Running Reimagined: Smart Plans for Everyone [81b4]

"When you show others the world you see without telling them how to get there, you're actually being a rogue."

- Jiang Sida

"Hello, Squid Brother, may I ask how you make money through running?""

On the evening of January 8th, just before heading out for a run, I opened Codoon and saw this private message.

To be honest, my first reaction was that this was simply an upgraded version of"Do you run all day and not go to work?""question.

I do work! I work from Monday to Friday. It's only on Saturdays and Sundays that I run marathons.

I really do work!

Before heading out, I quickly replied with a few sentences:I have a full-time job at China Mobile. Running, for me, is something I spend money on to please myself. As for making money from running, unless you're at the level of a top domestic athlete, it can only be a hobby. Thank you for your trust and sharing, but perhaps reading is a way to change oneself. Let's encourage each other.

The last sentence in the chat box stayed at"Perhaps reading is a way to change oneself. Let's encourage each other.""

Then, I went out for a run.

Running has different meanings for everyone. For me, at certain moments, it's a way to have a conversation with myself.

That day, while running, my mind kept thinking about that question.

"Hello, Squid Brother, may I ask how you make money through running?"

At the 3-kilometer mark, I thought of Jiang Sida's classic quote from a debate on "U Can U Bibi":"When you show others the world you see without telling them how to get there, you're actually being a rogue.""

While thinking, I turned and entered Su Causeway, encountering a few runners coming towards me. We exchanged thumbs-up gestures as we passed.

At that moment, I thought of a book I read recently, which said that we often say a lot of meaningless things, some seemingly pointless questions.

But within those words, there are underlying messages.

Those who say goodnight to you or ask if you've eaten are expressing, "I care about you."

So, when he asked, "How do you make money through running?" what he really wanted to ask was how to change his current confusion and dissatisfaction.

I thought of my final reply, "Perhaps reading is a way to change oneself. Let's encourage each other."

I wondered if my reply was appropriate.

In "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store," Grandpa Namiya said that everyone who comes with worries actually has the answer in their hearts. They just want to confirm their decision is right.

So after finishing my run, I gave a more thoughtful and detailed reply.

Because of running, I began to understand that running and reading are the most cost-effective ways to improve oneself.

Through running, I connected and broke through many barriers.It allowed me to enter many worlds I never thought I could, meeting interesting people with qualities I admired.

From the race director, I learned:How to show care for runners in every detail of the race.

From serious runners, I felt:The charm of someone who is dedicated to their hobby and finds joy in it.

From media friends, I learned:That communication is a three-dimensional game of connecting points to form lines and covering surfaces.

From Lao Zhao, I learned:That the layout of a public account shouldn't be as aesthetically unpleasing as his (even though his account is called "Handsome Bucktooth Zhao")...

These are the benefits I've gained from running.

As for reading, some say it can cleanse your soul, help you grow, let you see more of the world, and provide spiritual insights.

But actually, that's not always the case.

Things like travel, being artsy, and reading are never magic cures, but why do we mention reading?

Just like running doesn't make everyone money, why do we run?

Because running and reading are things that please ourselves and bring us joy.

In the end, they can even become intertwined, with experiences that can be cross-referenced.

Not long ago, I watched a sports video called "CBA Documentary: Peak Showdown," which is about Du Feng and Adijiang in the CBA Finals.

In the video, there's a segment where Du Feng scolds young players and then recalls his own experiences.

He said, "When I was on the national team, the veteran players shared their experiences with me, and I followed their advice. That was so valuable; it was wisdom they had gained over many years, and it helped me avoid many detours."

Reading is the same.

A book is a condensation of an author's years, decades, or even a lifetime of experiences. Each book represents the author's experiences and values. For the price of a hamburger, we can see many things we couldn't experience ourselves and understand another person's perspective.

We may not be able to go to many places or have the energy to experience many things, but we can read many books.

We don't necessarily need to gain knowledge, wisdom, or shortcuts from books, but reading has at least two benefits:

First, it allows us to view the world more objectively.

Second, it lets us try to enter someone else's world.

You will start to understand why people make different choices and why the world is so diverse, making us more peaceful.

Perhaps the best state for a person is to be at peace.

We will gain some things and lose others. We will lose contact with some people and become familiar with others; sometimes we feel pessimistic, sometimes optimistic, and sometimes we feel alone.

Reading lets us know that we are not alone.

Many emotions you think are unique to you have been experienced by others. Look, they've written them down.

That's why I tell everyone that running and reading are the two things you should never neglect.

Because the benefits they bring are the ones we can feel the most.

"The world is vast. The books you've read and the miles you've run will slowly become a part of you. The clarity you gain in the future is because you never stopped thinking."

This morning, I opened Codoon again and received a response to my reply.

That response reaffirmed to me that kindness can indeed be passed on, just like in the ending of "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store," where the person who helped others was ultimately helped by those he had assisted.

At that moment, I might have found the best answer to that question.

"Hello, Squid Brother, may I ask how you make money through running?"

Many things can't become our profession, but that doesn't stop us from investing energy into them.

Under the premise of a comfortable life, cultivating a small skill, whether it's flower arranging or painting, can make life full of joy.

Then let this small skill become your unique point.

Having one or two talents of your own might lead to a turning point, something that sets you apart from others.

Then do the things others are unwilling to do to get what they want but haven't achieved.

And then, keep going and wait for your own beautiful moments to happen.

At the end of this article, I still want to say thank you.

Thank you for letting me realize that I can unintentionally give you some strength, and I hope that in the future, you can also unintentionally give others some strength. Writing this article is to remember and continue these moments.

One story can become two stories, and two stories can become more stories, even if they are unrelated in the end, it doesn't matter.

That's enough.

This world is not so bright, but fortunately, it's not so dark either.

This world has always been a mix of beauty and ugliness. Some people you can't communicate with or understand, and some things make you feel sick. But some people make you feel warm and strong, and some things simply make you laugh.

Running might make money, but it requires talent, effort, professionalism, and some elusive luck. It's not an easy path.

But meeting like-minded people through a hobby and growing together with them is something we can truly grasp.