We don't want to relive our youth; we just want to hold on to the clarity of this moment. When the legend comes to an end, cherish our golden age of "now".
1. Buffett is stepping down, marking the end of a legendary era!
The renowned American investor Warren Buffett announced in his annual Thanksgiving letter to shareholders on the 10th that he plans to step down as the CEO of the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year.
However, he will continue to serve as the chairman of the company's board and will temporarily retain a "considerable amount" of shares.
Buffett wrote in the letter that although he felt generally fine, he was moving slowly and had difficulty reading. Buffett stated that he would no longer write the annual letter for Berkshire Hathaway and would not speak at the company's shareholders' meeting.
When the news came, a chill ran through my heart. "Slow actions, difficulty in reading", the irresistible sense of aging reminded us:
life has its own conclusion.
Buffett, as the familiar and trusted benchmark of our times, will eventually move away from us. This news, like a warning, makes us ponder over our own lives.
2. Life would be much better if we could linger more!
- Being young is wonderful, but we are even better now.
When we were young, in our twenties and thirties, we had youth and lived freely and unrestrainedly.
We chased our future and were trapped by emotions.
We fell into many pitfalls and did many things we regretted.
Today, looking back on the past, we finally understand that without the ups and downs of yesterday, how could we have the wisdom and composure of today?
The renowned actress Chen Chong is in her late 50s, approaching 60. She said that she is now living with greater passion because she has come to understand certain things and knows what will happen to her as she gets older. Therefore, she feels more urgency now than ever before, as she perceives that her remaining days are getting fewer...
The most wonderful state of life might be "now".
We have finally "understood": we have grasped what is important and what is just a passing cloud; we possess the ability to solve problems and the calmness to face gains and losses; we have the wisdom of love and being loved. This is the true wealth that we truly don't want to lose.
The saying goes: "I really wish I could be young again, with my current mind, my current experience, and my current clarity." Otherwise, it's better to just let it be.
- Compared to age, what we need is clarity:
Warren Buffett is the ultimate embodiment of this "clarity".
His value investment philosophy, in a sense, is a symbol of "maintaining composure over a long period of time and winning the future with profound insight".
His retirement seems to be reminding us that even the most extreme "clarity" has its limit.
Warren Buffett is 95 years old!
I'm wondering if I, at the age of 50, can live to his age? If I do reach his age, will I suffer from Alzheimer's disease? Will I be plagued by various diseases? Just thinking about this 40-year gap, which is a 40-year journey, can I be as lucky as Mr. Buffett?
Thinking about this, I feel completely lacking in confidence, so I completely understand actress Chen Chong's sudden enlightenment of "making the most of every moment".
3. Accept "limitations", and then you can better "cherish".
Because everything is limited, it becomes precious.
If youth remained forever, youth would no longer be charming;
if legends never ended, legends would no longer be legends.
The paradox of life lies in the fact that its beauty and its brevity are two sides of the same coin.
Therefore, sadness is not the end. True wisdom lies in extracting energy about our own lives from this "ending".
In investing, we recognize that capital and opportunities are limited, so we make decisions within our 'ability circle'.
The same is true for life.
Recognizing the limitation of life allows us to devote valuable energy to people and things within the 'value circle'.
Therefore, sadness is not the end. True wisdom lies in extracting energy about our own lives from this 'inevitable ending'.
Buffett's value investment philosophy centers on 'maintaining composure in the long river of time'. And our investment in life, perhaps its core, is 'remaining awake in the passage of time'
- valuing our health (our core asset)，
- loving the people around us (our long-term partners)，
- and focusing on doing the work at hand (our compound interest enterprise)."
4. Return to the present, seize the moment
The past is gone, the future is unknown. All we can do is the present, the now.
So, there is no need to lament the bygone days, nor to fear the approaching tomorrow.
There will be new stars on Buffett's stage, but our 'now' is the only and most brilliant stage for us.
Let's use what he taught the world about 'long-termism' to invest in our own lives - cherish the present health, love those around us wholeheartedly, do our tasks with focus, remain curious and keep learning.
A legendary page will eventually be turned, but our story is being written right now. This might be the best tribute to all the endings.
Reference from 《China news》