Heap Hope Angels

世界上沒有任何東西是永遠不變的
唯一不變的只有一件事
就是任何東西都在變

最近有個餐飲界的病人和我大談經營理念，
談著談著我忽然豁然開朗。
原來這個人經營的是色情酒店。
不但如此，
他得意地自誇旗下女將清一色是大專程度以上。
知識份子怎麼會去從事色情陪酒行業？
我們不免好奇十足。

其實很簡單，我刊登廣告，
徵求大專程度以上的女性會計。
凡是應徵者都必須檢具學歷證書。
「你刊登不實廣告，誘騙應徵少女。」
他神秘地笑：我們的會計薪水是比別人高沒錯。
不過每個小姐一來我都說得很清楚。
我們這裡的確有色情陪酒。
但是領會計的薪水絕對只能做會計的工作。
和裡面陪酒的小姐完全不同。絕不強迫。
「那就領薪水，好好地做個會計。」我問。
是做會計沒錯。
不過日子久了，和裡面端盤子的小姐熟了，
大家都一樣是大專畢業的，好溝通。
忙不過來的時候幫忙端個盤子，
送送酒，也是常有的事。

這個時候我就告訴小姐；
你看，當會計領一萬二千元，
端盤子送酒薪水二萬四，端盤子又不陪客人，
不是什麼壞事，
反正你都常常端盤子，為什麼不乾脆領二萬四？
這樣說個幾次就開始動搖了。
同樣都是工作，為什麼不領二萬四呢？
俱樂部的規定是，端盤子的小姐不准坐下來陪客人喝酒，
這樣和坐檯小姐才有區別。

可是日子久了，客人熟了，
也會意思意思要求喝杯酒。
開頭總是不願意，後來熬不過就喝一杯。說是站著喝。
一開始喝酒就好辦了。
站著喝酒薪水是二萬四，坐著喝是四萬八，
客人給的小費還不包括在內。
同樣都是大專畢業，為什麼錢賺的比別人少？
就會有人勸她了，人都在裡面了，
外面的人誰知道你是端盤子，還是坐檯呢？
再說自己真的清白，別跟客人出場就好了，
陪客人喝喝酒，就算在社會上交際應酬也是常有的事。
於是坐下來當坐檯小姐。

剛開始一定規規矩矩地喝酒。也不隨便跟客人出場。
這一行競爭大，領四萬八慢慢就會嫌不夠了。
只好挑看得順眼的客人給帶出場了。
作久了，總是會給厲害的客人佔便宜，
哭哭啼啼鬧一陣子也就好了。
畢竟讀過書，狠下心來做得更利落、更敢
客人喜歡，我也得意，這是兩廂情願的事。
他停了一下又說：
我從來沒有強迫過別人，也從來不擔心找不到小姐，
反正這個環境慢慢會改變她們，
直到她們根本忘記自己原來的想法和樣子！

我愈聽眼睛睜得愈大，
從不曾想過在這樣不疾不徐的瑣碎裡，
竟也有血肉飛濺似的驚心動魄。
豐子愷寫過文章感嘆：
使人生圓滑進行的微妙要素，莫如「漸」；
造物主騙人的手段，也莫如「漸」。

在不知不覺中，
天真浪漫的孩子「漸漸」變成野心勃勃的青年。
慷慨豪俠的青年「漸漸」變成冷酷的成人；
血氣旺盛的成人「漸漸」變成頑固的老頭子！！
對時間的感嘆，本是人類共同的命運，
儘管悲傷，大自然不變的法則是誰都沒話說的事。
可是對於意識形態，價值之漸，卻叫人坐立不安。
原來是錯的事，為什麼「漸漸」變成對的事？
原本可恥的事，為什麼又「漸漸」人人爭相追逐？

整個臺北市翻翻補補，敲敲打打，
還有政治風暴、金融危機、社會秩序動盪，
彷彿整個城市快傾毀了，
可是這時代更叫人無法忍受的卻是那種無聲無息，
無法感受的(漸)，扭曲意識形態，
把人的尊嚴、我們活著僅仰賴的那一點感覺吃掉。
無從捉摸，無法抵擋的墮落與沉淪。
漸漸之可怕，在於我們的不知不覺。
世界上沒有任何東西是永遠不變的
唯一不變的只有一件事
就是任何東西都在變

女孩给男孩发了条短消息：如果家里穷困潦倒到只有一碗稀饭面对着我们两人，你会把稀饭里的米给我吃吗？

男孩回消息：这还用说吗？但是我认为一个真正爱那个女孩的男孩，就不应该让自己心爱的女人过如此生活。

女孩回消息：可有一个人的回答是这样！他说，不！我会把整碗的米连同稀粥都给她喝。这短短的对话会不会感动所有女人我不知道，可我却被深深打动。

男孩回消息：那么连这一碗稀粥也没有，那个男人会怎么做呢？！或者有没有想到那一碗稀饭女孩吃了是不是还肚子饿呢？！

女孩认为，男孩应该像那个男孩那样回答：不！我会把米和稀粥都给你喝！才是真正完美，标准，唯一的答案。

因为男孩没有按女孩的意思回答好这个问题，女孩和男孩背对背睡了一夜，男孩几次想拥她入睡都被女孩拒绝。

上天有时总是有些不尽人意。

后来女孩和男孩走到一起的时候，由于种种原因，他们真的遇上了类似于只有一碗稀饭喝的日子。

那天，男孩悄悄地给女孩留个言：亲爱的，我吃过了，桌上给你留了碗稀饭，你把它喝完。

女孩喝完那晚稀饭，小憩一会的时候。男孩从外面回来，给女孩带回来她喜欢吃的羊肉串，水果，奶茶。

男孩对女孩说，他找了份临时工作，刚挣的钱，老板答应先付一部分工资。说完还拿出口袋的钱在女孩面前晃了晃。

“亲爱的慢慢吃！我已经在外面吃过了。”说完还做了个调皮的鬼脸。

在最困难的那段日子，女孩依旧快乐的幸福着，男孩倒好像由于工作劳累，身体有些不适。

后来，男孩有了工作，女孩和男孩对他们未来的幸福充满美丽的憧憬。

女孩喜欢看电视，看到电视中报道多年前在一场大地震中，一位母亲和孩子被压在废墟下，母亲的奶水被孩子吃尽时，

母亲咬开了自己手上的血管，用自己的鲜血喂孩子，数天后，人们终于扒开废墟下的母子，母亲已经血流殆尽离开了人世，嘴角的粘着母亲鲜血的孩子带着天真的笑容，红嘟嘟的鲜艳小脸蛋获得了新生。

女孩问男孩，如果我们俩被压在废墟下，你会像那位母亲样用你的血液使我活下来吗？

男孩对女孩的言语间竟有些激动。他对女孩说不要老是有这样那样的怪念头好吗？你是我的女人，我会尽我所能的让我的女人幸福，在任何你的生命和安全受到威胁的时候，我会不顾一切的保护好你。你是我的最爱，我也不允许你把种种不好的推测用到你的身上，亲爱的。

周末，一个阳光明媚的上午，男孩挽着女孩的手，兴冲冲地逛了一个上午，买了好多女孩喜欢吃的零食和她喜欢的衣服走在回家的路上。

两个幸福的小人儿，再穿过一个路口，就能到达他们共同构筑的爱的小巢——他们幸福的小天堂。

男孩一手挽着女孩，一手拎着买来的东西，男孩在前，女孩在后，两人走在斑马线上，就要穿过马路了，突然一辆右转弯车辆，直直地向离男孩一步之遥的后面的女孩疾速驶来，眨眼的功夫，汽车就要撞到女孩。

“砰！”的一声闷响后紧跟着汽车紧急刹车的声音。

一切来得那么突然，被撞者轻飘飘的飞向两米开外。路面上是一片刺眼的鲜血的红。

“不！不要！”由于惊吓刚刚回过神来的女孩，歇斯底里地凄惨叫声撞击着每个围观者的耳膜。

女孩明白，汽车本来是撞向她的，在常人来不及反应的一刹那间的零点几秒里，男孩却惊奇地把她推开了，自己倒在血泊里。

女孩哭喊着扑到男孩身边，男孩浑身是血，女孩大声地呼唤着男孩名字，围观者说没用了，已经试过男孩没有呼吸了。

女孩不相信，继续呼唤着男孩的名字，男孩竟然奇迹般的睁开了眼睛，看了女孩一眼，带着安详地微笑，永远闭上了眼睛。

女孩明白，男孩在生命的最尽头还在苦苦挣扎，拼尽最后一丝气力看到自己的亲爱的小女人安然无恙了，才放心地闭上眼睛。

那是个多雨的季节，到处充满了潮湿，雨水把天地连成雾蒙蒙一片。

两个人构筑的爱情小巢，现在只剩下女孩一个人，女孩浮想起以前两人在一起的点点滴滴。

女孩后悔那次不该因为男孩没有按自己的意思回答她问题，背对着他睡了一夜，后悔男孩几次欲拥她入睡，都被她拒绝。她现在好想紧紧的拥着男孩，把那一夜的背对背补回来，可是再也无法也不可能补回来。

女孩习惯了逛马路时，身边有一个人紧紧的握住她的手，不用担心那些川流不息的汽车。男孩总是自己走在有汽车的一方让她走在远离汽车的另一边。女孩好想再抓住那种安全感，可是怎么抓也抓不住。

女孩睡觉前，习惯了，有人给她唱着歌讲着故事入睡，现在再也没有人为她唱歌讲故事，她总是难以入睡。

女孩睡觉时，喜欢踹被子，男孩总是在每一次她踹掉被子时及时的醒来给她重新盖好。现在那个人再也不能哪怕为她盖一次被子。

女孩喜欢吃零食，男孩每次从外面回到家里总能给她个小谗猫带来惊喜，安慰她的小肚肚，现在她的小肚肚多少天再也没有人安慰。

女孩喜欢吃瓜子，喜欢吃板栗，喜欢吃橘子，却不喜欢剥皮儿，女孩每次畅快淋漓的大吃特吃完瓜子，板栗，橘子后，男孩的面前总是堆起一堆果皮山，现在由于剥皮吃那些东西太费劲，她好久没敢碰那些想吃不能吃的好东西。

女孩现在有太多的不习惯，她只能学着慢慢的把不习惯变成习惯。

女孩整理遗物时发现了一个献血证，上面写着男孩的名字。奇怪的是她从来不知道，男孩在一个月连续献了三次血，上面献血的日期更让她震惊，她清楚地记得，永远也忘不了那段他们最艰苦的日子。她明白了那段日子男孩的身体为何那么虚弱，明白了男孩“预付的工资”的含义，明白了男孩是用偷偷献血的换来钱给她买来她喜欢吃的东西。

女孩继续整理遗物时，发现了一份报纸，意外地发现那场大地震时，那位伟大的母亲就是男孩的母亲，那个幸运获得生命的孩子就是男孩，而男孩又把这份幸运给了她。

女孩泪水涟涟。

老張是我們高中同班同學中唯一念醫學院的同學，他是癌症醫生。我們雖然是好朋友，但我們常常開玩笑說最好不需要去找他。

同班同學聚會，老張一定會到，他的收入高得不得了，所以有的時候他會請客，偶爾同學中有人發生一些經濟上的困難，他也會慷慨解囊。

雖然老張對人很慷慨，卻過著很簡樸的生活，他每次都坐公共汽車來聚會，他也乘公車離開，現在有了地鐵，他當然都乘地鐵。他也從不大吃大喝。我的感覺是，老張非常不喜歡過非常舒適的生活。我們都是六十二歲左右的人，到退休年齡，卻沒有人真正退休。

大概四個月以前聽人家說，老張退休了，醫院還為他舉行了一個退休儀式，而且聽說場面有些感傷。我弄不清楚是怎麼一回事，正想打電話給他，沒有想到在台北的一家書店碰到了他。他正在買偵探小說，看到了我，高興得不得了，一把抓住我，找了一家環境優雅的咖啡館，坐下來大談他所喜歡的偵探小說，我也聽得津津有味。

可是，我注意到一件事，老張瘦了一些。老張是個聰明人。他當然知道我已注意到他的消瘦，他主動地告訴我，他得了癌症，已經只有幾個月的生命。對我來講，這真是晴天霹靂，也沒有問現在有沒有治療，因為我想他是這方面的專家，應該知道如何治療。離開咖啡館的時候，下雨了。我替老張攔下了一輛計程車，這是我有生以來，第一次看到老張乘坐計程車。

一個月以後，老張來埔里找我。他的兒子也是癌症醫生。我們一起去了附近的農場看油桐花。那裡的油桐花種在道路兩旁，大樹成蔭，車子開過滿地的白花，真是奇景。 老張雖然時常面露倦容， 但他一再說不虛此行。 因為，他以後再也看不到 這種遍地都是白花的情境了。

除了看花以外， 老張也對我們的多媒體系統有很大的興趣。 我們的研究生，替他表演了好多有趣的系統。老張仔細地看這些表演，也問很多有道理的問題。 這也是看到老張的最後一次。

不久，老張就去世了。我當時心中納悶，為什麼他走得這麼快？以他的專業素養，他的癌症一定是初期，他所得到的治療也一定是最好的。 為什麼他這麼快就走了？

我們都收到了訃聞。訃聞中除了絕對婉謝花圈這些玩意兒外，還有一個特別的請求，請大家在指定的地點坐他們家租的遊覽車去。 訃聞中，好像拒絕任何人開汽車去參加葬禮。期間來了一大票名醫，他們都面容嚴肅。 我們這些人看了這麼多的名醫，更加深一個疑問： 為什麼老張走得如此之快？

謎底終於揭曉了，老張的兒子致詞的時候，告訴我們一個我們都不知道的故事：老張從頭到尾沒有接受任何治療。為什麼呢？ 老張的兒子在禮堂中放映了一段錄影帶，在這段錄影帶中，老張解釋了何謂癌症細胞？我們常以為癌症細胞是不健康的細胞， 其實不然，癌症細胞是最健康、最有活力的，別的細胞雖然會分裂，但分裂會有止境。癌症細胞的分裂永遠不會停止。 不斷的分裂需要養分，但是人的養分有限，癌症細胞的不斷分裂最後將其他正常細胞的養分吸取得一乾二淨。

因此老張認為我們這些人都是“癌症細胞”。因為太健康，所以我們吃得多。因為有錢，所以我們消耗掉大量能源。
可是，地球上就這麼多資源，我們用得多，其他人類就倒楣了。

老張在錄影帶中一再地強調：百分之八十的資源，由百分之二十的人類消耗掉。他也一再地提醒我們：如果，全世界的人都像我們這樣地吃遠洋的魚，全地球海裡的魚只夠我們吃一天。他一再地問一個問題：如果，全世界的人都像我們一樣地享受，地球上的資源能撐多久？舉例來說，四十年後，石油就用光了。

老張的錄影帶也介紹了非洲二千五百萬人得到了愛滋病的慘相，這一段的聲音被消除了。但這一段靜寂的錄影帶，帶給我們極大的震撼。

老張的兒子沒有解釋為什麼老張不願意接受治療？那一段沒有任何聲音的錄影帶，解釋了一切。老張早就對於他的生活好感到內疚。所以，他一直儘量地過得很簡單。

最近非洲大批人得到愛滋病，卻沒有人得到任何治療。歐美雖然有治療愛滋病的藥，但這些非洲窮人，如何有錢買這種藥呢 ?

老張熱愛生命，但是他不願他的生命影響了別人，他不願意看到自己太健康，太健康就是癌症細胞了。最後，老張提到他自己的病，他說：他的病是不可能痊癒的，花了很多錢以後，他可以多活三至四年，在這三、四年內，他所能做的非常之少，所以他不願意為了他的這三、四年的生命，而花費人類大量的醫藥資源。

老張的兒子也在葬禮上告訴了大家：老張臨死以前，捐了大筆的錢給一個慈善機構，專門用作醫治非洲愛滋病人之用。 老張如果多活幾年，也許可以醫治一些人，但是他的拒絕治療，卻是一個強有力的震撼教育。

前天，我們同學會，每人一個盤餐，大家不發牢騷，每個人都對自己的命運感到滿足。我家現在平時只開電扇，有客人來才開冷氣。我們也越吃越簡單，每次餐後有香蕉吃就心滿意足矣。我住的是公寓，有時，難免想念當年在國外住的獨門獨園房子。現在，我的想法也改了。如果，全台灣的人都這樣住，
台灣恐怕會看不到一片青山，一片綠水，全台灣只看到房子了。

老張說得有道理 ，我們不能生活得太好，我們不該是癌症細胞。我們應該將青山綠水留給下一代，留給別人。老張瀟灑地離去，使我們可瀟瀟灑灑地活著。我們都輕鬆多了。

This year’s theme for World Environment Day (WED) is Your Planet Needs You! UNite to Combat Climate Change. But too often we are presented with environmental problems without being given the tools to act. WED is about taking action to be a part of the solution. And the Daily do something Tipsare a great start.

We can all do our part to protect the planet by using less and acting more. Going green is not as difficult as you might think. Here we walk you through 30 easy ways to green your daily routine, from the moment you hit snooze on your solar-powered alarm clock to the point when you crawl into your eco-washed, organic cotton sheets.

Make your WED commitment today. But don’t stop at today and don’t stop here. Try to incorporate all of these into your life as a matter of routine. Get others to do so the same. And get involved!

IN GENERAL:

• Plant a tree! Help achieve UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign target of planting seven billion trees – one for every person on the planet – by the end of this year! Three billion are planted. Five billion are pledged. On every continent in the world trees can be planted in June, so start your efforts on WED.
• Find needy homes or charitable organizations for things that you no longer need or want rather than throwing it away.

DAILY ROUTINE:

MORNING…

Bathroom:

• It would seem to go without saying, but many of us forget that we can save water in simple ways like not letting the tap run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.
• Insulating your water heater will help save valuable energy, and you can go the extra mile by installing showerheads with a low flow in your bathrooms for bathing purposes to help save water. You can also put a timer on your heaters to save power.
• Using an electric razor or hand razor with replaceable blades instead of disposable razors goes a long way to cutting back on waste. And plant a tree.
• Use towels for drying your face and hands instead of tissues that are used and thrown away. Also, hang your towels to dry so that they can be reused several times. You are after all clean when you use them!

Breakfast:

• Juice or yoghurt lovers can do their bit by buying juice in concentrates and yoghurt in reusable containers instead of single serving packages.
• Many of us like to leaf through the paper as we munch on breakfast, but consider reading the dailies in communal spaces like the office or coffee shops. However, if you prefer to have your own copy, make sure you recycle!
• When packing your lunch, opt for reusable containers for food storage instead of wrapping the food with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
• As you leave the house, don’t forget to switch off all the lights and appliances at the wall unit (if you have this feature) and unplug chargers as they continue to consume even if they are not charging; saving energy helps reduce air pollution.

GETTING TO WORK:

• Don’t go anywhere without your cloth bag so you can just say no to plastic whenever you shop.
• Radical as it may seem, in today’s “the easier the better” society, the easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint is by avoiding driving altogether. Power down and Instead try biking, walking, carpooling, public transport or an occasional telecommute.
• If you have no other choice than to drive to work, look for the most fuel- efficient car model for your next purchase and keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure.
• If you’re one of the lucky few blessed with clear stretches of road on your way to work, use cruise control, as it saves fuel and also helps you maintain a constant speed.
• If you’re among the majority of drivers who spend their mornings stuck in traffic, consider turning your engine off if you will be idling for long periods of time. And plant a tree.
• For those who suffer from road rage, remember that aggressive driving lowers your mileage, so if you want to save on fuel and save the planet while you’re at it, accelerate gradually– something to keep that in mind the next time that bad driver cuts you off! Just count to 10 and say the planet needs me!

AT WORK:

• Do you have a morning hot drink routine? Using a washable mug is an environmentally-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable styrofoam or plastic cups.
• Leave a cup and reusable bottle for water at work to eliminate buying drinks, which get served in plastic cups, or bottled water. 80% of plastic bottles are recyclable but only 20% are actually recycled.
• When you need a pad for lists and messages, turn over an old document and write on the back of that instead.
• If there isn’t an office recycling system, start one yourself! Recycling our trash actually contributes to reducing global warming emissions. And it is estimated that 75% of what is thrown in the trash could actually be recycled, though currently only 25% is.
• When you must have a paper copy, make sure you default your printer option to use both sides. This is an easy tree-saver!
• Most computer accessories like ink cartridges and CDs and DVDs are made of materials that could be reused. Computer cords and speakers are fairly standardized, meaning they can be used for a variety of computer models and makes.
• Lower your office’s carbon footprint by seeing computers, monitors, printers, copiers, speakers and other business equipment to their energy saving feature and turning them off at the end of the day. And plant a tree!
• Turning off all unnecessary lights, especially in unused offices and conference rooms is an easy way to save energy.
• If you’re in search of something to personalize your workspace, look no further than the humble houseplant. Houseplants are good for the environment because they remove quantities of pollutants present in the air.

AFTER A LONG DAY:

• In the summer/warmer months, consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air-conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home. While you’re at it, in winter, lower your thermostat and put on a jumper. In summer, increase it and wear lighter clothes, you will also save money!
• Don’t place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat as it senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air-conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• When cooking dinner, match the size of the pan to the size of the heating element to lower energy wastage.
• When you are feeling at your laziest, don’t throw clean clothes in the hamper to avoid hanging them up! Wear jeans more than once…
• When you wash, use only eco-friendly products in your home. It’s best for you and the environment! And did we mention plant a tree!

Source : United Nations Environment Programme

IT’S HARD TO STOMACH

• 800 million people are struggling to find their daily bread
• In Bangladesh a kilo of rice 56 cents, a day’s wages $1
• Children are fainting in school because they have not eaten in days
• Four children die from hunger every 30 seconds

EACH NIGHT MORE THAN 300 MILLION CHILDREN GO TO BED HUNGRY

An emerging global food crisis threatens to widen this tragedy by forcing an additional 100 million people into extreme poverty.

Knowing that children are going without food for one day is bad enough, but knowing that, because of the global food crisis, children are going without food for days on end is simply too hard to stomach.

Here in Australia we may be feeling the pinch of having to pay a few cents more for petrol and food, but it is those who already struggle to live on less than a dollar a day that are paying the worst price of all—the inability to feed their children.

WHAT IS THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS?

Like a ‘silent tsunami‘ the global food crisis has caught the world off-guard and left millions of people struggling to survive.

Throughout almost every region of the developing world people are experiencing localised food insecurity, lack of access to food, or shortfalls in production or supplies. According to the World Bank, in the last three years global food prices have increased overall by 83 per cent. In many developing countries the cost of food staples like rice, wheat and corn has more than doubled in the last 12 months.

One sixth of the world’s population, nearly one billion people, already live on less than $1 day—the common measure of absolute poverty. Of those, 162 million struggle to survive on less than 50 cents a day. Rising food prices have the greatest effect on those people already struggling with food insecurity who spend 60 per cent or more of their income on food. According to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation Jacques Diouf, there are now over 862 million people in the world without adequate access to food.

UPDATE ON THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS

Partly due to the global economic downturn, food prices have started to drop slightly after record spikes during 2008. However, it is expected that prices will remain substantially higher than pre-2005 levels and will continue to cause families living in poverty to decrease both the quantity and quality of nutrition.

As global economies begin to recover again, pricing pressures—particularly in developing nations—could even accelerate. Any decrease in food prices will most likely take longer to flow through and make a difference to the poor and will be less substantial than those seen in the markets of developed nations. The current macro-economic environment may be therefore be providing some broad temporary relief, but not a permanent reprieve from food price inflation, particularly for the poor.

Why is it happening?

All these factors converge to reduce the supply of staple foods like rice and wheat, making everyday food unaffordable for millions of people already living in poverty.

• Record high oil and fuel prices
• Natural disasters, including floods and drought
• A lack of adequate investment in the development of agriculture in developing countries
• The fluctuation in value of the US dollar
• Production of biofuels
• Increased speculation in the commodity markets
• Unfair trade practices
• Increased meat consumption
• A decrease in cereal reserves
• Food export controls
• Increasing urbanisation

Source : http://www.globalfoodcrisis.com.au

This was too good of a life lesson not to pass on! A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee…. You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.. She did and noted that they  were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity … boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected  to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been  fragile.. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my  strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but  changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

昨天和外子、家婆一起学外丹功。

一位学员问家婆有没有带杯子来，家婆微笑地说：“我的儿子媳妇带给我了。我照顾了儿子三十年，现在是时候他们照顾我了。”

外子说：“妈妈照顾了我三十年，我要照顾她五十年。”

~~~

一位同事在新年期间到一家老人院探访。

院里的老人家，大多数是因为单身而年老无依，却有一些是遭到孩子的遗弃而被迫住到老人院里。其中，有一位老人家有十四位儿女，有一些儿女家财万贯，却没有一位儿女愿意照顾这位老人家。

从老人院回来，同事辛酸地说：“怎么可能这位爸爸可以养育这么多孩子，这么多孩子却无法照顾一位爸爸？”

~~~

父母一生的劳碌，就是为了想给孩子们有一个更舒适的生活环境。这也是父母一生中最重要、也最风险的一项“投资”。有一些人投资成功，但有更多的人投资失败。

这个世界上，有多少被孩子遗弃的老人家？有一些靠拾荒为活，有一些靠乞求为生。随着时代的进步，老人院也一家、一家地开。科技发达时代，养儿防老还是不是做父母的一项明智的投资？

多年前我跟悉尼的一位同學談話。那時他太太剛去世不久，他告訴我說，他在整理他太太的東西的時候，發現了一條絲質的圍巾，那是他們去紐約旅遊時，在一家名牌店買的，那是一條雅致、漂亮的名牌圍巾，高昂的價格標籤還掛在上面，他太太一直捨不得用，她想等一個特殊的日子才用。

講到這，他停住了，我也沒接話，好一會後他說：”再也不要把好東西留到特別的日子才用，你活著的每一天都是特別的日子!”

以後，每當我想起這幾句話時，我常會把手邊的雜事放下，找一本小說，打開音響，躺在沙發上，抓住一些自己的時間。我會從落地窗欣賞淡水河的景色，不去管玻璃上的灰塵，我會拉著太太到外面去吃飯，不管家裡的菜飯該怎麼處理。

生活應當是我們珍惜的一種經驗，而不是要捱過去的日子。我曾經將這段談話與一位女士分享，後來見面時，她告訴我她現在已不像從前那樣，把美麗的磁具放在酒櫃了。以前她也以為要留待特別的日子才拿出來用，後來發現那一天從未到來。”將來”，”總有一天”已經不存在她的字典了。如果有什麼值得高興的事，有什麼得意的事，她現在就要聽到，就要看到。

我們常想跟老朋友聚一聚，但總是說”找機會”。我們常想擁抱一下已經長大的小孩，但總是等適當的時機。我們常想寫封信給另外一半，表達一下濃郁的情意，或甚至想讓他知道你很佩服他，但總是告訴自己不急。

其實每天早上我們睜開眼睛時，都要告訴自己這是特別的一天。每一天，每一分鐘都是那麼可貴。有人說：你該盡情的跳舞，好象沒有人在看你一樣。你該盡情的愛人，好象從來不會受傷害一樣。我也要盡情的跳舞，盡情的愛。

最近我的一位弟兄剛剛離婚，常常跑到我家來聊天訴苦。這位弟兄算是大家羡慕的成功人士吧，他在華爾街任分析師，年薪在$300,000左右，開輛BMW。我和他是大學同學，又都住在NewJersey，現在已是無話不說。

說來慚愧，我的年薪只有$70,000，還有在家帶兩個小孩和不工作的老婆，買房子是根本不用想了，也總被一些同學認為沒出息。

本來老婆和我是準備幫助這位弟兄和他老婆和好的，但是我知道他們離婚的原因後，也覺得無話可說了。

我一向羡慕這弟兄，那麼有追求，事業那麼成功，看我這土老冒，安逸享樂，這輩子算浪費了。可是在我知道這弟兄離婚的原因後，開始對生活有了新的認識。

這弟兄和老婆是大學同學，青梅竹馬，羨煞人。來美國後，兩人都開始為學習生活努力，並且畢業後都找到好工作，更羨煞人。

工作兩年後，弟兄被哥大錄取去讀MBA，畢業後又到華爾街工作，而我這時剛在一個學校找到職位，老婆也生了個兒子，羡慕死人家了。可是不要只是看到這弟兄光鮮的外表，他的婚姻卻正在經歷痛苦。

剛開始兩人一起工作時，他老婆問要不要小孩，他說還有好多事沒有做完，沒有精力。在念MBA時，每天早出晚歸，連老婆也忽略了，老婆幾次希望能親密一下，他都已經睡著了。

在華爾街工作後，老婆認為終於可以喘口氣了，卻不想他更是每天早出晚歸，因為工作壓力比念MBA還大。

又過了兩年，我都又有個女兒了，他的薪水加獎金也幾乎是我薪水的3倍了，老婆卻要和他離婚了。女人也有壓力的，那就是生小孩，她的年齡已經太大，不生就晚了；而他卻天天忙工作，回到家不是太晚就是太累，他們大概每年有一兩次就不錯。

最近，他發現他自己陽萎了，試了幾次都不行。老婆一氣之下和他離婚了–不是因為他陽萎，而是因為他不愛她。

聽完他的訴苦，我無話可說。一直被大家羡慕的夫妻生活竟是這樣過的，BMW裝的竟全是痛苦。

錢，錢，錢，現在的人為什麼就好像是鑽到了錢坑，忽略了其他任何的一切。錢是身外之物，生不帶來，死不帶走，賺那麼多卻沒有機會花豈不是很悲哀。

我相信現在每年賺$300,000的他，寧可每年花$230,000來買我的生活，我的老婆和小孩，可是為什麼非要到太晚才覺悟呢？他現在正在找一個壓力小薪水低的工作，可是談何容易。除了其他華爾街公司要他做類似的職位外，幾乎沒有其他公司願意出那麼高價來聘用他。他薪水的一半對於一般的公司都太高了。他開玩笑說是走上了不歸路。

生活的真正意義是你在死前回過頭來問自己是不是活的很快樂，是不是對得起家人，而不是一輩子賺了多少錢。我們的小孩也根本不在乎他們是不是有高級玩具，而是有沒有爸爸陪他們玩最廉價的LEGO。

有人說如果不趁年輕時賺錢將來怎麼辦。人不能活在將來，因為你怎麼知道你有將來？你甚至怎麼知道你有明天？未來？還有將來的將來，什麼時候是你的今天？錢是永遠也賺不完的。但是你一定確定你有現在，你可以把現在活好。而且有沒有出息並不是用錢來衡量的。

對於我來說，我的出息是可以每天早早回到家陪家人吃飯和陪小孩玩。我有出息。

Hard times call for drastic measures, and this writer believes that the economic downturn offers the perfect opportunity to show our resilience and fighting spirit.

ECONOMIC analysts the world over have simultaneously predicted that the global economy will take a further dip after Chinese New Year.

While many would be concerned with how they will continue their luxurious lifestyles, I personally believe the imminent economic slump has come at an opportune time.

Many of us should do one thing – reconsider what our priorities in life really are.

A few years ago, when my business was not doing well, I had two options to choose from: Either get very depressed and throw in the towel or keep persisting until great things came out of it.

I chose option two and I persisted all the way as that was the only way for me. It was during that time, when all odds were against me, that I became creative and surmounted all difficulties and challenges that came my way. I won the trust of my clients and generated a revenue of almost RM3mil in less than a year.

The current financial woes faced by many are similar to what I went through. Decades of living a good life has made us soft, as some politicians might say.

When I encountered difficulties in my business, I could very well have just relied on the support of my family, which was the easiest way out. However, instead of choosing to be a quitter, I decided to fight on.

As one wise man put it, “Suffering and deprivation are good for the soul’’. While my family is not, by any standard, affluent, but we are by no means poor either. However, I was brought up in an environment where quitting was a no-go, and persistence was always the preferred alternative. To a large extent, this upbringing has moulded me into who I am today – a fighter who does not bow to any obstacles.

Most of the world and much of Malaysia will lament the economic downturn, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see people start blaming the Government and our economic structure for their plight.

We have been told to tighten our belts. There will undoubtedly be suffering, which we must try our best to ameliorate.

Nevertheless, I think the hard times will hold a timely lesson for many Malaysians, especially those born after 1970 (like me) who have not really lived through difficult times.

Instead of sitting around lamenting over our plight, why not take this chance to transform ourselves into valiant fighters and invincible warriors in the face of trying times?

While we battle the challenging times ahead, we should also count our blessings. I am by no means a spiritual person, but I do know that to get what we want in life (happiness in particular), the balance lies in how much we are willing to “part’’ with in order to “receive’’.

At least we can still sleep soundly at night without worrying about bombshells falling on our rooftops. And we can walk down the streets of Kuala Lumpur without fearing lurking landmines under our feet. All we have to worry about is only hard times which might take away some luxuries.

So instead of complaining, how about channelling our energy into expressing gratitude? As that famous saying goes, “Where attention goes, energy flows and results show’’.

In the year of Ox, let us all strive to choose to be positive and have an abundant year ahead of us!

By HORNG HAN TAN