10/05/2015

12 Life Lessons

My mother was the smartest person I've ever known, not because she had a fancy job or a high level of education, but because of her life experience. When I was a little kid she used to share her thoughts, ideas and life lessons with me. I can honestly say I would not have been the person I am today without her wisdom.

In an effort to save her words and pass them on to my children, I have written down her snippets of advice and thoughts on life. A few years after my project was done she passed away in her sleep. Today, I want to share some of her inspiring words with you, I hope they will help you as much as they helped me:

Breathe in the future, breathe out the past.

No matter where you are or what you’re going through, remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Never expect, assume, or demand anything, just do your best, control what you can, and let go of what you can't.

Others should accept you for who you are.

Speak your truth even if your voice shakes and you know it won't be well received. You are something beautiful and unique so if you hold that back, the whole world gets a bit less amazing. Walk your path confidently and proudly, don’t expect anyone else to understand your journey.

You are not who you used to be, and that’s OK.

People go through many ups and downs in life and it changes them, you are no different. Your perspective has changed, your likes and dislikes have changed, your political views may have changed, and that is all normal. When people accuse you of changing just replay by saying: “Of course I’ve changed. That’s what life is all about. I’m still the same person, just stronger and wiser.”

Everything that happens helps you grow.

Take everything life throws at you as an opportunity to improve yourself. Whatever happens, hold on to hope. Learn from everything and don’t be afraid to make the same mistake twice, 3 times, or as many times as necessary.

Life should be simple.

Focus on one thing at a time. You don’t have to do everything, and you don’t need to do something every second of your life. Breathe, be present, and do your best, it's the most anyone, including yourself, could ever hope for.

Educate yourself to be happy, not to be rich.

There is a big difference between knowing the price of things, and knowing the value of things. In the end, you will come to realize that the best days are the days when you don’t need anything special to make you smile.

Always be positive.

Your misery or unhappiness is determined not by your circumstances, but by your attitude. Smile at those who want to hurt you, show them that they can’t take away your happiness from you. Your will power is stronger than you know.

Pay close attention to those you care about.

When people say “I’m okay,” you need to look them in the eyes, hug them tight, and reply, “I know you’re not”. Don’t be too upset if some people only seem to remember you when they need you, only be upset if they are not there when you need them.

Learn how to let go of people.

Some people are bad for you, some people need to do things on their own, and some people might need you to teach them a hard lesson. It's not easy to say goodbye when you don’t have to but you know you need to, but it's for the benefit of both sides.

Sometimes getting results means stripping yourself of people that slow you down.

As much as you might love them, some people can make it a lot harder for you to reach your goals. Almost everyone will encounter such a person during their life. As you find out who you are and what you want, you realize that people you’ve known forever don’t see things the way you do. Keep the wonderful memories you had with them, but move on to achieve your happiness.

“I can’t believe I did that”, is much better than, “I wish I did that.”

Don’t live your life trying to impress others, live it so you'll impress yourself. If you know you will regret not doing something, just do it. It's that simple.]

If you can't find your happy ending, maybe it’s time to look for a new beginning.

We all fail from time to time, it's just a part of life. Don’t be stubborn and just accept it. The strongest people out there are the same people who have fought the toughest battles, lost, and moved on to a new beginning.

永遠做好直言準備,小人就會避開。 Always be ready to speak your mind, and a base man will avoid you.

永遠做好直言準備,小人就會避開。 Always be ready to speak your mind, and a base man will avoid you.
英國詩人、畫家 威廉布萊克 William Blake

10/04/2015

你若盛開,蝴蝶自來;你若精彩,天自安排。

「你若盛開,蝴蝶自來」

我們生命中的一切所願,其實 不應該用 “ 追求 ”,而應該用 “ 吸引 ”。

佛說“ 有求皆苦,無求乃樂”。

曾經,有一個人為了得到美麗的蝴蝶,便買來一雙跑鞋、一只網子,穿上運動服,追逐奔跑了很久,终於在氣喘吁吁、滿頭大汗中抓到幾隻。可是蝴蝶在網子裡恐懼掙扎,絲毫没有美麗可言。一有機會,蝴蝶就會飛走。這就叫 “ 追求 ”。

另一個人也很喜歡蝴蝶,他買來幾盆鮮花放在窗台,然後靜靜地坐在沙發上品著香茗,望著蝴蝶翩翩而來,心情猶如吸蜜的蝴蝶。這就叫 “ 吸引 ”。

"追求",是從自我的角度考慮,忽視了事物内在的微妙規律,所以常常事與願違。

"吸引"則是從完善自我、奉獻自我出發,順應了天理,投其所好,因而皆大歡喜。

你若盛開,蝴蝶自來;你若精彩,天自安排。

保持一顆善良的心,老天自會給你最好的安排!
一片葉,落在哪裡都是歸宿;
一朵花,開在哪裡都是芳香;
一雙腳,走到哪裡都是道路;
一顆心,安到哪裡都是幸福;
心中有陽光,照到哪裡都是溫暖;
眼中有慈悲,落在何處皆是摯愛。
變化中的一切,全然接受,於歡喜而不執,於恐懼而無憂,於逆境而不拒。
用心生活每一天 。
弟子問佛:您既神通又慈悲,為何還有人受苦?
佛說:我雖有最大的神通力,但依然有四件事情是做不到的:
第一,因果不可改:自因自果,别人是代替不了的;
第二,智慧不可賜:任何人要開智慧,離不開自身的磨練;
第三,妙法不可說:宇宙真相用語言講不明白,只能靠實證;
第四,無缘不能度:無缘之人,他是聽不進你的話的。天雨雖寬,不潤無根之草;佛門廣大,難度無缘之人。

10/03/2015

Allen Chen 懷想錄: 真正的高貴True Nobility

Allen Chen 懷想錄: 真正的高貴True Nobility: True Nobility 真正的高貴 In a calm sea every man is a pilot. 風平浪靜的大海上,人人可為領航者。 But all sunshine without shade, all pleasure without pain, ...

10/02/2015

Allen Chen 懷想錄: 藍眼睛的台灣人

Allen Chen 懷想錄: 藍眼睛的台灣人: 張肇烜 來台半世紀的美國女醫療宣教師林鄧璐德女士,日前辭世,享壽九十五歲。 一九二一年生於美國德州的林鄧璐德取得護理學位後,到中國青海協助創立醫院,提供藏人醫療服務,並訓練當地護理人員。誰知她卻在「世界屋脊」青藏高原,和其他醫護人員遭共產黨監禁在醫院裡足足七個月。最後只好黯然離開...

2015 臺灣十大非去不可圖書館

「二○一五台灣十大非去不可圖書館票選」,於今年6月至9月底如火如荼展開,票選結果出爐,10大圖書館以高雄市立圖書館總館奪冠。其他9名分別為中華飲食文化圖書館、新北市立圖書館總館、嘉義縣民雄鄉立圖書館、國家圖書館、高雄市立圖書館大東藝術圖書館、高雄市立圖書館小港分館、靜宜大學蓋夏圖書館、高雄文學館、國立台東大學圖書資訊館。以綠建築揚名國際的台北市立圖書館北投分館,排名13,成為遺珠。
高雄市立圖書館共有總館、大東、小港、文學館4館參賽,4座圖書館全數入選前10名,是本次票選活動最大贏家。

「2015 臺灣十大非去不可圖書館大票選」活動,自6月10日至9月30日長達113天,一向支持圖書閱讀推廣的高雄市長陳菊,也3度在自己臉書專頁邀請市民朋友一起來支持高雄人自己的圖書館;今年正式營運的高市圖新總館,共獲得逾52萬票支持,拿下第一名,名列第二的是以飲食為主題的中華飲食文化圖書館,同樣在今年開館的新北市立圖書館總館名列第三。

高市圖代館長潘政儀說,新總館是全國首座懸吊式綠建築圖書館,以「樹中有館、館中有樹」通透摩登的外觀、最豐富的館藏與無敵海景,濃厚的閱讀氛圍吸引眾多讀者留戀;大東藝術圖書館,有著優雅復古內裝,並以藝術為館藏特色,是超有氣質的圖書館。

小港分館則是一座會呼吸的綠建築圖書館,以極具親和力書房概念讓大家輕鬆閱讀;高雄文學館以文學館藏為特色,以深厚的涵養積極推廣文學之美,大東、小港及文學館三館因票數相同,同列第6名。

不快樂代表錯誤的思維;如同生病代表欠佳的養生計畫。“Unhappiness indicates wrong thinking; just as ill health indicates a bad regimen.”

“Unhappiness indicates wrong thinking; just as ill health indicates a bad regimen.”
– Paul Bourget, Literary Critic
「不快樂代表錯誤的思維;如同生病代表欠佳的養生計畫。」– 保羅‧布爾熱 (文學評論家)
保羅‧布爾熱 (1852-1935) 是法國詩人、小說家、文學評論家,1984 年當選法蘭西學院院士,其作品多與心理哲學相關,如《現代心理學論集》、《殘酷的謎》、《愛之罪》及《中年魔障》等。

創造、克服、忍耐、轉變、關愛及超越苦難的能力,是我們人類最真實的部分。“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.”

“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.”
– Ben Okri, Novelist
「創造、克服、忍耐、轉變、關愛及超越苦難的能力,是我們人類最真實的部分。」– 本‧奧克瑞 (小說家)
本‧奧克瑞 (1959- ) 是奈及利亞詩人及小說家,其小說《花與影》及《飢餓之路》令他獲得國際聲譽。他在奈及利亞內戰中的親身經歷,為他的作品帶來靈感。奧克瑞是英國皇家文學會成員,在 2001 年獲大英帝國勳章。他獲得許多獎項,包括英聯邦作家獎、阿加汗小說獎、以及世界經濟論壇水晶獎等。

最微小的行為勝過最偉大的打算。“The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.”

“The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.”
– John Burroughs, Writer
「最微小的行為勝過最偉大的打算。」– 約翰‧巴勒斯 (作家)
約翰‧巴勒斯 (1837-1921) 是美國科學博學者、名盛一時的自然散文 (nature essay) 作家,他對大自然的描寫廣為人知,也是美國環保運動的重要人士。

讓自己察覺到週遭事物有多麼美好時,我們感受到快樂。“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”
– Marianne Williamson, Author and Spiritual Activist
「讓自己察覺到週遭事物有多麼美好時,我們感受到快樂。」– 瑪麗安娜‧威廉森 (作家及心靈活動家)
瑪麗安娜‧威廉森 (1952- ) 為美國作家及心靈活動家,有 4 本著作榮登《紐約時報》暢銷書排行榜,她的著作是基於一個稱為「奇蹟旅程」(A Course In Miracles) 的自我訓練,以普世的心靈力量在心理上做改變。

永遠對他人讓步的人,最終將沒有自己的原則。“He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.”

“He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.”
– Aesop, Storyteller
「永遠對他人讓步的人,最終將沒有自己的原則。」– 伊索 (說書人)
伊索相傳為公元前 7 至 6 世紀的希臘人、《伊索寓言》的作者,最早出現在希臘歷史學家希羅多德的史學名著《歷史》中,傳說是一名奴隸,後因博學多聞而獲主人釋放為自由人,可以參與公共事務。

當我在人生盡頭面對上帝時,我希望我沒有留下一點才華且能夠說,我用完你給我的一切。“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.”

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.”
-– Erma Bombeck, Humorist
「當我在人生盡頭面對上帝時,我希望我沒有留下一點才華且能夠說,我用完你給我的一切。」– 爾瑪‧邦貝克 (幽默作家)
爾瑪‧邦貝克 (1927-1996) 是美國幽默作家,一週兩篇文章在北美 900 家報社轉載,以幽默手法描繪美國中產階級的家居生活,字裏行間蘊涵精準的人性觀,引起廣大讀者共鳴。她另外著有 15 本書,大多也都是暢銷書。

過去的損失和失敗經驗,應是你採取行動,而非不採取行動的理由。“Use the losses and failures of the past as a reason for action, not inaction.”

“Use the losses and failures of the past as a reason for action, not inaction.”
– Charles J. Givens, Financial Consultant
「過去的損失和失敗經驗,應是你採取行動,而非不採取行動的理由。」– 查理斯‧葛佛斯 (理財專家)
查理斯‧葛佛斯 (1941-1998) 是美國理財顧問,著有暢銷書「沒有風險的財富」(Wealth Without Risk) 和「財務自我防衛」(Financial Self Defense),另在電視及廣播節目推廣理財策略。

有時候在你看來,所有的門似乎都關上了,但請記住,關上不代表鎖上。"Sometimes all doors may be closed for you, but remember, they aren't locked."

有時候在你看來,所有的門似乎都關上了,但請記住,關上不代表鎖上。─佚名(Anonymous)
"Sometimes all doors may be closed for you, but remember, they aren't locked."

7個方法,讓你養成閱讀習慣!

職場家

「知識就是力量」這句話是老生常談了,建立閱讀的習慣很難,但卻很值得,不是嗎?建立習慣需要時間,但卻有方法,一旦你建立起閱讀的習慣,你的專業知識將會建立的更快,也能夠更快脫穎而出。

1. 睡前固定安排一小時閱讀

人都有惰性,但習慣能幫助我們克服惰性,研究顯示,一旦你養成某種習慣,若是有一天突然不做了,就會感到不習慣。因此,不如安排每天晚上睡覺前的一小時閱讀,而且最好是固定時段,例如晚上11點至12點。

2. 每個月撥一筆錢,固定投資買書

如果你已經有了工作,不妨每個月拿幾千塊的收入買書,例如每個月固定花三千塊買書,書一旦用自己的錢買了,就會有種一定要看完的感覺,畢竟是自己辛苦賺來的。買書是學習最好的方式之一,別吝嗇每個月花一點錢買幾本書來看,它會是最值得的投資。

3. 找朋友互相監督,組讀書會

要克服怠惰的另外一個方式,就是找朋友互相監督,畢竟每個人都需要一些互相扶持的朋友與競爭對手,找幾個朋友組成讀書會是一種不錯的方式。

4. 每天早起一小時閱讀

如果睡前一小時安排閱讀一樣,早起一小時閱讀同樣有作用,如果你晚上沒有閱讀的習慣,那麼可以早起一小時閱讀。根據研究,許多成功的人士,都是晨型人,同時,早上的時間,也比較容易專注。

「每天早上叫你起床的是鬧鐘還是夢想?」大量研究顯示,每天習慣早起的人,更容易成功。

5. 中午花20分鐘休息,保留精力

研究顯示,中午休息二十分鐘,晚上會更有精神。如果你是上班族,中午的時間除了吃飯之外,一定要讓自己休息二十分鐘,晚上會更有精神閱讀。除此之外,下午也會更有精神工作,一舉兩得。

6. 訂閱雜誌,每周、每月都有東西讀

訂閱雜誌最棒的好處就是強迫閱讀,例如週刊每週都會寄一本到你家,讓你不閱讀都不行,因此,如果你懶得買書,或是總是有等到自己有更多時間再買書來看的想法,那就訂閱雜誌,那就沒有藉口可以不閱讀了。

7. 從自己感興趣的書開始入門

許多人無法建立起閱讀的習慣,真正的原因不在於他們不喜歡閱讀,而是沒找到自己喜歡的領域與方向,如果是自己真正喜歡的興趣,一定會變得更主動學習。因此,不妨先從找出自己的興趣開始,先知道自己喜歡什麼,再從自己喜歡的領域開始買書來看,而不是漫無目的的閱讀。