15 Thoughts for 15 Years of Life 15岁的15条思考

Number 1: An Inaccurate Description of the Adult World

I argue that adults like to complicate things. They sometimes make simple rules quite complex and mind-boggling, ignoring certain core and universal principles. They like to flash out warnings of the cunning and lethal adult world. While their argument does possess merit, I believe adults sometimes exaggerate and over-complicate too much. As explained in a previous essay, I always believe in the power and value of a childish heart.

For example, grown-ups claim that most true friendships are based on an exchange of profit in the adult world. I befriend you because I see that you can help me in my career or you can assist my children in achieving some goal. This view of true friendship can be malformed. True friendship is solely based on an appreciation of each other’s values or, more intrinsically, mutual affection for each other, not on some material purpose. If friendship is about exploiting material value out of each other, not about mutual bonding, then the world will be fractured in many more ways. I would call the adult definition of “true friendship” simply a commercial relationship.

At times, such complications of direct principles remind me of a provocative argument I read some years back. The argument goes that adults usually do not play better Mozart than many younger players. The reason is that Mozart requires simplicity in interpretation in many places in the music. After many years in society, adults often make complex interpretations that distort the piece more. Conversely, children think or interpret in a less complex fashion and are more likely to get the gist of the piece more accurately. Now that I process this argument again, I see that it can be applied to other areas of life. Thinking, deciding, and acting without over-consideration allow one to procure the principle and be more effective in navigating the world overall.

Number 2: The Real Threat of Artificial Intelligence

In a previous article, I carefully explained the potential hazards of the internet world, and I want to extend this further by mentioning AI. The speed at which AI is currently developing is shocking. In the next 50 years, we can expect robots to be an indispensable part of our lives truly. I believe the real risk with AI is not necessarily the ones described in dystopian works, of highly intelligent computers gaining some kind of consciousness and physically wiping out humankind. Instead, I worry about a total breakdown of collective human mentality. More specifically, when AI evolves to a certain level, it will inevitably be able to cater to our emotional desires. We will not rely on each other for emotional sustenance and rather rely on robots or algorithms. By then, can we still be called Homo sapiens in that sense?

Number 3: The Power of Music

Music, in my view, does not only convey emotions but is also a container for memory and history. The musical notes and phrases hold the past and the present moments.

Take the example of Ballade No.1 in G Minor, by Chopin. Poland was divided by Tsarist Russia from the East and Prussia from the West when composing this piece. Chopin felt a deep bond to his homeland and could not hide this anguish, his determination to call for action any longer. As a result, this anguish, this determination, and other elements of Chopin’s patriotism fill this ballade. Although, as the audience or as the performer, we are undoubtedly impacted by such strong emotions, I feel the flashes of history more in this piece. In the dissonant chords, in the most powerful and overwhelming coda, in the expressive segments nestled in between, the battlegrounds in Poland during the 19^th century appear before my eyes, and Chopin’s willpower amongst despair emerges in my mind. If one delves into the history of a piece, one will find out that the music is an exceptional means to document time. But unlike words, besides objective events, musical notes and phrases capture the emotional activities of the composer too, thus creating a more complete picture of history.

Number 4: The Rule for Friendship

I am a person who has strong emotional reliance. To be more explanatory, I have not been a person, for the fifteen years of my life, that relies a lot on reason and logic to be comfortable. Instead, sometimes I need the influence of emotion to create or comfort myself in unfamiliar situations. Friends are hence so important in my life. From a young age, I would consider myself as one that not only feels a need for but also proactively seeks friendship.

This year, I have only developed one rule for friendship to follow, and one that sounds like a cliché: do not set any boundaries for friendship. This statement contains many aspects for me. In particular, try not to be constrained by the stereotypes concerning gender, race, or any other characteristic of a friend. I feel a solid connection to this aspect with many breakthroughs in personal friendship during the past several months. For example, I have successfully befriended an Ethiopian, and we have been able to communicate without any obstacles. The key here is that I threw away the stereotypical notion that as a Chinese, I should and would only befriend other Chinese. Through natural conversation, I have discovered that friendship does have the power to span races and ethnicities, and it is possible not to be overly affected by stereotypes. The same goes for genders. I have many tight bonds with a few female peers, and the feelings such friendships bring are not different from the ones I have with the boys. Again, I broke the stereotype that as a male, the only true relationship I can have with a female is romance.

The values of such decisions are immense and incredibly enriching. First, I get the chance to appreciate and learn from a far wider group of people. By making friends with those that belong to other cultures or ethnicities, I have the opportunity to experience cultural communication on the most basic level, which is one of the most real and engaging ways to do so. By making friends with people who do not have the same sex, more dimensions of thinking are brought into my world. I learn unique perspectives and enjoy viewing and thinking from various lenses. Second, a simply intrinsic enjoyment that flows from human nature rushes me when I proactively grow such bonds. I believe we are meant to be naturally capable of communicating and creating relationships without being hindered by objective differences. However, increasingly complex social norms block us from realizing this ability. Such friendships that transcend gender, race, and ideology resonate with human nature and bring back one of the oldest yet most powerful kinds of happiness.

Number 5: The Rule for Romantic Relationships

There is only one universal rule that I agree with concerning the concept of romance: “you deserve a marvelous partner.” This quote is not original, it comes from American investor Charlie Munger. I interpret this quote from three aspects.

First, the premise of seeking a romantic relationship is that you are capable and excellent enough to match your crush. If you and your crush have a huge gap in capability and excellence, the romance often cannot last because there will not be a mutual, heartfelt appreciation of each other.

Second, do not force a match. A match should be as natural and spontaneous as possible. I believe we should abandon the notion that “I want to be in love, so I have to find someone.” Though tempting, this notion will lead a person to a frenzy that would result in no positive outcome. Sometimes, one has to play the waiting game to sift through and find a truly deserved partner.

Third, tying back to the first point, the focus when one is in pursuit of someone should be on self-improvement. Tricks and clever means of communication come later. Again, the most important prerequisite is that you are outstanding enough to deserve an outstanding partner. What is more, nobody can guarantee a safe romance. There is always the chance that a couple breaks up. Imagine this scenario. A sudden break-up with your partner has caused some grief, but things worsen when you realize that you have lost your job or cannot find one because you spent too much time dealing with your partner and not improving your hardcore skills. Before and during romance, it is vital to figure out what matters more.

Number 6: The Ill Debate

We all want to be unique thinkers, and we want to defend our arguments. There is nothing wrong with both wants. In famous philosophical works such as The Republic, mind-boggling debates took center stage and were considered by the authors at that time as the most effective way to extract the truth. However, today I think many, including myself, have been developing an unconscious tendency to resort to acrimonious debate to reach a consensus. This acrimonious debate usually involves fierce rounds of crossfire and even attacks on personality, which is an unpleasant or ineffective way to sort an argument.

When we are in an acrimonious debate, we tend not to agree with what the other side says pleasantly. Sometimes we are not even allowed to do so. The real question is, is it possible to possess a firm personal stand on a matter while agreeing on points the opposing side makes? I hold the answer is yes. Many topics are not clear-cut “right or wrong” and instead contain complex factors that must be considered. In a fierce argument, we do not tend to consider these factors. As a result, it is difficult to reach a balanced, thought-out conclusion in the end.

Additionally, acrimonious debates usually miss the focus. We get lost debating over trivial details and missing out on the main arguments. Although texts like The Republic are not 100% accurate in recording debates between philosophers, they show us that a proper discussion of a topic is always centered around key facts or arguments and not often around the definition of a word or the way a person structures a sentence. Such an ill kind of debate we witness today does not aim to tap out the truth or satisfy the two sides' logical process.

Number 7: The Independent Mind

As a teenager, I recently concluded that the first step to independence is not to confront adults or to conduct some activity that violates certain rules. The first step is to develop an independent mind.

By “independent mind,” I do not mean a mind completely ridden with restrictions. Rather, I mean a mind that can discern arguments and claims and does not need too much direct assistance from others to probe on its own. If one possesses an independent mind, they can gradually have their own opinions on matters, navigating the world in their unique ways.

Developing an independent mind is not objecting to everything; it is more about creative thinking at first and then nurturing critical thinking. Creative thinking allows one to think and imagine out of the box. When one does a lot of creative thinking, these pieces of imagination will condense together to form pictures of an ideal, distinctive world. To possess this creative utopia, and to constantly add new elements, is a joy in itself. Also, it helps a youngster to make sense of the world and future uniquely. Critical thinking, on the other end, takes reality back into consideration. It main assists one in recognizing the real world from different lenses. Combining creative and critical thinking, you have a mind that can powerfully imagine the ideal and contemplate the real, all on its own. An independent mind is born this way.

Number 8: The Prospect of the Globe Politically

Politically, significant challenges loom ahead. First, the Russia-Ukraine War has disrupted the global political order. War might become the norm of history again, and the post-WWII order is at risk of being destroyed. This war, although regional in size, can plant the seeds for future conflicts to emerge. As explained in another essay, war is generally a product of historical cycles, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to prevent large-scale warfare from breaking out from time to time. Second, the Sino-American conflict cannot be expected to end anytime soon. On a political level, the two sides are still going head-to-head, with neither side willing to back down. Again, I argue that, looking from history, this conflict cannot be necessarily avoided.

Number 9: The Prospect of the Globe Economically

Economically, I am more optimistic about the world economy. It is too early to claim that a recession is underway – growth has slowed, but it has not stopped altogether. Rich world economies, which account for 60% of global GDP, are doing finer than most people reckon. People are more confident about personal finances, and many governments are helping the poor cope with rising energy prices. Also, business performance has been better than many expect. For example, the OECD (a club of rich countries)’s the unemployment rate is lower than before the pandemic. I am not ruling out that a recession will not come; it is too soon to make any clear statement.

Number 10: The Prospect of the World Culturally

Culturally, the divide between the eastern and western hemispheres is still not bridged. This is a massive concern for me because if both civilizations, headed by China and the U.S., do not pay basic respect to each other’s cultural achievements, how can a deep conflict be reconciled?

The key to bridging the divide lies in the young generations of both nations. This statement has always been emphasized, but few truly understand its logic. Young people tend to be more open-minded than any other social group and have more resources, so they must realize this higher potential with help from the government. Both governments must believe that the world lacks international talents or people who can facilitate communication between cultures. I worry more about people not taking action and the government discouraging people from doing so than the actual divide itself.

Number 11: Globalization

I believe that people have been discussing too much about “economic globalization” and not about “globalization” itself, which encompasses far more than just economic activity. In a sense, economic globalization does not rely on the establishment of commonly accepted cultural values. But I want to ask, is it the same case with globalization in general? Does globalization need common values to proceed and develop? And if yes, what are these values?

Number 12: The Key to Writing

Writing is my most treasured hobby, and I have developed this hobby for more than ten years. I believe the key to writing lies in the word “observation.”

Observation comes in two stages. The first stage is about observing physical objects, phenomena, or events. When I was young, I paid much attention to the details of my surroundings. From the texture of my mother’s hair, the feel of a raindrop on a leaf in spring, to the everyday discourse between classmates, I observed and documented these observations. Observing allows one to pick out every detail in life that can turn into inspiration, and be constantly aware of the surrounding, to help me understand the impact of my writing on the audience.

The second stage is about observing the non-physical, the theories, arguments, hypotheses, etc. To become an excellent writer, one must keep an eye out for every piece of a claim, evidence, or explanation that could be relevant. Again, every one of them can potentially be the material for an essay. What is more, you have to observe the inner workings of each argument, the imagination, and theorizing of others repetitively, to truly gain the ability to utilize them for your writing. Inspiration does not come from the air, as many believe. It comes from observation, from absorbing all the fragments of information and re-organizing them differently.

Numbers 13&14&15: Three Reasons I Will Continue Writing

Writing is an extremely difficult hobby to maintain. It sucks up a lot of time, and it can be exhausting. However, throughout the years, I am still a firm advocate for developing writing as a hobby, even though it takes so much perseverance.

Writing allows one to explore the outer world thoroughly. As mentioned in the last point, to produce good writing, you must observe the details and workings of the outside environment. To write well also requires you to be fully capable of explaining your observations, which will deepen your understanding of the outer world more. Since we cannot escape our environments in the short term at least, getting to connect intrinsically is a beneficial option.

Writing prods one to explore human nature. When you write extensively, you will arrive at a point where it is impossible not to start looking into why we behave in specific ways. We further will contemplate our most inherent bonds with each other and the natural world by that point. To proceed with writing, one must come up with unique understandings of such topics and express them in interpretative manners. After this exploration commences, one can make sense of patterns in human societies and history, helping that person navigate the status quo more soberly.

Writing is finally an activity that aids us in adapting to the digital age. The digital age is one marked by information and memory overload. This age has its advantages and disadvantages. For advantages, we have access to almost limitless amounts of knowledge and material, as long as we want to find them. For disadvantages, the human brain is not designed to process so much information in a limited time. However, writing can be a tool to assist the brain in processing and utilizing the advantage of this age. I view writing now as a superpower we possess that can be used to document, record, and produce extra bits of information for the brain. With writing, we can set our brains and bodies ready for a continuous dive into the ocean of knowledge and a plethora of data. That is chiefly why I staunchly advocate for this enriching hobby.

第一条：成人世界的不准确描述

我认为，成年人喜欢把事情复杂化。他们有时会把简单的规则变得相当复杂和令人费解，忽略了某些核心和普遍的原则。他们喜欢警告年轻人成人世界的狡猾和致命。虽然他们的论点确实拥有可取之处，但我认为成年人有时会夸大其词，过度复杂化。正如在以前的文章中所解释的，我始终相信童心的力量和价值。

例如，大人们声称，在成人世界里，大多数真正的友谊是建立在利益交换的基础上。我和你交朋友是因为我看到你可以在事业上帮助我，或者你可以协助我的孩子实现一些目标。这种对真正友谊的看法可能是畸形的。真正的友谊完全是基于对彼此价值的欣赏，或者更内在的是对彼此的感情，而不是基于某种物质目的。如果友谊确实是为了从对方身上剥削物质价值，而不是为了相互之间的联系，那么这个世界就会在更多方面出现断裂。我认为，成人所定义的"真正的友谊 "可以被称为更简单的商业关系。

有时，这种直接原则的复杂化让我想起几年前读到的一个引发思考的论点。这个论点说，成年人通常不会比许多更年轻的演奏家弹得更好的莫扎特。原因是，莫扎特在音乐的许多地方需要简单的诠释。成年人经历社会的磨砺，往往会做出繁复的诠释，实则更多扭曲了作品。而儿童则以不太繁复的方式思考或诠释，更有可能更准确地掌握乐曲的要领。现在我再次回想这个论点，我看到它也可以适用于生活中的其他领域。思考、决定、行动中不过度考虑太多外在因素，可以让人掌握基本原理，在驾驭世界的过程中总体上更有效。

第二条：人工智能的真正威胁

在之前的文章中，我仔细解释了互联网世界的潜在危害，我想通过提及人工智能来进一步延伸。目前人工智能的发展速度是令人震惊的。在未来50年，我们可以期待机器人真正成为我们生活中不可缺少的一部分。我相信，人工智能的真正风险不一定是那些在反乌托邦作品中描述的，即高智能计算机获得某种意识，并从物理身体上消灭人类。相反，我担心的是人类人性的消亡。更具体地说，当人工智能进化到一定水平时，它将不可避免地获得迎合我们情感欲望的能力。那时，我们将依靠机器和算法来满足情感需求，不会依靠人与人之间的情感作为寄托。在这个意义上，我们还能被称为“智人”吗？

第三条：音乐的力量

在我看来，音乐不仅传达情感，也是记忆和历史的容器，音符和乐句承载着过去和现在。

以肖邦的《G小调第一叙事曲》为例。在创作这首曲子时，波兰正被来自东方的沙皇俄国和来自西方的普鲁士分割。肖邦对他的祖国有着深厚的感情，他无法再隐藏这种痛苦，无法再隐藏他呼吁采取行动的决心。这种痛苦、这种决心以及肖邦爱国主义的其他因素充斥了这首叙事曲。尽管作为观众或演奏者，我们无疑会受到这种强烈情感的影响，但我在这首作品中更能感受到的是历史片段的闪回。在不和谐的和弦中，在最有力的、压倒性的尾声中，在依偎在两者之间的表现性抒情片段中，19世纪波兰的战场出现在我眼前，肖邦在绝望中的意志力浮现在我脑海。如果深入研究一首作品的历史，就会发现音乐是记录时间的一种特殊手段。但与文字不同的是，除了客观事件，音符和乐句也能捕捉到作曲家的情感活动，从而创造出更完整的历史画面。

第四条：友谊的规则

我是一个有强烈情感依赖的人。说得更明白一点，在我生命中的15年里，我并不是一个非常依赖理性和逻辑来获得安全感的人。相反，有时我需要情感的影响来创造或在陌生的环境中适应。因此，朋友在我的生活中是如此重要。从很小的时候起，我就认为自己是一个不仅需要，而且主动寻求友谊的人。

今年，我只为友谊制定了一条要遵循的规则，一条听起来像陈词滥调的规则：不要为友谊设置任何界限。这句话对我来说包含很多方面。特别是，尽量不要被有关性别、种族或任何其他特征的陈规定型观念所限制。在过去几个月里，我在个人友谊方面取得了许多突破，对这一方面感到了坚实的个人联系。例如，我成功地结识了一位埃塞俄比亚人，我们能够毫无障碍地进行交流。这里的关键是，我扔掉了作为一个中国人，应该而且只会与其他中国人交朋友的陈旧观念。通过自然的交谈，我发现友谊确实有跨越种族和民族的力量，而且有可能不受刻板思想的过度影响。性别方面也是如此。目前，我与几个女同学有很多紧密的联系，这种友谊带来的感受与我与男同学的感受并无不同。我再次打破了老一套观念，即作为一个男性，我与女性的唯一真正关系只有可能是恋人。

这种决定的价值是巨大的，而且令人难以置信的丰富。首先，我有机会欣赏和从更多的人身上学习。通过与那些属于其他文化或种族的人交朋友，我有机会以一种最真实和最有吸引力的方式在最基本的层面上体验文化交流。通过与不属于同一性别的人交朋友，更多的思维层面被带入我的世界。我学到了独特的视角，并喜欢从不同的角度看待和思考。第二，当我积极主动地发展这种联系时，一种简单的，来自人类本性的内在享受涌上心田。我相信，我们本来就有能力自然而然地进行交流和建立关系，而不受到客观差异的阻碍。然而，越来越复杂的社会规范阻碍我们实现这种能力。这种超越性别、种族和意识形态的友谊与人类本性产生了共鸣，并带回了一种最古老但又最强大的快乐。

第五条：恋人关系的规则

关于恋人关系的概念，我只同意一个普遍规则："只有自己变优秀，才能找到优秀的另一半"。这句话并非原创，它来自美国投资者查理-芒格。我从三个方面解释这句话。

首先，寻求恋人关系的前提是，你有足够的能力和优秀的品质来匹配你的对象。如果你和你的对象在能力和优秀程度方面有巨大的差距，那么这段恋情往往不能持久，因为不会有持续的、相互的、发自内心的欣赏。

第二，不要强迫配对。匹配应该是尽可能自然和自发的。我相信我们应该放弃 "我想谈恋爱，所以我必须找到一个人 "的观念。虽然很诱人，但这种观念会使人陷入狂热，不会产生积极的结果。有时，一个人必须学会等待，以筛选并找到一个真正应得的伴侣。

第三，与第一点相联系，当一个人在追求某人时，重点应该放在自我提高上。技巧和巧妙的沟通手段是以后的事。再次强调，最重要的先决条件是，你足够出色，才值得拥有一个出色的另一半。更多的是，没有人能够保证一个完全安全的浪漫关系，总是有分手的概率。想象一下这种情况：与伴侣的突然分手已对你经造成了一些创伤，但当你意识到你失去了工作或找不到工作时，事情就变得更糟了，因为你花了太多的时间来处理你的伴侣，而没有花时间来提高你的硬核技能。在恋爱之前和恋爱期间，弄清楚什么更重要是极其必要的。

第六条：病态的辩论

我们都想成为独特的思想家，我们想为我们的论点辩护，这两种愿望都没有错。在《理想国》等著名的哲学作品中，启迪思想的辩论占据了中心位置，而且被当时的作者认为是获得真理的最有效方式。然而，今天我认为许多人，包括我自己，已经形成了一种无意识的倾向，即诉诸激烈尖刻的辩论来达成共识。这种尖刻的辩论通常包括激烈的轮番交锋，甚至是对人格的攻击，这是一种完全令人不快或无效的处理观点的方式。

当我们处于尖刻的辩论中时，我们往往不会最终同意对方所说的话。事实上，有时甚至情况不允许我们这样做。这里真正的问题是，是否有可能在同意对方某些观点的同时对某一问题拥有坚定的个人立场？我认为答案是肯定的。许多话题不是明确的 "对或错"，而是包含必须考虑的复杂因素。在激烈的争论中，我们往往不会考虑到这些因素。因此，最后很难达成一个平衡的、深思熟虑的结论。

此外，尖刻的辩论通常会错过重点。我们倾向于在琐碎的细节上迷失，而忽略了主要的论点。尽管像《理想国》这样的文本在记录哲学家之间的辩论方面并不是百分之百的准确，但它们确实向我们表明，对一个话题的正确讨论总是围绕着关键的事实或论点，而不是经常围绕着一个词的定义或一个人的句子结构方式而展开。我们今天看到的这种病态的辩论并不是为了挖掘出真相，甚至不是为了满足双方的逻辑过程与思考。

第七条：独立的思想

作为一个青少年，我最近得出结论，独立的第一步不是对抗成年人或进行一些违反某些规则的活动，第一步是培养独立的思想。

我所说的 "独立思想"，并不是指完全没有任何限制的思想。相反，我指的是一个能够自己辨别论点和主张的头脑，不需要别人过多的直接帮助，自己就能探究。如果一个人拥有独立的思想，那么他们就能逐渐对事情有自己的看法，以自己独特的方式浏览世界。

培养独立思想的方法不是反对一切，一开始更多的是创造性思维，然后培养批判性思维。创造性思维使人能够跳出条框进行思考和想象。当一个人做了大量的创造性思维后，这些想象的碎片会凝结在一起，形成一个理想的、与众不同的世界的图画。拥有这个创造性的乌托邦，并不断增加新的元素，本身就是一种快乐。同时，它还能帮助青少年对世界和未来有独特的认识。批判性思维，在另一端，将现实重新纳入考虑。它主要帮助人们从不同的角度认识现实世界。把创造性思维和批判性思维结合起来，你就有了一个能够有力地想象理想和思考现实的头脑，所有这些都是自发的。一个独立的头脑就是这样诞生的。

第八条：全球政治的前景

在政治上，巨大的挑战迫在眉睫。首先，俄乌战争扰乱了全球政治秩序。战争可能再次成为历史的常态，二战后的秩序有可能被摧毁。这场战争虽然是区域性的，但可以为未来冲突的出现播下种子。正如在另一篇文章中所解释的那样，一般来说，战争是历史周期的产物，很难，甚至不可能，防止大规模战争时常爆发。第二，不能指望中美冲突很快就会结束。在政治层面上，双方仍在正面交锋，都不愿意退让。再次，我认为，从历史上看，这种冲突不一定能避免。

第九条：全球经济的前景

在经济上，我对世界经济比较乐观。我认为现在说全球经济大衰退还为时过早--增长虽已放缓，但并没有完全停止。占全球GDP60%的富裕世界经济体，其表现比大多数人估计的要好。人们对个人财务状况很有信心，许多政府正在帮助穷人应对能源价格上涨。此外，商业表现也比许多人预期的要好。例如，经合组织（一个富国俱乐部）的失业率比疫情之前要低。我并不排除经济衰退不会到来，只是现在做任何明确的声明还为时过早。

第十条：世界文化的前景

在文化上，东西方之间的鸿沟仍然没有得到弥合。这对我来说是一个巨大的担忧，因为如果两种文明都对对方的文化成就缺乏基本的尊重，那么深刻的冲突如何能够得到调和？

弥合分歧的关键在于两个国家的年轻一代。这句话一直被强调，但很少有人真正理解其背后的逻辑。年轻人往往比其他社会群体的思想更开放，掌控的资源也更多，所以他们必须在政府的帮助下实现这一更高的潜力。两国政府都需要有这样的远见，即目前世界上缺乏国际人才或有能力促进文化间交流的人。我更担心的是人们不采取任何行动，以及政府不鼓励人们这样做，而不仅仅是实际分裂本身。

第十一条：全球化

我认为，人们一直在讨论 "经济全球化"，而不是 "全球化 "本身，它所包含的内容远远超过了经济活动。从某种意义上说，经济全球化并不依赖于共同接受的文化价值观的建立。但我想问的是，一般的全球化也是这种情况吗？全球化是否需要共同的价值观来进行和发展？如果是的话，这些价值观是什么？

第十二条：写作的关键

写作是我最珍视的爱好，我培养这个爱好已经超过10年了。我相信，写作的关键在于 "观察 "这个词。

观察分为两个阶段。第一个阶段是观察实物、现象或事件。当我年幼的时候，我非常注意我周围的细节。从我母亲头发的质地，春天雨滴在树叶上的感觉，到同学之间的日常话语，我观察并记录了这些事物。观察可以让人挑选出生活中每一个可以变成灵感的细节，并时刻注意周围的情况，以帮助我了解我的写作对观众的影响。

第二阶段是观察非物质的东西，理论、论据、假设等。要成为一名优秀的作家，必须留意每一个可能相关的主张、证据或解释。再次强调，每一个元素都有可能成为文章的初始材料。更重要的是，你必须反复观察每个论点的内部运作，观察别人的想象力和理论化，才能真正获得利用、内化它们进行写作的能力。灵感并不像许多人认为的那样来自于空气。它来自于观察，来自于吸收外面所有的信息片段，并以不同的方式重新组织它们。

第十三&十四&十五条：我将继续写作的三个理由

写作是一个极难维持的爱好。它占用了大量的时间，而且会让人筋疲力尽。然而，多年来，我仍然坚定地主张把写作作为一种爱好来发展，尽管它需要很大的毅力。

写作使人能够彻底探索外部世界。正如上一点提到的，要写出好文章，你必须观察外部环境的细节和运作。要写好文章还需要你完全有能力解释你的观察结果，这将更加加深你对外部世界的理解。由于我们至少在短期内无法逃离各种外部环境，因此，获得内在与外在之间的联系是一个有益的选择。

写作促使人去探索人性。当你广泛地写作时，你会到达一个点，从此你不可能不开始研究我们为什么以某种方式行事。到那时，我们将进一步思考我们与彼此和自然界之间最固有的联系。为了继续写作，人们必须对这些主题有独特的理解，并以富有见解性的方式表达出来。在这种探索开始后，人们可以对人类社会和整个历史的规律进行理解，更清醒地驾驭现实世界。

写作最终是一项帮助我们适应数字时代的活动。数字时代是一个以信息和记忆超载为标志的时代。这个时代有其优点和缺点。就优势而言，我们可以获得几乎无限量的知识和材料，只要我们想找到它们。就缺点而言，人类的大脑并不是为了在如此有限的时间内处理这么多信息而设计的。然而，写作可以成为一种工具，协助大脑处理和利用这个时代的优势。我认为现在的写作，是我们拥有的一种超级力量，可以用来记录，记载，并为大脑产生额外的信息。通过写作，我们可以让我们的大脑和身体做好准备，不断潜入知识的海洋和大量的数据中。这就是为什么我坚定地倡导写作这一充实的爱好。