Another Year

Sigh, I’m really 30 years old now. I have to admit, after reaching 21 or 22, life just flies by, and it’s just a matter of getting through each year. This past year has been filled with many significant events - buying a house, getting married, going on a honeymoon, and my paper winning an award for the first time. Logically, this past year should have been incredibly exciting, with a clear main storyline and intricate subplots. However, the truth is that I’ve been troubled and confused throughout the year. Perhaps it’s because my life has been too comfortable, and I’ve unknowingly become lazy.

This year, I missed a deadline for reviewing a paper for the first time, and I also missed two grant application deadlines. I promised to help a colleague write a book, but I couldn’t deliver the manuscript on time. I also promised to write a letter of recommendation for a student, but I couldn’t submit it on time. I lost interest in writing a paper after just a few sentences, and I kept putting off helping others revise their manuscripts. I couldn’t even find the time to work on my own research.

To comfort myself, I’ve been making excuses for my procrastination, saying that teaching is too exhausting. But upon reflection, I realize that teaching isn’t that tough, and I don’t spend most of my time preparing lessons. I usually put things off until the last minute and then hastily find something to get by.

Sometimes, I really feel like I don’t understand myself.

Finally, following the usual pattern of writing down my expectations for the new year:

I hope that in 2018, I can clearly define my short-term and long-term goals and then work diligently to achieve them, one step at a time.

In the end, I must remember this piece of advice: 吃得苦中苦方为人上人. Continue to work hard.