I Still Know Who She Is

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided since I wasn’t busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while as she is a victim of Alzheimer's disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goosebumps on my arm and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life. True love is neither physical nor romantic'.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain.

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Almighty God, you will make it to a place called Success.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

馆主读了很感动。感谢水进先生的分享。真的，像老先生那样的人，可能真的很少见了吧？

遇到困境时，记住，你不是一个人的。所以，为了那些爱你，和你爱的人，一定要加油，努力！

^_^g

【 LOVE LIFE 珍愛生命‧永不放棄 】

**当你无助的时候，请记住在社会的某个角落里，
还有一群永不放弃的小小斗士们正与生命搏斗著**



我们是不是更应该珍爱自己的生命，因为，拥有的生命，是有些人梦想的。加油哦！

^_^g

The Source of Our Unhappiness

We're always looking for something or someone to blame for our unhappiness. It's our job ["there's too much work, I've no time for fun!"], it's our partner ["I can't stand her mysterious outbursts!"], it's our parents ["they brought me up to be fearful and unable to stand up for myself"], or it's the economy, social bias, disappointing children... and the list goes on.

It does seem as though the source of our frustrations lies outside of us. After all , we didn't ask for these problems.

Or did we?

A popular theory called 'The Law of Attraction' refers to "the idea that thoughts influence chance. It argues that thoughts (both conscious and unconscious) can affect things outside the head, not just through motivation, but by other means". In other words, we attract what we think about.

If you don't feel you deserve happiness, then you'll continue to invite things, people and events that upset you. You stick with a job you find unfulfilling because you don't think you can do any better. Your partner's habits rile and baffle you but you don't talk to him or her about it... "It's just one of those things" you think, but could it be because you don't respect yourself enough to improve things?

We often don't strive to make things better because we feel that we're not good enough, that we don't deserve better. We don't believe that a better life is possible so we don't do anything. Pessimism justifies inaction. This is why we keep attracting people and things that keep us stuck.

The next time you encounter a situation or person that upsets you, refrain from the temptation to appoint blame. Look within yourself instead. What are the thoughts and habits inviting undesirable things into your life? What are the things in your life you tolerate that are not working for you?

The key to changing the world is changing ourselves.

Adapted from: A Slice of Life, presented and written by Eugene Loh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

当馆主读了这篇文章后，就很想与大家分享。对吧？很多时候，我们都将过错怪罪于别人，但是，往往问题会发生是因为我们自己的因素 [当然，馆主并不是说是你我的错，但是，是或多或少我们也得负上责任不是吗？] --- 我们“吸引”了这些不开心的元素到我们的生命里。

所以，从今天开始，先不要“怪罪”，先往自己的内心深处探讨、反省。

要改变世界，我们得从自己开始。

加油！ ^_^g

坐在角落里象两个要饭模样的人是谁?

请耐心看下去:

结婚那天，妈问我："坐在角落里象两个要饭模样的人是谁?"

我看过去的时候，有个老头正盯着我，旁边还有个老太太，发现我看着他们时赶忙低下头。我不认识他们但也不象要饭的，衣服是新的连折印都看得出来。妈说象要饭的是他们佝偻着身子，老太的身边倚了根拐杖的缘故。

妈说天池是孤儿，那边没亲戚来，如果不认识就轰他们走吧。现在要饭的坏着呢，喜欢等在酒店门口，见哪家办喜事就装作亲戚来吃黑酒。

我说不会，叫来天池问一下吧？天池慌里慌张把我的手捧花都掉地上了，最后吱吱唔唔地说是他们家堂叔和堂婶。我瞪了妈妈一眼：差点把亲戚赶走。

妈说: "天池你不是孤儿吗？哪来的亲戚呢?"

天池怕妈，低头说是他家远房的亲戚，好长时间不来往了。但结婚是大事，家里一个亲戚没来心里觉着是个憾事，所以……

我靠着天池的肩埋怨他有亲戚来也不早说，应该把他们调一桌，既然是亲戚就不能坐在备用桌上。天池拦着说: "就让他们坐那吧，坐别桌他们吃着也不自在。"

直到开席那桌上也就坐了堂叔和堂婶。敬谢席酒经过那桌，天池犹豫了一下拉着我从他们身边擦了过去。回头看到他们的头埋的很低，想了想我把天池给拽了回去："堂叔、堂婶，我们给你俩敬酒了!"

两人抬起头有点不相信的盯着我。二老的头发都是花白的，看上去很老应该有七八十岁的样子，堂婶的眼睛很空洞，脸虽对着我但眼神闪忽不定。我拿手不确定的在她眼前晃了晃，没反应。原来堂婶是个瞎子。

"堂...堂叔、堂婶，这是俺媳妇小洁，俺们现在给你们敬酒呢!" 天池在用乡音提醒他们。

"哦、哦。" 堂叔歪歪斜斜地站了起来，左手扶着堂婶的肩右手颤微微地端起酒杯，手指背上都是黄黄的茧，厚厚的指夹逢里留着黑黑的泥。面朝黄土背朝天的日子让他们过早地累弯了腰。我惊讶地发现，堂叔的右腿是空的。

堂婶是瞎子，堂叔是瘸子，怎样的一对夫妻啊？

"别站了，你们坐下吧。" 我走过去扶住他们。堂叔又摇晃着坐下了，无缘由的堂婶眼里忽然就叭嗒叭嗒直掉泪，看到堂叔无言地拍着她的背。本想劝他们两句，但天池拉着我离开了。

我跟天池说: "等他们回家的时候给他们一点钱吧，太可怜了。两人都是残疾，这日子根本想不通怎么过。"

天池点点头没说话，紧紧拥着我。

第一年的除夕，天池说胃疼没吃下晚饭回房睡觉去了。我让妈妈熬点大米粥也跟着进了房。天池躺在床上，眼里还憋着泪。

我说天池不带这样的，第一年的除夕就不跟我们一块吃晚饭，还跑房里这样。好象我们家亏待你似的，一过节你就胃疼，哪有这样的事情？其实我知道你不是胃疼，说吧什么事？

天池闷了半天说对不起，他只是想起堂叔和堂婶还有他死去的爹娘。他怕在桌上忍不住，惹爸妈不高兴才推说胃疼。

我搂着他说："真是个傻孩子，想他们我们过完年看他们去就成了，再说我也想知道他俩是怎么过日子的。"

天池说: "算了，那条山路特别难走。你会累着的，等以后路通了我们生了小孩再带你去那看他们吧。"

我心里想说："等我们生小孩的时候他们还不一定在呢!" 但没敢讲出来，嘴上说给他们再寄些钱物吧!"

第二年的中秋期间我正巧在外出差，中秋节那天又回不了家。我特别想天池和爸妈，我就跟天池煲电话粥。

我问天池想我想得睡不着怎么办？天池说就上网或者看电视，再不行就睡那睁着眼睛狠狠得想。
那晚，我们直到把手机聊得发烫没电为止。

躺在宾馆的床上，看着窗外圆圆的月亮，我怎么也睡不着。睁着眼睛流着泪想天池、想爸爸、想妈妈。想到天池估计也没睡着，说不定正在网上神游。翻身我也打开电脑，重新申请了一QQ号名叫读你，想捉弄一下天池。查了一下，天池果然在，我主动加了他，他接受了。

我问他："这样一个万家团圆的好日子，你为什么还在网上闲逛呢?"

他说："因为我老婆在外出差，想她睡不着觉所以就上网看看。"

我挺满意这句话，接着又打出："老婆不在家，可以找个情人代替，比如说网上，聊以自慰一下。"

半天他才敲出一行："如果你想找情人的话，对不起，我不是你找的人，再见。"

"对不起，我不是那个意思，你别生气。" 叭叭叭，我赶紧发过去。

过了一会他问我："你怎么也在网上闲逛呢?"

我说："我在外打工，现在想爸爸和妈妈。刚刚和男朋友通完电话还是睡不着，就上网了。"

"我也想我爹和娘，只是，亲在外，子欲养而不能。"

"亲在外，子欲养而不能。怎么讲？" 我把这句话又重复敲了过去。我有点莫明其妙，天池怎么说这样的话？

"你叫读你，我今天就让你读一次吧。有些事情放在心里很久会得病，拿出来晒晒会舒服些，反正你我也不认识，你就当作听一个故事吧!"

于是，我意外地知道了天池一直隐藏在内心的事情。

"30年前，我爹快五十了还没娶亲，因为他腿瘸加上家里又穷没有姑娘愿意嫁他。后来，庄上来了个要饭的老头还搀着个瞎眼的女人。老头病得很重，爹看他们可怜就让他们在自家歇息。没想到一住下那老头就没起来过，后来老头的女儿就是那瞎眼的女人嫁给了我爹。

第二年生下了我。

我家的日子过得很清苦，可我从来没饿过一顿。爹和娘种不了田，没有收入就帮别人家剥玉米粒，一天剥下来十指全是血泡，第二天缠上布条再剥。为了我上学，家里养了三只鸡，两只鸡生蛋卖钱，留下一只生蛋我吃。娘说她在城里要饭时听说城里的娃上学都吃鸡蛋，咱家娃也吃，将来比城里的娃更聪明。但他们从来都不吃，有回我看见娘把蛋打进锅里后用嘴舔着蛋壳里剩下的蛋清，我搂着娘嚎啕大哭。说什么也不肯吃鸡蛋了，爹知道原委后气得要用棍子打娘。最后我妥协，前提就是我们三人一块吃。虽然他们同意了，但每次也就象征性的用牙齿碰一下。

庄上的人从来不叫我名字，都叫我是瘸瞎子家的。爹娘一听到有人这样叫我必定会跟那人拼命。娘看不见就会拿了砖块乱砸，嘴上还骂着：你们这些杀千刀的，我们瘸瞎，我娃好好的，就不许你们这样叫唤。将来你们一个都不如我娃。

那年中考，瘸瞎子家的考了全县第一的喜讯 让爹娘着实风光了一把。镇上替我们家出了所有的学杂费，送我上学的那天爹第一次出了山。上车的那会，我眼泪扑剌剌的直掉，爹一手拄着拐一手替我擦泪：进了城要好好学，以后就在城里找工作娶媳妇。别人问起你爹娘你就说你是孤儿，没爹娘，不然别人会看不起你。特别是娶不上媳妇，人家会嫌弃你。误了你娶媳妇，我都无脸去见老祖。

爹！我让爹别在说了，这是什么话，还没有用呢咋就不认爹娘呢？娘也说这是真话，要听。你不记得在学校里吗？只要说你是瘸瞎子家的，别人就会拿白眼挤兑你。刚开始连老师都不喜欢你。以后，你带了城里媳妇回家就说俺们是你的堂叔和堂婶。娘说完就在那抹泪。爹说，不要把媳妇带回家，一带回来你娘忍不住就会露馅的。然后往我怀里揣了十个熟鸡蛋就拖着娘走了。

我的眼泪也扑剌剌地往下掉，残疾不是他们的错，那是老天对他们的不公。但他们却生了一个完美的天池给我。这个傻天池，这样的爹娘，无法再完美了。我很生气，他怎么就这么小看我呢?"

"那后来，你就告诉你媳妇他们是你堂叔和堂婶?" 我敲过去这句话。

"本来我不信。媳妇找的是我又不是爹娘，为啥爹娘都不能认呢？不过我在外十年，爹娘一次都没去过我的学校。第一年工作，我想带他们进城玩玩，他们都不肯，说让人晓得我爹娘是残疾人会在我脸上抹黑，影响我娶媳妇。一辈子都在山里了不想出去了。娘还说她就是从城里来的，也没啥意思。

后来，我谈了第一个女朋友，当我认为时机差不多的时候，就带她回了趟家。谁知到家后，她晚饭都没留下吃一顿就走了，我追出去她说，和这样的人过日子她一天都过不下去。

还说我们家基因有问题，以后的小孩肯定也不会健康。我气得让她有多远滚多远。回到家，娘在那哭，爹也骂我。说我不听他们的话，非要断了咱家的香火不可。

后来，我遇上了第二个女朋友，就是现在我的老婆。我很爱她，做梦都怕失去她，她们家又很有钱，亲戚都是些上等人家，有了前车之鉴我很害怕只能不孝了。但是一到逢年过节我就想他们，心里堵得慌，难受。"

"那你从来就没有告诉过你老婆？也许她不计较这些呢？"

"我没说过，也不敢说。如果她同意了我想我岳母也不会同意的。我和她们住在一起，岳父在外是有脸面的人。如果爹娘来了不是在他们脸上抹黑吗？我也只能在出差学习的时候偷偷回去看上两眼。谢谢你听我说了这么多，现在我的心里舒服多了。"

下了网，我依旧没有觉意。都说儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫，看看我们都做了什么？我理解天池的无奈，也了解他爹娘的苦衷。但他们不知道却将无辜的我陷入了无情无义的逆境之中。

天将放亮时，我敲开了部门经理的门，告诉他下面的事情请他全权处理，我有点非常重要的事情尽快要办，一切就拜托他了。然后简单收拾一下行李我就直奔火车站。还好，赶得上头班列车。
那条山路确实很难走。刚开始腿上还有点劲，后来脚上磨起了泡我就再也走不动了。正是中午时分，太阳又晒得厉害，我只有喘气的份。背来的水差不多快喝完了，我也不知道下面还有多少路程要走。脱下鞋子挤了水泡，那一会疼得我都哭出声来，真想打个电话让天池来接我回家，最后还是忍住了。从路边揪一把芦苇花垫在脚底，感觉脚上舒服多了。想到天池的爹娘此时还在家劳作着腿上忽的一下就来了劲，站起来继续往前走。

当老村长把我领到天池家门口的时候，那一片烧得红红的晚霞正照在他们家门口的老枣树上。枣树下坐着堂叔，哦不、是天池的爹，爹比结婚时看到的老多了，手上剥着玉米，拐杖安静地倚在他那条残缺的腿上。娘跪在地上准备收晒好的玉米，手正一把一把地往里撸。

这，宛如一幅画，而画中便是这世上最完美的爹娘。

我一步一步地往他们跟前走着，爹看到了我，手中的玉米掉在了地上，嘴巴张得老大，吃惊地问："你、你咋过来了?"

娘在一旁摸索着问："他爹，谁来啦?"

"天、天池家的。"

"啊！在、在哪?" 娘惊慌失措地找着我的方向。

我弯腰放下行李，然后一把抓着她的手，对着他们，带着深深地痛、重重地跪了下去："爹！娘！我来接你们回家了!"

爹干咳了两下，泪无声地从爬满皱纹的脸上流出。

"俺就说，俺的娃没白养阿!" 娘把双手在自个身上来回的搓，然后一把抱住我，一行行的泪水从她空洞的眼里热热地流进我的脖子里。

我带爹娘走的时候村里是放了鞭炮的。我又为爹娘风光了一次。

当天池打开门，看到一左一右站在我身边的爹和娘时吃惊不小，怔怔地愣在那，一语未发。

我说："天池，我是读你的人。我把咱爹娘接回来了。这么完美的爹娘，你怎么舍得把他们丢在山里?"

天池泣不成声，紧紧的抱住我，像他娘一样把一行泪流进我的脖子里。

The Benefits of Walking

What's one of the simplest and quickest ways to improve your overall wellness?

Walking!

Primitive tribespeople went on regular walkabouts, when individuals headed off into the bush as a rite of passage. In the wilderness, their minds, bodies and spirits were tested and cleansed. Some even met their spiritual guides, or so the legends say.

These days though, walking has been reduced to an inconvenience. It's considered a mile-stone for toddlers, something that all infants naturally progress to, but grown-ups generally wish to do as little of it as possible. We'd much rather get around in cars, taxis, buses and bikes.

But walking is immensely beneficial for our physical and mental well-being. For years, this single act has been linked to improving cardiovascular health. The reason is because, generally, walking is a safe movement that isn't likely to cause injury. New studies have shown that walking is also a terrific way to improve your mood. The next time you are feeling a little blue, you could just walk it off - literally.

A recent study paired individuals into groups, one of which spent 30 minutes on a treadmill and the other that participated in 30 minutes of rest. Each group's progress was monitored throughout the treatment with a conclusion that both groups reporting having less negative feelings at the end of the study, along with less stress and tension. The difference, however, was found when the group that spent 30 minutes walking also noted an overall improvement in well-being.

While the study further proves the theory that walking is good for mental health, as well as physical, it also lends credence to the theory that people who walk feel better overall. It also proves that an individual does not have to be outside in order to enjoy the benefits of walking. This simple exercise can be achieved with a treadmill or by simply walking in place while listening to music or watching TV.

Taking long walks also allows your mind to relax; the body goes into a spontaneous, comfortable rhythm, giving your thoughts a relaxed and unhurried climate in which to organize themselves. I've often come up with solutions and ideas while on a leisurely stroll.

So work a walking routine into your schedule. You'll start feeling the benefits in no time!

Adapted from "A Slice of Life" --- Presented and Written by Eugene Loh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

可能很多人都不觉得走路是没什么的。但是，就也还能算是保持健康体魄的一种方式哦。

有时候，让自己的精神和情绪在走路的同时，就能得到解脱和松懈吧。加油！

^_^g