This is the last episode of this year. Wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you in 2026! 

You know, people always talk about love like it’s the most powerful thing in the world. And yeah — love is powerful. It makes us brave, soft, alive. But you know what we don’t talk about enough? The moment when love fades. When the laughter starts to feel forced, the silence gets heavier, and what once felt like home… just doesn’t anymore.

There’s a saying I really love — it goes: When love is gone, having the strength to walk away with resolve is a rare ability.

There’s a saying in Chinese that I think about often recently.

“未经他人苦，莫劝他人善。你若经我苦，未必有我善。”

It means:

“If you haven’t suffered as others have, don’t advise them to be kind.
Even if you went through what I did, you might not be as kind as I am.”

It sounds simple, right? But there’s something raw and real in it — a kind of wisdom that doesn’t sugar-coat anything. It’s a reminder that before we tell someone how they should act, we ought to understand what they’ve been through.

Today I want to throw a question at you. Not a light one—this isn’t “would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses.” Nope. This one stings a little.

Ready?

Would you rather lose your memory… or have your lover lose theirs?

Yeah. That one hits different, doesn’t it?

Take a second with it. Imagine the person you love most in the world—partner, spouse, soulmate. Now, imagine one of you wakes up tomorrow and the slate is wiped clean. Who should it be?

You know, sometimes real life feels like a movie.

Except… you’re not the star.

You’re just living your life—minding your business—and suddenly, someone out there decides you’re the one.

They start chasing you. And I don’t mean a little crush. I mean texting all the time. Watching every story. Trying to see you every day.

And you’re like:

“Wait… what’s going on here?”
“I don’t even like this person.”

So… what do you do when someone you don’t like is pursuing you like crazy?

Today let’s break it down.

How many soulmates do you think a person can have in a lifetime? It’s an interesting question, isn’t it? Some people will quickly tell you: just one. That one special person, the perfect fit, the other half of their heart wandering the world somewhere, waiting to be found. Others will say, confidently or wistfully, that we meet many soulmates throughout our lives — not just one.

Have you ever noticed how the word power tends to carry a negative tone? It’s strange when you think about it. Power, at its core, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it should be something mutual, something shared to benefit a group or a cause. But more often than not, when someone is described as “power-hungry” or “chasing power,” the impression is rarely positive. It immediately suggests selfishness, manipulation, or even corruption.

Tomorrow is Halloween. On Halloween night, the streets come alive—laughter echoing down sidewalks, costumes swishing under streetlights, jack-o’-lanterns glowing on porches. It’s loud and fun and theatrical. But if you pause for a moment, if you step back from the noise, there’s something quieter underneath it all. A kind of loneliness that doesn’t show up in the pictures. The truth is, the people who seem the most lit-up are often the ones feeling the most alone.

Let’s be real—we’ve all been there. That moment when you’re torn between chasing your dreams and holding onto someone you love. Maybe you’re a college grad choosing between a job overseas and staying close to your partner. Or perhaps you’re grinding day and night for a promotion while your significant other complains you’re “never present.” It’s messy, it’s confusing, and honestly, it feels like no one gets it. You talk to your friends and they say, “Do what makes you happy,” but they don’t have to wake up every morning with the consequences of your choice. Your parents just want you to be safe and settled, and social media? Well, that’s a whole other beast telling you that you’re either failing at love or falling behind in life.

But here’s the thing: life has a funny way of teaching us lessons when we least expect it. Sometimes those lessons hurt. Sometimes they make you feel like you’re losing everything. But often, they’re exactly what you need to grow into who you’re meant to be.

Most of us, at some point, have tried to prove ourselves—especially to people who underestimate or judge us. It’s a pretty common experience. Back in school, we tried to impress parents, classmates, and teachers, often through grades, achievements, or behavior. We thought if we did well enough, they’d see our worth. But as we grow up, that audience expands. Suddenly, we’re trying to win the approval of coworkers, bosses, romantic partners, family members, and even strangers online.

If your most loving ex-boyfriend came back and asked for another chance, would you say yes?

It’s a question a lot of girls get asked—sometimes by others, but more often, by themselves. And there’s never one simple answer. Everyone’s situation is unique, shaped by different experiences, emotions, and circumstances. For some people, the idea of getting back with an ex feels like a definite no. For others, it’s more complicated.

From the moment we are born, we are constantly faced with difficulties, troubles, and obstacles. It’s something every human being experiences — the only differences are in the size and intensity of the challenges we face. Life doesn’t give anyone a free pass. At every stage, we deal with different problems, and each one helps shape who we are becoming.

Loving others is something that comes naturally to most people—unless they’re dealing with emotional or psychological challenges like affective disorders. But being loved? That’s a universal craving. We all want to feel cherished, seen, and appreciated, no matter who it's from.

From the time we’re little, we’re taught a very specific idea of bravery. It’s in every movie, every fairy tale, every heroic story: someone stands tall, faces danger, and saves the day. It’s bold, dramatic, and unforgettable. And there’s no doubt that these stories inspire us. They show us courage in its most vivid, cinematic form. But as we grow older, reality paints a different picture—one that’s far more subtle, but no less powerful.

When we’re growing up as girls, our lives are filled with movies, books, and stories that paint the picture of the perfect man. In these tales, the leading man seems almost flawless. Even if he has a few shortcomings, his most attractive qualities overshadow everything else. This constant portrayal creates a fantasy that somewhere out there, we’ll meet a man who has it all—a real-life perfect man.

However, when we start dating and falling in love, we quickly learn that real life isn’t like the movies. You might wonder why your partner, who initially appeared amazing, doesn’t quite live up to that fantasy. It often isn’t that he lacks the qualities you want; instead, it’s that you slowly raise your expectations. When someone ticks all the boxes, a few more requirements seem to emerge—and suddenly, the perfect man seems as elusive as ever.

 I think almost everyone has heard the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. It’s one of those childhood fables that sticks with us, even if we haven’t thought about it in years. In the story, a speedy hare laughs at a slow-moving tortoise. Annoyed, the tortoise challenges him to a race. The hare, confident he’ll win without breaking a sweat, dashes ahead and leaves the tortoise far behind. But then, sure of victory, he decides to take a nap. Meanwhile, the tortoise keeps moving—slow and steady. In the end, the tortoise crosses the finish line first. The hare wakes up, too late to win.

The moral message here is  Overconfidence and arrogance can be your downfall. Patience and persistence win in the end.

But let’s be honest—if this were real life, would the tortoise actually win? Probably not.

 In the last episode, we talked about how gaining an advanced degree often seems to indicate that a person has strong learning skills. In many ways, that’s true. Earning a higher degree—whether it’s a master’s, a doctorate, or a professional qualification—does require a lot of learning and the ability to absorb, understand, and apply knowledge. But is it entirely accurate to say that someone who has an advanced degree automatically has better learning skills than others? Not necessarily. The truth is, while having a degree may suggest strong learning ability, what really matters is how one learns—not just what one learns.

You know, when you meet someone who seems perfectly normal—kind, trustworthy, maybe even impressive—and then later, you realize they were the complete opposite? Like they were wearing a mask the whole time. It’s a strange, uncomfortable feeling, and unfortunately, it’s not all that rare. The more people we meet, the more we realize how easy it is to be misled. Judging others—consciously or not—is something we all do, especially when we’re trying to figure out who’s safe, who we can trust, and who we want to build relationships with.

Since we were kids, we’ve been taught that we have to win—especially when it comes to the big competitions. Being a winner isn’t just about trophies or gold medals; it’s often seen as a ticket to a better future. Good grades, awards, leadership roles—they’re all supposed to prove that you’re special, capable, and worthy of success. Whether it’s applying to top universities or getting a prestigious job, the message is clear: winning matters.

But as we grow older, the pressure only gets worse. The stakes get higher. If you want a better life, a better job, a higher position, you’re told that you need to outshine everyone else. And there are only so many spots. That dream lifestyle—the one we all see on social media or in movies—looks so good, but so many people are chasing it and only a few ever “make it.” So we start running, pushing ourselves to be faster, smarter, more successful. And in a way, it’s understandable. We’re wired to want more, to improve, to be “the best.” But no matter how hard we try, there’s always only one winner. And most of us aren’t going to be that person.

Have you ever wondered why so many people stay in unhappy relationships for years, only to eventually walk away? One major reason is something called the sunk cost fallacy. It’s a term from economics, but it plays out in our emotions and personal lives more often than we think.