Chapter 13 Are you ready for your life adventure?
Chapter 13 Are you ready for your life adventure?
第十三章 你準備好開始你的人生冒險了嗎？
第十三章 你準備好開始你的人生冒險了嗎？
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13. Are you ready for your life adventure?
13. Are you ready for your life adventure?
As I was out for a walk the other day, I passed countless people on the path coming in the opposite direction. This got me to thinking: until the very recent past, most of us propelled ourselves by our two feet. Other methods did exist: the palanquin, the sleight, the chariot, the buggy and the horse to name but a few. But for the most part, we walked. There is something about just slowing down and walking, isn’t there? Firstly, that “age-old gift” that few of us have time to subscribe to anymore is brought forward: thought. When we walk, we have time to think -- think about the dilemmas that plague our daily lives: taxes, children, careers, our place in the cosmos -- the list is understandably endless.
As I was out for a walk the other day, I passed countless people on the path coming in the opposite direction. This got me to thinking: until the very recent past, most of us propelled ourselves by our two feet. Other methods did exist: the palanquin, the sleight, the chariot, the buggy and the horse to name but a few. But for the most part, we walked. There is something about just slowing down and walking, isn’t there? Firstly, that “age-old gift” that few of us have time to subscribe to anymore is brought forward: thought. When we walk, we have time to think -- think about the dilemmas that plague our daily lives: taxes, children, careers, our place in the cosmos -- the list is understandably endless.
It is, after all, my process of thought and not yours. You can’t help but surmise that, if every world leader was forced to walk for some distance before making a momentous decision, the world would be a more peaceful place. “Many people nowadays live in a series of interiors ... disconnected from each other. On foot everything stays connected, for while walking one occupies the spaces between those interiors in the same way one occupies those interiors. One lives in the whole world rather than in interiors built up against it.”1
It is, after all, my process of thought and not yours. You can’t help but surmise that, if every world leader was forced to walk for some distance before making a momentous decision, the world would be a more peaceful place. “Many people nowadays live in a series of interiors ... disconnected from each other. On foot everything stays connected, for while walking one occupies the spaces between those interiors in the same way one occupies those interiors. One lives in the whole world rather than in interiors built up against it.”1
Secondly, walking makes you healthier – it just does. Body weight and good health are often concomitant. “If you’re carrying many extra pounds, you face a higher-than-average risk of … 50 different health problems. These health conditions include the … leading causes of death -- heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers -- as well as less common ailments such as gout and gallstones. Perhaps even more compelling is the strong link between excess weight and depression, because this common mood disorder can have a profound, negative impact on your daily life.”2 The crisis that exists on the Korean peninsula at the moment would certainly be reduced if its two protagonists, those aforementioned world leaders, took a lengthy walk and, over time, lost some of their girth. They might even become nicer people – God forbid.
Secondly, walking makes you healthier – it just does. Body weight and good health are often concomitant. “If you’re carrying many extra pounds, you face a higher-than-average risk of … 50 different health problems. These health conditions include the … leading causes of death -- heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers -- as well as less common ailments such as gout and gallstones. Perhaps even more compelling is the strong link between excess weight and depression, because this common mood disorder can have a profound, negative impact on your daily life.”2 The crisis that exists on the Korean peninsula at the moment would certainly be reduced if its two protagonists, those aforementioned world leaders, took a lengthy walk and, over time, lost some of their girth. They might even become nicer people – God forbid.
The concept of “Don’t be a wage slave!” (DBAWageslave.com) does not necessarily mean that we must risk all our time and money by starting our own enterprise. Owning your own business is not for the “faint-hearted” and is fraught with its own series of problems and maladies. Recently, I have been proffered examples of individuals who have taken a different path to achieve their “employment peace,” if I can put it this way.
The concept of “Don’t be a wage slave!” (DBAWageslave.com) does not necessarily mean that we must risk all our time and money by starting our own enterprise. Owning your own business is not for the “faint-hearted” and is fraught with its own series of problems and maladies. Recently, I have been proffered examples of individuals who have taken a different path to achieve their “employment peace,” if I can put it this way.
During the summer, I was in Siliguri3 with a friend of mine who was buying tea. There were people everywhere, literally. We went into a post office to mail some rather large parcels of tea back to Taiwan. To me, all appeared to be in a state of total chaos. We stood in a line and had to fend off the interlopers who were attempting to ask a question of the clerk. She was an exceedingly beautiful and well-attired woman of, say, around 40. When we finally got to be in front of her counter after “a major battle and several skirmishes”4 lasting almost an hour, I was stunned by her pleasant and kind demeanor. How was this possible after this never-ending human onslaught, which is India, for the most part? So I asked her, “Do you like your job?” Her reply: “I love my job: At night, when I go home, I feel full of energy. It gives me the time and the financial stability to develop my online business: selling custom jewelry.” “Knock me over with a feather,” is the appropriate idiom, I believe.
During the summer, I was in Siliguri3 with a friend of mine who was buying tea. There were people everywhere, literally. We went into a post office to mail some rather large parcels of tea back to Taiwan. To me, all appeared to be in a state of total chaos. We stood in a line and had to fend off the interlopers who were attempting to ask a question of the clerk. She was an exceedingly beautiful and well-attired woman of, say, around 40. When we finally got to be in front of her counter after “a major battle and several skirmishes”4 lasting almost an hour, I was stunned by her pleasant and kind demeanor. How was this possible after this never-ending human onslaught, which is India, for the most part? So I asked her, “Do you like your job?” Her reply: “I love my job: At night, when I go home, I feel full of energy. It gives me the time and the financial stability to develop my online business: selling custom jewelry.” “Knock me over with a feather,” is the appropriate idiom, I believe.
My second example is also quite telling. I went into a Family Mart to buy a coffee. Once again, humanity had visited at the same time: a huge lineup of people preceded me. When I finally got in front of the clerk, I expected a frazzled and angry young man. Instead, he was pleasant and engaging. “Do you like your job?” was again my question. “It is very busy.” I expected a deluge of negativity after these pleasantries. But no -- what do I hear? “I hope it stays this busy when I buy my own next year.” “Buy your own what? “ I asked, rather nonplussed. “My own Family Mart, of course: I will have saved enough to buy my own Family Mart franchise by then.” As we are often told, attributed to Lord Krishna, “Many rivers flow to the sea.” There are many ways to achieve “employment peace.”
My second example is also quite telling. I went into a Family Mart to buy a coffee. Once again, humanity had visited at the same time: a huge lineup of people preceded me. When I finally got in front of the clerk, I expected a frazzled and angry young man. Instead, he was pleasant and engaging. “Do you like your job?” was again my question. “It is very busy.” I expected a deluge of negativity after these pleasantries. But no -- what do I hear? “I hope it stays this busy when I buy my own next year.” “Buy your own what? “ I asked, rather nonplussed. “My own Family Mart, of course: I will have saved enough to buy my own Family Mart franchise by then.” As we are often told, attributed to Lord Krishna, “Many rivers flow to the sea.” There are many ways to achieve “employment peace.”
13. 你準備好開始你的人生冒險了嗎？
13. 你準備好開始你的人生冒險了嗎？
有天我出門散步時，迎面而來的人們難以計數。這讓我想到一件事，一直到近代為止，我們大部分人都是靠一雙腳來移動的。當然還有其他方式，例如轎子、雪橇、馬車、輕便馬車或馬等等。但大部分的時候，我們靠的是走路。光是放慢速度走路，其中就有很多學問值得玩味，不是嗎？首先，很少人花時間用到的那份「古老禮物」就出現了：思考。當我們在行走時，我們就有時間去思考，思考那些在日常生活中折磨我們的難題：稅金、孩子、事業，還有我們人生的意義等等。可以思考的項目可想而知是無限的多。
有天我出門散步時，迎面而來的人們難以計數。這讓我想到一件事，一直到近代為止，我們大部分人都是靠一雙腳來移動的。當然還有其他方式，例如轎子、雪橇、馬車、輕便馬車或馬等等。但大部分的時候，我們靠的是走路。光是放慢速度走路，其中就有很多學問值得玩味，不是嗎？首先，很少人花時間用到的那份「古老禮物」就出現了：思考。當我們在行走時，我們就有時間去思考，思考那些在日常生活中折磨我們的難題：稅金、孩子、事業，還有我們人生的意義等等。可以思考的項目可想而知是無限的多。
然而，這思考歷程終究是我的而不是你的。你可能會忍不住推想，要是每個國家領導人在做出重要決策前，都被迫先去散步，走一段路，那麼這世界會是一個更平和的地方。「現在很多人都活在一連串的個人空間裡……缺乏了與他人的互動。在走路的時候，便可以建立彼此之間的連結，因為行走時，人們跨出了自己的世界，佔據了彼此之間的空間，原理就如同居住在個人的空間一樣。人應該生活在整體的世界之中，而不是活在依此建立的個人空間。」1
然而，這思考歷程終究是我的而不是你的。你可能會忍不住推想，要是每個國家領導人在做出重要決策前，都被迫先去散步，走一段路，那麼這世界會是一個更平和的地方。「現在很多人都活在一連串的個人空間裡……缺乏了與他人的互動。在走路的時候，便可以建立彼此之間的連結，因為行走時，人們跨出了自己的世界，佔據了彼此之間的空間，原理就如同居住在個人的空間一樣。人應該生活在整體的世界之中，而不是活在依此建立的個人空間。」1
再者，走路讓你更健康，這是真的。體重和健康兩者是息息相關的。「如果你身上多背負幾公斤，你得到50種不同疾病的風險會高於平均值，包含心臟病、中風、糖尿病以及各種癌症等主要死因，還有常見的小疾病，例如痛風跟膽結石。也許更引起人注意的是過重與憂鬱症之間的關聯，因為情緒失調可能對於你的日常生活有深遠的負面影響。」2如果朝鮮半島上的兩位領導人能好好走上一段路，此刻存在於朝鮮半島上的政治危機必能獲得減緩，而且時日一久，他們也許連腰圍都會瘦了一些，甚至個性也可能會變得更好一點。但願如此！
再者，走路讓你更健康，這是真的。體重和健康兩者是息息相關的。「如果你身上多背負幾公斤，你得到50種不同疾病的風險會高於平均值，包含心臟病、中風、糖尿病以及各種癌症等主要死因，還有常見的小疾病，例如痛風跟膽結石。也許更引起人注意的是過重與憂鬱症之間的關聯，因為情緒失調可能對於你的日常生活有深遠的負面影響。」2如果朝鮮半島上的兩位領導人能好好走上一段路，此刻存在於朝鮮半島上的政治危機必能獲得減緩，而且時日一久，他們也許連腰圍都會瘦了一些，甚至個性也可能會變得更好一點。但願如此！
「別當薪水的奴隸」，這個概念並不一定是說我們得冒險投入所有時間和金錢來創業。「勇氣不足」而且有各種問題和疾病的人不適合自己創業。最近有人告訴我一些人的工作案例，這些人選擇不同的人生道路，取得「工作上的寧靜」，如果我可以這麼說的話。
「別當薪水的奴隸」，這個概念並不一定是說我們得冒險投入所有時間和金錢來創業。「勇氣不足」而且有各種問題和疾病的人不適合自己創業。最近有人告訴我一些人的工作案例，這些人選擇不同的人生道路，取得「工作上的寧靜」，如果我可以這麼說的話。
暑假期間，我跟一位朋友造訪印度的西里古里3，我朋友到此買茶。這個地方到處都是人，真的很多人。我們到郵局寄一些有點大的茶葉包裹回台灣。對我而言，那場面簡直就是一片混亂。我們一邊排隊，一邊還得隔開那些試圖插隊，想問櫃台人員的群眾。在櫃台服務的女子十分美麗，穿著打扮也很漂亮，看上去大約40歲左右。在經歷了大約一小時的「大戰和零星的衝突後」4，終於輪到我們了。她和藹且令人愉快的服務態度令我驚訝。在印度這種永無止境的大混戰很普遍，她怎麼還能保持著這樣的服務態度呢？我問她：「妳喜歡妳的工作嗎？」她回答：「我熱愛我的工作。每天晚上我回到家時，我總是感到精力充沛。因為這份工作，讓我有時間和穩定的收入來發展客製化珠寶的網路事業。」我想當時驚訝的程度可以用這句諺語來形容：「只要用一根羽毛就可以把我撂倒。」
暑假期間，我跟一位朋友造訪印度的西里古里3，我朋友到此買茶。這個地方到處都是人，真的很多人。我們到郵局寄一些有點大的茶葉包裹回台灣。對我而言，那場面簡直就是一片混亂。我們一邊排隊，一邊還得隔開那些試圖插隊，想問櫃台人員的群眾。在櫃台服務的女子十分美麗，穿著打扮也很漂亮，看上去大約40歲左右。在經歷了大約一小時的「大戰和零星的衝突後」4，終於輪到我們了。她和藹且令人愉快的服務態度令我驚訝。在印度這種永無止境的大混戰很普遍，她怎麼還能保持著這樣的服務態度呢？我問她：「妳喜歡妳的工作嗎？」她回答：「我熱愛我的工作。每天晚上我回到家時，我總是感到精力充沛。因為這份工作，讓我有時間和穩定的收入來發展客製化珠寶的網路事業。」我想當時驚訝的程度可以用這句諺語來形容：「只要用一根羽毛就可以把我撂倒。」
我的第二個案例也同樣值得分享。有次我到全家便利商店買咖啡時，再次看見了大規模的人潮。我前面大排長龍，輪到我時，我以為我會看見一個疲憊且滿臉怒容的年輕人。相反的，我看見了一張開心且樂在其中的臉龐。「你喜歡你的工作嗎？」我又問了相同的問題。「這是一份很忙碌的工作。」他說。我以為接在這句客套話後面的會是一連串抱怨。可是並沒有。我聽到的是什麼呢？「我希望我明年買下自己的店時，生意也會一樣這麼好。」「買下你自己的什麼？」我帶著困惑問他。「當然是我自己的全家便利商店囉。我想我到時候就會存夠錢加盟全家了。」他說。我們常常聽到黑天神克里斯那說的那句話：「很多河流都會流向大海。」取得「工作的寧靜」方法有很多，就靠你自己去發掘。
我的第二個案例也同樣值得分享。有次我到全家便利商店買咖啡時，再次看見了大規模的人潮。我前面大排長龍，輪到我時，我以為我會看見一個疲憊且滿臉怒容的年輕人。相反的，我看見了一張開心且樂在其中的臉龐。「你喜歡你的工作嗎？」我又問了相同的問題。「這是一份很忙碌的工作。」他說。我以為接在這句客套話後面的會是一連串抱怨。可是並沒有。我聽到的是什麼呢？「我希望我明年買下自己的店時，生意也會一樣這麼好。」「買下你自己的什麼？」我帶著困惑問他。「當然是我自己的全家便利商店囉。我想我到時候就會存夠錢加盟全家了。」他說。我們常常聽到黑天神克里斯那說的那句話：「很多河流都會流向大海。」取得「工作的寧靜」方法有很多，就靠你自己去發掘。
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