Ning-Jia.com

Death is the ultimate certainty, the one truth no mortal escapes. Yet, across millennia, humanity has met this finality with a defiant roar, crafting stories, philosophies, and myths to wrestle meaning from the void. This defiance against finality—the refusal to accept death as a mere end—is not just a coping mechanism; it is the heartbeat of human imagination, a rebellion that shapes our cultures, drives our quests for purpose, and elevates our existence beyond the ephemeral. From the Elysian Fields of Greek mythology to modern dreams of digital immortality, this impulse reveals a profound truth: to be human is to reject the notion that our story concludes in silence. The Roots of Rebellion The defiance begins with grief, that raw wound left by loss. To grieve is to confront death’s theft—of love, presence, potential—and to refuse its verdict. This instinct pulses through history. Ancient Egyptians mummified their dead, equipping them for the Field of Reeds, believing the soul could n...

Nostalgia is about relevance. People who reminisce about the "good ol' days" are not truly reminiscing about the "good ol' days.". They actually are looking back to an era when they felt relevant in society—when they understood that era's technologies, customs, and society. They have lost that relevance, not through any fault of their own, but because the demographics they connected with are slowly fading away. That's the hard truth. It's sad to witness, but if we ourselves cling to that sense of relevance too far into old age, it will lead only to despair too. A more graceful way to age is to let go of the need for relevance. Embrace a quieter role in society and find contentment with the friends and family who remain by our side. Treasure every moment as a bonus to enjoy with others. It's never too late to do so anyway. Note: this was proofread by Grok AI.  P/s: I wonder how I’d feel reading this in my own old age.

As I started my career, I wanted to be an entrepreneur because it seemed they were doing so much good for the world while earning well by doing what they excelled at. But when I became one, I saw how many were just cheating and lying their way through. I dropped out. As I began consulting, I admired speakers. Standing on stage, getting paid, and sharing cutting-edge technology and ideas—what a life! But when I became a speaker, I noticed how many just recycled the same topics for years with no fresh ideas. I dropped out. As I started writing thought leadership articles, I was in awe of writers. Publishing book after book, researching hundreds of companies, and collaborating with thousands of people to share groundbreaking knowledge in the social sciences. But when I began writing my own book, I saw how many were just publishing for the sake of saying they wrote a book. I dropped out... I don’t even need to talk about titles like "Dato" or "Tan Sri." What I’ve learne...