過生活 Live Life

   

    

(本文刊載於國度復興報 2014年11月23日)       

        一條珍珠項鍊，由一顆顆飽滿圓潤的珍珠組成；人的一生，由每一天24小時的生活組成。無論你是誰，每個人都要「過生活」。有一個很基本卻很重要的問題，經常在我腦子裡打轉，那就是「你究竟想過什麼樣的生活？」，這個問題就像山谷裡的回聲，一遍遍在我的心頭蕩漾。

A pearl necklace, made up of fully rounded pearls; a person's life, made up of 24 hours every day for life. No matter who you are, everyone wants to "live life".  There's a very basic yet very important question, which often spins around in my mind, and that is: "what kind of life do you really want to live?" This question is like an echo in a valley, rippling in my mind over and over again.

        有一則關於「釣魚」的故事，讓這個問題更加鮮明，這則耐人尋味的故事說到：有一位年長的富翁，在一個平靜的小島釣魚，他每天都會遇到一位島上的土著，與他一起釣魚。但這位土著每天只釣一條魚就回家。有一天，富翁問土著：你為何不多釣幾條魚？土著回答：我每天吃一條魚就足夠了。富翁說：你多釣ㄧ些魚，可以到市場賣魚賺錢，有了錢就可以去買漁網，捕更多魚。土著問：然後呢？富翁答：你可以把更多魚拿去賣，然後就可以買一艘漁船，捕捉到更多的魚，甚至還可以請人來幫你捕魚去賣。土著問：然後呢？富翁答：然後你也可以成為富翁，和我一樣悠閒地釣魚。土著說：我現在不是正悠閒地和你一起釣魚嗎？富翁霎時無言以對。然後土著就拿著魚，開心地哼著歌回家了。

There's a story about "fishing", that'll make this question even more clear-cut, it's an intriguing story that goes like this: there's an elderly rich man, fishing on a calm island, and every day he would encounter a man indigenous to the island, and they would fish together. But every day the indigenous man would only catch one fish and go home. One day, the rich man asked the aboriginal, "why don't you catch a few more fish?" The aboriginal replied "I eat one fish every day, it is enough." The rich man said," if you catch some more fish, you can go to the market, sell the fish, and make money. With the money, you can buy a fishing net, and catch even more fish." The aboriginal said, "and then what?" The rich man replied "you can take more fish to sell, then you can buy a fishing boat, catch more fish, and even bring someone along to help you catch and sell fish." The aboriginal asked, "and then what?" The rich man replied, "then you too can become rich and fish leisurely like I do." The aboriginal replied "am I not leisurely fishing with you right now?" The millionaire was speechless. Then the aboriginal took his fish and happily hummed his way home.

       這篇故事很寫實，在真實生活中，許多人就好比那位年長的富翁，從年輕到中壯年，這段人生的精華時期，都在為金錢打拼，為名利奮戰。日復一日，年復一年，大部份的寶貴光陰，都消磨在自己不感興趣的工作上；等到步入中老年之後，精神和體力都大不如從前，才開始過自己真正想要的生活！

This story is realistic. In real life, many people are just like the elderly rich man, who, from youth till middle age, the essence of one's life, are working hard for money, fighting for fame and fortune. Day after day, year after year, a majority of precious time is wasted away in work that is of no interest to us; waiting until after we retire at an old age, when our mental and physical strength isn't as great as before, before we start living the life we actually wanted!

       辛苦了大半輩子，繞了好大一圈，終於回到「幸福」 的原點，這是何苦呢？

       反觀那位島上的土著，他懂得知足常樂，每天能悠閒地釣魚，開心地哼歌，享受人生的 「小確幸」和家庭的溫暖，誰能說他不「幸福」呢？

Half a lifetime of hardship, comes around in a full, enormous circle, until finally returning to the original point of "happiness". Why does this have to be so?

By contrast, the island aboriginal, understood that “happiness lies in contentment”; every day he leisurely fished, happily hummed, enjoying life’s little pleasures and the warmth of his family. So who's to say he's not "happy"?

       閉上眼睛，聆聽心底最真實的聲音，「你究竟想過什麼樣的生活？」「什麼樣的生活」能讓你感受到真正的滿足？難道「幸福」和「滿足」的人生，果真來自於開名車、住豪宅、穿戴名牌、品嚐名貴佳餚，看到存款簿的數字不斷增加？

       或者來自於追求名利，受人稱羨崇拜？然而，無論ㄧ個人多麼有錢有勢、有名有利，他都必須回歸生活的本質，回到人與人之間「愛與被愛」的關係。

Close your eyes, listen to the heart of your most authentic voice, "what kind of life do you really want to live?" "what kind of life" will make you feel truly content?  Do you really think "happy" and "content" lives really come from driving famous cars, living in luxury, wearing designer clothes, tasting rare delicacies, and seeing deposit book balances constantly increasing?

Or does it come from the pursuit of fame and fortune, to receive the admiration and worship of others? Actually, regardless of how much money or power, fame or fortune an individual has, he still needs to return to the essence of life, return to the "love and be loved" relationship between people.  

       有一件事是可以確定的：人世間最寶貴的東西，絕對是再多的金錢與名利都換不到的，因為那是「無價之寶」！換句話說，生活中充滿愈多「無價之寶」，就擁有愈多真實的「幸福」！ 親情無價、友情無價、愛情無價、健康無價、喜樂無價、平安無價、自由無價、知足無價、感恩無價、生命無價，你我都是神所創造的「無價珍寶」！

One thing is for sure: the most precious thing in the world, cannot be bought or traded for more wealth or fame, because that thing is "priceless"! In other words, when life is filled with more "priceless", then we have more true "happiness"! Affection is priceless, friendship is priceless, love is priceless, health is priceless, joy is priceless, peace is priceless, freedom is priceless, contentment is priceless, gratitude is priceless, life is priceless, you and me both are "priceless" creations of God!

       當我抱持著這樣的信念，很自然地，我選擇回歸家庭，過著「陪伴孩子成長」 的生活。對我來說，既然孩子是神所創造最獨特的「無價珍寶」，那麼能將神賜給我的兩個小男孩照顧好，就是我最大的成就感。我喜歡帶孩子們遊山玩水，從大自然和玩樂中學習。我們選擇就讀陽明山上的公立小學，拋開所謂的競爭力，拒絕補習文化，因為我相信「學習」是一輩子的事，從小培養孩子敏銳的觀察力、適度的好奇心，和自我學習能力，才能終身學習，「活到老，學到老」；我也深信等孩子長大後，他們不會再為兒時某次考試一百分而沾沾自喜，卻會牢記童年時期與父母、手足、同學、朋友一起參與的活動、遊戲或旅行，以及一起共享的歡笑歲月。這些都是無價的生命資產！

When I hold onto this kind of conviction, naturally, I choose to return home, and live a life of “nurturing children as they grow up”. For me, since a child is the most unique "priceless" treasure created by God, then taking care of my two little boys that God gave me, is my greatest accomplishment. I like to take the kids sightseeing, to learn from nature and having fun. We chose to let them study at a public primary school on Yangmingshan, which puts aside so-called competitiveness, and rejects cram-school culture, because I believe "learning" is a life-long affair, when they’re young, cultivate a child's keen powers of observation, moderate curiosity, and self leaning abilities, so that they become life-long learners, "live till you're old, learn till you're old". I also believe that after the kids have grown up, they won't be smug about how as a kid they scored 100 points on a test, instead they will always remember their childhood, and the events, games, or travel that they participated in with their parents, brothers, classmates, and friends, as well as the years of laughter they shared together. These are all priceless life assets!

      「過生活」是ㄧ門藝術，也是一生的學習，需要勇氣、智慧、夢想、信心、愛心……這些五顏六色的彩筆，在生命的畫布上，揮灑出生活的色彩。那是一種「踏實的幸福感」，我心嚮往之！

"Living life" is an art, and it takes a lifetime of study, requiring courage, wisdom, dreams, faith, love....these colorful crayons, on the canvas of life, compose the colors of life. That's the kind of "practical sense of happiness" I yearn for!

作者:譚亞菁 Oct. 12, 2014

Translated by Parker Gadbois

甜點的滋味 The Taste of Dessert

作者:譚亞菁 / Translated by Parker Gadbois  

飯後，走著走著，

突然想念起甜點的滋味，

好想來一份甜品呀！ 

I'm walking around after dinner,

and I suddenly long for the taste of dessert,

and I kinda want to get one! 

隨意走進路邊一家老店「一＊軒」，

隨意選了這個看起來挺美味的蛋塔，

隨意坐在窗邊桌椅區享用這份思念， 

Casually, I walk into an old shop, ' Yi ＊Xuan ' on the side of the road,

Casually, I pick this very delicious looking egg tart,

Casually, I sit in the seating area by the window and enjoy the nostalgia,

抬起頭，雀躍地發現，

竟有一只優雅燭台，就在我正前方， 

是要為我慶祝什麼嗎？ 

I raise my head, excited to find,

an unexpected and elegant candelabra, right in front of me,

What is it celebrating for me?

剎那間，蛋塔似乎化身為小蛋糕，

就來許個願吧！ 

In that instant, it was as if the tart became a small cake,

just waiting to be wished upon!

每一天，都是上帝的恩典，

每一天，都是值得慶賀的日子！ 

Everyday, is full of God's grace,

Everyday, is always a day worth celebrating!

心情極短篇 ~ 在圖與文之間 Capturing the Moments ~ in the space between picture and text

作者:譚亞菁 / Translated by Parker Gadbois

關於花落、花開，眼光與生命的一串小詩......
A string of poems about wilting, blooming, insights and life......

一片荷花落葉,

落葉的線條與姿態,
自成另一幅風景,
像一隻優雅的粉紅天鵝？

A fallen lotus leaf,

Deciduous lines and posture,

A unique landscape in itself,

or perhaps an elegant pink swan?

還記得一個令我印象深刻的國學考題如下：

“春風又綠江南岸”
這裡的“綠”是什麼詞性？
答案：動詞！（意味著春天的綠意盎然和生命活力）

沒錯, 走在荷花池邊,
我感受到“綠是動詞”！

I still remember an impressionable question from the Sinology Exam,

it goes as follows:

"Spring wind again greens the southern bank"

The "green" here is what part of speech?

Answer: A verb! (meaning the green of spring is full of life and vitality)

Indeed, walking beside the lotus pool

I get that "green is the verb" feeling!

玉蘭,
才短短兩天,
妳失去了原有的白皙,
但乾燥後的妳,
竟依舊散發淡雅迷人的香氣,
欣賞妳的堅持,
堅持散發馨香之氣, 
讓妳周遭的人,
心靈被滋潤著......
謝謝妳, 玉蘭,
讓我看見另一種美麗,
窗外的綠意,
也遮不住妳的美！

Magnolia,

After only two days,

You lost your original fair complexion,

But the you after a dry,

Unexpectedly still exudes a charming and elegant aroma.

I appreciate your perseverance,

to insist on emitting a pleasant smell,

Giving the people around you,

a mind nourished by Magnolia....

Thank you, Magnolia,

for letting me see another kind of beautiful,

the green outside the window,

is not enough to hide your beauty!

有一天, 我們都會漸漸老去, 也許外表就像這乾燥的玉蘭, 不再光鮮亮麗,

但惟願能繼續散發生命的馨香, 就像這玉蘭......

A day will come, when all of us will be getting older, perhaps on the outside looking just like a dried Magnolia, no longer glamorous, but may we all be able to continue emitting the fragrance of life, just like the Magnolia....

玉蘭花的迴響

Rebecca Lo (麗芳) :

這倒讓我想起愛默生來了。他有首「紫陀羅花」的詩作，是這樣說的：「樹林裏一個潮濕的角落，有新鮮的紫陀羅花，展開她無葉的花朵…那紫色的花瓣落到池塘裏，使那黑水也變為艷麗。…

紫陀羅花，若有哲人問你，為什麼在天地間浪費你的美？你告訴他們…美麗的自身就是存在的理由…」 如果美麗的自身就是存在的理由，那麼生命的本身就是存在的見證，像你的玉蘭花。

謝謝妳, Rebecca! 好動人的分享和回應, 這首「紫陀羅花」所展現的圖像和意涵太美了, 讓我想哭......真的, 生命的本身, 就是最美的存在和見證, 任何人都不例外！

Magnolia's Echo

Rebecca Lo (Li Fang):

This made me think of Emerson. His poem "The Rhodora", has these lines:

"I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods, Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook....The purple petals fallen in the pool. Made the black water with their beauty gay...Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why. This charm is wasted on the earth and sky, Tell them, dear, that, if eyes were made for seeing, Then beauty is its own excuse for Being"

If beauty itself is a reason for existence, then life itself is a testimony to existence, just like your Magnolia.

Thank you Rebecca! What a heartfelt share and response, for the poem "The Rhodora", the images depicted and the meaning is so beautiful, it made me want to cry...indeed, life itself, is the most beautiful existence and testimony, without exception!

親愛的主啊, 創造我的天父, 

感謝祢賜下生命力, 
無論我用什麼眼光看待自己, 而祢總是看見我開花的潛能！
主啊, 願祢復活的生命大能時刻充滿我, 好讓我的生命能為祢而綻放！
奉耶穌的名禱告, 阿們！ 

Dearest Lord, my Father the Creator,

Thank you for granting life,

No matter what way I choose to see myself, You have always seen my blooming potential!

Lord, may Your almighty resurrection of life always empower me, 
so that my life can bloom for You!

In Jesus's name I pray, Amen!

今天狂風四起, 
天空的雲朵跑得特別快, 變化多端！
試著從不同角度欣賞101的獨特,
發現樹叢中的101,
好不一樣的感受！

Today fierce winds rose from all directions,

Clouds in the sky were moving so fast, constantly changing!

While trying to enjoy 101's uniqueness from different angles,

I discovered 101 in a bush,

what a different experience!

多麼奢侈的「專注」 "Focus" Is Such a Luxury

       

(本文刊載於台灣醒報 2013年8月26日)

      這世界變化速度之快，令人難以想像。十幾年前，在那網路和手機尚未發達的年代，誰能料想到，現今離不開網路和智慧型手機的生活型態。現代人每天都有各式各樣看不完的資訊，強調快速、即時性。在這資訊爆炸、社群網站流行的時代，邊做事邊查看即時訊息，邊聊天邊滑手機，有時連走路、開車、吃飯都「機不離手」，「一心多用」已成為現代人的常態，「專注」已成為奢侈品，我不禁懷念起從前……

   

        The world is changing at an unimaginable speed. Almost twenty years ago, when internet and cell phones were not as common, who would think that they would become an indispensable part of our lives. Modern people take in an endless variety of information everyday, emphasizing rapidity and real-time. In this era of information overload and widespread use of social networking sites, we work while checking instant messages, we chat while swiping a smartphone, and at times even walking, driving, or eating are done with "machine hands", "multi-tasking" has already become a norm for modern people, and "focus" has become a luxury. I can't help but miss the past....

        還記得沒有網路和手機的日子是怎麼過的嗎？似乎也別有風味吧！當時，每逢過生日、聖誕節、過新年，都會非常期待收到溫馨的手寫賀卡，我也很樂在為朋友挑選適合他的卡片，並親筆寫下祝福的話語。偶爾，甚至會收到好友親手創作的卡片，或用獨特的信紙親筆寫的信函，見字如見其人，讓人倍感親切，反覆品味。但現今伴隨著網路高科技的普及，快速方便的電子郵件、電子賀卡、即時通訊和手機簡訊，幾乎取代了「有溫度的」手寫信件及卡片。仔細回想一下，你有多久沒收到親筆書信或手寫賀卡呢？真的不想念嗎？

   

        Does anyone still remember how we lived life without the internet or cell phones? Life was completely different! At the time, every birthday, Christmas, and New Year would all be fraught with anticipation to receive a warm handwritten greeting card. I was also happy choosing the most suitable cards for friends, while penning down my blessings and wishes. Occasionally, I would even receive a good friend's homemade card, or handwritten letters with unique stationery; seeing their words is like seeing that person, it brings a warm feeling, a repeated fondness read after read. But these days, the popularity of the internet and high-tech, fast and convenient e-mail, e-cards, instant messaging and text messages, has essentially replaced our "warm" handwritten letters and cards. If you carefully recall, how long has it been since you received a handwritten letter or greeting cards? You really don't miss it?

        但若從未親身經歷過，哪來的想念？我的孩子們出生在「網路世代」，每當我和他們分享過去寫信、寄信、等信、收信、拆信、讀信的樂趣，以及逢年過節或過生日時，打開樓下信箱，被滿溢的賀卡包圍的幸福感受，基本上，他們只能想像卻無法完全體會，正如我們無法全然體會古時「飛鴿傳書」或「快馬送信」的生活面貌一樣。在不斷追求時效性的同時，我們失落了什麼？

       At the same time, if you've never experienced it before, then what is there to miss? My children were born into the "internet generation", every time I share with them the past joy of writing, sending, waiting, receiving, opening, and reading letters, as well as during holidays and birthdays, opening the mailbox downstairs, which was overflowing with greeting cards enclosed with happy feelings, basically, they can only imagine but not fully experience, just as we cannot fully experience the same aspects of life from the ancient "pigeon carriers" or the "pony express". In the constant pursuit of timeliness, what have we lost?

        我們失落了一顆專注的心，和一份人與人之間的深度關懷。現代人要「專心」談何容易？在工作與生活中，我們經常做事做到一半被打斷，因為手機鈴響、簡訊或電子郵件通知，或者想查看臉書上的朋友動態、有誰按讚留言……等等，而讓我們無法專心做事，有太多事會讓我們分心！我們無形中不知花了多少時間在接聽不必要的電話，閱讀不重要的訊息。我們失去了「專注做好一件事」所帶來的滿足與喜樂。

        We've lost focus of heart, and the deep concern between one and others. For modern people to concentrate, it is easier said than done. In work and life, we constantly getting cut off in the middle of doing things, because of ringtones, SMS or e-mail notifications, or we'd like to check the activities of our friends on facebook, to see who 'likes' our status and leaves a message, etc., making us unable to focus on work, there's too many things that will keep us distracted! We virtually don't know how much time we've spent answering unnecessary calls, reading unimportant messages. We've lost the satisfaction and joy that comes with doing things one step at a time.

        有時，朋友們聚餐或出遊，大家習慣性地用數位相機或手機猛拍照，拍食物、拍合照、拍風景……幾乎「無所不拍」，然後又忙著打卡、上傳照片到網路與人分享，接著又開始滑手機看網友的回應。在這種情況下，似乎連要和朋友「專心」聊天、談心、建立深層友誼，「專心」用肉眼欣賞週遭景物，「專心」享受當下，都顯得困難重重！

        Sometimes, friends will go out to eat or travel. Everyone habitually uses a digital camera or camera phone to take pictures; pictures of food, group pictures, pictures of scenery....there's almost "no picture to not take". Then, they're busy ‘checking in’, uploading photos to share with others, then they start swiping away, looking for responses from online friends. In this case, it seems that even if you want to "focus" on chatting, talking, or building deep relationships with friends, "focus" on admiring the surrounding scenery with the naked eye, or "focus" on enjoying the moment, all are going to be pretty difficult!

        我尤其為現今「網路世代」的孩子們感到憂心。雖然科技帶來的好處無庸置疑，但如今有許多老師發現，學生「專注力」普遍降低，科技帶來的干擾大於幫助。這世代的孩子從小接觸數位多媒體的聲光環境，長期沉浸在聲光刺激與一心多用的生活型態，對孩子的專注力與學習力都會產生不良影響。我們出外常會看見這個景象：有些家長怕孩子吵，就把平板電腦、智慧型手機當成「保母」，給幼童當玩具玩，長時間低頭玩網路遊戲，這會讓孩子的視力和身心健康受損。而青少年「手機成癮」現象也日趨嚴重。最近聽到一些家中有青少年的父母，很苦惱地說到，孩子下課回家後，就待在房間上網，玩線上遊戲，和同學們用通訊工具Line聊天到半夜，也因此很少與家人有良好的交談和互動。在同儕壓力下，青少年甚至小學生，看見自己的同學有智慧型手機，就會要求父母親也買給他們，身為父母者，真的要三思而後行啊！

         I'm especially worried for the kids of today's "Internet Generation". While technology can bring benefits beyond doubt, recently, many teachers have found the general attention span of students has dropped, so that technology’s benefits do not outweigh the disruption to students. This generation of kids come in contact with this digital multi-media environment of light and sound at a young age, long-term immersion in a lifestyle of multi-tasking and stimulating lights and sounds will have adverse effects on the child's attention span and ability to study. We go out and often see this scene: some parents fear their child will be noisy, so they let a tablet PC or a smartphone be a "nanny". They give it to children to play as a toy, all their time is spent with their head down playing internet games, which makes the child's vision, physical and mental health suffer. The teenage phenomenon of "phone addiction" is also becoming increasingly serious. Recently we've heard a few parents of teenagers, miserably explain, when their child leaves school and comes home, they stay in their room and surf the net, play online games, use the communication tool 'Line' to talk with classmates till midnight, and because of this, they rarely have a quality conversation or interaction with their family. Under peer pressure, teenagers, and even elementary school students, will see their classmates with a smartphone, and beg their parents to buy one for them. As parents, we really need to think twice!

        網路世界真真假假、假假真真，無論各樣資訊或人際關係裡的真假都難以分辨。你感到累了倦了嗎？說真的，有時好懷念從前，嚮往過去那比較簡單、比較專注又踏實的生活。但隨著科技發展日新月異，我知道我們回不去了……

The world wide web is full of half-truths and un-truths, no matter what kind of information or personal relationship, it's hard to discern between true and false. Aren't you feeling tired or weary? Honestly, there are times when I really miss the past, longing for that fairly simple, focused and practical life. But with each passing day technology advances, I know we can't go back....

        然而，在真假難辨的世界中，「真理」始終存在著。不管「專注」對現代人來說是多麼奢侈的要求，親愛的主啊！「求你叫我轉眼不看虛假，又叫我在你的道中生活」（詩篇119篇37節），因為祢曾說：「你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由」（約翰福音八章32節）。 

        

       However, in a world where fact and fiction are hard to distinguish, "truth" is always there. Regardless of how much "focus" is an extravagant demand for the modern world, dear Lord! "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word" (Psalm 119:37), because You have said "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). 

作者:譚亞菁 Aug. 7, 2013

Translated by Parker Gadbois