An escalator moves fast, but if you don’t walk with it, you’ll still fall behind someone jogging up the stairs.
An elevator may take you directly to your destination, yet it comes at a high cost and operates within clear limits.
So it is with the wisdom of those who came before us and the resources within our reach—valuable as they are, they remain external.
They can keep you from falling behind or ending up somewhere low—but they cannot promise higher climbs or farther horizons.
The real barriers are seldom resources or ability—more often, it’s the uncertainty of the path ahead and the resignation to stop climbing.
If you stand still while enjoying the convenience of resources, you’ll inevitably be left behind by those advancing steadily through their own effort. Only by using resources wisely while persistently learning and improving can you ascend higher, travel farther—perhaps even reach places no one has before.
But to truly enter untouched realms, your own two feet may no longer be enough. The depths of the sea, the expanse of the sky—these are paths yet to be made. Here, you must build the way: invent tools—planes, submarines, rockets.
The materials may already be around you, but few dare to try, to refine those tools, or to create entirely new ones. Every great invention of the past, just like today’s big data and large models, is the result of years of exploration and repeated trial and error.
So sometimes, it’s worth pausing to ask: What kind of “path” am I on—stairs, an escalator, or an elevator? How can I make the most of the resources and experiences I already have, instead of pacing back and forth, appearing busy but going nowhere?
Once you find your direction, commit to it—Make your choice right, not just “right”.
Of course, there’s more than one way to live. A life without clear goals, lived freely, is also valid. But what platforms and opportunities are you willing to give up for that kind of freedom? Often, it’s moving forward—not lingering in place—that brings true fulfillment.
Compared to mountain trails, stairs are “easy”—compared to the path of growth, they’re far too clear, far too straightforward. The milestones of growth aren’t like steps and landings—they’re more like winding paths through endless hills. Insight comes from observation; progress comes from self-reflection. There are no clear markers or ratings. So pausing now and then to reflect and recalibrate isn’t laziness—it’s a deeper kind of progress.
After all, real growth comes from steadfast steps taken once you’ve found your way.
— Xiao Chen Stories
July 13, 2025, 7–9 p.m.
