7 . Many families take their children on vacation. They will usually travel for a few days or weeks during school breaks. But Mr and Mrs Smith have planned a longer vacation with their two children. The Smith family is on a one-year trip around the world, and they planned to visit 30 countries in all. Right now, the four travelers are about halfway through their trip.

Mrs Smith says they are trying to see as much of the world as they can. Mr Smith says one of the most interesting experiences of the trip has been meeting new people. He says people have been extremely friendly, very welcoming and love their kids. Eleven-year-old Tyler says he has enjoyed learning about the people they have met. He says, “I learned in Africa that people have very different lifestyles.” His sister, Kara discovers that she likes Thai food. Mrs Smith says that the trip teaches the children a lot.

The Smiths made good preparations for the trip. They did a lot of research, choosing destinations and arranging accommodations. Mr Smith uses unpaid leave. They carry small bags filled with lightweight clothing and whatever else they need. Mrs Smith says she enjoys being able to carry everything she needs on her back. “What has become important is making unforgettable memories as a family and taking ‘those’ with us instead.” The Smiths will continue to head east for the next six months.

I was sitting in a beginner calligraphy (书法) class when a student asked the teacher, “What do I need to become a professional calligrapher?” The answer, to our surprise, was pen and paper. “The materials are no different from those of a beginner calligrapher,” the teacher explained, “The difference between a beginner and a professional calligrapher is not in the tools they use, but in the time and efforts they put into learning and practising.”

The same goes for any professional at their skill. When we look up to the expert, we think that increasing the quality of materials or having excellent resources is what makes them great. Actually, the time they spend learning something new and achieving their goals is more important. However, we tend to look for a shortcut, a direct way to achieve the goal.

My current goal is to become an independent filmmaker. What would it take? What would I need to make the best movies? I too, wanted the shortcut. After watching online videos about filmmaking, I realized I had all that I needed to achieve my goal. It just took time and efforts to succeed.

We easily get caught in wasting time looking for a shortcut. In the end, we lose energy and motivation (动机). We do things to go fast rather than go far. We focus on the end result instead of allowing ourselves to enjoy the journey. Go for it. Reach farther to become your best self.