"瘟疫像巨浪般蔓延，淹没了人们在其路径上设置的堤坝、障碍，也许此时的生存比征服更重要。"

Imagine you're standing on the beach, watching waves crash against the shore. Sometimes, those waves are gentle, lapping at your feet. But other times, they surge with a force so powerful it feels like they could wash everything away. This is a bit like what the quote is getting at. It talks about a 'plague'—something devastating—that spreads so fast and powerfully that all the human efforts to stop it just aren't enough. The core idea? In the face of overwhelming challenges, sometimes the priority shifts from trying to control or conquer the situation to simply surviving it.

Historically, this sentiment might be traced back to times of great crises—think about the Black Plague in medieval Europe or more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times, human beings threw everything they had at the problem—quarantines, masks, vaccines, you name it. And yet, the impact was so massive that the goal for many became less about finding a quick fix and more about making it through, day by day.

Take for example the city of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. When the levees broke, the city was submerged in water. The devastation was immense. At that point, it wasn’t about conquering the hurricane—it was about getting people to safety, finding dry ground, and surviving the aftermath. Residents and rescuers alike had to focus on immediate survival rather than long-term solutions. It’s a vivid, real-world illustration of that wave metaphor.

So how can we apply this wisdom in our own lives? Start by recognizing that sometimes, the problems we face can feel like that relentless wave. Maybe it's a health crisis, a financial meltdown, or a personal loss. In those moments, it's easy to get caught up in trying to 'fix' everything. But sometimes the smartest thing you can do is hunker down and focus on getting through the storm. Prioritize your well-being, seek support, and take things one step at a time.

Think about a time when you were overwhelmed—maybe you lost your job unexpectedly. The bills are piling up, and the job market seems bleak. It's tempting to try and solve everything immediately, applying to dozens of jobs, stressing over every penny. But what if you shifted your focus to surviving this tough period? Cutting non-essential expenses, leaning on your support system, and taking care of your mental health. By doing so, you build the strength to eventually come out the other side.

I remember when my friend Lisa went through a rough patch. She was juggling a demanding job, dealing with a sick parent, and her marriage was on the rocks. She tried to tackle everything at once and ended up burning out. One day, she admitted she felt like she was drowning. That’s when she decided to take a step back. She took a leave of absence from work and focused on her mental health and family. It wasn’t about conquering all her problems at once—it was about surviving each day, one at a time.

So, next time you feel like you're facing that overwhelming wave, remember—sometimes it's more important to survive than to conquer. Take a breath. Focus on the here and now. And trust that by prioritizing your immediate well-being, you'll be in a better position to deal with whatever comes next.