Pause in My Life
– Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 4.1.2020
I thought I was taking a pause after writing the 100th blog. Little did I know that the whole world would be taking a long pause and everyone’s lives would be disrupted tremendously. Travel, school, dining, socialization, and entertaining have almost come to a complete halt. Essential resources such as food supply, healthcare, childcare, and job access have been totally altered. Priorities in our lives, human interactions, and schedules have different meanings. This is indeed an unprecedented period of time in history.
For me, the pause has been less painful than most people. Other than the cancellation of trips to Taiwan, China, cruises, and visits to grandkids, I have had a relatively calm and easy “shelter in place.” Thank you to all the frontline workers who have overcome immense hardship and risks to keep our grocery stores open, utilities uninterrupted, hospitals staffed, and other essential services flowing. We see heroes and kindness everywhere and every day.
With so much time on my hands, I have taken the opportunity to explore new ways of living. Although passive entertainment such as movies, opera, and electronic games has given me much-needed relaxation and distraction, their effects have been short-lived and not very gratifying. The more active learning and education provided by online seminars and courses has given me more satisfaction. I have been pleasantly surprised by the abundance and richness of programs such as TED Talks, National Geographic, online coursework, and a variety of technical societies.
But even with active and interesting learning, the lack of purpose, contributions, and human interactions has been draining on my spirit. I find that I need these three essential elements to energize me, motivate me, and give me substantive happiness in life. Now I know how to live a better retirement when there is no formal duties or obligations.
This has been my lesson learned and self-revelation during the pause in my life. What have you observed, felt, and realized in this period of your life? Have you learned something surprising about yourself, your family, friends, or colleagues?
Please stay well and take care of one another.
生活的休止符?!
-作者 許俊宸博士
-中譯 薛乃綺
我曾說過寫完第100則Blog之後要暫時停筆一下，殊不知卻發生讓整個世界的時間彷彿停滯、每個人的生活也受到很大衝擊的事情─新冠病毒。旅遊、上學、聚餐、社交，以及娛樂活動，幾乎都全部中斷。基本的資源，像是食物、保健、托育、上班，已經全部被改變。我們生活中的優先事項、人際關係、以及日程安排，有了不同的意義。這的確是史上前所未有的時期。
對我而言，這個”暫停”並不像其他很多人覺得那樣的痛苦。除了取消到台灣、中國大陸的行程、旅遊、還有去看孫子們外，我還有一個相對平靜和輕鬆的”庇護所”。感謝所有站在前線克服巨大困難和風險的工作人員，包括讓雜貨店能夠營業、公共業務不間斷、以及維持其他各項基礎服務通暢無阻。我們每天隨處都可以看到英雄以及良善。
因為現在有的是時間，我也藉這個機會探索了新的生活方式。像是電影、歌劇、電動玩具之類的被動消遣，雖然能在當下感到很放鬆，不過這樣的效果卻很短暫、讓我不是很滿意。相較之下，線上研討會以及課程所提供的主動式學習與教育，更讓我覺得滿足。我對於TED講座、國家地理頻道、其他線上課程、以及各種技術類型的社團，它們所提供的內容的豐富性，感到十分驚艷！
儘管有主動式且有趣的學習，但缺乏目標、貢獻、還有跟其他人的互動，讓我總是感覺卡卡的。我發現，我還是需要這三個基本要素“目標、貢獻，互動”來激勵自己、驅動自己，並且帶給我充實、快樂的生活。現在，我知道如何在沒有正式職責或義務的情況下，過上更好的退休生活。
這是我在這波”牢疫生活”中所學到的課題以及自我啟示。在這一生中，您觀察到、感受到、並意識到什麼？您是否對於自己本身、或家人、或同事，學到了些令人感到驚奇的事情？
希望大家都能保持健康、相互扶持。
