dull, 平淡 [píngdàn] monotonous, lackluster, slow, sluggish

If the scenery I see every day isn’t bright, my mind starts to feel strange for no reason. It is not just the scenery—clear and bright sounds put my mind at ease, too.

It is hard to go back to food that is not refreshing. If someone’s thoughts are not refreshing, I am not particularly eager to meet them again, unless they are similar to me or I think I might benefit from it.

Knowing how to find joy even in the most monotonous situations, how to laugh on gloomy days just because I can, and how to make someone uninspiring smile—these things don’t depend on the external circumstances, but on my own state of mind. In any situation, the root cause lies within me. If I am strong and upright, nothing can truly harm me.

Have a wonderful week.

- Venerable Boan