愛、生活、人生系列

創造機會Creating OpportunitiesChris Grosser (克里斯·格羅塞爾)是橫跨運動、娛樂，汽車等領域的美國知名攝影師。Chris Grosser (克里斯·格羅塞爾) is a renowned American entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and photographer, known for his powerful philosophy: “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” (機會從不會無緣無故出現，他們是你所創造的。) It means that opportunities do not magically present themselves; rather, we have the abilities to create them for ourselves. In fact, there are five actionable pointers that we can get started on the path to paving our own opportunities to success.1. Define Our Objectives: In order to start the process of making opportunities for ourselves, one of the first things we need to do is to define our goals. It is important that the goals we have set for ourselves should be as specific as possible. In other words, we need to have a roadmap to follow in order to achieve our objectives if we first define them in great detail.2. Broaden the Scope of Our Network: Building a strong professional network has the potential to open doors to many different kinds of new opportunities. We ought to participate in events that are hosted by our industries, become active in online communities that are relevant to our fields, and network with other professionals. We try our best to make ourselves available to those around us by sharing our expertise or information.3. Never Stop Educating Ourselves: It is essential to prepare ourselves for opportunities in order to successfully create new ones. We invest in ourselves by furthering our education and improving our skills. The more we educate ourselves, the better prepared we’ll be to seize opportunities as they come our ways and make the most of them.4. Do Not Run Away from Challenges: Opportunities are frequently masked as challenges or impediments when they actually present themselves. If we want to grow as persons and learn new things, we shouldn’t run away from difficult situations; instead, we have to view them as potential opportunities. Sometimes, the most significant opportunities are hiding in plain sight right in the middle of the most significant problems.5. Take the Initiative to Get Things Started: In order to create opportunities, we must first take the necessary steps. Instead of sitting around and waiting for someone else to give us opportunities, we should go out and actively look for new ones. Taking the initiative can lead us to new and exciting opportunities, regardless of whether it’s presenting a creative idea at work or starting a project on the side.Opportunities are not elusive miracles; rather, they are the product of our efforts, mindset, and determination. Actually, we create our own opportunities and pave the ways for successful and satisfying careers if we set goals, expand our network, learn continuously, accept challenges, and take initiative. We need to seize the opportunities, go outside the world and start working to make things happen.Furthermore, we are smart enough to understand our strengths, skills, and areas for improvement. We stay updated on industry trends, acquire new skills, and pursue further education or certifications if necessary. Continuous learning enhances our expertise and makes us more attractive to potential opportunities. We should be proactive and open-minded, and are willing to adapt to new circumstances or challenges. By the way, creating opportunities often requires persistence and resilience. We keep pushing forward and learning from our experiences. And then, we collaborate with others who share our interests or goals.Soren Kierkegaard suggested that we can act and create with a passionate sense of possibility to believe that things can get better, and that we can get better as well. Those people who have desires to serve and support others, really, enable them to flourish and live their best possible lives. Thus, we can see that the greatest satisfaction and meaning in life comes through believing ourselves and serving others. We get better through planning and the choices we make. When we are living and flourishing our best possible lives, we are viewing and experiencing the world positively. We do learn from the lessons of yesterday, and things can get better later on. Moreover, when we get better, others get better, too. Today is all we have, and we need to be present and grateful for every moment. Anticipating the joys or happiness of tomorrow is an extension of hope. The anticipation of positive or fun adventures or experiences, such as holiday celebrations, are meaningful events in our lives. Looking forward to something good happening is a powerful motivator for us. Interestingly enough, there are those occasions where thinking about something good in the future generates nice feelings in the present. We must, first of all, be mindful of opportunities and actually look for them. A person’s life can change and progress day by day, and each of us is unique. In fact, we vary in what brings us enjoyment today, what we look forward to tomorrow and even what we will see as opportunities or possibilities in the future. When we have strong beliefs that things can get better, we feel grateful, cherish our values and develop our plans for the excellent opportunities or possibilities to come.Powered by Firstory Hosting

Learning without Age Limit“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever,” said Mahatma Gandhi. Yes. There is no age limit for learning in the world. Learning is a process that it continues throughout life, and learning, actually, has no age limit. In other words, whatever our age, there is always something new to learn, whether it’s a new language, a new skill, or a new perspective on life. Learning provides several personal and professional advantages. It can help keep our mind sharp, boost our memory, and lower our risks of cognitive loss as we age. In today’s fast-paced world, technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and new information is constantly emerging. This emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning more than ever before. Thus, it’s not only about learning new things; it’s also about developing the skills and adaptability needed to flourish in a constantly changing world. Furthermore, learning can provide a sense of fulfillment and personal improvement. It may help us discover new hobbies, push ourselves to grow, and connect with people who share our interests. The good news is that learning has never been more accessible. We may now study from anywhere, at any time, and at our own pace thanks to the proliferation of online learning platforms and tools. There are also many programs and workshops for older individuals who wish to keep learning and staying interested. Therefore, we might say that there is no age limit for learning; it is never too late to begin. The benefits of lifelong learning are numerous, and the chances are limitless, whether we wish to learn a new language, perfect a new trade, or just improve our knowledge.Young adults dream of having free time to do whatever they want. Then, retirement comes knocking. Now, it’s time to start thinking about how to fill all of the spare time that will soon be available. Retirement, on the other hand, presents an opportunity to learn and re-learn. The willingness to learn at an older age, especially enrolling to pursue a degree in an educational institution, probably is a trend, right now. In fact, it is never too late. For older people, they can come back to schools to learn lessons. Besides, learning is not only confined to educational institutions. Another way to learn at a much older age is by enrolling for online courses, attending seminars or listening to podcasts. Regardless of age, the pursuit of knowledge should be embraced and cherished. Education is not confined to the boundaries of a classroom, and there is no expiration date on our capacity to learn. Therefore, it is essential to recognize and appreciate that there is no age limit for learning.The traditional belief that education is solely for the young has become old-fashioned. Age should never be a barrier to acquiring new skills, exploring different subjects, or adapting to the ever-changing world. Learning does not have a specific timeline or expiration date. It is a continuous process that enriches our lives, broadens our perspectives, and keeps us intellectually engaged and stimulated. Embracing the concept of lifelong learning has numerous benefits, regardless of our stage in life. It enhances our cognitive abilities, improves memory retention, and stimulates critical thinking. Lifelong learning also fosters personal growth, builds self-confidence, and increases our adaptability to new situations. It is, really, crucial for us to carve out time for lifelong learning. Even dedicating a few minutes each day to read, listen to podcasts, or engage in intellectual discussions can make a significant difference for us and, specifically, for older people. From news, we also see that some people even join the professional courses at advanced age of 50/55, and succeed quite well. New ideas are emerging and new concepts are coming. The only way elders would lead a good and meaningful life in the future is to remain relevant in this highly unpredictable world. I find out that there is another but quite interesting perspective. Some of the elders did have the talents that remained hidden as unfulfilled dreams because of their demanding lives. Once they retire from professional job and complete all family responsibilities, these unfulfilled dreams drive them to charter new ways of life. Lifelong learning, truly, does not have any age restrictions. Equipped with traits like passion, commitment, drive and focus, we, especially, most of the older people, can learn anything at any age.To more effectively help older adults, a strengths-based approach to care rather than a paternalistic approach is essential. Older adults have a vast wealth of knowledge as well as a wide range of skill sets. While their quality of life may decline in the face of their aging circumstances, we should not view them as “high risks” but instead “able and capable.” We should not see them as victims but rather people who have hopes and dreams. It is important throughout life to dream big and never give up on what we really want. Older adults should be afforded those same opportunities to live boldly and to take risks. Nevertheless, in order to practice lifelong learning, the older people need physical strength, focus and perseverance. As we age, our bodies naturally undergo physiological changes that lead to a decline in muscle mass and strength. However, with the right exercise strategies, seniors can defy the odds and age strong. Strength training for seniors is not just about looking fit; it’s about preserving independence, reducing the risk of falls and fractures, and improving overall quality of life. Furthermore, many older adults have trouble maintaining focus and concentration as part of natural, age-related cognitive decline. The good news is that it’s possible to improve concentration and focus for older people. It simply requires a commitment to adopting new habits. This includes playing a musical instrument, learning to cook, taking up painting or learning a new language. Besides, having a strong social circle also reduces feelings of depression and loneliness, which could impact attention. Speaking with friends requires that we practice focus by paying attention to what they say, which also helps the older people maintain the ability to concentrate. The fact is that some of our elders believe that children always remain only children, and their experiences are much better than them. What they say might be probably right. But there are many things which create a lot of differences between earlier times and today’s time. Children, now, would want to take their own decisions. They don’t like anyone interfering in their ways. Due to these changes, we can no longer live the life our elders used to live. That’s why lifelong learning is necessary for both young and old generations. From now on, it’s better that our juniors and seniors can practice gratitude all the time by reflecting on daily blessings and expressing appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. Plus, both juniors and seniors should engage in social activities, such as group outings or volunteering, and foster their social connections through lifelong learning. Thus, we will build a better, more inclusive and resilient world for everyone.Powered by Firstory Hosting

愛的實踐《愛的藝術》是埃里希．佛洛姆 (Erich Fromm)在1956年出版的書。佛洛姆這本書最大的論點，即愛是一種能力，一種信仰、紀律、專注、耐性和練習的能力。佛洛姆認為，愛是一門藝術，需要知識和努力，愛不僅是愉悅的感受，更是兩個具有愛的能力的人，努力製造出來的。成熟的愛，是在保有自己完整的前提下，再主動去愛別人的力量。是在給予的行為中，感受到自己的強壯與豐饒。「施」之所以比「受」讓人更快樂，不是因為那是一種剝奪，而是因為「給予的行為」，是在表現我們自己蓬勃的生命力。當我們把自己生命裏活生生的東西給予出去時，我們同時把我們的喜悅、我們的興趣、我們的了解、我們的知識、我們的幽默，和我們的憂愁給出去，，那麼，我們便增強了自己的生命感，也擴大了他人的生命感。愛是一種喚起愛的能力，當我們努力去愛時，我們才會明白真正的愛，然後，才會體察到我們也正接受他人的愛。正如同我們信任，所以明白信任的必要，然後，才能感受到信任隨之而來的責任和能力。又如，因為我們具備藝術的修養，所以去欣賞藝術，然後，我們才感受到藝術帶來的樂趣。當我們努力去愛，然後感受到愛的那一刻，我們就可以清楚地知道，我們正在以正確的方式去愛。佛洛姆提到，愛的基本元素是：照顧、責任、尊重和了解，它們是所有愛的形式共有的特質。愛是我們對所愛者的生命及其成長的積極照顧。例如，因為我們愛著那棵玫瑰，我們日夜看顧澆注，對保護玫瑰產生了責任感，玫瑰便成為我們最珍貴的花。愛裏也要有尊重，因為我們尊重，所以我們讓玫瑰以自己的方式，而不是符合我們需要的方式成長。然後，以愛和照顧為動機的責任，再去尊重，是最超越和最深層的了解。佛洛姆也強調母愛的重要。母愛是無條件的，它不需要被贏得，也不能被獲取、被創造和被控制。如果母愛存在，我們就是處在至福之中；如果母愛不存在，生活就失去一切美好。母愛有兩個層次，其一是照顧和責任，是保護小孩生命與成長的必須。另一個層次是態度，母愛會在小孩心中灌注對待生命的態度，讓他們覺得活著真好。自愛，是肯定自己生命的快樂、成長與自由，它植根於我們的愛的能力，及我們對自己的尊重、負責和了解。男女愛、兄弟愛，也都要先自愛，然後，再出自意志的行為，決心把自己對待生命的態度，委身給另一個人，或奉獻給親朋好友。最後，對神的愛，既不是在思想上了解上帝，也不是心中存有愛上帝的意念，而是與上帝合一的體驗。因為，上帝是人類的究極目標，所以，我們應當活出神的樣貌，在生活中的一切行為，全都要按照正義的原則，與神同在。佛洛姆在書中說，愛最重要的是「愛的實踐」，愛是動詞，不是名詞，不是光說不練，而是要實際採取行動。愛的首要條件是自律，因著相信愛，我們要主動地、自律地去練習自愛與愛人。其次是要專注，花時間專注，就是愛。第三個條件是耐心，即使慢，即使看不見成果，我們也要表現愛。第四個條件是態度，我們要把整個生活的態度，都奉獻給愛。我們要練習實踐自律，學習專注，學習獨處，認真傾聽對方，全然活在當下，耐性地了解和接納自己與他人。最後，愛最需要的是信仰和勇氣，我們要有去冒險的能力，隨時準備好接受痛苦和失望。我們要能夠有勇氣的愛和被愛，要把生活中的種種困難、挫折與傷痛，看作可讓我們得到愛的挑戰。去愛，意謂著我們可能得不到任何好處，卻要把自己完全的給出去，但我們也會在被愛者的身上喚起愛，再將愛回饋給我們。佛洛姆盼望，我們都可以成為能愛人的人，有信仰，勇氣，自律，專注，耐心，獨立，了解，尊重，投入與責任。佛洛姆的「愛的實踐」，說穿了，就是宇宙的法則。在宇宙中，愛是一種力量、一種振波及一種能源。愛是宇宙的法則。愛就是神，神就是愛，我們在世界上每個重大的事件，都是神刻意的愛的安排，萬物絕對沒有巧合和偶然，一切的發生，都是互相聯繫、制約與相連的。雖然，我們所了解的振波、能量，只限於可見光、X光、紅外線、紫外線……等等。但其實，我們的情感和思想，同樣是宇宙的振波，只是頻率與振動不同而已。宇宙擁有最高級而完美的振波，那就是愛的法則，愛是無緣大慈，同體大悲。所以，當我們選擇無私的去愛人時，一股源源不絕的能量，會從我們的心中湧出，滋潤和活化我們的身體。我們的身體本身，就是一個能量系統，當我們與他人接觸和交流時，我們是透過能量的放送，來做溝通的。我們愛的能量，會從我們的心輪散發出去，朝向我們所愛的人，及與我們關聯的人身上。我們越愛人，我們內心產生出來的能量就越多，我們的身體，也就會越健康與和諧。而且，被我們愛的人，也同樣能從我們釋放出來的愛的能量中，獲得很大的益處。因此，我們每天都要練習愛的能力，那是很重要的。如果我們能夠時時記住，我們是生命與愛的無窮泉源，那麼，這整個宇宙，就會永遠快樂、美好。愛是我們每個人非常切實可行且有益的選擇，因著愛，我們的世界與生命，將會獲得永恆的健康、和諧與繁榮。Powered by Firstory Hosting

對別人要樂觀其成，對自己要非常努力對別人做的事，我們要樂觀其成。在這個世界上，我們每個人都是獨一無二的，我們每個人都擁有不同的背景、價值觀和生活經驗。雖然我們無法改變別人，但我們可以選擇如何對待別人，那就是尊重別人。尊重別人，就是敬重對方的觀點與感受，並能肯定對方的能力與內在特質。尊重是可以學習的。心理學家霍勒曼（Holloman）與耶茨（Yates）歸納出以下表達尊重的語彙：1. 鼓勵的語彙2. 寬容的語彙3. 表達對對方的理解4. 表達重視彼此的觀點尊重，是一種美德，也是一種智慧，它不僅能讓我們獲得良好的人際關係，也能讓我們在這個世界上，活得自在與快樂。尊重並不代表毫無原則地迎合對方，而是發自內心地接納別人的獨特性。我們每個人都有自己的想法和選擇，這些選擇或許與別人不同，但並不代表是錯的。而且，我們也不該因為別人的選擇與我們不同，就對其加以批判或貶低，而是要試著去理解，甚至學習如何包容不同的聲音。真正強大的人，並不是批評別人，來突顯自己的優越的，而是懂得尊重每一個人。在職場上，領導者如果能夠尊重員工的意見，傾聽不同的聲音，他的團隊往往會有凝聚力，員工也會更願意為公司付出。同樣地，在家庭關係中，若夫妻、家人之間，能夠彼此互相尊重，而不是一味地要求對方，按照自己的方式做事，那麼，家庭生活也會更加和諧。當然，面對親人或朋友，特別是和我們關係密切的人，我們自然會很在意對方的想法或心情。其實，關係愈緊密，我們愈需要學習理解。理解，意味著尊重別人因其生活經驗，所形塑的價值觀、想法或做法，及衍生的情緒感受。理解，不需帶著評價，也無所謂好壞或對錯。在人際關係上，本來就是彼此互相的，自己做好是應該，但是，不要用自己的標準來要求、衡量別人。每個人都有自己的優缺點，只是差異不同，不論我們外在有多謙恭有禮、光鮮亮麗、或品學兼優，甚至在朋友面前，有多隨和、脾氣好，但我們總是有弱點的時候，與其想要改變別人，不如先改變自己，接納包容別人。對於別人做的事情，我們就是要樂觀其成，要讚嘆、喜樂，感恩歡愉才是。再者，我們要對自己非常努力。生活從來不會辜負每一個努力的人。當我們越努力時，我們就會變得越幸運。我們要在自己人生的道路上，一直努力奔跑，變成自己喜歡的樣子，擁有自己想要的美好生活。我們要讓努力感動自己，讓努力遇見更好的自己。牛頓說：「無論任何事情，只要肯努力，沒有不成功的。」生活不會辜負每一個努力的人，那些轉錯的彎道，孤獨的夜晚，滴下的汗水，都會讓我們成為獨一無二。只要我們對某個東西有追求，一直在不斷地追求，不斷的努力，並為之付出代價，總是會有回報的，這回報有時來得快，有時得到得晚，但請耐心等待，成功之花，一定會為我們而開的。一個真正努力的人，是有執行力的人，他/她懂得掌握自己的工作量，制定如期完成的計畫和策略，發揮高度的時間管理，並有效率地達成目的。所有的事情，都取決於我們的選擇。在人生的旅程中，我們經常面臨各種各樣的選擇。這些選擇，不僅影響我們的生活質量，更決定我們成為什麼樣的人。「選擇，是一種力量，也是一種責任。」我們每天都在做選擇，從生活中的小事，到人生中的大事，無時無刻，我們都在選擇。而這些選擇，決定了我們未來的方向和高度。既然選擇了，我們就要有決心和態度，努力地盡全力付出與達成。我們要勇敢的去想像，很努力地把我們的選擇具象化，寫下來、畫下來，變成長期計畫，把長期計畫，再分割為中、短期細項。每天，我們都要為自己做一些行動，勇往直前，不要後悔，努力達成目標，無怨無悔地，開心完成每一件事。無論大事、小事，一旦選擇，我們就把它當作唯一，帶著微笑的勇氣，盡我們自己最大的努力去實踐。生活不會辜負每一個努力的人，我們要讓努力感動自己，讓努力遇見更好的自己。Powered by Firstory Hosting

心之所向Following My Heart我心心念念的事是，我要有一間屬於我自己的舞蹈教室。There are two ways of determining if we are “following our hearts.” The first way is whether we are following the desires that our hearts are calling us ornot, and the second one is if we are living in our hearts. In other words, one is about the actions we are taking, and the other is more about we are the exact persons. Doing what we love means that we have to listen to our intuition, and take actions to follow our passions to the world without fear.Our society today is driven by our minds, our fears and our ego. We do not place as much value and emphasis on passion, love, fulfilment and spiritual purpose. Rather, it is about external success, money, security, stability and reputation. As a result, many of us do not feel it is that important to really tune in to our hearts and hear what they want. This is the reason why when we attempt to start following our hearts, we cannot do what we desire. In fact, our hearts’ desires may not have an initial guarantee of income, or it may require a pay cut. It may mean that we have to go against what our family wants for us, or what our friends expect of us. We, certainly, come across some people, all the time, who have these amazing, beautiful dreams and desires, but they suppress and ignore them and tell themselves that they never have them. For most people, it is much easier to live in denial than actually face what they really want. They would rather pretend that they are happy with what they have, and justify to themselves that their inner dreams are not so important anyway.To get started, we must begin by finding the courage to discover what our hearts want. We may experience feelings of confusion, self-doubt and even regret what we do in the first beginning. It’s OK. It is time for each of us to wake up, and connect with what we surly want. In order to do this, we have to be willing to do things differently, and to challenge the expectations that others hold of us. Our hearts, in reality, are connected to something larger. We might call it Spirit, the Unconscious, God, Higher-self, or the Universe. When we follow our hearts more, and our minds see the results, the integration naturally occurs. We’ve probably seen others follow their hearts. It looks good, but, on the contrary, we doubt our own abilities. They must have some kinds of magical abilities, right? No. They’ve simply experimented a bit more. They aren’t fearless. They just take things one day at a time, and one step at a day. They do feel fear, overwhelm, and confusion, just like everyone else. The difference is that they have developed the trust in themselves. One of the main ways that we can follow our hearts is by noticing our feelings. Those feelings come with peace and encouragement. They are enduring. The more we follow our hearts, the better we get at it. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about learning and discovering how our hearts communicate with us. We can say that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act in spite of it. It’s about stepping into the unknown, armed with the belief in ourselves and the conviction that the journey is worth embarking on. Courage, yet, involves embracing vulnerability, and being open to the possibility of failure, criticism, or disappointment, but choosing to move forward because the potential for growth and fulfillment outweighs the fear of what we might go wrong.Sooner or later, I will find an ideal dance space near “Kaohsiung Cultural Center,” where parking cars won’t be the problem. We all know that injury prevention is essential for dancers at every skill level, and having the right equipment can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and long-term damage. Therefore, the key components, such as a properly installed dance floor, well-positioned ballet barres and shatterproof mirrors, certainly, create a safer and more effective dance environment. In my dance space, the high-quality dance floor is necessary for safe dance practices. Ballet barres are a required equipment, too, that provides stability and balance during warm-ups, stretches and strength training. The excellent ballet barre, indeed, ensures that our dancers can engage in low-impact training safely. Besides, mirrors are another critical element in my dance space. For dancers, observing posture is really vital for correcting movements and avoiding injury from improper techniques. Wall-mounted mirrors are commonly found in my dance space, while portable mirrors provide a flexible solution for extra usage. These mirrors are lightweight, making the dancers in my space easy to move and adjust them with wheels.Dance is an art form that requires skill, talent, and dedication to master. The role of a dance teacher is just as important as that of a dancer, and it takes a unique set of skills and expertise to teach dance effectively. Of course, the first and most obvious requirement for a dance teacher is a strong mastery of dance technique. A dance teacher must be able to perform the movements they’re teaching with precision, clarity, and style. In addition to dance technique mastery, a dance teacher also need to have teaching expertise, including how to communicate effectively with students, how to break down movements into manageable steps, and how to provide constructive feedback and corrections. They are also able to adapt their teaching styles to the needs of individual students, whether they’re beginners or advanced dancers. Definitely, becoming a professional and successful dance instructor requires more than just technical expertise in dance. They should be adaptable and are able to modify their teaching approaches to cater to different styles and levels. All in all, in my dance space, our great dance instructors will teach skilled dance techniques to students, and will inspire, motivate, and cultivate a love for dance in their students. As Martha Graham, the mother of modern dance, once said, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul,” I will follow my heart to imagine that our dance instructors and the students will practice together on a journey of self-expression, creativity, and growth in my dedicated dance space soon.Powered by Firstory Hosting