Author: 杨函霖
Company: O&Y Business Trading
Field: Durian Wholesale & Distribution, Health & Beauty
《Like My Name “函霖”, I Hope to Be Like Timely Rain That Nourishes All Things, While Being Deeply Nourished by the Gentleness of Life》
Looking back on the 38 years of my life, I think it is finally time to reflect on how I arrived where I am today. When people are at their most vulnerable, there are often two possible states of mind: one is to feel sorry for ourselves and blame life for the hardships we have endured; the other is to refuse to accept defeat. With a stubborn determination, I chose the latter and kept pushing forward.
When I think about the first half of my life, much of it was carried by one thing — sheer determination.
From birth to 18, my journey was one of hardship and perseverance. As the saying goes, “The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold.” As a child, I was stubborn and strong-willed. I often felt abandoned and mistrusted, yet somewhere deep inside me, a seed of resilience quietly took root. Back then, I was like an unsharpened sword, waiting to be forged through experience.
From 18 to 30, life became a period of struggle and persistence. “Better to be a lion for a day than a sheep for a hundred years.” At 18, I made the bold decision to leave my hometown. The more people told me I could not do something, the more determined I became to prove that I could. Relationships and career brought countless twists and turns, but I relied on that same determination to survive them. The journey was often painful, yet I still chose to live with positivity and enthusiasm.
From 30 to 40, I entered a decade of constant learning and reinvention. “The arts are many; through repeated refinement, steel is forged.” I have always loved learning, although I am also known for having “three-minute enthusiasm” and have explored many different industries. Strangely enough, those seemingly scattered experiences gradually shaped the person I am today. In the past, I may have carried many knives but none of them were sharp enough. Today, I have learned not only how to sharpen them, but also how to use them with purpose. As I approach 40, people often ask me how I manage to do so many different things. Perhaps the answer lies precisely in that curiosity and “three-minute enthusiasm” that has continued to push me forward.
I am also a true food lover. If you ask me what kind of life I want, it must be like durian — rich in flavour, unforgettable, and impossible to ignore.
Those who know me are familiar with my strong presence and straightforward personality, especially when I am working. But standing at another crossroads in life, I find myself looking forward to the second half of my journey with a different heart.
After 40, I hope to enter a stage of greater maturity, gentleness and nourishment. For the years ahead, I want to broaden my heart and become softer. Instead of constantly charging forward and fighting every battle, I want to learn acceptance, reflection, and how to live in greater harmony with the world.
My first half of life was shaped by perseverance and resilience. For the second half, I look forward to moving forward with greater tolerance, calmness and grace.
Like my name “函霖”, I hope to be like timely rain that nourishes all things, while being deeply nourished by the gentleness of life.