I’m excited to announce the launch of my new project, Lucky Koi! Inspired by the deep cultural significance of koi fish as symbols of luck, prosperity, and good fortune—especially in Japan and China—I created this interactive experience where users can feed virtual koi fish simply by clicking near them.

Here’s how it works: each day, you visit the Lucky Koi page and click to send food to the koi swimming nearby. Feeding the koi isn’t just fun and relaxing—it also invites good luck into your daily life. The idea is simple but meaningful: consistent daily interactions bring positive energy and fortune your way.

Why koi fish? For centuries, koi have been celebrated for their perseverance, strength, and auspicious symbolism. They’re often associated with overcoming adversity and achieving success—values that resonate deeply with me and, I hope, with you too.

I invite you to come and try it out today at https://xieyonglin.com/lucky-koi/. Feed the koi, enjoy the calming experience, and welcome a bit of luck into your day. Let’s make good fortune a daily habit together!

Stay lucky,

Xie Yonglin

In an era when everyone is chasing the newest smartphone, I find myself growing fond of "old antiques." Its battery may not last long, and its response might be a bit slow, but it makes life simpler and more beautiful. The older the phone, the more it helps us reconnect with life, focus on ourselves, and make the world a better place.

1. Saving Money​

Every year, new models are launched with everywhere advertising, making it feel like you can’t keep up unless you upgrade. But if you think calmly, a new phone costs thousands, sometimes even tens of thousands, while an old phone still meets daily needs. Wouldn’t it be more meaningful to save that money for investment rather than upgrading to a phone with a slightly better camera?

2. Saving Time​

Although the lag of an old phone isn’t perfect, it magically reduces the desire to scroll endlessly. When pages load slowly and videos buffer, you naturally stop wanting to play on the phone. In this way, time is "returned" to you — to take a walk, learn something new, or simply sit quietly.

3. Stronger Communication Skills​

Without so much time taken up by the phone, you start talking more with people around you instead of interacting with the screen. Conversations at the dining table are no longer interrupted by constant messages, and chats with friends become more genuine and deeper. You begin to notice the sunlight on the street corner instead of the changing number of likes. An old phone helps us take our eyes off the screen and put our hearts back on people.

4. Safer Travel​

Looking at your phone while walking is dangerous. The slow response of an old phone makes you less tempted to scroll while moving. As a result, you pay more attention to the road, avoiding common accidents of "head-down" walkers—missing the bus, bumping into poles, or even traffic accidents.

5. Healthier Body​

We’re all familiar with shoulder and neck pain, deteriorating eyesight, and delayed sleep caused by prolonged phone use. But an old phone makes these problems less severe. You no longer lie in bed scrolling until midnight or stare at the screen for hours watching short videos. Instead, your body feels more relaxed, your eyes are comfortable, and your sleep naturally improves.

6. Better Focus​

A new phone that runs smooth and is fun is too easy to pull you away from tasks. An old phone is less “tempting” — notifications respond slowly, pages take time to load — so you simply put it down. You start to realize your work and study rhythms become more coherent, deep thinking becomes easier, and your efficiency improves. The older the phone, the more focus you have, and the faster you grow.

Not every update means progress; not every purchase is necessary. Choosing to live peacefully with an old phone is also choosing a clearer, more moderate, and warmer lifestyle. The older the phone, the better the life; the farther the screen, the more beautiful the world.

May we all slow down, use older phones, and live fresher lives.

Last night, I had a dream. One of those strange, surreal stories your brain creates while you’re asleep. This time, it involved celebrity drama and internet chaos.

In my dream, I wrote a blog post casually mentioning two very famous celebrities—let’s call them Star A and Star B. The context was harmless, something like comparing their approaches to fashion or noting a fun coincidence in their recent projects. Harmless, right? That’s what I thought too.

But dream-me underestimated the internet. Somehow, this innocent post went viral. Fans of Star A flooded the comments, passionately defending their idol. Fans of Star B retaliated. What started as a mild disagreement spiraled into a full-blown war in the comments section.

And then, things got weird.

In the dream, my website was hacked. Widgets were misplaced, fonts were garbled, entire sections of text were replaced with gibberish or taunting messages like, “Team Star A rules!” and “Star B forever!” It felt like my little corner of the internet had been taken hostage by warring fandoms.

I woke up in a cold sweat. For a brief moment, I thought it had actually happened. I even checked my blog’s analytics (thankfully, everything was intact). But the dream lingered with me, and it got me thinking about the real-life power of fandoms.

The passion fans have for their favorite celebrities can be awe-inspiring, but it can also be a double-edged sword. It’s not unheard of for minor spats to escalate into full-blown online battles, with unsuspecting bystanders caught in the crossfire. Thankfully, my actual audience is much more chill (at least for now—please stay that way).

If this dream taught me anything, it’s to tread carefully when writing about hot topics. Not that I’m about to start dissecting celebrity drama anytime soon, but if I do, I’ll make sure to stock up on fire extinguishers for my comments section—just in case.

In an era dominated by platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, running a personal website or independent blog may seem like an outdated or futile endeavor. However, after much thought, I decided to return to blogging on my independent site. Here’s why:

1. Full Control Over My Content​

On social media, algorithms dictate what gets seen. If you don’t play along, your work can easily get buried. This passive exposure model takes away much of the control creators have over their content.

With my personal website, I have complete control over my creative environment and content. For example, by paying only for a domain name (xieyonglin.com) and server hosting each year, I can design the site layout, develop features, and write freely about topics that interest me—without being constrained by platform algorithms.

2. Creating Long-Lasting Value​

Many people have shared meaningful work on social media, only to find those posts gone years later due to broken links or platform closures. Here's the status of some platforms I’ve used in the past:

• Google+: Shut down in 2019
• Vine: Discontinued in 2017
• MySpace: Lost significant data in a 2019 server migration
• Yahoo Answers: Permanently closed in 2021

An independent blog, on the other hand, offers a lasting space for accumulating content. Readers can revisit posts years later, and the articles retain their value, becoming a part of my personal brand.

3. Escaping the Performative Nature of Social Media​

Every time I scroll through social media, I can’t help but wonder, How does everyone live such amazing lives every single day? Gourmet meals, luxurious vacations, and perfect lifestyles fill the feeds. Is it just me, caught up in the grind of an ordinary life, feeling envious, reflective, and sometimes inadequate?

In truth, many of these images are staged or curated to project an idealized version of life. For instance, some creators on video platforms fabricate dramatic or heartwarming scenes for attention—such as faking animal rescues or inventing elaborate plots. While these posts might seem captivating, they often distort reality and fill our minds with “junk food” content, making it harder to find truly valuable information.

4. Attracting Readers Who Care About the Content​

Interactions on social media are often quick and superficial—likes, shares, and brief comments rarely lead to meaningful engagement.

Independent blogs, however, benefit from search engine indexing. When people search for specific topics or questions, my blog can appear in the results, attracting readers genuinely interested in the content I share. These visitors often leave thoughtful comments that spark deeper discussions.

To foster this type of engagement, I’ve added a comment system to my site, hoping to connect with readers based on shared interests rather than surface-level interactions.

5. Focusing on the Content Itself​

On social media, users are often influenced by metrics like likes and follower counts, which can overshadow the actual purpose of creating content. For me, blogging is about documenting my life and growth, not chasing validation. Writing on my blog allows me to focus on the quality of my content, keeping my creative intentions pure.

---

The Journey of My Personal Website​

My journey with personal websites has been filled with ups and downs over the years. Reflecting on it brings a mix of nostalgia and motivation.

I first started building websites as a teenager, inspired by tech experts who had their own platforms. I experimented with a free .tk domain and tinkered with WordPress. Later, as life got busier with studies, updates became sporadic, and I eventually took the site offline.

This time, I hope to keep it running consistently. After all, isn’t life about recording and revisiting moments? Thinking about reading today’s words ten years from now brings a sense of anticipation.

Do you still blog? Share your stories in the comments—I’d love to hear them!