2023 maybe time to become a selfless hero, Chinese way, "行俠仗義”; #BeBig or #ActSmall? Holiday movies recommendation, Happy new year!
俠士 as imagined by ERNIE-ViLG Chinese text AI model

2023 maybe time to become a selfless hero, Chinese way, "行俠仗義”; #BeBig or #ActSmall? Holiday movies recommendation, Happy new year!

Wishing you, family & friends all have a great start to 2023.

I wonder how we can measure up in 2023 (me included), from individual to celebrities/ billionaires to charity/corporations: (short poem by me, translated by GPT3.5)

My Poem for you:

English

Think Big: Unite and build; 
Act Small: Divide and conquer.

French

Pensez grand: Unissez-vous et construisez; 
Agissez en petit: Divisez et conquérez.

Chinese (Simplified): 

想大一点:团结并建立; 
小打小闹:分裂并征服。

Maybe we can Ask, Learn & Do (the right thing) finally in 2023 ... 

#AskTheRightQuestion #BeBigOrSmall (please ponder above 5 to 10mins)

(slightly cringy but self challenged to make more YouTube video, above my first try using pictory.AI, it could have been better.. next time!)

"行俠仗義"(xing xia zhang yi)

diagram, screen capture of the state of europe and the populations in different countries in 300BCE
Fascinating only 300,000 people in Briton in 300BCE ! great animated video via link to this picture.

The Chinese philosophy of "行俠仗義"(xing xia zhang yi), has been a cornerstone of our culture for centuries. Its roots can be traced back to the teachings of philosophers Mencius  (孟子) and Mozi (墨子), who lived around 300 BCE during the time of Alexander the Great. In today's world, it is more important than ever to adopt this ideal and strive to be selfless in our actions and decisions.

(I'm not a historian, in fact only took an interest about 10yrs back, so history professors please do jump in and tell us the true historical origin of 行俠仗義!)

As we all know, the world is facing many challenges right now - de-globalization, nationalistic sentiments, and an "us over them" mindset that seems to be everywhere. We've seen the consequences of this kind of thinking with leaders like Trump and even Elon Musk, who have prioritized their own whims/ interests over the well-being of others.

As we all know, the world is facing many challenges right now. From de-globalization and rising nationalism to the proliferation of selfish, me-first attitudes, it can be hard to know how to move forward in a positive way. That's where the idea of 俠士 (xia shi=selfless heroism) comes in.

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俠士 as imagined by Ernie

At its core, 俠士 is about putting the needs of others before your own. It's about being willing to stand up for what's right, even if it means personal sacrifice. It's about working hard, developing & using your skills and abilities to help others, rather than just seeking personal glory.

Now, I know this may sound a bit foreign to some of you, especially if you're used to the Western ideal of narcissistic heroism (or suffered from entitlement syndrome). But I believe that the Chinese concept of 俠士 has a lot to offer us in this day and age.

For one thing, 俠士 promotes cooperation and harmony. In a world where it can be tempting to put our own interests above those of others, 俠士 reminds us that we are all in this together. By focusing on the common good, we can work together to create positive change.

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俠士 as imagined by Ernie

Additionally, 俠士 calls us to stand up against injustice and wrongdoing. Whether it's individuals, governments, or corporations behaving badly, 俠士 encourages us to speak out and take action to halt these negative behaviors.

So, how can we adopt this selfless ideal in our own lives? Here are a few actionable steps to get you started:

  1. Practice empathy and compassion. Try to see the world through the eyes of others and consider their needs and perspectives.
  2. Stand up for what's right, even if it's not easy. Don't be afraid to speak out against injustice and wrongdoing.
  3. Seek out opportunities to help others. Whether it's volunteering at a local charity or simply offering a kind word to a friend in need, look for ways to make a difference in the lives of those around you.
  4. Celebrate and promote the initiatives of others. Whether it's a domestic, national, or international effort, recognise and support the efforts of others to create positive change and take one step towards fixing the world.

By adopting the selfless ideal of 俠士, we can work together to create a better world for everyone. So let's embrace this idea and make it a part of our lives in 2023 and beyond!

May 2023 be a great start for everyone no matter how many challenges we might face going forward.

some links:

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Holiday time.. my recommendation for you (might be chinese version of "It's a wonderful life") #MustWatch for the KungFu un-initiated: legendary comical cross genre Kung Fu Hustle by Stephen Chow, interesting breakdown video below (spoilers included, so suggest you watch it first!):

Forget Avatar 2.. Kung Fu Hustle 2 is something most of us is looking forward to.

春秋戰國:孟子和墨子都行俠仗義,為何儒家墨家之間卻爭論不休?

在中國人身上,有一種精神叫行俠仗義,何為行俠?何為仗義?

This is a real life example.. seems like USA need thousands of them.. or just less guns:

Happy 2023 Gareth and the girls! Can't fault xing xia zhang yi for my new year's resolution. Cheers!

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