The word "tenacity" is kind of interesting.
Taken apart, it has a "Wei" character on the left and a "blade" character on the right.
In Shuowen Jie Zi, the interpretation of "Wei" is "cooked skin made of animal skins, which can be used to tie and correct crooked things". The Chinese interpretation of it is "cooked skin, processed animal skin." ”
The explanation of the word "blade" in "Shuowen Jie Zi" is "blade, the sharp edge of the knife, like a knife with a blade". The Chinese interpretation of "blade" is "the sharp part of a sword, etc.; knives, swords, and other weapons with sharp edges."
Wei" and "blade" form the word "tough", so the word "tough" is a combination of soft and hard, rigid and soft.
The interpretation of "toughness" in Shuowen Jie Zi is "soft and solid". That is, soft yet firm. This is similar to the Chinese interpretation, "soft and strong without breaking easily".
It seems that the word "toughness" is soft on the outside and rigid on the inside, which looks soft and gentle, but there is a hardness in the bones! It is soft, easy to deform, flexible and practical, but it is not weak, and it is not at the mercy of random and ravaged. It is not easy to break and break, because it is as strong and sharp as a "blade" in its bones.
Let's take a look at the words that contain the word "tough" with a high frequency, "tough", "flexible", "strong", "tough"..., all give people a sense of vitality is very tenacious!
From this word "tenacity", I seem to see the attitude and wisdom of life that people need in middle age.
People are approaching middle age, youth is gradually drifting away, and the decline of physical function is becoming more and more prominent. There is less and less time to be free, and there are more and more things that cannot be done by yourself. The energy is getting less and less, and the clutter and annoyance are often difficult to figure out. If you don't show some attitude and wisdom to face life, I'm afraid life will be very difficult!
At this time, people should be like the word "tenacity". Softer on the outside, more resolute on the inside! As you grow older and more experienced, you will become more and more aware that many people and many things will not work. Overcoming rigidity with softness and winning with wisdom is great wisdom. Therefore, "The Art of War" says that "a soldier who surrenders without a fight is also a good man".
After people are nearly middle-aged, they should really be like a "cooked skin, processed skin", remove the jerkiness and stiffness of the "raw skin", make themselves softer and moister, and show maturity and stability to people and things. Just like the "Wei" in the left half of the word "tough".
But on the other hand, after people are nearly middle-aged, the hardships in life are becoming more and more prominent. The physical state is gradually decreasing, the energy is becoming less and less, the life is old and young, and the work is often not able to go up and down, and the pressure in all aspects is unexpected. At this time, if people don't have a strong side, they really can't do it. Especially when encountering greater difficulties, there is no resolute momentum, no sharp "blade", when encountering on-demand difficulties, people may be stumped, or even crushed. There is a very vivid idiom called "solving the edge", and it is this "blade" force that is needed.
Therefore, people in middle age should have this "tenacity", soft on the outside and rigid on the inside, both rigid and soft. Be softer, moister, and wiser in dealing with the world. It is not easy to encounter the hardships of life, but you can face it strongly and bravely, and show an attitude of never giving up. Just like those words full of power, "pliable", "tough", "tough". In this way, we can not only endure the hardships of life, but also eat the sweetness of life.
From now on, make yourself "tough"!