#071 A message to my future self (08/10/2023)

Photo: Taken while walking on Wednesday night. I often walk alone at night and feel like I'm not good enough.

To the future me:

Every day I try to face everything more positively. I see my friends who graduated around the same time as me gradually becoming more successful in their careers and their lives becoming more stable. Meanwhile, I feel like a kid still playing some kind of "entrepreneurial game." I want to be surrounded by people who can provide a good life; I don't want them to wait for me indefinitely. Now that I'm this age, every time I think about this, I can't help but doubt whether I'm on the right path. I want my parents to not worry; I want to provide them with security and a stable life, because without them, I wouldn't be here. Now that I'm grown up and this age, when I start thinking about having children, I realize that while money is important for parents, knowing how to properly raise and educate them, and being good parents, is truly not easy. If I have the opportunity, I would like to pass on my knowledge to my children, hoping to raise a kind, upright, and resilient child.

Yesterday, I heard another customer praising the Re Pillow 3 + Pro Add-On, saying it's much better than their previous pillows, and they no longer have headaches or neck pain after sleeping. They also shared their past experiences buying pillows, such as a Korean pillow that was great for two days but flattened after a week, and certain well-known brands that couldn't be waited for. So they thought ours was great. Honestly, when they tell me these real stories over the phone or face-to-face in the store, and not just one or two, but a consistent purchase, I inevitably feel sorry for them and think I can't just give up. But sometimes it's really difficult.

To my future self, could you offer me some confidence? Because I genuinely find this daily life a bit tough. I recently read Gary Vaynerchuk's *Twelve and a Half*, where he mentions how, in his twenties, when he took over his father's wine business, he saw his friends making far more money than him, while he was stuck with this small wine business, which was quite discouraging. But after ten years, the business finally thrived, and everything became worthwhile. The rest is history. Gary uses this to encourage those starting a business, especially at the beginning, to have patience. Deep down, I know I can do it too, but I'm afraid time won't wait for me. I wonder if it's worth sacrificing the simple, peaceful happiness of living with those around me for my ideals. Sometimes I really doubt myself.

To my future self, I know you can't answer me, so I'm writing this letter to you as a record of this moment, so I can look back on it someday. I hope that by then, I will feel, like Gary, that all the difficult days were worthwhile.

Liang Liheng

07/10/2023