🔖 GM! Recently reread Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha," which is also a book I discussed in my 10K Club — many people interpret it as a story of overly simple growth: the first half is indulgence and confusion, the second half is practice and enlightenment, with the two negating each other, ultimately leading to a correction and upgrade in values. But what Hesse truly wanted to write about is not correction, but parallelism. Siddhartha does not attain enlightenment after "rejecting" worldly life; quite the opposite, it is only when he stops trying to overpower or judge one value with another that he truly hears the "harmony of all things." This deeply resonated with me! Because people of our era are too accustomed to reverse-engineering meaning from results, always seeking a "correct" state — either always rational or always steadfast; either only talking about long-term value or only engaging in short-term gambles. During smooth sailing, we completely deny our past selves; during confusion, chaos, and stagnation, we quickly define it as failure. But reality is often not like that. What truly shapes a person is never a single correct phase, but the continuity between these phases that cannot be cut apart. Without those absurd years, there would be no later clarity; without the experience of complete failure, it’s hard to truly let go of obsessions. Human nature is like a river, flowing in all directions simultaneously — greed, fear, patience, impulsiveness — these are not things you want to eliminate, but things you must personally experience, digest, and integrate. Recognizing this is crucial, often more valuable than any data model you build! Hesse said it well: the only obligation of awakened people is — to find themselves, to hold onto themselves, and to walk their own path forward, no matter where it leads. 👉 I highly recommend everyone read this book when feeling lost. Electronic version: