We enthusiastically seek great things but are lazy to check small things right in front of our eyes. People can debate the whole session about the world economy but transfer money incorrectly because they do not look back at the account number; passionately discuss social ethics but are willing to sign a lawsuit document that has not been carefully read.
I remember my famous neighbor being careful again. Buying a bunch of vegetables, he also flipped through each stalk, bought an electric fan, also stood to try all the wind levels, carefully checked each snail. People said he lived too hard, tired of himself. A few years later, the neighborhood boomed with an investment project promising high profits. Everyone excitedly contributed money for the brilliant billboards and flowery promises. Only Uncle shook his head and withdrew, simply because when Uncle asked to see the legal permit and clear contract, the company only made empty promises. A year later, the project disappeared with the accumulated money of many people.
At that time, everyone understood: The habit of looking closely at the bunch of vegetables is not only related to the bunch of vegetables. It is a habit of facing the world. The ability to recognize abnormalities does not naturally appear when big things happen, it is trained from very small things. The photographer discovered a new and strange light, the doctor recognized the strange index when testing, the skilled worker heard the engine sound and immediately knew the car was broken. They do not have superpowers, they are used to observing carefully, listening carefully.
Life rarely deceives us with a direct punch. It often starts with a small detail such as an inconsistent number, an illogical explanation, a changed promise. They are like buttons, if they are misplaced from the first one, the entire back of the shirt will deviate accordingly. So, instead of trying to be the smartest person, be someone who takes the time to look a little closer, read another line, ask another question, check again. Sometimes, what protects us from big mistakes is not outstanding intelligence, but just the habit of stopping for a second to adjust the misplaced button, before stepping out into the crowd.
