The power of immersion

　　As I neared the end of the workday, I finally finished a mountain of tasks, big and small. Slumped in my chair, staring at the ceiling, my mind was blank, yet also felt stuffed with cotton—no sense of relief whatsoever, just a strange heaviness and emptiness.

　　This strange feeling has been recurring lately. A few days of travel left me exhausted, but without any real relaxation; the hustle and bustle of picking up and dropping off the kids, helping with homework, and even though they were behaving as they pleased, I still felt uneasy; subscribing to several WeChat accounts and reading inspirational quotes daily brought no comfort. My seemingly fulfilling life and work failed to bring inner peace.

　　Suddenly, I missed those who had persevered for decades. In the book *At Least Once in Your Life, Be a Fool*, a Japanese grandfather named Akinori Kimura spent 11 years developing an apple variety that didn't require fertilizer or pesticides and wouldn't rot for two years. He connected his entire being, even his soul, to the apple. Someone asked him, "What is professionalism?" He replied, "The combination of heart and skill is true professionalism." When outsiders, friends, and even family treated him like a "fool," he used vinegar as pesticide, talked to the fruit trees like he would his own children, apologized to them, and thanked them. From the start of his experiments to seeing seven apple blossoms for the first time and harvesting two apples, a full ten years passed! In the eleventh year, his orchard was full of apple blossoms. He brought some liquor to the orchard, poured some on the ground, and drank with the apple trees. Reading this, tears welled up in my eyes, tears that, like apple juice, soothed my parched heart. Of all the inspirational books out there, only this one moved me inexplicably! In the book, the old man with gray hair opened his half-toothed mouth, revealing a simple, serene, and happy smile.

　　Yes, serene! In this superficial and impatient restlessness, it was this seemingly foolish persistence and a sincere, childlike heart that truly moved me. This root-like steadfastness and solidity gave the old man a calm strength; no amount of misunderstanding, ridicule, or alienation could shake his resilience!

　　Yes, immersion! How long has it been since I've immersively finished reading a beloved book? How long has it been since I've focused intently on even a single leaf or a dew-kissed petal? How long has it been since I've sat down with my children or family to have a deep, heartfelt conversation? How long has it been since I've conducted research and completed a substantial study through immersion? Calming down and reflecting on my day, it's like a whole piece of cloth, cut horizontally and vertically into strips and pieces. Is this what life in the internet age is like? Superficial, half-hearted, like a dragonfly skimming the water! We enjoy what we call life, yet we become increasingly timid, increasingly shallow, and increasingly lost.

　　Why do we always feel unclear and confused? Because we're too busy. We can't calm down. Being busy leads to confusion, blindness, and recklessness; it can even lead to our downfall. The ancients said, "Tranquility breeds wisdom, and composure breeds insight." When the mind is restless and driven by greed, we become impatient for quick success and act rashly. Only with a calm mind can we cultivate strong resolve and attain wisdom. Only by immersing ourselves in our beloved work and life can we generate strength, like the Japanese grandfather who grew the miraculous apple. In life, at least be a "fool" once; that's true wisdom!