The Little Things in Life

My friend and fellow dancer Justina Wang once wrote in my birthday card: “Don’t overlook the small things in life, sometimes it’s the little moments that boost happiness and fun!” It was valuable advice for me back then, because I was—and still kind of am—the sort of person who would run toward my goals as fast as possible, forgetting to smell the flowers along the way. After reading her words, I decided to slow down and really cherish the little things that happen around me.

One memory I’ve reminisced about was from years ago, when I first got accepted into Fei Tian Academy of the Arts. I was not very flexible back then, and I knew next to nothing about classical Chinese dance. One day, I was really upset, crying in my room and thinking about giving up. My roommate Ceci came in with a note and a few rice balls she had made for me, which she placed on the table before leaving to give me some personal space. That was the first of many notes, all with the same warmth and kindness, that gave me the courage to persevere over the years.

The note said:

Zhen! Don’t be sad! Eat these delicious rice balls, feel better and BE HAPPY! - from your AWESOME Roommate <3

There were so many notes like this one that got me through the initial years of training.

Learning dance was hard. Becoming flexible was hard. Grasping techniques was hard. Though coming this far was arduous, it was truly an amazing journey. Honestly, I never would’ve thought that I could do the flips and techniques that I can now. Overcoming these obstacles have turned me into a much stronger and more resilient person. But I didn’t make it alone; my friends and I did it side by side. I’m so grateful for all the people who had faith in me, who encouraged me when I didn’t even believe in myself.

I still run toward my goals, but I’ve also learned to enjoy the ride. For me, keeping an open mind and an open heart made day-to-day life much more meaningful, fun, and worth cherishing. I’ll always remember the good times I had with my friends at Fei Tian. I’m really grateful for all the people who entered my life and made it so bright and full of purpose. And I’m most grateful that life has put me exactly where I am and where I want to be—right here and right now.