That Choice Will Be So Clear

After three years, the American drama “Yellowstone” finally returns with the second half of its fifth season. Episode 9 begins with the departure of John Dutton, which might seem sudden to many fans of “Yellowstone.” Reportedly, Kevin Costner, who plays John Dutton, is leaving to focus on directing and starring in “Horizon,” which forced his exit from “Yellowstone.” Although this is due to objective reasons rather than the writers’ intent, it reminds many of the impact when the King of the North, Eddard Stark, was written off in the first season of “Game of Thrones.” From the first three released episodes, “Yellowstone” did not lose its charm. In fact, John Dutton’s departure gave other characters more room to shine, and the plot maintains its original level of quality. In the storyline, John Dutton’s departure is difficult for his children to accept, especially when the farm is under threat and lacks a central guiding figure. The confusion and concerns of the characters might also reflect the concerns of the production team. However, it seems the writers found an answer to those concerns in the conversation between Mo and Kayce Dutton at the end of Episode 11.

I have to choose.

choose between my family and the ranch.

Don’t seem like much of a choice to me.

me, neither.

I don’t know what it means.

Choose how? Choose When? Choose…. what?

you’re not suppose to know yet.

When the time comes, you’ll know.

And it won’t feel like a choice at all.

It’ll feel like fate.

You’ll see it, and you’ll smile.

‘Cause the choice will be so clear.

These philosophical lines spoken by an elderly Native American sage add a mysterious yet convincing layer to the narrative.

When fate arrives, we won’t stand at a crossroads, but rather on a straight, unchangeable path where the only thing we can do is accept it bravely and forge ahead. From another perspective, when we find ourselves confused by choices, it is simply because fate has not yet arrived. All we need to do is wait, to wait for the moment fate reveals itself, and our choices will become clear, and we will embrace everything with a smile.

For entrepreneurs, in the long and challenging process of growth, there are countless decisions to be made every day. Some are straightforward—simply a “yes” or “no.” But others are not as easy, and these are often the important ones. Precisely because they are significant, we are faced with confusion like “how to choose, when to choose, and what to choose.” In these moments, it helps to slow down, to wait for fate to arrive, to wait for the clouds to clear or the looming storm to descend.

To conclude, I’d like to quote Mao Zedong’s poem “Ode to the Plum Blossom”—perhaps our fateful choices are like plum blossoms, smiling from within when the time is right.

The wind and rain escort Spring’s return, Flying snow welcomes the arrival of Spring. Already at a sheer cliff of hundreds of feet, She alone is beautiful in her bloom.

She blossoms not to compete for Spring, But to announce the arrival of Spring. When all the flowers bloom in riotous color, She will be smiling among them.

毛泽东《卜算子·咏梅》

风雨送春归，飞雪迎春到。已是悬崖百丈冰，独有花枝俏。

俏也不争春，只把春来报。待到山花烂漫时，她在丛中笑。