1. Q&A

1. I thought about death when I was knocked out by a virus infection several years ago. At that time, I thought I was gonna die after a continual fever for a week. When I did recover from my fever, I barely had any strength to walk around out of my house. I can still recall that I was lying in the bed, terrifed that I may die, weeping at the thought of what would happen once I leave the world. That experience brings me to the realization that death is literally not far away and is a part of our destiny that we lose control of. And all the adversities in life pale into insignificance.

2. Knowing then u die helps u realize there is no reason to ever give on to one's fear or embarrassment or shame.

The sunny side of death is that it helps u obliterates all the crappy, fragile, superficial values in life. U can focus on What really counts in your life.

3. That was a long time ago. When I was at middle school, I alway felt good about myself since I always aced the exams and ranked top on the leaderboard. At that time, I tried to get self-assurance through those numbers and good comments on me. However, things changed after I went to high school. There were a bunch of students good at study。And as what we learnt became increasely complex and esoteric, I found myself suck at some subjects. Everyone really studied their ass out and I was just one of them. Every day I buried myself in a pile of books. Whever I failed to get the result I expected in exams, I felt depressed and self-depreciating. The first year in high school helps me realize that i don't need to compare myself to others. No one can be excellent in every aspect. My value should be surpassing my former self rather than transcending others. In this sense, that experience is a turning point.

2. 感悟

Confronting the reality of our own mortality is important Because it obliterates all the crappy, fragile, superficial values in life.

我们要直面自己总有一天会消失这一事实。这很重要。因为它会抹去我们人生中那些糟糕，脆弱，肤浅的价值观。还有什么比死亡更让人恐惧呢。一些生活中小小的矛盾，冲突，或者经历的挫折，病痛在死亡的面前都不再显得重要了。因为只要人还活着，就总有机会去改变些什么，时时提醒自己我们总有死去的那天让我们更珍惜今生，将活着的每一分钟奉献给珍贵的人和真正有价值的事情。

3. Words&phrases

Still not putting two-and-two together, I hurried down to the shoreline.

to figure out sth based on the fact

We should put two and two together before we take action.

And that's when it all came out: the waterworks.

crying

turn on the waterworks

I am afraid that she might turn on her waterworks again.

They are the barometets of meaning and worth in our life.

sth that indicates what will happen.

Weight and skin are the barometer of our health condition.