On July 31, a video titled “38-year-old Woman Gives up Beijing Struggle and Moves into Nursing Home” went viral on the internet, sparking attention and discussion.
According to Ms. Yang, the videographer from “Shanhai Video,” she is 38 years old and had been working as a screenwriter in Beijing for 11 years. Last year, she fell ill and spent a month in a hospital in Beijing. Currently unable to work, she decided to take a break to heal her body. Therefore, she returned to her hometown in Northeast China and moved into a nursing home.
She expressed, “Living in a nursing home, I realized that one does not have to constantly strive for success. During my 11 years in Beijing, I had been tirelessly working, studying, and chasing after money. I always thought that work was the center and purpose of my life until I got sick last year and laid in the hospital bed, reminiscing about everything I had done in the past 11 years. I realized that all I had was work, without any happiness.”
“All I could think of was working late into the night, endlessly revising scripts, waiting for approval from superiors, almost no rest days. I remember seeing many people exhaustedly emerging from the subway carrying backpacks, some waiting for buses, some buying simple dinners, some standing on the streets at a loss. Eventually, they all disappeared into the crowd.”
“I used to be one of those people, with my treasured dream of becoming a writer. But as I lay on the hospital bed, spending all the money I earned from work on medical bills, I came to terms with it, understanding the kind of life I should truly live. I finally left Beijing and returned to Northeast China.”
Ms. Yang has been living in the nursing home for 3 months now. She mentioned that she used to have a busy work life, often having nightmares, and couldn’t sleep well. But now, she sleeps early and wakes up early every day, leading a more balanced life with peaceful sleep and no more nightmares.
According to mainland Chinese media reports, Ms. Yang resides in a nursing home in Fufeng District, Jilin City, where she only needs to spend 2000 yuan per month for room and board.
As for how long she plans to stay in the nursing home, Ms. Yang stated that while she won’t stay there permanently, she has not determined a specific departure time.
Ms. Yang’s video has resonated with many online users, with some sharing their own stories and feelings. Some reflected on their own struggles and aspirations, while others expressed admiration for Ms. Yang’s choice to prioritize her well-being over societal pressures.
Some users commented: “This era has made too many people exhausted.” “Envious of those who can leave.” “True ‘lying flat’ is a particularly happy thing.” “Congratulations to the beautiful lady for ending 11 years of robotic life and returning to a normal lifestyle.”
In amidst the various reactions, some expressed a desire to follow Ms. Yang’s lead by seeking a simpler and more peaceful way of life, unburdened by the pressures of traditional expectations.