2025.07.28 - In the Heat, a Middle-Aged Woman Selling Watermelons

2025.07.28 – A Middle‑Aged Woman Selling Watermelons in the Heat

Reading Highlights:

The so‑called cultivation of the self lies in rectifying the heart: when the body harbors resentment, it cannot be upright; when it harbors fear, it cannot be upright; when it harbors pleasure, it cannot be upright; when it harbors worry, it cannot be upright. If the heart is not there, one sees without seeing, hears without hearing, eats without tasting. This is what is meant by cultivating the self by rectifying the heart. — The Great Learning

A Middle‑Aged Woman Selling Watermelons in the Heat

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ZCbJJQh8QNam4A947BfEog

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1aT8RzwE8E/
When I finish an article I usually refer to the protagonist as “she.” Does that mean I don’t know her name? No—I do know it. What I write is not only about her, and she does not represent only herself. I know her name, but how could I possibly know the countless names of all the “her’s” out there? Yet we all recognize that they share a common label: the working people, whose character is resilient and whose spirit is unyielding. We look up to them, we praise them, we become them. I am modestly proud to be able to help them, and proud to be their son. This is my honor and my destiny.

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Can Workplace Friction Be Healed?

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aLShKK4qRfB9WAKN7C9aYg
People in the workplace can’t eliminate internal friction once and for all. So how do we start by changing ourselves, clearing our mindset, and fostering positive emotions? Don’t let “overthinking” become “being unable to act.” Don’t let “what others think” drown out “what you do.” Don’t let “meaninglessness” turn into inaction. Work is never a staged drama that requires a constantly perfect persona. Instead of rehearsing endless internal monologues, it’s better to keep your feet firmly on the ground—after all, what defeats you is never the job itself but the relentless inner tug‑of‑war.

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Nora | The Most Important Question of Life – Knowing Yourself

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/p3x662t1_TLPe1q7vIeQmA
Every therapeutic aim is to bring about some change in the patient’s life. Each modality tries to achieve this through different pathways—physical therapy works through the body, psychotherapy through mind and spirit. Interestingly, as practitioners of Five‑Element Acupuncture we wear both hats: we treat the body and heal the soul, a combination almost unique to our art. In all treatments we must not overlook the role we play. Every therapist inevitably becomes part of the therapeutic process. Thus, healing is bidirectional, and compared with other approaches, some modalities actually value—or even welcome—the therapist’s contribution more. During our training to become Five‑Element Acupuncturists we spend a great deal of time studying the subtle dynamics of the doctor‑patient relationship and the importance of meeting patients’ needs appropriately.

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The Dog Days: Harnessing Seasonal Heat to Expel Cold – “Treat Winter Illnesses in Summer”

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/blwzT3jSWR0YZpu4Lgupvw
When a heat wave sweeps the land, the calendar enters the hottest chapter of the year—the “dog days.” As poet Bai Juyi wrote in Bamboo Window: “It is the dog days, the weather hot as soup.” This period is the peak of temperature and the time when Yang energy is at its strongest in nature. As the saying goes, “Treat winter ailments in summer.” For many “cold‑type” people whose hands and feet are icy in winter, the abundant Yang energy of this season is a rare treasure. The dog days are an ideal time to use the season’s vigor to drive out lingering internal cold and strengthen the body’s fundamentals. How can we wisely use this timing to dispel old chill and improve our constitution? Today we’ll explore the topic from a structural perspective. Also see: Dog Days: Sleep Less, but Never Do These Three Things!

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Want to Learn Chinese Medicine? Stop Over‑Analyzing Theory! Start “Doing,” Even with Zero Background

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iCvSPnUEu3pns6-OmDCQZw
If you want to study Chinese medicine, you don’t need to rush out and buy massive tomes. Begin with simple techniques: massage your own shoulders and neck, rub your family members’ foot soles, and feel the soreness and changes under your fingertips. When your hands can understand the body’s language and your techniques bring genuine comfort, the gate to Chinese medicine is already open. After all, knowledge that can cure illness is true knowledge; learning methods that help people are good methods. And a pair of hands is the most reliable tool for exploring the world of Chinese medicine.

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Originally written by Ping Xia (平侠) and published in Chinese on 拾一集 (Weekly Reflections). Translated and adapted for DriftSeas with permission.