To many, aging is a quiet exit—slipping away from the spotlight, slowing down, settling into the background. Ni Ping offers a different view. Through her own journey and the lives of those she loves, she shows that the “second half” of life can be just as full of purpose, curiosity, and fire. She recalls her mother and grandmother, and both everyday and celebrated figures, who kept creating, contributing, and embracing life well into their later years. In her own retirement, she picked up painting and writing, learned to navigate the digital world, built connections with younger generations, and stood beside those who keep smiling through hardship. For Ni Ping, “midway perseverance” is a choice: to meet each stage of life with intention and heart. True brilliance isn’t about reclaiming the highest peak you once reached—it’s about carrying a light within you, so you remain young at heart, and moved by the world, for as long as you live. Host, Actress 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
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- 12:30The Steady Work Behind Every Breakthrough | JUN CAO | TEDxTheBundCao Jun went from childhood stardom to choosing to slow down, experiencing both the highs of fame and the long quiet stretches in between. In an industry that changes by the minute, he’s faced fewer roles, failed auditions, and skeptical eyes. But in those low seasons, he chose to dig in—treating every small part and every rehearsal as a step toward what’s next. With the guidance of his teachers and years of self-discipline, he’s learned to throw himself fully into a role while staying in control, and to redefine what success and worth really mean. For him, true victory isn’t the moment the world notices you—it’s the work you keep doing when no one’s watching. Actor 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
