Editor's Pick, Relationships

What Are Life’s Greatest Hardships?

The book Journey to the West is about a Tang monk and his disciples who underwent 9,981 hardships before they obtained the true scriptures and righteousness. Actually, life is full of hardships. Work, life, family, love, friendship — all of them are difficult. But what are life’s greatest hardships? Life’s greatest hardships and how to ...

Helen London

Monkey King in Edo Period Japanese woodblock painting.

How to Say No to People

Sometimes, the inability to utter a small word can lead to many complications and unpleasant developments in life. Millions of people have run into long-term hassles only because they were unable to say no to people. In the majority of instances, you may have evaded saying no to people’s requests and proposals because you had ...

Raven Montmorency

No.

A Sad Love Story

The following is a sad love story from China’s Warring States Period. Han Ping was a member of the court of Kang Wang, the King of Song State. Han’s wife, He Zhenfu, was as beautiful as the flowers, virtuous, kind, and well-versed in writing poetry. Desiring her for her beauty, Kang kidnapped He Zhenfu and ...

Helen London

A Chinese woman with red parasol dressed in hanfu surrounded by clouds and water.

Being Kind: It’s Better to Give Than Receive

Being kind to others can make you happy and benefit you both physically and emotionally. Warren Buffett is working hard to donate 99 percent of his US$110 billion fortune to charities. Many who have benefited from his donations write to him, not only to express gratitude to him, but also to tell him how his ...

Helen London

A woman holds out a golden gift box with ribbon.

3 Powerful Gems of Advice for the Long Road of Life

Good advice for life is priceless and it is also hard to come by. You learn valuable life lessons from your mother and father, your ancestors, a close and trusted friend, and sometimes from a complete stranger. When you receive advice about life from a stranger, how do you decide whether to trust this person? ...

Michael Segarty

A lonely road at night.

Act of Kindness: Man Receives Big Surprise by Supporting a Noodle Restaurant

The pandemic has had a global impact, especially on the hospitality industry. This is the story of how one Japanese man’s love for his local noodle restaurant and an act of kindness brought him an unexpected reward. He bought noodles from there every single day for six months, trying to make sure the business didn’t ...

Emma Lu

People eating at a counter in a Japanese restaurant while the chef grills meat in front of them.

Shower Some Love on Mother’s Day With These 10 DIY Gifts

Mothers are our biggest cheerleaders, our most honest critics, and they always have faith in us. Therefore, finding the perfect gift for Mother’s Day is always a challenge. Nothing readymade ever truly reflects the love and gratitude we feel. Therefore, opting for a DIY (do it yourself) gift will almost always guarantee a smile on ...

Emma Lu

Daughter giving a DIY gift to her mother on Mother's Day.

A Poignant Love Letter of an Unusual Kind

The day of my father’s funeral was met with an unusual encounter, as well as an unusual love letter. At the end of all the official funeral proceedings, I noticed an elderly lady in her seventies. Her grey hair was neatly styled, and she wore a hand-knitted black sweater with a small white flower corsage ...

Emma Lu

A pink lotus flower in bloom.