Vol.1: Original Family, Getting Married to the Planet
1. You mentioned "choosing to be your original family." What type of choice is this? What unexpected benefits have you experienced? What challenges have you faced?
It is rare to find an East Asian child who hasn't faced interference, oppression, and control from their original family. While we often talk about reconciling with our original family, the truth is that the confrontations and irreconcilable differences push us to seek reconciliation. I have detached myself from the concept of an "original family" and have become my own original family.
This choice has allowed me to wholeheartedly support any decision I make. I feel less burdened and have come to realize that many times, the limitations we perceive as fate are actually the chains imposed by our original family. The challenge I faced was that my parents didn't understand my pursuits and exerted pressure on me, but I remained unfazed.
2. You frequently mention being married to yourself and the world. How do you perceive love? Can you explain the concept of "getting married to the planet"?
My understanding of love is to first love oneself, and then extend that love to others. I believe it is crucial to love someone who aligns with my true self at a 90% compatibility level, as I consider self-preservation to be paramount.
"Getting married to the planet" is a performance art project I initiated at the age of 24. It encourages women to liberate themselves from societal expectations of age and marriage and instead marry the world they truly love. At the time, I had a passion for traveling, so I invited passersby in various cities to take wedding photos of me with the planet, an act I called "getting married to the planet." It held great significance for me at that stage of my life.
3. Could you explain the concept of sojourn? How does one embark on a sojourn?
Sojourn lies somewhere between traveling and settling down. It represents a light and flexible way of life. When I arrive at a place, if I like it, I can choose to stay for a while, treating it as a temporary home. If I don't like it, I can simply view it as a travel destination and move on. I have embraced this lifestyle for many years, ensuring that life is always filled with freshness and anticipation.
Most sojourners engage in location-independent jobs and often work online using computers. To embark on a sojourn, all you need to do is find a job that isn't dependent on a specific location. It truly is that simple!
4. Could you share one or two particularly remarkable stories, individuals, or experiences from your travels?
One memorable experience occurred recently when I visited Jingdezhen and stayed with a stranger. I had connected with this girl online, and coincidentally, we arrived at the same time. She invited me to stay in her home, which happened to be a feminist space. On a whim, I decided to go, and those three days turned out to be incredibly delightful. We remain close friends to this day, and it serves as a testament to the magical encounters we can have with others.
Vol.2: Experiencing 14 Professional Lives
5. What motivated you to become a barista and winemaker? How do you view the culture and experience surrounding coffee and wine?
While writing represents personal creation for me, being a barista or a bartender allows for open, face-to-face creation. I pursued these professions out of passion, and in the process, I fell even more deeply in love with them. I find that interacting with guests is a form of creation, akin to crafting a bespoke experience that exists only between us. It fills me with a sense of romance.
6. Music planning sounds fascinating. Can you elaborate on what it entails and how one can find opportunities in this field?
Music planning involves conceptualizing an album, understanding the artist's intentions, and organizing the tracks into a coherent narrative. It requires generalization, arrangement, and extensive communication with musicians to grasp their true artistic expressions within their works, giving them meaning and logical structure.
To enter this field, try approaching music media companies or seeking opportunities at music studios!
7. How would you describe your writing style and content? What do you aim to achieve through your writing, and what values do you hope to convey?
I would describe my writing style as informal essays with a strong personal touch and a straightforward approach. Writing serves as a means of communication with myself and the world—an outlet for my voice and thoughts. I aspire for my words to empower and inspire individuals, particularly women, helping them gain deeper self-awareness and the courage to make their own choices.
Vol.3 Feminism and Self-Building
8. What are your thoughts on the concept of women's roles and the identity of feminists? How do they relate to your own self-perception?
I believe that embracing feminism is a natural and inevitable choice once I become self-aware. As someone who identifies as female, I grew up experiencing various discomforts in life, which I realized stemmed from the oppression and neglect faced by women.
In response to this, I contemplated ways to make myself feel more comfortable, leading me to stand in solidarity with women. This newfound consciousness has brought about significant changes in my life, including how I express myself, where I choose to live, my career, and even my sexual orientation. It has become a crucial aspect of my self-awareness, shaping my overall identity and guiding my journey.
9. How can we truly achieve gender equality? In other words, what should feminism prioritize and advocate for in today's world?
Gender equality still has a long way to go and cannot be achieved overnight. I believe that we should pay more attention to women who are marginalized and devoid of a sense of femininity. We must focus on those who face discrimination, oppression, and are deprived of the ability to think freely.
In the contemporary era, it is essential to stand alongside women rather than engaging in endless debates about what constitutes "correct" or "incorrect" female consciousness or searching for the "perfect feminist."
10. What do you consider the most crucial element in personal self-building?
Self-awareness forms the foundation of personal growth. When our sense of self feels ambiguous, we must venture into the world, engaging in exploration and making choices. Through the collision between ourselves and the world, we experience both pain and comfort, ultimately shaping our individuality.
11. What is the significance of self-building for today's youth? How should they approach this path?
Self-building is the key path for everyone to embody their true selves. In fact, life itself is a continuous process of self-building and self-development. Without perceiving, evaluating, and establishing our identity throughout life, we may feel a sense of detachment and uncertainty.
12. How would you describe the experience of travel? How does it contribute to your personal self-building process?
Travel serves as a means for me to explore diverse cultures, educational opportunities, and environments. It allows me to encounter individuals who have grown up in various ways, broadening my horizons.
Travel has revealed to me that the world is much larger than I initially perceived, and everyone's life experiences are unique. It has taught me that the education and ideologies we are exposed to may not always be correct. We are not bound to follow the path that society dictates. With this understanding, I feel empowered to make bolder choices and pursue different paths in life.
Vol.4 Freedom, Love, Existence, Life
13. What are your thoughts on the idea of "using life itself to create a life"? How has it influenced your writing and overall life?
I believe that life is the culmination of the choices we make, and thus, we have the power to shape our own lives. Societal expectations or external pressures may impose norms and timelines on us, but ultimately, it is our choices that define our destiny.
This perspective forms the foundation of everything I do. It allows me to feel that my choices hold personal significance. Consequently, I chose writing as my primary career and embraced a lifestyle characterized by constant change and exploration.
14. You satisfy your curiosity about the world by experiencing various lifestyles, and you advocate for "living a hundred lives." How did you develop this adaptable lifestyle in the first place?
It all began with curiosity. I always felt a deep desire to explore numerous possibilities, but I often struggled to find a starting point. Eventually, I discovered an approach: learn, sustain myself, and then try something new.
This approach led me to envision living a hundred lives. When a new curiosity arises, I delve into it, find ways to support myself in that particular endeavor, and then, when boredom sets in, I seek out fresh areas of interest. This has become the essence of my life, and I believe it suits me perfectly.
15. How would you prioritize freedom, love, existence, and life?
I would prioritize freedom and love above all. Freedom takes precedence, followed by love, existence, and life.
Life, to me, holds the least importance. I feel content with the experiences I have had thus far, and I am unfazed by its length.
16. Your experiences seem incredibly diverse. How do you typically spend your days?
I am someone who particularly values leisure. My time is primarily dedicated to rest, spending quality moments with friends, and occasionally working. As an INTP personality type, I tend to lead a quiet life and prefer staying at home when I am not traveling.
17. What do you consider the most significant aspect of your life?
The most significant aspect for me is the accumulation of experiences. I yearn for the opportunity to immerse myself in a multitude of lives. That, to me, is fulfilling enough.
18. What are your plans for future creations and your life? Which topics or areas do you intend to continue exploring?
Currently, I am in the process of recuperating from my recent travels, and I have some study arrangements lined up. I aspire to learn the art of pottery, acquire the skill of paragliding, and try my hand at surfing. Additionally, I want to explore new modes of travel that I have yet to experience, such as traveling through local markets or embarking on motorcycle journeys. And of course, my thirst for knowledge will persist as I continue reading and expanding my horizons.
Vol.5 Summary
Luxin Wen's life embodies the aspirations of many young individuals—a life characterized by freedom, love, and transcending societal constraints. It involves creating a unique personal sphere, treating life as a school of experiences, venturing into diverse lifestyles, traveling to various destinations, and witnessing a plethora of wonders. Luxin Wen encourages everyone to embrace their true selves without limitations. Together with Universe Memoir, let us experience a hundred lives.
Producer & Interviewer & Text：IsabellaW
Formatting：Amy Pan
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