen years knows no dramatic ups or downs; it has only consisted of ordinary memories. I have been undistinguished all along, which tires me tremendously. I do not revolt by grand rebukes, but I write it down and lock it away along with stories that are hard to tell, of course. Meanwhile, I rely on fantasies, dreaming of things that I desire badly that cannot be achieved in reality. After a moment of enjoying the imaginative possession, I inevitably fall to reality. This repeats again and again.

I have a pair of sharp eyes, but I can never see my current situation clearly. Everything seems splendid to me, without knowing that keeping the status quo is followed by thorough darkness. All of a sudden, I find myself good at enduring but poor at controlling myself. When I am alone, I always decorate things that touch my heart with a little bit of fantasy and then keep them under wraps. But, if someone touches upon them unconsciously, I will collapse in public and fall into the abyss that will never return. I will console myself after falling back to loneliness. I know this will not bring me any thoughts or behaviors to improve myself, but I am always too lazy to accept it.

It may dawn on me in one instant, but I usually dispel my insights in the next moment. In helplessness, I finally understand that the word “negativity” is enough to generalize my life. Now, fantasies and silences are also retreating because my “real” self is too far away from reality!

Introspection Editor: Luke Langlois

Quintus’s Guide to Staving Off Diabetes

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By Quintus Ni

Recently, Quintus saw a family member diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. He has researched ways to avoid and better the situation of Type 2 Diabetes. Some of his recommendations come from Western Medicine, some from Eastern.

Diabetes can be divided into several types: Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 is genetic. Type 2 Diabetes accounts for 95% of all diabetics and is acquired through many factors, such as stress, diet, lack of exercise, and disposition, etc.

Here are some suggestions I recommend to stave off Type 2 Diabetes:

Eat nutritious food first after getting up every morning. It is best to eat some millet porridge and rice dumplings. After eating, let the stomach settle for 5 minutes, during which you can clean up the table. Next, exercise. This promotes the important production of insulin. It is best to do aerobic exercise, that is jogging and walking, etc. The exercise does not have to be strenuous. I suggest, at least, you walk in the yard or house and take in some fresh air, which is very beneficial to your health. In addition, you can practice clapping while walking backwards. All the muscles in the whole body will exercise. Moreover, I think it is important for the patient to pay attention to putting on more clothes or taking off some clothes to adjust their temperature. The climate in the northeast changes frequently; sometimes it can be very cold and sometimes hot, and diabetic patients can’t stay in a too cold or hot climate for long.

Relatively speaking, diabetics can not eat sugar. They can not eat sucrose or glucose in their daily diet, but fructose, that does not need insulin to break down in the body, is edible. However, honey is mainly composed of fructose and glucose. So it is best for patients not to eat honey. People say that each medicine has some kind of toxin, but comparatively, the side effect of Chinese Herbal medicine is much lighter. The effects of Chinese Medicine come slowly, which requires the patients to be patient and of good mentality. Good mentality is required at any time. Physical health is of great importance, and of course mental health is also important because it is also a factor in the healing of diseases. There are a lot of hormones, antibiotics and other substances in western medicine and they are extremely harmful to an unhealthy person. For these people, I think, Chinese Medicine is beneficial.

Additional suggestions to keep the diabetic healthy include–

1. In order to reduce the chance of developing retinopathy, don’t turn off the light when diabetics sleep. (Check out WebMD on this.)

2. Stop smoking.

3.When it is too hot or cold, diabetics should avoid exercising. And they should also develop the habit of checking their feet before going to bed and after exercising every day to see if there are injuries, broken skin or long blisters under their feet. Diabetics need to be vigilant protecting their feet due to poor circulation.

4. Diabetics should maintain appropriate and healthy weight.

5. Diabetics should eat each meal on time and according to the planned portion that can not be increased or decreased arbitrarily.

6. Eat less fried food, fewer puff pastries and foods with high oil content like skin of pigs, chickens, and ducks .

7. Use steaming, boiling methods when you cook; dress cold food with sauce; scald thin slices of food in boiling water; roast; stew; and use halogen ovens when you cook. The food should not be too salty. And salt consumption should be less than 6 grams each day.

8. Eat less food with high cholesterol, such as scallop-shaped pork/lamb kidney, animal livers, animal kidneys and other animal internal organs.

 9. Use vegetable oil to cook because it is suitable for cooking.

10. Long-term and appropriate exercise, medication and diet control should be combined.

11. Often choose to eat foods with high fiber like unprocessed vegetables and fruits.

12. Foods with high starch content and Chinese and Western-style snacks to stave off hunger should be eaten as the amount planned. Do not eat at will so as to avoid excessive absorption.

13. Eat less food with refined sugars like condensed milk or preserved fruit.

Health and Disease Editor: James Zheng

My Tom & Jerry

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Quintus’s contribution to Editor Chelsea’s directive–”Write about animation!–involves a look back at a favorite cartoon, Tom & Jerry.

By Quintus Ni

I guess most of us have watched Tom and Jerry, which is a great cartoon. Today I’m going to write a story about a cat and a mouse. I know that life is all about running and chasing; we are all ceaselessly chasing somebody and running from somebody, always searching for an opportunity.

I think you won’t be happy if I compare you to a mouse, so I’ll be the mouse and you’ll be the cat. I’m a mouse who likes to make people laugh. I enjoyed hanging out at night and talking to random strangers. But not so much now, I don’t have the passion like I used to; maybe it’s because I’ve entered a different mental state. But the meeting of you and I would never happen if the story is about now, nor would there be the tale about how a cat is played by a mouse.

I met you – a naughty kitty – one morning when I didn’t have to go to work but stayed in my house. I wandered on the internet since I had nothing to do; that’s how I met you. It seemed like you were coming back from a friend’s house and had squeezed in some time in the running car to have this little chat with me. I remembered this because it was the first time I knew that people can chat online while driving. Back then you were such a curious cat you liked to look around you, while I was just a mouse being scared that I might get eaten by you. I was afraid that you might quit this chat with me, but then you appeared to be talkative and you raised many fantastic and bizarre topics. They say that when a mouse meets a cat, there is no escape…is there?

Life could be dramatic sometimes. The cat and the mouse were slowly getting to know each other better; they spent time chatting when they were not busy. Actually the cat was quite cute and the mouse kinda enjoyed teasing her. He went to her whenever he got the time; he liked to listen to her talking about the little things in life. Sometimes the mouse called the cat “big sis,” and she responded with a smile. However, the mouse was the only one who knew that he was the older one between them, but he simply didn’t want her to know, because to him, watching his cat care about him thoughtfully and always forgive him for his childish tricks like a big sister was such a joyful thing. Anyway, the days went by in laughter. But then one day, the cat found out about the truth – the mouse was lying all the time. She became furious, but the mouse didn’t realize how serious things were, and he just laughed, carelessly. Finally, the mouse was kicked out for what he had done.

But, cat, do you know that in the heart of the mouse, it does not make any difference how you were called, all he ever cared about was the time you two spent together with love and joy, and happiness. Time goes faster when you’re happy. Now years have gone by; cat, on the other side of the internet, how I wish you remembered our days. My wish for you is that you could be happy. It doesn’t matter if we are to meet again; I just want you to live a happy and healthy life. The path you’re on may be difficult, but I believe that happiness is waiting for you.

My biggest wish now is for you to be happy…

I love the music in your zone

Love the way it makes me feel

Love the romance between the tunes

Love to come by when I’m alone

To visit you and to close my eyes and feel the mood

Time runs so fast

And for you, here I am again

Composing this letter just to make a memorial of the days of us~

Animation Editor: Chelsea

Quintus’s Queen of Song

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By Quintus Ni 

 Every time I listen to a song by Teresa Teng, my heart is filled with sweetness, warmth and brightness–as if I was surrounded by a delicate fragrance. The songs sung by Taiwanese artist Teresa Teng, beautiful but not gloomy, make one feel the happiness of life. Accompanied by her tender and enchanting songs, one would forget all trouble or loneliness. Her music is so classical that it reaches the incomparable height manifested by its unique style. It always gives one a sense of sweetness, just like her character. Despite her short life, she created countless classics. She has sung so many songs–over three thousand. With a colorful life and great influence, she is really a legend.

  In the early 1980s, when the Chinese mainland was fully opened to the outside world, Teresa Teng, known by every household in China, walked into people’s hearts with her beautiful singing. At that time, it was everyone’s dream to buy these popular tapes and listen to the melodious tone of Teresa Teng. The popularity of her music made me know for the first time that such songs well expresses one’s emotions.

  At that age of spiritual emptiness, when people in homespun clothes got accustomed to listening to revolutionary songs and model operas, Teresa Teng was absolutely a fallen fairy, fashionable and fresh, fascinating everyone with her songs and image. A piece of song by Teresa Teng could relieve people’s depressed souls and emotions, getting people refreshed and comforted. We found our lost selves and reshaped our personalities in her song. A lot more people have learned to sing her classic songs by following what is played everywhere on the street.

  “Seeing the Smoke Again” presents me with a picture of smoke curling up from kitchen chimneys in hometowns; “Love in the Village” brings me back to my hometown with its unforgettable small village; “Hometown Love” arouses my homesickness; “Story of Little Town” makes me dream of living in a beautiful little town and wandering in the alleys of the town. Her love songs are also not sentimental, but full of sweetness of love. “See You Tomorrow” reminds me of my first love with its lines of “Remember when we first met, you overshadowed the flowers flying in the wind…” Such a sweet love, brilliant and charming, lingers in one’s heart. “Goodbye My Love” depicts a peaceful breakup which is not as hysterical and painful as the common separation of lovers. Teresa Teng’s voice, totally natural, sweet and beautiful, echoes in the depth of my soul. I can’t stop missing her for even one second. Her fresh and clear voice lingers in my ears forever.

  Today, her melodious tone is still enjoyed by us again and again. We can listen to her songs online repeatedly, and don’t have to buy pirated CDs like in the 1970s when the government frowned upon Teng and genuine CDs were too expensive. The sweet voice of Teresa Teng keeps ringing in our ears. Although she passed away in 1995, her songs will never fade away. With these good memories deep in my heart, I listen to old songs, miss the past times and recall Teresa Teng.

  In the lifetime of Teresa Teng, she brought rich spiritual wealth–though she doesn’t meet her Mr. Right and get married in a white wedding gown. Her songs make people long for beautiful love. Maybe she is lonely in the depth of her heart, but still she provides comfort for people with her singing. No matter how distressed you are, she will make you feel happy. Although she is gone, she remains alive in people’s hearts. Her lovely image and beautiful voice echo in people’s mind. As time goes by, her songs become the unfailing classics. Today, Teresa Teng is still shining with boundless radiance.

  Teresa Teng is the idol of many people and the dream lover of men. Every twinkle and smile of her is so intoxicating that it remains fresh in one’s memory. Her fans cover women and men of all ages who are deeply attracted to her songs. Generation after generation, people grow older, listening to her songs. Along with our wonderful memories, her songs and her beauty last forever. Bathed in her songs, people’s hearts also become tender.

  “Such tunes should only belong to Heaven. On earth, how rarely can we hear them played?” (Du Fu, Tang Dynasty Poet) Her songs are unparalleled in history. She wins all people’s hearts with her sweet voice which heals countless brokenhearted people. Generation after generation, people grow up along with her beautiful songs. Despite the elapse of time, her songs still linger in people’s minds and remain vivid. Her voice, clear and sweet, nourishes and soothes the soul, which calms a person down. Her songs remind one of peace, innocence and true love in the human world, rendering solace and serenity.

  Although she hasn’t been to the mainland of China, she is like a warm, amiable and lovely family member. After she passed away, she is still remembered. She, charming, elegant and tender, develops the strong and brave character as a typical Chinese woman!

  Her songs will keep accompanying us in our life journeys. She is very popular among men and women, old and young alike. Short though her life is, she has lived a splendid, rich and colorful life. Her sincerity, modesty and kindness make her easy to approach. With a wide range of tones, she can delicately render and interpret the ancient poems like On the West Tower Alone and May They Live Long. Teresa Teng has a variety of singing styles, ranging from folk, classical, popular music to mixed music. Her songs, famous at home and abroad, cater to the general public with their rich content and refined language. She has traveled to many countries in the world. Where there are Chinese, there are songs sung by Teresa Teng. Therefore, Teresa Teng not only belongs to China but also belongs to the whole world.

   Teresa Teng has influenced many people in her lifetime. Her songs comfort many people growing up. Many imitators start their career of singing patterned after Teresa Teng.

  It’s very common that a singer be forgotten. Only in a few cases could a singer be remembered and respected by all the people–though she passed away a long time ago. Teresa Teng is such a singer. Behind her dazzling smile, how many hardships has she suffered? For tens of thousands of her fans, she worked hard and made every effort to improve herself; she left her hometown at a young age, led a wandering life and died on a foreign land; but now, she returns to her hometown and rests in peace.

  “Your face and the peach blossoms were rosy. But where has your face gone? The peach blossoms still smile in the spring wind” (Cui Hu, Teng Dynasty Poet). Recall Teresa Teng, and sing the eternal classics! Passing down Teresa Teng’s works is the best return and love for her. Just like a wind and a cloud, she falls from the sky quietly and leaves the mortal world gently without taking away a breath of air. The only thing she leaves us is her music. Nowadays, as clouds go with the wind, Teresa Teng also goes away gently like the passing youth of that generation. But, her songs will last forever along with our beautiful youth in our memories. It’s enough to recall such good old days in the fast flowing of time…

Favorite Musician Editor: James Zheng

Light

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The solstice is coming up; there is less light in the day; it’s cold; we’re lighting up our houses for the holidays–so, Editor Renée chooses “Light” as her theme. She says, “This is a good time to bring ‘light’ to our shortened days. Quintus responds with his poem, “Light.”

By Quintus Ni

How good if there had never been the sun in this world,

So I will not fall in love with it for its warmth

That inflated my sense of security.

How good if there had never been the moon in this world,

So I will not be touched by his beauty

That soft light in the night.

Why hadn’t I been dissolved in the sun,

Why didn’t you melt me earlier,

How can I make your light,

Quietly inlaid in the heart of the moon.

The moon, you are always so delicate,

Let me hurt you silently,

Can’t bear to say anything.

The moon, the gift you stole and give us

It’s a little light on my way.

It danced its wings, light and unrestrained.

Follow the rhythm of my heart,

I am intoxicated…

Holding that little firefly,

I recall the past and present, obsession and perseverance…

The light inside me is like that peony, proudly blooming.

Think of the world as it looks like this,

People one by one through sleepless nights…

Light Editor: Renée Vazquez

Green Is My Hope

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“You are the April of this world”

——Lin Huiyin（Phyllis）

Lin Huiyin

By Quintus Ni

This winter is a bit long, and the depressed mood is always with me. I still hope that spring will come soon; green is my hope.

Spring is neither the flower or the plant nor the willow bank or butterfly. It is spring if you have a green heart.

In late autumn, when I see a new bud in the heap of dead leaves, I feel that it is also spring. In the early winter, the white snow cannot block a clump of the green; that is the heart of spring. Spring is not just the season. It grows in everyone’s heart.

Even if the grass is growing, the butterflies flying, or the flowers blooming, even if the rain drips on the rose, or if the pears cover the hills, a gloomy mood can always suppress the warm spring sunshine.

Open the curtain that you have covered for a long time, and see the flying bird. That is spring. Outside, the unkept child is sitting on the car with their eldest brother; his smile is also spring. In the street, you see the little girl in the arms of a boy dressed in soft clothes; her shyness is spring. When the white-haired couple helps each other across the road, it is spring.

Finding that mood is a window towards spring. Let the warm sunshine drive you away from the winter haze. Your smile is the scene of spring. You are the spring of the world. “You’re the blooming flowers over the trees; You’re a swallow twittering between the beams. Full of love, full of warm hope. You are the April of this world…”— Lin Huiying (Phyllis)

Green Editor: Luke Langlois

Qixi: In the Mood for Love

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By Quintus Ni

Quintus addresses Katelin’s theme of “Seasonal Holidays” with the mythological story of the Weaving Maiden and the Cowherd, celebrated in early fall in China during the Qixi Festival.

The weather turns colder and colder in the north. On such cool days, the Qixi Festival comes as expected, which arouses my deeper lovesickness for you, especially for your tranquil and calm temperament. At the moment, I wonder whether you in the distance are reading the love poem I wrote.

Time goes by, slips from our fingertips bit by bit and soon disappears in the long river of years. Our mixed feelings of happiness and sorrow are swept away by the stream of time.

Despite the change of seasons, yesterday is still fresh in my mind. The charming ardor in the air of August is full of the sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance you left. The lonely attic and the closed wooden window couldn’t lock the deep melancholy expressed in my teary eyes.

 In the cool season, a rush of grief and bitterness suddenly runs through me. The wild wind blows away all the warmth and tenderness that once existed.

As the withered branches decay, the fleeting time heals everything. Still, the special feeling for you in the depth of my heart remains. Inadvertently, many memories of the past are gone without a trace. On this particular day, the Qixi Festival, I miss you again. There is the softest part in my heart. I feel anew the unfading deep love for you.

Sometimes I’m beset by negative emotions when I cannot see you. I cry into the air with open arms and ask how I can forget you. The deeper love sickness is, the greater pain is. I miss you so much that I’m overwhelmed by grief.

The Qixi Festival walks towards us at a lotus-like pace, waving her colorful sleeves. Skimming over the clear and refreshing waves, she twists her slender waist and swings a flower fan with her slightly parted red lips as if to tell me an ancient love story.

Listen to me, Qixi is a story happening three thousand years ago. Turning from sadness to happiness and joy to sorrow, I get to know the love of never betraying and understand lovers’ mutual attachment. On this day, wounds caused by the hopeless waiting of couples are cured. On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, I would also like to have you in my arms.

Our Qixi Festival comes in this way. As I stare at the crescent moon which sheds light on the windows, I become more lovesick for you. Today, let’s leave behind all the sadness and bitterness and quietly feel the love of our inner hearts. On this occasion, I recall that one of the greatest poets Bai Juyi once said, “Love and hatred for each other are poured out … for all on that night.”

As for the romantic entanglement in the world, I will simply interpret it as love, hatred, relationship and animosity. It’s known to all that love is untouchable. When in love, I only want to experience a strong sense of happiness so that wonderful memories can be recalled in our twilight years. The only thing I want to tell you is that the pleasant emotional experience you have brought me is a warm one that drives away my innermost loneliness along the long, hard journey. Therefore, my gratitude for you is the purest and the most genuine. Hatred is also untouchable, which only causes distress after the initial passion fades. The kisses you have given me are a double-edged sword which hurts when we are separate. Although situations vary from time to time, the pains caused by a love relationship are indelible, only known by people who have experienced it.

Relationships are painstakingly pursued by passionate men and women. Even with their hearts broken and bleeding, they are willing to seek after the invisible sweetness and the ineffable happiness. What you inspire me to imagine is the elegance and free spirit you show on the journey full of ups and downs. And animosity is just a sentiment vanishing in the air.

But between us, there is only mutual concern and understanding. At this moment, the appreciation of love enables us to cherish each other.

In this golden season full of chrysanthemums, I’d like to sing a melodious love song for you. My enthusiastic sound of singing will float away from my lonely roof and fly into the branch of August like a nightingale, and then fall into the Qixi pond where we can play and sing together in the water. Listen, the song arouses waves of spray, flying up high to the open sky. Surrounded by the beautiful song, we heartily release ourselves, free and unfettered.

In clouds and mists, you’re the Weaving Maid in legend, and I’m the Cowherd. Tonight, the star-studded Milky Way outshines a myriad of twinkling lights. Let us drink dew in the rosy clouds. Our union is so blessed that flowers bloom. 

Each year, when the chrysanthemums are in bloom, my garden will be filled with bursts of fragrance. In the rosy clouds, accompanied by the enchanting sound of flutes, we chase after each other and dance trippingly, jointly composing a new chapter of incomparable romance and innocence!

Want to know more about the story of the Weaving Maid and the Cowherd? 

https://gbtimes.com/qixi-festival-and-story-chinese-valentines-day

Seasonal Holidays Editor: Katelin Mei

Breakfast at Tiffany’s–A Look at Love in the 1960s

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Quintus takes his turn as Editor in Chief. He assigns us the theme: “Once Upon A Time in the 1960s.” For Quintus, Breakfast at Tiffany’s represents the spirit of the 1960s–the decade of his father’s birth. It was released almost 58 years ago to the day. The movie also is a favorite of Quintus’s because, he says, it aspires to the kind of love his parents live.

~I am lost in a Tiffany Breakfast, forever with Hepburn, lost in dreams and Love~Quintus Ni

Pure beauty can withstand the tempering of the years. The eyes always have brilliance; the posture still has a charm. This kind of beauty, like a bird with brilliant feathers, will not quickly dim.

What is love? Breakfast at Tiffany’s shows us.

The secret of a happy marriage is to give each other the most healthy relationship. There will not be too much restraint. I feel that if Paul and Holly (the chief characters of Breakfast at Tiffany’s) break up one day, it will be no big deal. To be genuinely mature, Holly has to face life alone and live on her own. She has been fostering herself around different men, and she has become a pathological parasite.

Sometimes, we only can find ourselves with the courage and strength of the rebirth in a completely unpredictable situation. It seems that people regain themselves in the state of no love, where they no longer change their mood for the mood of others, are no longer cautious, no longer suffer from the loss. So, I suggest everyone begin to learn to be self-sufficient.

The balance of the mind is to let it go. When Love comes, I love it. If you lose it, you will be brave enough to accept the results and regain your self. 

Everyone does not need the Love of others to prove themselves because Love is not the whole of your life. Living alone also can be perfect!   

Tiffany, Love, and Dreams

A black dress, elegant and dignified hair, an eye-catching pearl necklace, all while eating breakfast and hanging outside the window of TIFFANY’s on Fifth Avenue, sunglasses that cannot block that pair of amazing eyes–Hepburn’s classic style has been imitated and never been surpassed.

This black and white film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, born in 1961, is undoubtedly the most successful advertisement for TIFFANY’s, the world-famous jewelry store established in 1837 in the United States. The producer has put on the charming cloak of love for TIFFANY’s. The TIFFANY’s counter clerk in the movie knows the beautiful couple does not have enough money to buy what they like yet is still polite. He lets them shop, and this gentleman clerk promises their engraving will be done as they wish. Holly is delighted. She says, “This is a perfect place.” I believe most people will want to see this magical place.

Love Needs To Be Fed

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is half a century old. In this half-century, how many great love stories have been staged again and again, compared to the ordinary and poor love of Holly and Paul.

Love is an enormous wealth. Once you have it, you have power, the goal of struggle; life has changed.

Perhaps this is just the first look of love, like a potion that can heal everything, then what’s the next step…?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is not like a fairy tale where the princess and the prince live together with happiness and kindness. It can be said that this is a myth in our real life, offering a warm coat to people, even those struggling financially. Like the young couple in the “Magi’s Gift,” they love each other and give Christmas gifts they can’t afford or need. Still, the love is clear, only it doesn’t pay the bills. 

Holly, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is kind and brave, pursuing independence and yearning for freedom, but always she hopes to fulfill herself by marrying a man with status and wealth. A rich woman supported Paul. Both are social flowers surrounded by countless rich people. These two people know each other’s situation totally; they can accept companionship and love, but it is challenging to allow the other to become their ultimate affiliation. Because they see the reality and cruelty of life better than anyone else, money and status tempt them.

A person can be expanded and nourished in love. No matter how beautiful love is, even charming love can not escape the cruelty of reality. From ancient times to the present, vivid love stories are mostly in the form of tragedy; they are more exceptional for their sorrow. But the Love we want is not tragic. It should be a long process from joy to understanding and warmth. At first, it may occur in the darkness and loneliness of our lives; that’s the thing that can ignite a light of hope enough to illuminate the whole person. Then, often, love becomes dispensable; if this happens, it can bring disgust, sneering, and dislike. So, very often, we let it go, for each other, or we despise each other. In the rare case, like with my parents, love holds and stays, and we cuddle each other, spending the rest of our lives together in embrace.

Moon River

One day, Paul was writing at home, and suddenly he heard a sound from downstairs. It turned out that Holly was sitting on the window and singing “Moon River” affectionately and sincerely. At that moment, anyone would be touched by her; she is not a socialized flower with high-heeled shoes surrounded by countless rich guys. She is melancholy, like blue wind chimes, and she can’t help herself, she can’t control her life. Holly always deliberately hides and alienates others. I still feel that Holly has a kind of beauty when she chooses to isolate from the world. Paul, too, is fascinated. He has never seen this aspect of Holly. This isn’t the same Holly he had known before. This singing Holly is affectionate and beautiful. She smiles at him; this smile goes to Paul’s heart. This was a scene he could never forget. They initially thought they could create a world of their own, but hard life destroyed their confidence. They went to the end of the mountain, but they fell. The original dreams have gone so far away; they can’t see the road of ideas and how to go to the next chapter in their lives.

Between dreams and reality, between love and truth, growth and stagnation, there is always luck and misfortune. They are twins. With risk in your life, you may find a person you love; perhaps this love can stand the test of time, if you are fortunate.    

So, what is love~? Have you loved someone before? Have you already fallen love with someone? What is that feeling?

How do you feel about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

Does it capture the spirit of the 1960s?

  Thank you

Wish all best 

1960s Editor: Quintus Ni

Dreams are not so Far Away

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As we dream of “far-away” places, Quintus walks us through a guided meditation of sorts. He encourages us to forge ahead, be happy, love, and live.

By Quintus Ni

    The scenery far away that we are longing for drives us to keep forging ahead. Flowers coming out along the roads and birds singing in the trees are companions on the journey, as is the beautiful scenery, the bridges across rivers, and range upon range of green mountains. For the longed goal, we shall go despite wind and rain.       

In the peaceful and delightful life, a wisp of fragrance is enough to decorate the time we have. Living in the ethereal environment is like dancing with life happily in a beautiful waltz. The original vivid memories of the past go with us until they fade like withered flowers to get ready to welcome the new journey.

Make an outing on a sunny day and a quiet place to soak up the warm sunshine. Feel the wild breeze blowing over your face, and listen to its sound rustling over the leaves, which awakens the growth of all creatures and makes wishes on a silent bluestone board. May youth last forever;  may life be peaceful and delightful.

Another May comes, with a gentle breeze and warm sunshine. We fly kites in a beautiful season, whisper our secrets to the blue sky and white clouds, and let all troubles of life go, leaving only the pure soul.

As time goes by, we feel trouble in life. Why not let your troubles go for a while, and look at the colorful flowers, the ripples of rivers, green fields, and wild rhododendron, or read a book, or appreciate a painting that can touch the soul. Life should be hopeful. And that’s how the life of humankind becomes meaningful.

Look–those weak grasses get flattened whenever the wind blows, but re-erect again and keep growing after the wind. It tells us the truth: the difficulty is always temporary, and goodness is always the main theme of life.

In the world of mortals, affection gives us a warm embrace, love gives us a touching mode, friendship gives us a solid dependence…. All these relationships are related to the quality of our lives. Smart people are good at handling and enjoying these relationships, thereby making their lives beautiful. When people grow no longer satisfied with material needs, it indicates the qualitative leap of life and that the real meaning of humanity is approaching.

People move forward slowly as time goes by. When the first sunshine of the morning shines on the window sill, the life of another day begins. We all live according to our own rhythm. We need to create life, set a new goal, and liberate ourselves from laziness and boredom. We should stop complaining about life, stop wasting time, instead, we must fulfill our lives and create a poetic future.

Life is too short, so why don’t we enrich our lives with more joyful laughter and more poetic romance. As long as we feel life wholeheartedly, we will see a brand new life in front of us, just as bold and generous as said by Li Bai in his poem: “leaving home chortle, with head tilted backward; how could people like me [be] ordinary?”

With a pen, I write my stories and enjoy the ups and downs of life. In the corner of the soul, I light up a candle to illuminate my way ahead. And this bright candle in life is the enlightenment of reading.

Quietly, I put a fragrant flower on the window sill, letting it be moisturized by the sun and dew. The fragrance of the flower finally dispels the haze in my heart; the rain washes away my sorrow, and the sun warms my soul. If we pay a little more attention to life, we will see and feel numerous warm moments around us, indicating the beauty of life.

I always believe that one who has splendid experience must live a marvelous life. In a lifetime, owning a relaxed attitude is vital to a happy life. Health and attitude could possibly be hard to reach no matter how much money we have. And as a matter of fact, life does not require too much. To live, a healthy spirit and happy mood are enough, as long as we live with an enriched inner world.

In the whole life of a man, he doesn’t have to be rich and glorious. Simple life could be deemed as a kind of success. Life is so precious, don’t waste time on unnecessary pursuits; instead, we could read books quietly, watch movies happily, have dinner with family, chat with lovers on a campus with beautiful cherry blossoms. These are all simple but sweet things in life. As long as we face life faithfully, we can enjoy happiness.

Life is a journey on which we could experience different scenery: the green mountains, the clean water, the bridges across the rivers, the blossoms, and ever-changing clouds. The world in front of us is of abundant scenery, waiting for us to discover, to appreciate, and to experience. Let’s get started; take the road to a happy journey, heading straight to the place faraway.

Far-Away Editor: Doreen Yuan