Clean Conscience

Sick?

Sometimes the cure is the clean conscience.

-Fun with Dick and Jane

Food for Human Health

How we live our days...

"How we live our days is, of course, how we live our lives." 

~ Annie Dillard

那些錢是我們花得最值得的一筆

最困難時的人生至理

1980年，大衛在美國阿靈頓商學院讀書。他的大學生活，主要靠父母按月寄來的那麼一點錢來維持。

不知怎麼的，家裡兩個月沒給大衛寄錢了。大衛的布兜裡只剩下一枚硬幣了。肚子咕咕直叫的大衛走到電話亭旁，把所有的錢也就是  那小小的一枚硬幣投了進去。

「喂，你好，」電話接通了，千里之外的大衛母親說話了。

大衛帶著哭腔說：「媽媽，我沒錢了，現在餓得慌。」: 大衛母親說：「親愛的孩子，媽媽知道。」

知道了為什麼還不遞錢？大衛剛要把這個疑問怒沖沖地向媽媽說，忽然感到母親的話音裡有一股深沉悲涼的味道。大衛預感到不妙，他趕緊問：「媽媽，家裡出什麼事了嗎？」

大衛母親說：「是的，孩子，你爸爸得了重病，已經五個月了，不僅花光了所有的積蓄，而且由於患病導致工作沒了，家裡唯一的經濟來源斷了。因此，這兩個月沒給你匯錢。媽媽本不想告訴你，可你大了，應該自謀生路了。」

大衛母親說著說著，大哭了起來。

電話那端，大衛也「撲嗒」、「撲嗒」直掉眼淚，心想：看來自己必須輟學回家了。

大衛對母親說：「媽媽，你別難過，我現在就去找工作，一定養活你們。」

殘酷的現實把大衛擊暈了。還有一個月，這個學期就要結束了，如果能有十塊八塊的錢，大衛就可以熬到暑假，然後利用兩個月的假期打工賺錢。可現在一分錢也沒有了，必須退學了。大衛和母親說「再見」掛掉電話前的那一刻異常難過，因為他的學習成績很棒，並且他很喜歡阿靈頓商學院的學習生活。

掛斷電話後，公用電話傳出一陣噪音，大衛驚喜地發現許多硬幣從投幣口湧出。大衛高興壞了，伸出手去接那些錢。

如何去對待這些錢？大衛心裡直犯嘀咕，留給自己用吧，完全可以，一是沒人知道，二是自己確實很困難。但考慮來考慮去，大衛覺得不該據為己有。經過一番激烈的思想爭鬥後，大衛把其中一枚投進公用電話，撥通了電話公司的服務電話。

聽完大衛的訴說，服務小姐說：「錢屬於電話公司，所以必須把它們放回去。」

掛掉電話後，大衛就把錢幣往回投，可一遍遍地把錢幣放回去，公用電話就一遍遍地把它們吐出來。

大衛又給服務小姐打去電話，服務小姐說：「我也不知道該怎麼辦，我現在就請示上司。」

孤獨無助的大衛在電話裡透出一股淒涼，服務小姐強烈地感受到了，她覺得電話那端一個品行優良的陌生人需要幫助。

不一會兒，服務小姐把電話回撥到這部出了毛病的公用電話。她對大衛說：「我請示了上司，上司說這錢送給你了，因為我們公司現在人手不夠，不想去為了幾個美元專門派人去取。」

「呀！」大衛高興地跳了起來。現在，這些硬幣光明正大地屬於他了。大衛蹲下身來，認真數起

來，一共9美元50美分。這些錢足夠大衛支撐到暑假打工領到第一筆薪水。

往學校走時，大衛一路笑著。他決定用這些錢買點兒吃的，然後去找份活幹。

轉眼暑假到了，大衛找了份清理百貨倉庫的工作。那天，大衛找到百貨公司老闆，跟他講了公用電話的事和自己找工作的想法。百貨公司老闆告訴大衛隨時可以來上班，不只是暑假，平時學習不忙的時候也可以來工作，因為百貨公司老闆覺得大衛是個誠實的人、尤其是個慎獨的人，清理倉庫絕對信得過。

大衛幹活非常賣力，老闆很欣賞他、也很同情他。老闆給了大衛雙倍的工資。

領到薪水後，大衛把錢都寄給了母親，因為大衛此時已經得到消息，他獲得了下一學期的獎學金。

一個月後，錢又寄回大衛。母親在信中說：「你父親的病有些好轉了，我也找了份工作，能夠維持生計。你要好好學習，別餓了肚子。」

看完來信，大衛又掉下了眼淚。大衛知道，父母就是忍饑挨餓，也不會反過來向需要資助的大衛要錢的。

每每想到這些，大衛就淚水直流，心瀾難平。

一年後，大衛順利完成了學業。畢業後，大衛開了一家公司，第一年，大衛就創利10萬美金。大衛時刻不忘公用電話的事。他寫信給電話公司：「讓我終生難忘的事情是，貴公司把意外的『9美元50美分』資助了我。這一善舉，讓我避免成為輟學青年，走向極端貧困，同時也給了我無窮的力量，激勵我時刻不忘拚搏。現在我有錢了，我想回贈貴公司1萬美元，略表我的心意。」

電話公司老闆比爾隨即回覆了一封熱情洋溢的信：「祝賀你學有所成，事業發達。我們認為，那些錢是我們花得最值得的一筆。這倒不是指9美元50美分換回了1萬美元，而是說那些錢讓一個人懂得了這樣一個人生至理箴言：在最困難的時候，一不要忘了希望就在眼前；二不要忘了堅守正直品性。」

20多年過去了，大衛怎樣了？在美國芝加哥市，有一幢豪華大樓，它的外形就像一個公用電話亭，這就是ADDC公司的辦公大樓。ADDC公司的開創者、現任總裁，便是大衛。大衛，同時是菲力慈善基金會的最大捐獻者之一。

Wanna give up? Wanna just die?

To give up is easy. ... There are many ways to die. 

... What is hard is to figure out a way to live.

Grandpa's Gem: It's all worth it!

...to see the clouds from Everest Mt.

...to look at earth from space

...to be able to command the whole company

...to be the leader of a group

...to have the chance to serve human beings

...to live in this lifetime

life... it makes it all worthy

"what we do in life, echos in eternity."

-Maximus, Gladiator

Grandpa's Gem: Mood first, then others!

先處理好心情，再去處理事情。

[Deal with your mood first before you go cope with other things!]

Grandpa's Gem: Just Wear Shoes

Wanting to reform the whole world without discovering one's true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.

- Ramana Maharshi

Grandpa's Gem: T.C. Experience

踢.希.經.驗.

踢，就有希望!

[Kick, and hope is there!]

梯.希.經.驗.

上梯向希望邁進!

[Climb the stairs to march toward goals.]

knock, knock, and knock

... and then knock, knock, knock, and knock!

...... the door is eventually open.

HOPE is always alive.

Grandpa's Gem: Karma

Everything that happens to us has a reason.

That reason must be good.

Cause and effect.

Grandpa's Gem: Be Positive!

Be positive!

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive because your words become your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.
  -Gandhi

Grandpa's Gem: Keep away from them!

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. 

Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

--Mark Twain

留一些柿子在樹上

在以色列農村，每當莊稼成熟收割的時候，靠近路邊的莊稼地四個角都要留出一部分不收割。四角的莊稼，只要需要，任何人都可以享用。他們認為，是上帝給了曾經多災多難的猶太民族今天的幸福生活，他們為了感恩，就用留下田地四角的莊稼這種方式報答今天的擁有。這樣既報答了上帝，又為那些路過此地又沒有飯吃的貧困的路人給予方便。莊稼是自己種的，留一點給別人收割，他們認為，分享是一種感恩，分享是一種美德。

無獨有偶，韓國北部的鄉村公路邊有很多柿子園。金秋時節，這裏隨處可見農民採摘柿子的忙碌身影，但是，採摘結束後，有些熟透的柿子也不會被摘下來。這些留在樹上的柿子，成為一道特有的風景，一些遊人經過這裏時，都會說，這些柿子又大又紅，不摘豈不可惜。但是當地的果農則說，不管柿子長得多麼誘人，也不會摘下來，因為這是留給喜鵲的食物。

　　

是什麼使得這裏的人留有這樣一種習慣，原來，這裏是喜鵲的棲息地，每到冬天，喜鵲都在果樹上築巢過冬。有一年冬天，天特別冷，下了很大的雪，幾百隻找不到食物的喜鵲一夜之間都被凍死了。第二年春天，柿子樹重新吐綠發芽，開花結果了。但就在這時，一種不知名的毛蟲突然氾濫成災。那年柿子幾乎絕產。從那以後，每年秋天收穫柿子時，人們都會留下一些柿子，作為喜鵲過冬的食物，留在樹上的柿子吸引了許多喜鵲到這裏度過冬天，喜鵲仿佛也會感恩，春天也不飛走，整天忙著捕捉樹上的蟲子，從而保證了這一年柿子的豐收。

　　

在收穫的季節裏，別忘了留一些柿子在樹上，因為，給別人留有餘地，往往就是給自己留下了生機與希望。自然界裏的一切，都是相互依存的，一榮俱榮，一損俱損。給予，是一種快樂。因為給予並不是完全失去，而是一種高尚的收穫。給予，是一種幸福，因為給予能使你的心靈美好。

　　

留幾枚柿子在樹上，那是一道人間最美的風景。 

Ask what you can do for the freedom of man

Ask not what your country can do for you —ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. -John F. Kennedy. Inaugural Address. Friday, January 20, 1961

Grandpa's Gem: Courage

"In order to discover new oceans, one must have the courage to leave the shore."

You never know unless you try!

Inspiring Game

Yes, that's right. The Game 5 of ALCS at Fenway.

First inning, 2 to 0. A homerun. We are 0. 

Second inning, 2-0. 

Third inning, 4-0, then 5-0. Umm... 2 homeruns. We are still 0. 

Fourth inning, 5-0. Fifth inning, 5-0. Sixth inning, 5-0. 

Seventh inning, 6-0, then 7-0. We are still 0. And yes, 7 to nothing in the 7th inning.

Seventh inning, and it is seven to nothing.

Some people just go home. After all, we have already lost 3 games in a roll, and tonight we may be eliminated. 

But not fans. They stay. They hope. They fight. Because, they believe.

Bottom of the seventh. 7-1. Ortiz comes to bat again, with his poor record recently. He was laughed at, taunted, looked down upon for such a long time. 7-4, a 3 run homerun by David Ortiz! Then in the Eighth inning, 7-6, a 2 run homerun by J.D. Drew. Coco Crisp's hit .... makes 7-7. Game's tied.

Ninth inning, 2 men on and 2 outs. When J.D. once again hits a walk-off double, you know why they say "Never give up!"

The largest deficit comeback in LCS history.

Familiar? This team on the brink of elimination:

Red Sox's ALCS pennant title record

1986  3-1

2004  3-0 [World Champion at the end]

2006  3-1 

2007  3-1 [World Champion at the end]

2008  3-1... now 3-2!

Grandpa's Gem: Your Own Resolution

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.

-ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Grandpa's Gem: Trust Yourself

Self-trust is the first secret of success.

-RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Grandpa's Gem: New Courage to Face Life

The ideals which have lighted me on my way and time after time given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. . . . The ordinary objects of human endeavour -- property, outward success, luxury -- have always seemed to me contemptible.

-ALBERT EINSTEIN

Grandpa's Gem: Man of Value

Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.

-ALBERT EINSTEIN

Grandpa's Gem: Fearless

Life is not always what you want or plan or expect.

Cry. Cry. It is okay to cry.

After crying, remember that 

life will go on.

-yueh-tze

"Cleanness will bring purity to life."

"Every knot can be untangled."

- Puo-Puo in the village/ "Fearless"

"I quit drinking... a long time ago."

"I have learned from my past mistakes."

"But not everything in life is fair."

"Our own enemies are ourselves."

-Huo, Yuanjia/ "Fearless"

Grandpa's Gem: Seize the day!

We may not be wiser and wiser, but we will certainly become older and older. 

Gain wisdom whilst you can!

Grab the chance whilst you can!

"Seize the day!"

Grandpa's Gem: A Real Man

There is a Taiwanese saying: 

"驚某(妻)大丈夫，打某(妻)豬狗牛"

[A real man is awed by his wife whereas a beast-like real coward hits his wife.]

Work Attitude 十條職工座右銘

1 . 社會充滿不公平現象。 你先不要想去改造它，只能先適應它。 (因為你管不了它) 。

2 . 世界不會在意你的自尊，人們看的只是你的成就。在你沒有成就以前，切勿過分強調自尊。 (因為你越強調自尊，越對你不利) 。

3 . 你只是中學畢業，通常不會成為 CEO，直到你把 CEO職位拿到手為止。 ( 直到此時，人們才不會介意你只是中學畢業) 。

4 . 當你陷入人為困境時，不要抱怨，你只能默默地吸取教訓。 ( 你要悄悄地振作起來，重新奮起)。

5 . 你要懂得：在沒有你之前，你的父母並不像現在這樣 " 乏味" 。你應該想到，這是他們為了撫養你所付出的巨大代價。 (你永遠要感恩和孝敬他們，才是硬道理 ) 。

6 . 在學校裡，你考第幾名已不是那麼重要，但進入社會卻不然。不管你去到哪裡，都要分等排名。 (社會、公司要排名次，是常見的事，要鼓起勇氣競爭才對 )。

7 . 學校裡有節假日，到公司打工則不然，你幾乎不能休息，很少能輕鬆地過節假日。 ( 否則你職業生涯中一起跑就落後了，甚至會讓你永遠落後 )。

8 . 在學校，老師會幫助你學習，到公司卻不會。 如果你認為學校的老師要求你很嚴格，那是你還沒有進入公司打工。 因為，如果公司對你不嚴厲，你就要失業了。                       ( 你必須清醒地認識到：公司比學校更要嚴格要求自己 ) 。

9 . 人們都喜歡看電視劇，但你不要看，那並不是你的生活。只要在公司工作，你是無暇看電視劇的。 (奉勸你不要看，否則你走上看電視連續劇之路， 而且看得津津有味，那你將失去成功的資格 )。

10 . 永遠不要在背後批評別人，尤其不能批評你的老板無知、刻薄和無能。 ( 因為這樣的心態，會使你走上坎坷艱難的成長之路) 。

Grandpa's Gem: Enjoy Life

"I forget the name of the place; I forget the name of the girl; 

but the wine... it was Chambertin." 

-- Hilaire Belloc, Defender of the Faith

[http://www.poemhunter.com/hilaire-belloc/]

「好了歌」

清 曹雪芹

世人都曉神仙好，惟有功名忘不了！
古今將相在何方？荒塚一堆草沒了！

世人都曉神仙好，只有金銀忘不了！
終朝只恨聚無多，及到多時眼閉了。
　　
世人都曉神仙好，只有姣妻忘不了！
君生日日說恩情，君死又隨人去了。

世人都曉神仙好，只有兒孫忘不了！

痴心父母古來多，孝順兒孫誰見了？

「世人都曉神仙好，只有兒孫忘不了！

痴心父母古來多，孝順兒孫誰見了。」

-紅樓夢

Grandpa's Gem: Are we history?

We can either be history... or make history! Fight on!

Grandpa's Gem: Forest Gump spirit

After knowing more about Taiwan history and how Taiwanese fought for their freedom, democracy, and independence, I have to say that Taiwanese people do carry this Forest Gump spirit. They keep on fighting and fighting. Even today, they keep their faith and spirit.

Similarly, the famous MLB team Red Sox members never lose their faith and so they try and try and try. Did they not break the curse? Did they ever give up? The answer is obvious.

That reminds me so much of one of my favorite movies: Forest Gump. The spirit touches people. Action, effort, forbearance, fortitude, perseverance, and love. 

For example, when he encounters hurdles/ difficulties/ significant events, he takes them well with the motto:

"You gonna put the past behind you before you move on."

Indeed, we never know what tomorrow may look like. But,

"you have to do the best of what God gave you."

-Mom/ Forest Gump

And, never give up.

"Blow... blow...you call it a storm?!

You call it a storm??!!!!

...you'll never sink this boat!"

-Lieutenant Dan/ Forest Gump

Grandpa's Gem: One Little Did

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' in the sun,
Talkin' 'bout the things
They woulda coulda shoulda done...

But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little Did.

-Shel Silverstein

Grandpa's Gem: for tomorrow

"Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow ... we'll do it all over again." 

-tai ke? all of us!

Grandpa's Gem: Get vs. Give

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.-Winston Churchill

Grandpa's Gem: Fight On

A man who is afraid to risk failure seldom has to face success.

So fight on!

Grandpa's Gem[2]: Star motto

When you're moving in the positive
Your destination is the brightest star.
-Stevie Wonder

Grandpa's Gem: 千百頂面具 motto

人們常常天天戴著面具

有時是不得不

微笑的面具

生氣的面具

......

久而久之

累積了千百頂面具

然而

"在我千百頂面具中　沒有投降這一面"

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