Here are a few snapshots from daily life.
Last month, I purchased an item on Walmart's website for $14. By November 15, the same item was priced at $20. I've noticed similar price spikes for other products as well. After some research, I learned that businesses are preemptively adjusting prices in anticipation of tariff hikes expected next year. Perhaps I should start storing some basic necessities now to prepare for the heavy uncertainty we are facing now.
Most parents are familiar with the concept of school bullying, known as 霸凌 (bà líng) in Chinese. The first character, 霸 (bà), conveys "tyranny, dominance, or aggressiveness," while the second character, 凌 (líng), means "to insult, humiliate, bully or mistreat." Lately I'm wondering: do children learn this type of behavior from observing adults?
Recently, I witnessed—and even experienced—a mild form of bullying at the YMCA swimming pool. My friend Amy, who is four years older than me, jumped into the pool and began swimming on one side of the lane, as sharing lanes is common due to the limited space. However, a strong, assertive woman who was already swimming in the lane deliberately bumped into Amy, acting as if she hadn’t noticed her. “You’re in my way,” the woman said curtly.
Later, Amy shared her frustration with me. “She’s so aggressive!” she said. I replied that I’d had a similar experience and added, “Some people behave like school bullies, even though they are adults. The best we can do is avoiding them. Remember, the whole purpose of our coming to the gym is to stay healthy. Letting them upset us defeats that purpose.”
This advice applies not just to individuals but also to nations. Some countries behave like bullies on the global stage. For countries like China, whose primary goal is economic development and lifting its millions out of poverty, it’s crucial to stay focused on what truly matters and not allow distractions—or aggressors—to derail its progress toward achieving long-term objectives.