I wonder if any of you have ever thought about this: if one day, in the middle of the night, you suddenly felt hungry or unwell, who would be willing to crawl out of their warm bed to prepare you something to eat, pour you a cup of warm water, and keep checking on you to see if you’re feeling any better? I imagine that for many people, the first person who springs to mind would be their mum or dad, or perhaps the person closest to them sleeping right beside them.

When we were children, we always took these things for granted. When we were hungry, someone would prepare a meal; when we were ill, someone would look after us; and when we were upset, someone would be there to listen. Back then, we didn’t overthink things; we simply felt that all of this was natural and to be expected. But as we’ve grown up and experienced more of life, we’ve gradually realised that, in this world, there really aren’t that many people who are willing to look after us in this way.

Apart from our parents, there may also be someone who truly loves us and is willing to share their life with us.

I once read a quote: ‘The greatest treasures in life are nothing more than a hearty meal and being loved.’ I really like this quote.

I used to think that a good life meant having a stable income, owning your own home, being able to buy whatever you wanted, and going wherever you pleased. These things are, of course, very important. After all, we have to be practical; meeting our basic daily needs requires money. However, no matter how good one’s living conditions may be, if you come home every day and there’s no one with whom you can have a proper chat or share your innermost thoughts, you’re bound to feel that something is missing.

On the other hand, even if you aren’t particularly well-off, as long as there’s someone by your side who genuinely cares about you—someone willing to help you find a solution when you face difficulties, and someone willing to share in your joy—that sense of security is a rare form of happiness. I believe that true support does not necessarily mean doing something earth-shattering for the other person. It might simply mean saving some dinner for them when you know they’ve had a tiring day at work, or sitting quietly by their side when you know they’ve been feeling down, without rushing to ask a barrage of questions. Sometimes, a simple ‘Are you all right?’ is enough to make someone feel warm inside.The bonds between people are, in fact, built up bit by bit through these little moments in everyday life. Speaking of companionship, I also believe it is no easy feat. For two people to meet is a matter of fate. But to live together for many years, going through so many different experiences, and still be willing to look after and understand one another—that truly requires putting your heart into nurturing the relationship. After all, life cannot run smoothly every single day.

There will be times of stress, arguments, and disagreements over the little things in life. Everyone has their own temperament and moments when they’re in a bad mood. What’s truly rare isn’t that two people never have any disagreements, but that when problems arise, they’re still willing to communicate, understand one another, and make an effort to nurture the relationship.

Moreover, I’ve found that people can be quite contradictory at times. We’re particularly polite to strangers and make a point of saying ‘thank you’. Yet with those who are by our side every day, we’re all too prone to overlook what they do for us.

Perhaps it’s because we’ve become too accustomed to it. We’ve grown used to having meals prepared for us, to someone taking an interest in our lives, and to the certainty that, no matter what happens, there’ll always be a familiar face waiting for us when we turn around. Over time, we forget that these things aren’t actually a given. No one is inherently obliged to make sacrifices for another person. When someone is willing to look after you, care for you and keep you company, it is because they care about you, not because they have to. So I believe that if you are lucky enough to meet such a person, you really must learn to cherish them.Don’t always assume there’s plenty of time ahead and that many things can be put off until later. When you feel the urge to show your parents you care, give them an extra phone call; when you want to thank those around you, simply say ‘thank you’; and when you have the time, sit down for a proper meal with your family. In truth, you don’t need a special reason to cherish someone, nor do you have to wait for a significant occasion. Often, simply being willing to spend a little more time with them and show a little more care is more than enough. As we move through the different stages of life, we come to realise more and more that we can keep earning money and working towards the things we want. But once time has passed, it truly cannot be reclaimed. Once certain people have left our lives, we may never have the chance to see them again.

So, rather than constantly thinking about how much I’ll have in the future, I now feel that truly cherishing the people around me and making the most of each day is also a very important thing. To have someone who cares for you when you need it, stands by you when you face difficulties, and keeps you in their thoughts even on ordinary days—that in itself is a precious gift.

We should also learn to become people like that—those who know how to care for others and appreciate what they do for us, rather than simply taking things for granted. I believe that ‘eternity’ does not necessarily mean that two people will be together forever. Rather, it means that even after many years have passed, the love, care and companionship we once received will remain in our hearts. To be genuinely cherished by someone is a form of happiness. And to be willing to cherish others with all one’s heart is another form of happiness.

Cherish the people around you, and treat every relationship worth cherishing with sincerity.

For there is nothing more heart-warming in life than having someone willing to walk alongside us through one chapter after another, and honouring their sincerity with our own.( Translated from the original Chinese text )