In what ways do you think May regrets obsessing so much over maximizing her time? What kind of life do you believe May would have had without these anxieties over time?
When May had her life dreams taken away in China, she became convinced that if she could go to America and pursue her dreams, her life would finally be fulfilling. She became totally focused on that. The detriment was that it side-stepped personal relationships, especially with her daughter. If she could have opened herself to more personal relationships, her life would have been less stressful and allowed her to relax more.
But perhaps she was afraid to relax for fear of being deported. Life would have been unbearable in China or Hong Kong. She wanted to prove to others that her mind and her work were essential. Sadly, this came at the expense of a relationship with her daughter.
Well for one she chose safety and a chance at a successful career over true love, and a closer relationship with her daughter. These sacrifices most likely led her to hyper focus on having a brilliant career and the perfect life for her daughter so the sacrifices would be worth it. There was no time to relax and enjoy simple life pleasure’s. I feel she really regretted that towards the end of her life.