This was my 2018 year end translation project. The text is a classic, and it seems appropriate for the first day of the new year. Bai Yu did a reading of this for 榜樣閱讀 (Example Reading), and I'll put together an abridged version of just the part he read and post it to the group later, but here's the whole thing.

Chinese character count: 3721
English translation word count: 3193 words

Full Chinese text link

如果你是从nodezero微博推荐来的，我的微博用戶名就是foxghost狐鬼，英文问题或者评论可以发私信。(I may write back in English 因为我打字很慢。。。)

I like being alive; life is like this, so brimming with delight.

I like the sunshine in winter, the way it unfolds in the hazy fog of dawn. I like that portion of mild and distant serenity; I like that light and heat given without clamour. Come noon, the playground is full of people leisurely sitting, sunning; that primal and genuine imagery always manages to profoundly touch my heart.

I like to tread narrow mountain footpaths in the spring breeze, with strawberries solicitously, diligently blooming and clustering with fruit like red lanterns all along the way. I like raising my head to see the sharp points of young buds on the tree tops; the youngest and most tender yellow green blushing with a hint of innocent pink, as if preparing to offer something, to present something. That poise so weak and yet overflowing with life would often teach me some of the most beautiful truths in its wordlessness.