The speaker shares a life-changing lesson learned while crossing the Tengger Desert at age ten. What began as exhaustion and tears turned into discovery—a lesson in resilience, joy, and perspective. Through stories of deserts, badminton, piano, and even toilet-cleaning, he reveals how “sweet tomatoes”—small sparks of joy and curiosity—can transform struggle into growth and help us thrive through any challenge. Aaron Wen is a curious young thinker on a mission to uncover the hidden superpower in everyday life: our mindset. He’s passionate about the idea that the stress of a tough exam, the frustration of learning something new, or any daily challenge can become a training ground for mental resilience. Aaron introduces the concept of the “Desert Mindset”—a fresh perspective that turns obstacles into epic quests. His goal is simple yet profound: to show his peers that the moment you feel like giving up is often the moment you’re closest to a breakthrough. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx