I’ll start by saying that being like Chow Yun Fat is very hard. Not because he is a successful actor. Statistically, becoming a famous actor isn’t easy; only a few reach this kind of career, yet staying humble even after huge success is a real challenge.
Chow Yun Fat is often seen on the roads of his neighbourhood, jogging, saying hi to people who recognise him, and often not bothering to take pictures with them. Of course, he is not as popular as when he was in The God of Gamblers, for example. Nonetheless, he is still pretty well known. He is even on the Hong Kong A-List, alongside Stephen Chow and Andy Lau, who shared the screen with him before. Yet he isn’t bothered by how people approach him, unlike Gen-Z celebrities who often warn fans about privacy and being their real selves.
The man, born in 1955, treats acting as a normal job, though he has made a fortune. He thought that without the fans, he would be Mr Nobody. That is why, for him, being with them is something that he appreciates a lot. He will present in public without hesitation. No bodyguard, no expensive car; it’s just him in front of people, like an average Joe.
Chow Yun Fat’s Philosophy
I believe many people will agree with his philosophy. Money is yours only on paper; you should give back to the community and live frugally because you do not know when your income will become uncertain. Do not spend lavishly, since you never know when hard times will come, etc. There are a lot of lessons that are clearly important for us to learn and internalise in our lives. Yet when the time comes, we make exceptions; we don’t follow our own rules because we think we are entitled to enjoy our lives, and I agree that we should appreciate what we have.
Yet, Chow Yun Fat decided to stay true to his philosophy and commit to not spending money without considering others. I would say this is the hardest part of being an actor: to stay aware of his wealth while still sticking to the path he chose. The path is to keep it as simple as possible, care for others, and enjoy life without regret.
Not Only About Money
His resilience in avoiding careless spending is not the only thing he stubbornly decided to keep. He is committed to exercising in any weather. He makes running his routine, and he does well, finishing 5K every day and often records great achievements in 10K events, making Chow Yun Fat an inspiration for fellow elderly people.
He chooses not to drink alcohol and avoids oily and spicy food since he wants to keep his digestive system working well, along with his muscle mass. He focuses on habits and commitment, which I think is why he is so complex yet compelling.
For me, his greatest quality isn’t how big his success is. Of course, success isn’t easy; people can try very hard and still not get what they expect. Yet, to keep being yourself or an ideal person without getting moved by peer pressure makes you different. You might always find excuses not to be yourself, and sometimes those reasons are justified. That doesn’t make you less worthy as long as you are still living an ethical life.
Nonetheless, seeing someone stay true to who he is for so long and appreciate every little journey would always move me deeply, and I can learn one or two lessons that could change my life. How about you? What kind of lesson did you learn today?
