The first day of the Lunar New Year

If you suddenly had some money to spare, what would you do with it? And if you suddenly had a long stretch of free time, how would you use it?

I need to pause before answering. I have never examined either question as seriously as I should. In the past, when I received money—perhaps a New Year red envelope—I either left it in my wallet or handed all of it to my parents, thinking that was the dutiful thing to do. Looking back, I missed a chance to learn how to manage money. The first response was overly cautious; the second lacked thought. I now think I could show care for my family by learning to put money to work responsibly for our future together.

I often wasted free time too: hours of games, short videos, or aimless talk. Later I began reading and paying for courses, which looked more purposeful, but I still did plenty without asking what it would help me make or do. Over years, that left me behind some of my peers.

After those mistakes, I want to think before acting and prepare before committing. If I want to understand money, I need to study finance properly. If I want to make good use of time, I need to be clear about what I mean by it and what I value. I also need to strengthen the basics: logic, hands-on practice, reflection, and a better command of AI tools.

I did not accomplish many tasks today, but I spent much more time with family and friends. I saw childhood companions, with whom I still feel at ease. Time with family matters even more to me; they are the people I most want to give my time, energy, and money to. I am home for only a short while, so this is the time to see people and be present with them.

Perhaps that is what the Spring Festival holiday is really for.