Tiny home on the road: Aussie family-of-five living mortgage-free after downsizing to a caravan

Olivia Scott 7LIFE 5 Min Read 22 Jun 2024

Jack and Amy Bell have been on a never-ending road trip with their three kids for five years now.

And the Queensland family-of-five have no plans to stop travelling anytime soon.

So far, Amy and Jack have clocked up more than 150,000km in their caravan exploring every part of Australia with daughter Elsie, 7, and sons Henry, 5, and Ralph, 3.

To fund their permanent holiday, Amy, 30, and Jack, 31, sold their home and kept an investment property as a “back-up plan”.

Over the years, the family have sustained their adventures by running a full-time shopfitting business along the way.

Jack takes care of the tools, while Amy manages the office side of things while homeschooling the kids on the road.

“Living on the road turned out to be more affordable for us than having a fixed home,” Amy tells 7Life.

Prior to travelling, Jack worked full-time as a shopfitter while Amy was a teacher’s aide.

The couple decided to hit the road and explore their own backyard because they wanted a break from their busy lives.

“We had been managing a mortgage since we were 18, a full house renovation, working full-time, getting married, and raising two children. It was time for us to enjoy some quality family time after years of hard work,” she says.

The pair sold the Gold Coast property they had renovated and used the funds to purchase a caravan.

“We also kept an investment property in Brisbane as a back-up plan,” Amy says.

The family quickly discovered living on the road was much more affordable for them than having a fixed address.

“As we work and travel, we pick up opportunities for work all across Australia,” Amy explains.

“Instead of Jack needing separate accommodation for work, we all travel together in our caravan — eliminating the need for a mortgage payment.

“This new way of life has opened up incredible possibilities for our family.”

Over the past five years, the family has travelled more than 150,000km — exploring every state in Australia multiple times.

However, the couple says downsizing to a smaller space was challenging at first.

“Downsizing to a caravan took some time to get used to, especially with young children and spending so much time together as a couple,” she says.

“After we completed our lap of Australia, we decided to upgrade our set-up to live on the road permanently.

“We now have an Isuzu truck that is divided into two sections.

“One side is equipped with all the tools needed for our shopfitting jobs, while the other side is set up for travel, complete with a fridge, drop-down kitchen, and plenty of fun stuff for the kids.

“We also upgraded our caravan to a spacious 23ft Lotus, which handles off-road adventures like a dream.

“One thing Jack struggled to give up was his boat. With the truck, we have the option to carry a decent-sized boat on top.”

Amy says fishing and exploring in the boat have become integral parts of the family’s travel experience and they “couldn’t imagine travelling without it”.

“Downsizing to a caravan has changed our perspective on life,” she says.

“We have realised how little we actually need. When we eventually settle down, we plan to opt for a smaller property that requires less cleaning and maintenance.”

When it comes to budgeting, Amy says it can be a challenge as their weeks vary greatly.

“Some weeks, we are focused on work and spend minimally, while other weeks involve long drives and stops to explore along the way,” she says.

While there are challenges on the road, the family have found ways to overcome them.

One of the hardest parts was not being close to their loved ones.

“Missing family is one challenge but they often visit us, making those reunions extra special. Technology has also been a great help, allowing us to FaceTime and stay connected,” Amy says.

“Managing appointments can be a challenge, but with Telehealth we have weekly Zoom appointments.”

What makes the challenges worth it is being able to wake up to a new location every day.

“Whether it’s an ocean view or mountains, there’s always something new for the kids to explore and have fun with,” Amy says.

A typical day for the family starts with coffee, getting the kids ready and then an hour of homeschooling.

“The kids like to make their own breakfast and then get dressed,” she says.

“We enjoy some TV, have breakfast, and then dive into homeschooling.”

Once school is over, the family pack their bags and head off in the truck or boat to explore.

“We have lunch packed in the truck fridge, so we’re always prepared for wherever the day takes us,” Amy says.

If they have work to do, Jack leaves early and Amy and the kids take the morning at a slower pace.

Amy usually takes care of household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and gathering content for their social media while the kids often play with friends or head to a swimming pool.

The family have no plans to stop travelling around Australia any time soon and says the past five years have “flown by”.

“We still have many more adventures ahead of us, but we also have a few remote places on our bucket list that we’re excited to visit,” Amy says.

Next on the family’s list is to explore Western Australia in more detail.

“It’s the state where we’ve spent the least amount of time, but it’s also the largest,” she says.

The couple already have an investment property renovation project lined up in Perth over Christmas, which they are looking forward to.

By sharing their story, the family hopes others are inspired to follow suit.

“Our advice to families considering a travel adventure is simple: just go for it,” Amy says.

“The timing will never feel perfect to leave behind the normalcy of everyday life, but the memories and experiences will be worth it.

“Don’t over plan and instead enjoy wherever the open road takes you.”

https://thenightly.com.au/lifestyle/tiny-home-on-the-road-aussie-family-of-five-living-mortgage-free-after-downsizing-to-a-caravan-c-15061207

The Bell family have been traveling around Australia for the past five years. Credit: Jack & Amy Bell

Erica Garza: Middle-class mums can be sex addicts too. I should know because I am one

Erica Garza Daily Mail September 27, 2024 8:42PM

When you imagine a sex addict, what do you think of? Is the person suave or seedy?

The ultimate player or unashamedly predatory? A smooth, sophisticated James Bond type, or a rapacious lothario like Russell Brand?

Chances are that whoever springs to mind, they’ll most likely be male. Well, cast aside all those preconceptions and any others you might have, and look at me. I am a sex addict – currently in recovery.

That’s right: I’m a 41-year-old mother – with an eight-year-old daughter – who’s been happily married for a decade to a husband I adore.

I’m middle class and live a pretty ordinary life filled with school runs, children’s activities and work meetings – like many people reading this.

But what you won’t know by looking at me is that I spent more than 20 years in the grip of a destructive sex addiction.

Only after thousands of pounds of therapy, steely determination and the unwavering support of my husband am I now, thankfully, in control of the compulsive sexual behaviour, as it is formally known – which I know now was rooted in early puberty.

In my 20s, I spent hours compulsively watching hardcore pornography and putting myself in unspeakably dangerous situations with men, sabotaging every meaningful relationship I had.

I ruined a three-year one with a wonderful man I thought I’d marry, after some sleazy encounter with an ex-boyfriend on a solo trip to Hawaii after graduating.

Although he probably never would have found out, I broke up with him because I felt so guilty and disgusted with myself. I always felt bad about my behaviour, during and especially afterwards, but I just couldn’t stop. If sex was proffered, I didn’t care what format it came in, I was compelled to seize it.

What does a sex addiction feel like? It’s a question I’ve often been asked. Well for a start, sex addiction is never sexy.

I describe it as an urge that’s out of my control; to be constantly consumed with the desire for the physical release of orgasm, and also for affection.

Sex made me feel valuable, a feeling I was addicted to, but didn’t know how to find without intercourse.

Orgasm was a sensation so powerful that it obliterated worry, anxiety, self-loathing, fear and insecurity for a short while. And – something all addicts will identify with – as soon as it was over I’d immediately be craving the next hit. Having scrutinised my sexual history through therapy, I’ve realised I always sought comfort in sex when I was stressed, fearful, bored or anxious because it was easier than dealing with the feelings themselves.

I know inevitably people will ask how many men I’ve slept with, and while I do understand their curiosity, I don’t believe the number is relevant or helpful.

Before I met my husband more than 11 years ago, there were times I’d sleep with a new guy every week when I was single but, more typically, I’d jump from one monogamous relationship to the next (ranging from three months to three years) with sex always the focus.

Also, the ‘how many’ figure is just one of a number of elements that make up this complex disorder. It’s one of the reasons I’m so open when documenting my experiences in my memoir, because compulsive sexual behaviour is frequently misunderstood.

Difficult to officially diagnose – after all, how do you differentiate sex addiction from someone with a strong sexual appetite and weak willpower?

It’s defined by relationship charity Relate as ‘any sexual behaviour that feels out of control.

It’s not the behaviour itself that defines it as a compulsion but rather the dependency on it to numb out negative emotions and difficult experiences.’ Like most other adolescents with raging hormones, my enthusiasm for sex began perfectly normally when I discovered masturbation aged 12.

Raised by Catholic parents, I went to an all-girls’ religious school where sex was taboo and only ever mentioned at home and in the classroom in relation to procreation.

This meant that very early on I associated sex with shame, not least when, also aged 12, I was diagnosed with scoliosis – curvature of the spine – and immediately assumed it was God’s way of punishing me for touching myself ‘down there’.

This was the point at which normal, healthy sexual exploration became a compulsion, though I didn’t realise this at the time as I was too young to make sense of my behaviour.

Bullied at school for wearing a back brace to correct my spinal condition, masturbation was an escape and orgasm my primary release and coping mechanism.

This was all happening around the time that the internet was becoming more accessible. I started with viewing and downloading pornographic images, then videos, before moving on to streaming porn and graduating to cyber-sex with strangers.

All this was going on in my parents’ house, late at night with my bedroom door locked, the fear of being interrupted part of the thrill.

I’d feel sick with shame afterwards and vow never to do it again. But I always did, often within hours. I lost my virginity, aged 17, to a man who was ten years older than me and a regular customer at the restaurant where I worked after school.

I can’t say it was a particularly pleasurable experience for me as I was focused on pleasing him – but the thrill, shame and self-disgust was still there. When I went to college to study English literature aged 18, I suddenly had much more access to men, flitting between casual sex and relationships.

Privately, porn remained a constant, giving me the combination of pleasure and shame I craved.

Only now can I see that the most destructive part of my addiction was this ever-present aspect of shame. If I’d known as a young person that it was normal and healthy to be interested in sex, I probably wouldn’t have developed an addiction.

Shame was the driving force. Though I only cheated on boyfriends a handful of times, I would often fantasise about doing so and was always flirtatious with other men.

Relationships would end at the same sad place: with me walking away if I felt a man was getting too close, because emotional intimacy felt too risky and alien.

I felt too dirty and shameful for anyone to love and feared they’d reject me once they knew me properly.

In my late 20s, a boyfriend who was a successful film director and much older than me planted the seed that my insatiable sexual appetite wasn’t healthy.

I constantly pestered him for sex even when he said ‘no’ because I didn’t know how to connect with him, or anyone else, any other way.

After I’d pestered him for the umpteenth time one day, he yelled at me: “You’re a sex addict, you need to get some help!”

We separated, and although it was a few years before I started therapy, it had alerted me to the fact that something wasn’t quite right with my attitude to sex.

Just before I turned 30, I’d broken up with a man I loved but cheated on and I realised I wanted the next decade of my life to be different.

If I was going to change, I needed to be single for a while and abstain from sex until I was mentally healthier.

On a mission to become a better version of myself, I went on holiday to Bali where I spent my time doing yoga, meditation and reflection classes.

That’s where I met my husband, River, an Australian who was working in Shanghai at the time.

When we spoke after a yoga class I was scared of the attraction I felt for him due to my determination to be single for a while.

Still, when I bumped into him again a few days later I agreed to go out for drinks. We had sex on our second date, after which I was filled with a mixture of fear that I’d fall back into my destructive ways, along with excitement and infatuation.

We swapped numbers and emails and, two weeks later, back home, I decided to do something I’d never done in any relationship – I told River everything: that I suspected I was a sex addict.

Convinced he would simply cut me off at that point, I was amazed when he didn’t. Determined this relationship wouldn’t follow the same destructive pattern, I went to a few Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) meetings to learn how to have healthier relationships, establish new patterns of behaviour, and meet other people having similar experiences.

Like Alcoholics Anonymous, SLAA is a 12-step programme where people share experiences of addiction and support one another in sobriety, with meetings available all over the UK.

My biggest fear for years had been of being found out, that people might think I was sick and depraved and I’d be alone for ever.

The realisation that my compulsive sexual behaviour didn’t mean I was a terrible person was a relief, as was the hope that meeting other addicts gave me. Many had gone on to have healthy relationships, so maybe I could, too.

Therapy taught me that revealing the darkest thing about yourself to other people is empowering because it takes the power away from the addiction.

So I kept confessing, going to more meetings and therapy. River and I reunited in Thailand before going travelling together for several months.

No matter what I confessed, he never judged me or backed away.

It brought us closer. He was warm and had an understanding borne of his own demons, being newly sober from alcohol and drug use at the time.

Over the past decade, I’ve realised the triggers that lead me to seek comfort in sex and porn are stress, fear and anxiety.

I learned to go for a walk, meditate and talk or write about my feelings.

It’s important to be clear that being triggered doesn’t mean feeling like I’ll cheat on my husband. It’s more that something triggers the urge to use sex as a self-soothing mechanism – for example, watching porn to shut out a feeling. If I get this urge, I’ll ask myself: am I running away from something, or do I just feel like watching it?

Very occasionally, I do watch porn. But only because I want to, not because I need to.

There’s a healthy and unhealthy way to approach the same activity and being in recovery means knowing the difference.

In 2013, River and I wed. Sex remains a focus of my marriage but it’s healthy and loving. I’m very much a recovering sex addict as my impulses and activities are no longer out of control, risky or secretive.

You can be a healthy and empowered sexual person who practises safe sex with hundreds of people and not necessarily be addicted to sex. You just like sex, but you don’t lie to people or use sex as an escape or a coping mechanism because you can’t face issues in your life.

On the other hand, you can be in a monogamous marriage and compulsively watch porn in secret or have sex with strangers behind your spouse’s back and feel ashamed and out of control.

My therapy is ongoing and has helped me realise I’d been using sex to mask feelings of rejection and self-hatred I first felt aged 12.

It also taught me that instead of running from complicated feelings, I can now talk about them and trust they will pass.

I am in a healthy place now. It’s more than ten years since I felt the desire to blow up my life, lie, cheat, or destroy my relationship – and for that I can only be proud and grateful.

https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/erica-garza-middle-class-mums-can-be-sex-addicts-too-i-should-know-because-i-am-one–c-16204182

一位网戒中心母亲的肖像 —— 王一南的母亲

这位母亲把就读于清华美院的儿子骗入临沂市网戒中心,又发现了网戒中心的阴暗,在那里展开对于儿子的争夺大战。这是一个爱沦为权力、控制,亲密关系逐步损坏却修复无能的故事,正如她儿子王一南所说,“这一代家长他们自己需要成长,才配收获亲子之间修复的关系”。这也是关于一个女人的真实生活与她的理想世界的故事。如果这些家长是网戒中心得以存在的“帮凶”,那么他们也是历史与生活的受害者,“如得其情,则哀矜而勿喜。”

文|钱杨  事实核查|刘洋

把儿子骗进网戒中心

把儿子王一南骗进临沂市网戒中心的8年后,邹虹认错了,甚至屈从了,儿子带有胁迫意味地建议她接受ONE实验室的采访,她就接受了。但是她与儿子之间从未达成真正的一致。儿子将她划入杨永信、网戒中心一方——加害者阵营,邹虹多少有些委屈,觉得当年情非得已,不慎受骗,也是受害者,争吵时她也不忘提醒儿子,“我还在那里为你作斗争呢!”采访中她讲了第一个故事,以表明心迹——儿子是她的信仰,生命意义的归宿,她为儿子做的一切因此都具备了牺牲、忍耐、崇高的色彩——故事来源模糊,一位视贞洁如生命的母亲被强奸后本想自杀,可为了儿子,选择忍辱负重活下去。“你的孩子才是天呢!我欣赏是这样的价值观。”

邹虹把采访地点定在了北京的一家褡裢火烧店。她60岁,是银行退休职员,挑染成栗色的头发略微花白,身材不高,但总像提着一股气似的,挺胸抬头。她埋头看着手上摊开的一个塑料皮面的小本,上面记着计划中的谈话要点。在我问问题之前,她先是以受害者母亲的身份斥责了一通网戒中心。她说出的事实少,观点多,激动时顾自对着空气指指戳戳,争辩、指责——仿佛她的斗争对象近在眼前。她有时无视提问,反而盘问起我来,仿佛也是我的严厉家长。她关心我为何选他儿子采访,“他什么引起你注意了?”急切地想弄清儿子对她的最新评价,“后来我做的工作什么的怎么样,他提到了?他怎么提的?”

尽管我尽量挑选王一南的评价中最温和的部分转述给她,她还是相当失望,“还纠结呢?那他也是够傻的。”她叹了口气,“当时给他送去,这点他一直是仇恨在心的。”

邹虹这样一个人是不会随便把儿子交给一个陌生机构的。送王一南进网戒中心之前,她提前去考察了大半天,看看环境、吃住如何。医生们笑容满面,孩子都说好,家长也说来吧,共患难。没有玩电脑的环境了,课堂上讲着《弟子规》,孩子们天天早起跑步,“都像个人似的”。网戒中心通过了她的初步考核。

王一南那时在清华美院读大一,沉迷《魔兽世界》,一天打十几个小时,挂科大半,“不是正常人的活法”,邹虹生怕儿子“玩着玩着磕死在电脑上”。2008年大年夜,她关好了家里的煤气,带上几床被子,骗儿子说去山东走亲戚,跟丈夫一起开车把他送进了网戒中心,寄希望于在不久的将来,收获一个崭新的儿子。

发现被骗后,王一南咒骂、绝食、挣扎,直到被摁在了十三号室的床上,遭到电击。一个小时后,他开始改口、求饶。出来后见到邹虹,他委屈又恐惧,不敢提电击,没给她看手心上灼烧出来的密集小红点,没告诉她自己是怎么被绑着、怎么被电、怎么被恐吓着承认有网瘾。“我跟我妈就已经没有任何信任了在当时。”

从十三号室出来后,他被强制参与集体活动——观看春晚。晚上,他不敢仰面朝天地睡,这个姿势让他条件反射般想起那个房间里的情形,只能侧着、趴着,惊恐难眠。

邹虹不知道这些,十三号室对于外面的家长来说,就像一口沉默的深井。谈论这个房间是被禁止的,旁观“治疗”也不被允许。可看到儿子畏畏缩缩,不敢说话,只是哭,邹虹起了疑心。她问别的家长十三号室里到底怎么电孩子,其中一位说自己查书了,没有任何副作用。更多的家长一无所知

“傻,是真傻”,邹虹为他们着急。她目睹过一个新来的孩子出来后拼命挣扎,“就跟杀猪似的”,间接地感到事态严重。

她去问网戒中心的医生,医生说是低剂量,不痛苦。她要求亲自体验体验,“孩子能受,我怎么受不了?”医生拒绝,她当即说她儿子“不弄”,不接受不甚明了的治疗。

邹虹对十三号室执着的调查,儿子对此毫不领情。“我不认可她对电击的好奇心”,王一南在措辞中把母亲的忧虑和关爱降格为“好奇心”。在后来8年数不清的争吵中,他曾跟她建议,“你自己电一下吧,你自己试试,再跟我说怎么怎么回事儿。”于是,她买了一台低频电子治疗仪,在家自己电自己——没试出结果,强度、机器台数、针插在何处,造成的疼痛差别巨大。她只能想象儿子遭受的痛苦,并被这种想象所折磨。

权力回收

一天中午,有人传话说王一南犯病了,邹虹立刻冲了出去。儿子蹲在地上,被一些家长和盟友围在中间,因忍受着极大痛苦发出呻吟。有家长说这孩子八成装病,医生拿着听诊器听来听去,没有结论。邹虹心思都在儿子身上,王一南小时候就犯这种怪病,紧张、长时间憋尿会导致身体痉挛,跟肚子抽筋儿似的,蹲在地上动弹不得,大腿根紧贴肚皮才能缓解一丁点儿。X光、胃镜都做了,没查出原因。这病一发作就是好几个小时。

当天晚上她去找医生理论,医生推脱给家委会,后者是网戒中心名义上的管理者。在入院时,所有家长都要跟“家长委员会”签订协议,“相信、坚持、配合”治疗和管理。邹虹不打算相信、坚持、配合了。尤其是那些跟治网瘾毫无关系的规定,比如每个孩子早上只能上一次厕所,完全是出于管理方便。她向家委会据理力争,规定取消了。她进一步提出要求,从今往后,不经她本人允许,她儿子不进十三号室,同时也不吃药,也不打针了。家委会模糊地答应“给予关照”。

邹虹事后懊悔当时没谈透。几天后的傍晚她买饭回来,发现儿子又被弄进去了。出来时,他扑在她身上就哭。她认定他们在报复。她气急败坏,跑去把家委会办公室的门拍得“咣咣”响。对方说在开会,稍后谈。她嚷嚷起来,“我这事儿大,要不开门,谁他妈也甭想过。”

她不依不饶,充满斗志,扯着嗓子要求把儿子的一切权利交还到她这个母亲的手里。“意见不一致,说着说着就声儿高了嘛。他高了,我也高了,谁怕谁啊。反正我豁出去了。” 

家委会代表让了一步,答应放权3天。邹虹说不行,对方又说7天。她仍不答应,挨个谈话,逼着几个家委和医生点头答应,不再让她儿子进十三号室。  “就敲死了。”她认为自己控制住了局面,“管事的反正都答应了”。

一周以后,家委会试图回收临时下放的权力,邹虹则一次次搪塞说还没考虑好。各种人来做她的思想工作,软硬兼施,而她软硬不吃。“我怕谁啊,我这个性格就不是一小女人的性格。”邹虹说。

有一次,邹虹要回北京办事,为了让儿子安心,她挨个去找医生、家委谈,让他们保证不把她儿子弄进十三号室。他们表态后,她宣布这些话她全录音了。王一南父亲留下陪伴儿子,她不放心,叮嘱说孩子的事情她说了算。她觉得他父亲顶不住压力,“他爸爸太好对付了。”她警告院方,“我不在的时候谁要敢把一南弄进去,我要加倍地惩罚你们。”

对抗杨永信

邹虹特立独行,坏了网戒中心不少规矩。新来一个孩子,从十三号室里出来大闹,家长犹豫要不要在这治。别的家长都帮着劝留,她却偷偷跟那家长说,他家孩子不适合,这里很残酷。家长带着孩子走了。

邹虹给人一种印象,像在马路上逆行的人,她总是能找到斗争对象和目标。比如对于“雷某”案,她也很激愤,只不过似是而非地归因为“司法腐败”。她看不惯杨永信对名声的贪恋,“你看他满屋子都是锦旗啊什么的,他拿这当回事儿”。网戒中心安排记者采访,她不愿她名牌大学的儿子成为宣传素材,一概拒绝。为了躲避镜头,她还蒙了个口罩在脸上。儿子出院时,她无视惯例,没送锦旗。

“发展客户”她也不干。每个家长都被施了压——受益了要感恩,最好的感恩方式是让别的孩子也受益。隔三差五地,点评师们会在课堂上盘点,“已经做过工作的举手”,“一个都没成功介绍的举手”,邹虹总是惹人注目地位列其中。

点评师们说先让人来最要紧,来了再解释电击这些治疗方法。邹虹不认可这做派,不光明正大,带点儿忽悠人的意思。她拒绝介绍,“业绩”保持为零。

网戒中心倡导下跪,孩子跪家长、跪“杨叔”,家长出于感激也跪“杨叔”。邹虹看不惯这风气,她教育儿子要有骨气,别动不动下跪。

一天,点评课上一边放着《羔羊跪乳》《烛光里的妈妈》之类倡导孝道的视频,王一南母子等人被点了名,站到教室中央。一顿劈头盖脸的批评和引导后,一个“盟友”率先大喊“儿子不孝”,扑通跪下,哇哇大哭起来。其他盟友也纷纷效仿起来。家长们看起来都很受感动。邹虹觉得没到那地步,要她演也演不出来,最多配合着拉拉手、拍拍肩,就尽量让儿子跟她靠边站,“就我们俩在站着,多不合适。”

邹虹回北京期间,中青报发表了曝光网戒中心的报道。家委会认定这事是她闹的,她有这样的能量。邹虹懒得解释,“当时就出我这么一个另类,”她明白杨永信对她不满,她破坏了他的规矩,“他脸上无光了”。

杨永信没像驱赶别的不服从者一样让他们母子离院。“我的名牌大学身份就像妖怪眼中的唐僧肉,让杨永信垂涎”,王一南说。邹虹认为这也是因为杨傲慢轻敌,深信最终能拿下他们母子。在疗程即将满期的一天,杨永信在课堂上点了王一南的名。邹虹和儿子一起站到了500平米课堂中央,接受两侧四百来个家长和盟友的注视。

杨永信欲抑先扬,夸了一顿“王一南妈妈”教育出高材生儿子。接着话锋一转,说她儿子沉迷网络说明她不会做母亲,既然来了,就该跟大家一样。“你儿子这样,你看他有进步吗?王一南妈妈是聪明人嘛,明白了吧?把孩子交出来。”

曾有家长也试图夺权,但经过杨永信在大会上的施压后,退让了,说交给杨叔。“既然XXX妈妈明白了,王一南的妈妈也会明白的。”杨永信发号施令,“我们给她鼓掌。”两人被掌声包围。

杨永信见她岿然不动,又让别的家长和“盟友”谈王一南现象。有家长便说你的孩子没养好,说明你水平不够,大家保持一致多好。也有小孩领会意图站起来说,“阿姨,你让一南跟我们一样吧,相信杨叔一定把他能弄好。”

发言完毕,杨永信号召了新一轮掌声,“王一南妈妈还糊涂着,我们再给她机会。”在反复的掌声和反复的表态要求中,她只是一遍一遍地回答,“我孩子,我心里有数。” “当时的想法就是死磕。你夸我,也他妈放屁,你骂我,也放屁,无所谓。”邹虹回忆说。

直到午饭时间,杨永信仍捱着不下课。“大家都因为你们母子俩没法吃饭。”邹虹想,一起饿着呗,不怕。她很坦然,我没让大家不吃饭,是杨永信不许吃饭。

看邹虹磕不动,杨永信转向王一南,“你表个态。”王一南仗着母亲撑腰,表态说,“我听我妈的。”

15岁的徐浩坐在下面,看着邹虹长时间、孤零零地站着,忍受一轮轮的掌声,被感动了。“我觉得特别伟大。”他多希望在场的母亲也能像王一南妈妈那样挺身而出。可她却跟其他家长一样昏昏沉沉,举报他时却毫不手软。有一次,别人悔悟痛哭时,他装模作样地挤眼泪,便被她举报“感悟不深”,因此进了十三号室。王一南总共才被电3次,而他光是最多的一天就被电了4次。“我要有这样一位母亲就好了。”徐浩说。

杨永信号召了一轮又一轮掌声,邹虹只好一分一秒地捱着。如今她已经忘记掌声是如何熄灭的,只记得这样的场面后来也重演过两三次,她有一种“这事儿永远没完”的感觉,却始终像战士抵御洪水那样,抵御住了掌声,紧紧守着儿子,让他免于电击。

“他最后也没拿下。”邹虹笑了。

认知分歧

跟杨永信对峙时,邹虹没怎么注意到儿子。“没什么反应,”她努力回忆。但她猜测他应该挺高兴的。

“我其实没有什么高兴的,”王一南驳斥了他母亲的想象力。“她老觉得这事儿好像是她的功劳似的。”他提醒她,正是她把他送到这样一个“特别卑鄙的地方”,此事由她而起,她随时可以终止,但她没有。她的说法是,害怕儿子离院后又钻回游戏里,“利用那隔离一下。”

在很多事情上,邹虹都和儿子产生了认知分歧,有时他们的理解截然相反。她感到困窘,不知所措,就好像儿子用一种听不懂的语言在对她讲话。

对峙事件在邹虹的记忆中算是成就一桩。作为母亲,她挺住了,没有任人宰割,保护了儿子。因此回忆时,她带着称职母亲拥有的骄傲神色。但儿子毫不感激。他反问,不被强制难道不是一个成年人本该有的权利? 

王一南早就明白,他、母亲、院方是三方不同利益。他,为了自己的安全生存;他母亲,为了“所谓的照顾儿子,所谓的帮助儿子”;院方,“为了那些勾当”。他在几年后才告诉她,他当时是装病骗她的,演得那么卖力,不过为了激她去跟他们斗争。邹虹觉得很意外,抱怨儿子隐瞒她这么多年。

王一南还故意吃素,严格持续一整年。在网戒中心,清水煮白菜豆腐,叫吃特餐,专治挑食,是杨永信发明的戒网程序的108个环节之一。他主动要求吃特餐,邹虹束手无策地眼看着儿子把肉汤里能看到的肉末都一点一点挑出来,搁在废纸上。有家长建议她求助杨叔来治,她没好气地说,“是,十三号室出来,让他吃屎,肯定都能吃。”她至今以为儿子是受了什么刺激,没想过这是对她过错的提醒。

出院后的年夜饭桌上,邹虹给儿子夹肉时,立刻被他扔回她碗里。他正是前一年除夕被送进网戒中心的,阖家欢乐的气氛让他回忆起被电击后强制看春晚的情形,他感到恐惧和恶心。他希望她羞愧,意识到自己做母亲的失败,但不确定她有没有接收到以上信号。

认知分歧从王一南小时候就开始了。那时他还会把自己的画分享给母亲看。他在初二数学课上打盹儿,半睡半醒之间,脑子里突然出现了美妙线条,他迫不及待画在笔记本上。回家捧给母亲看,她应付着说“挺好”,却没有分辨出那是一只猫。起初他只是隐约感觉这是一种审美上的隔阂。12岁那年,他在一次全球少儿奥运绘画比赛中得了奖,父母和他都被邀请去悉尼看奥运会,萨马兰奇亲自给他颁了奖。人们叫他“奥运小画家”。他蔫蔫儿的,不知道怎么答记者问。母亲从那时起就爱代他回答,“他为国争光,可激动了”,没考虑到这根本不是她儿子的想法。

王一南觉得母亲似乎很享受他的荣誉头衔。她替儿子接待记者、安排活动,把他得奖的画印成贺年卡四处寄。她为他整理作品集,把报道从报纸上剪下来,装订成一本。“某种程度上说应该是我妈妈的作品集。”王一南说。她逢人就展示,没意识到儿子为此尴尬,“我觉得她跟发小广告似的”。

一次在王府井逛街,邹虹看到儿子的得奖作品被贴在一家麦当劳的玻璃上,当即让儿子过去“照一个”。她觉得这是一个无比难得的纪念,何况是王府井这么重要的地方,于是下达了“必须照”的指令。儿子犟了起来。最后,王一南被母亲拧着耳朵,哭着跟自己的获奖作品拍了合影。

儿子的指责让邹虹感到委屈,她觉得他也从这些荣誉中受益了,很伤感地批评他,“太自我了,缺少感恩,缺少体贴。”她度过了不争不抢甚至不求晋升的平凡人生,“我走的是那条追求名利的路吗?我发自内心不喜欢庸俗的生活。”

“我小时候真的,在里面挺挣扎的。”王一南感到他母亲有一个目的,完全不符合他的感受,却硬要把他包含其中。

初中他看《苏菲的世界》、《从一到无穷大》,脑子里飞着无数问题。他问邹虹,国家是什么东西,我为什么要爱它?闭上眼睛,世界还存不存在?母亲总是说出不容反驳的答案,诸如出生在这个国家,你就得爱它;世界肯定是唯物的等等。他觉得没意思,不想再跟她多交流了。邹虹在二十多年后依然委屈难忍,她已经尽力去回应敏感、早慧的儿子了,但他求知欲太过旺盛,半夜三点还缠着她问问题,“不让妈妈睡觉。”她也没有接受很高的教育,她还有自己的工作和烦恼,她很疲惫,应付不来。

后来王一南度过了“自我意识伸张得比较明确”的青春期,逐渐放弃了和母亲的交流。对女孩有模模糊糊的好感,他也不敢写在日记里(母亲曾翻出他写的日子,批评他写班主任的坏话),只写些意义不明的诗或者画意象不具体的画代替,排解单相思。到了高中,课上得没劲,他就翘课去网吧,沉迷在游戏中,那是一个全然不同的世界。

脱离游戏很自然——母亲帮他探路、找名师开小灶,确立了考清华美院艺术史的目标。母子俩目标统一了,他自觉自愿地封了游戏账号。

考入清华美院后,他很快发现那不是个纯粹的艺术世界。同学们琢磨的事情多是户口、入党、就业之类的。他自己是北京人,家境良好,没有这个焦虑。课程不能满足他的胃口,同道的朋友极少,他感到孤独。

他又回到了游戏世界,越打越凶,停不下来,每天必须玩十几个小时,吃饭、上厕所时间都为此压缩。父母来宿舍看他,他也接着打。他也不是故意的,只是正打着呢——“没法跟团长请假。”

他知道,对于母亲来说,最不能接受的是两人无话可说,“我跟游戏里的人更能沟通。她就会觉得你对她很陌生,她不知道怎么融入你的心里,她就会产生恐惧、产生敌对,觉得你是有病,她就要治你。”他说。邹虹如今也有诚恳的反思,“因为亲密关系出了问题,所以孩子有网瘾。

母亲的反对徒增他反抗的快乐。小时候,为了防止他打电脑游戏,母亲会藏鼠标。他就改玩键盘操作的游戏。《超级玛丽》无聊透了,“但是我就这么干,我就不服”。

这一回,王一南面对被大学劝退的危险。邹虹帮儿子办了休学,给他失控的生活踩了急刹车。她开始想各种辙,解决问题。她推理儿子的生活可能太单调了,就组织家人“农家乐”,或者请个老师谈话开导,显然没用。在网戒中心,网络游戏是所有家长憎恶的对象、共同的敌人。“最后就选了杨永信了。”

“赎罪”之路

2012年,王一南到意大利读书。他说不清楚为什么“陈年往事”又翻腾起来。每到阖家团圆的日子,或者看到军装、铁窗之类,他就陷入抑郁。他告诉邹虹,临沂那档事儿还没完。

王一南在采访中极少提到父亲。在网戒中心这件事情上,矛盾双方主要是他和母亲。“我妈挑的头,我爸就稀里糊涂的,”与父亲的矛盾是次要的,就像他在家庭中的位置、像他在儿子成长中扮演的角色一样次要。父亲有一次试图调停母子之间的战争,想找他谈谈临沂。气头上的王一南一句话就让他沉默了——“也少不了你。”父亲一度还帮着网戒中心编辑宣传材料。

有三个月时间他完全不理邹虹。去年,邹虹被他正式告知,如果不给他一个满意的交代,他考虑以后不回国了。28年来,儿子一直是邹虹生活的核心。她退让了,问他怎么才能满意。

王一南郑重其事地提了5个条件:一、将相关罪魁祸首,杨永信和刘明银(邹虹正是参考了后者拍的电视纪录片《战网魔》把他送了进去))绳之以法;二、以其它途径“解决”上述二人(“虽不是我的本意,但临沂本身就不合法”);三、努力“运作”,动员社会力量使网戒中心关闭;四、劝说执迷不悟的家长,“给人家长整明白了”;五、发挥主观能动性,找到让我满意的解决方案。

邹虹答应儿子,“我去努力,我尽量做到。”

按照儿子提出的纲领,邹虹开始了“赎罪”之路。她咨询了律师,律师说这事儿费劲,举证难。她也觉得性价比低。就算去告,“能打出什么来?”她希望做更有建设性的事情。她把手机递给我,让我看一个商业计划书。最初,她想建一个正规的戒网机构,但力有不逮。现在,她认为应该搭建一个平台,网瘾孩子的“心灵的救助站”,把专业的心理学家、医生、营养学家等等都邀请来,帮孩子们驱除阴影,走向社会。

她援引了一个来源不明的千万级数字,说是中国网瘾少年的数量,忧心忡忡地说中国是一个重灾区。

邹虹谈起她即将起航的创业项目,充满热忱。她描摹的愿景中,这个平台将以一个猫咪咖啡馆的形式落地。主题的确立与她跟她儿子都是爱猫人士有关。这个咖啡厅承载着一个母亲对儿子无微不至的关怀。这里将开展有关身心成长、健康养生的沙龙,“全是正能量的”。这里将严格挑选食材,禁止转基因、可乐这种垃圾食品出现。把一切不好的隔离在外,就像她一直以来做的那样。“这是儿子留给我的功课。”邹虹说。(截至发稿时,邹虹发来消息说,猫咪咖啡馆已经初步开了起来,她充实地忙碌着。)

帮助网瘾孩子也是邹虹的赎罪之举。每当在微信朋友圈上看到一些励志的文章,她都群发给她认为需要一看的人,比如他儿子,比如王一南的同期盟友、23岁的徐浩,有时候我也收到几条。她自称征服过抑郁症,知道自爱自强有多重要。她主张宽容,最爱举的例子是曼德拉,“蹲了27年监狱,最后他吃饭,他还把监狱的那些打手们请过来。”反对自怜,像澳大利亚演说家力克·胡哲,生来没有四肢,“比你那受的伤害还残酷”。

她劝徐浩朝前看,争口气把今后活好,试图用自己的理解力引导他,“现在你还有一个月的生命,我说你怎么办?假如给你三天光明,咱们还做杨永信那事儿,跟他较劲?”

这话被她拿来劝她儿子时,王一南听到只是“恶心”。他质疑母亲,“还老操心人家的事儿,自己都整不清楚。”

母子俩甚至在一个简单的名词上也无法理解一致。去年夏天,按照王一南的要求,邹虹重回了一趟临沂,跟网戒中心“结账”。网戒中心承诺,只要家长对孩子状态不满,可随时强制其返院,因此离院时,家长们往往留下几千、一万块,以备未来之需。

邹虹成功结了账,拿回了三千多块钱。她跟儿子说,医生、护士都很客气、和颜悦色,她怎么能跟人吵起来?她打听了,网戒中心有了很多的变化,“治疗”据说是也要本人同意了。但究竟改到什么程度,她没在那儿待,也不好说。她确实拿回了一份永久出院证明,儿子该有安全感,该原谅她了。

但邹虹没彻底明白儿子所说的“结账”不仅仅是结经济账的意思,也不仅仅是那份证明,他期望她去讨伐网戒中心,表明势不两立的态度,那样才能跟她做回一家人。“我觉得她去了白去。”王一南说。

“这一代家长需要成长”

很难说这一切越来越像无望的恋情,还是没有尽头的疲惫战争。邹虹现在会比以前更多地对儿子说“我错了”,“妈妈对不起你”。她“赎罪”的方式是对他更好,效果却南辕北辙,儿子感到的只是母亲过分的殷勤,甚至批判杨永信的行为也像是在表演。她对儿子的这一反馈感到尤其伤心,怎么能说一个母亲发自本能的、高尚的爱的动机是“殷勤”呢?邹虹想到放弃,“他的要求,超出我的能力了。”她意识不到冲突来源并非她对他不够好,也感知不到殷勤令儿子难堪。儿子唯一的诉求——“不要再这么强行地干涉我的生活,我们可以像两个平等的成年人一样相处”——她始终未能明白。

前年,她主动要去意大利看他。一天夜里,本来已经睡下的她发现儿子还在打游戏,这违背了她的养生观点。她要求他立刻睡觉,看到他睡她自己才能睡。最后,邹虹拧着儿子的耳朵,揪着他的头发,要他听从。这让王一南想起了成长中的种种,之后相处的日子对他成了煎熬。机场送别时,邹虹眼泪汪汪,依依不舍,儿子王一南却如释重负。他苦闷地思索,什么时候是个头?去年,邹虹又提议去看他,他直接跟她说,你别来了,来也可以,他不提供住处,保持距离。

邹虹有时候催儿子找个女朋友,却不知自己正是他建立亲密关系的障碍。“我能不走我爹的弯路就已经不错了,我千万不能找一个特别强势的。”29岁的王一南至今没谈过恋爱。他异常谨慎,顾虑重重,踌躇不前。他曾对一个女孩有好感,但当女孩出现数落他、教训他的语气时,“像我妈附身了”,他告诉自己, “带这样的态度,人再好,也跟我没缘分。太危险了。”

就像这一代的大多数父母一样,她已经无力追赶见多识广的新一代的脚步,但仍不放弃,求知若渴,脚步踉跄。王一南在意大利学习艺术专业,策划在夏天带一个儿童艺术旅游团,参观书展。邹虹提出带着她认识的一位摄影师给儿子服务,给王一南发去了摄影师的作品——一组PS过的婚纱大片。王一南拒绝了,在朋友圈发了篇短文《从不切实际的云聊真和美》侧面回击邹虹。

如今她能做的只是扎住营盘,稳住阵脚。2016年8月初,又一轮关于临沂网戒中心的报道集中出现在媒体上。她得知“盟友”们有个微信群,王一南、徐浩都在里边。她猜想群里的氛围,受伤的孩子们聚在一起,越聊越受伤。“关注伤害等于又成了一种新的瘾,离不开。”晚上,邹虹打电话给徐浩,一个小时后,徐浩不得不把王一南移出群聊。

王一南说他母亲还在给他营造无菌环境,她一直没变,一直不相信他——一个29岁的成年人——有任何抵抗力。

王一南有几次丧气地说“趁早出家”。“就觉得这个世界这种苦,真的,你不跳出来,没有幸福可言。”如果母亲能变成一个他觉得可爱的人,他们的关系自然会亲密起来。在此之前,他只能尽可能远离。他不觉得自己不孝,“她需要自己成长,这一代家长他们自己需要成长,他们才配收获亲子之间修复的关系。” 

邹虹的能量在过去能多么呵护儿子,就在今天令他多疲惫。有时候朋友开玩笑说她像“江姐”。她在保护儿子的事业上信念超强,斗志充沛,不可战胜。王一南不知道怎么让她明白,她自己就是他痛苦之源的一部分。

她也觉得苦,但心甘情愿地熬着。无论儿子当下如何恨她、怨她,她不较劲,都担下来,只想让他把未来的路走好。她叹息着,“这一辈子我一想起来,怎么就这么活着了,怎么就为这件事?”

邹虹这一辈子,始于1957年,那时她是北京的一个教师之家刚出生的女儿。小学时,她被母亲的学生殴打,造成神经性耳聋耳鸣,嘴唇上方留下一道疤。她的青春期伴随重度抑郁,一度想死。后来,她结婚了,对丈夫不太满意。“我妈就老跟我埋汰我爸。(关系)从小就不好。”王一南说。她养猫50年,把猫当孩子,1988年,她有了自己的孩子,感到幸福。把婴儿王一南抱回家放在床上,她跟一旁好奇的小猫说,这是她儿子,千万不许挠他。2008年,大年夜,她把儿子送进了网戒中心。这是她自己的真实的故事,但她没有兴趣讲太多。她愿意讲的总是受辱母亲或者残疾演说家尼克·胡哲之类的励志故事。在自己的真实故事里,短暂地卸下战斗盔甲的邹虹,显得苍老、疲惫,“离不开,扯不断,还看不到头绪,没完没了。”

不过,邹虹很快回过神来。她对将来不无忧虑——生活里陷阱太多了。沉浸在自己的强大信念中,她像跟自己鼓劲似地说道,“所以我得时刻准备着。”

为保护受访者,邹虹、徐浩为化名,王一南坚持实名,部分图片来自网络。

责任编辑:林珊珊 033@wufazhuce.com

http://m.wufazhuce.com/article/1736

凱文·凱利 73 歲生日的 101 條人生建議

Six years ago I celebrated my 68th birthday by gifting my children 68 bits of advice I wished I had gotten when I was their age. Every birthday after that I added more bits of advice for them until I had a whole book of bits. That book was published a year ago as Excellent Advice for Living, which many people tell me they read very slowly, just one bit per day. In a few days I will turn 73, so again on my birthday, I offer an additional set of 101 bits of advice I wished I had known earlier. None of these appear in the book; they are all new. If you enjoy these, or find they resonate with your own experience, there are 460 more bits in my Excellent Advice book, all neatly bound between hard covers, in a handy size, ready to gift to a person younger than yourself. – KK

六年前,我慶祝 68 歲生日時,送給孩子們 68 條建議,這些建議正是我年輕時希望獲得的人生忠告。此後每年生日,我都會為他們增添更多建議,直到集結成一本關於人生箴言的書。該書一年前以《卓越生活之道》為名出版,許多人告訴我,他們會慢慢細嚼這本書,每天只閱讀一條箴言。 就在數日後,我將年滿 73 歲,因此再次在生日這天,我獻上另外 101 條我希望自己早些明白的人生建議。這些建議均未收錄在書中,全是嶄新內容。如果你對這些建議有共鳴或感受,我的《卓越生活之道》一書中還有 460 條箴言,全都整齊裝訂成冊,體積便於攜帶,適合當作禮物贈送給比你年輕的人。

• The best way to criticize something is to make something better.

• 批評某樣東西最好的方式是做得更好。

• Admitting that “I don’t know” at least once a day will make you a better person.

• 每天至少承認”我不知道”一次,會讓你成為一個更好的人。

• Forget trying to decide what your life’s destiny is. That’s too grand. Instead, just figure out what you should do in the next 2 years.

• 別試圖決定你一生的命運是什麼。那太宏大了。相反,只要弄清楚你在接下來的 2 年內應該做什麼就行了。

• Aim to be effective, but unpredictable. That is, you want to act in a way that AIs have trouble modeling or imitating. That makes you irreplaceable.

• 要有效而難以預測。換句話說,你要以一種 AI 很難模仿或複製的方式行事。這使你無可取代。

• Whenever you hug someone, be the last to let go.

•每當你擁抱某人時,要成為最後一個放手的人。

• Don’t save up the good stuff (fancy wine, or china) for that rare occasion that will never happen; instead use them whenever you can.

•不要為了等待永不會發生的稀有場合才使用好東西(如精美的酒或瓷器),盡可能多地使用它們。

• The best gardening advice: find what you can grow well and grow lots and lots of it.

•園藝的最佳建議:找到你能種植得很好的東西,然後大量種植。

• Never hesitate to invest in yourself—to pay for a class, a course, a new skill. These modest expenditures pay outsized dividends.

• 永遠不要猶豫投資於自己——為了一個課程、一門課程或一項新技能付費。這些適度的支出會帶來巨大的回報。

• Try to define yourself by what you love and embrace, rather than what you hate and refuse.

• 盡量用你熱愛和擁抱的東西來定義自己,而不是你恨和拒絕的東西。

• Read a lot of history so you can understand how weird the past was; that way you will be comfortable with how weird the future will be.

• 多閱讀一些歷史,這樣你就能了解過去是多麼的奇怪,這樣你就會對未來的奇怪感到放鬆。

• To make a room luxurious, remove things, rather than add things.

• 要讓房間豪華,不要添加東西,而是移走東西。

• Interview your parents while they are still alive. Keep asking questions while you record. You’ll learn amazing things. Or hire someone to make their story into an oral history, or documentary, or book. This will be a tremendous gift to them and to your family.

• 在父母還在世時採訪他們。不斷提出問題並錄音。你會發現驚人的事情。或者請人把他們的故事制作成口述歷史、紀錄片或書籍。這將是對他們和你的家人巨大的禮物。

• If you think someone is normal, you don’t know them very well. Normalcy is a fiction. Your job is to discover their weird genius.

• 如果你認為某人很正常,那你就不太了解他們了。正常只是一種虛構。你的工作是發現他們奇怪的天賦。

• When shopping for anything physical (souvenirs, furniture, books, tools, shoes, equipment), ask yourself: where will this go? Don’t buy it unless there is a place it can live. Something may need to leave in order for something else to come in.

• 購買任何實物(紀念品、家具、書籍、工具、鞋子、設備)時,要問自己:這東西將放在哪裡?除非有地方可以放置,否則不要買。為了讓新東西進來,可能需要讓一些舊東西離開。

• You owe everyone a second chance, but not a third.

• 每個人都應該得到第二次機會,但不是第三次。

• When someone texts you they are running late, double the time they give you. If they say they’ll be there in 5, make that 10; if 10, it’ll be 20; if 20, count on 40.

• 當有人發簡訊告訴你他們遲到時,把他們給你的時間加倍。如果他們說 5 分鐘就到,那就算 10 分鐘,如果說 10,就是 20,如果說 20,那就算 40。

• Multitasking is a myth. Don’t text while walking, running, biking or driving. Nobody will miss you if you just stop for a minute.

• 多工作能力是一種謬論。走路、跑步、騎車或開車時不要發簡訊。即使你暫時停下來,也沒人會錯過你。

• You can become the world’s best in something primarily by caring more about it than anyone else.

• 你可以透過比任何人都更關心某件事來成為這方面的世界第一。

• Asking “what-if?” about your past is a waste of time; asking “what-if?” about your future is tremendously productive.

• 追問過去的”如果”是在浪費時間,追問未來的”如果”非常有成效。

• Try to make the kind of art and things that will inspire others to make art and things.

• 努力創作出能激發其他人創作的藝術品和東西。

• Once a month take a different route home, enter your house by a different door, and sit in a different chair at dinner. No ruts.

• 每個月都要改變一次回家的路線,從不同的門進入房子,並在晚餐時坐在不同的椅子上。不要坐穩了腳步。

• Where you live—what city, what country—has more impact on your well being than any other factor. Where you live is one of the few things in your life you can choose and change.

• 你居住的地方——無論是哪個城市、哪個國家——對你的幸福感影響比任何其他因素都大。居住地是你生活中少數幾個可以選擇和改變的事物。

• Every now and then throw a memorable party. The price will be steep, but long afterwards you will remember the party, whereas you won’t remember how much is in your checking account.

• 不時舉辦一次令人難忘的派對。雖然代價昂貴,但很久以後你仍會記得那場派對,而不會記得你的支票帳戶裡有多少錢。

• Most arguments are not really about the argument, so most arguments can’t be won by arguing.

• 大多數爭論實際上並不是針對爭論本身,因此大多數爭論都無法透過爭論來贏得勝利。

• The surest way to be successful is to invent your own definition of success. Shoot your arrows first and then paint a bull’s eye around where they land. You’re the winner!

• 成功的最可靠方法是自行定義成功的標準。先射出箭,再在箭射中的地方畫一個靶心。你就是贏家!

• When remodeling a home interior use big pieces of cardboard to mock-up your alterations at life size. Seeing things, such as counters, at actual size will change your plans, and it is so much easier to make modifications with duct tape and scissors.

• 在重新裝修室內時,使用大塊硬紙板以實物大小模擬你的改建計劃。實物大小看到東西,如櫃檯,會改變你的計劃,用膠帶和剪刀修改也更容易。

• There should be at least one thing in your life you enjoy despite being no good at it. This is your play time, which will keep you young. Never apologize for it.

• 在你的生活中至少應該有一樣東西你雖然不擅長但仍喜歡,這是你的遊戲時間,可以保持年輕心態,永不需為此道歉。

• Changing your mind about important things is not a consequence of stupidity, but a sign of intelligence.

• 改變對重要事物的看法並不是由於愚蠢,而是智慧的表現。

• You have 5 minutes to act on a new idea before it disappears from your mind.

• 你只有 5 分鐘的時間去實踐一個新想法,否則它會從你的腦海中消失。

• What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. To get the important stuff done, avoid the demands of the urgent.

• 重要的事情往往不緊急,緊急的事情往往不重要。要完成重要的事情,就要避開緊急事物的要求。

• Three situations where you’ll never regret ordering too much: when you are pouring concrete, when you are choosing a battery, and when you are getting ice for a party.

• 在下列三種情況下,你永遠不會後悔訂購過多 : 澆築混凝土時、選購電池時以及為派對採購冰塊時。

• The patience you need for big things, is developed by your patience with the little things.

• 對大事耐心等待的能力,是由對小事耐心堅持培養而來的。

• Don’t fear failure. Fear average.

• 不要害怕失敗,而要害怕平庸。

• When you are stuck or overwhelmed, focus on the smallest possible thing that moves your project forward.

• 當你遇到困難或不知所措時,請專注於推進計劃的最小可能的事情。

• In a museum you need to spend at least 10 minutes with an artwork to truly see it. Aim to view 5 pieces at 10 minutes each rather than 100 at 30 seconds each.

• 在博物館中,你需要至少花費 10 分鐘欣賞一件藝術品,才能真正看到它。務必以每件 10 分鐘欣賞 5 件作品,而非每件 30 秒欣賞 100 件作品。

• For steady satisfaction, work on improving your worst days, rather than your best days.

• 為了獲得持久的滿足感,努力改善你最糟糕的日子,而不是你最好的日子。

• Your decisions will become wiser when you consider these three words: “…and then what?” for each choice.

• 當你在考慮每個選擇時,把”…然後呢?”這三個字放在心上,你的決策就會變得更加明智。

• If possible, every room should be constructed to provide light from two sides. Rooms with light from only one side are used less often, so when you have a choice, go with light from two sides.

• 如果可能的話,每個房間都應該能從兩個方向採光。只從一個方向採光的房間使用率較低,所以如果有選擇的話,選擇從兩個方向採光。

• Never accept a work meeting until you’ve seen the agenda and know what decisions need to be made. If no decisions need to be made, skip the meeting.

• 在看到議程並知道需要做出哪些決定之前,永遠不要接受工作會議。如果不需要做出任何決定,請跳過會議。

• You have no obligation to like everyone, and you are free to intensely dislike a person. But you owe everyone—even those you dislike—basic respect.

• 你無義務喜歡所有人,你可以自由地強烈不喜歡某個人。但你應該對所有人,甚至是你不喜歡的人,表示基本的尊重。

• When you find yourself procrastinating, don’t resist. Instead lean into it. Procrastinate 100%. Try to do absolutely nothing for 5 minutes. Make it your job. You’ll fail. After 5 minutes, you’ll be ready and eager to work.

• 當你發現自己在拖延的時候,不要抗拒。相反,要全力以赴地拖延。嘗試在 5 分鐘內絕對什麼也不做。把它當作你的工作。你會失敗。5 分鐘後,你就會做好準備並渴望工作。

• If you want to know how good a surgeon is, don’t ask other doctors. Ask the nurses.

• 如果你想知道一位外科醫生的水平如何,不要問其他醫生,要問護士。

• There is a profound difference between thinking less of yourself (not useful), and thinking of yourself less (better).

• 看低自己(無益)與少思自己(更好)之間存在著深刻的區別。

• Strong opinions, clearly stated, but loosely held is the recipe for an intellectual life. Always ask yourself: what would change my mind?

• 明確陳述強烈的觀點,但也要輕易改變,這是從事智力生活的秘訣。永遠問自己:什麼會改變我的想法?

• You can not truly become yourself, by yourself. Becoming one-of-a-kind is not a solo job. Paradoxically you need everyone else in the world to help make you unique.

• 你不可能完全靠自己成為真正的自己。成為獨一無二的存在不是一個人的工作。矛盾的是,你需要世界上其他所有人的幫助才能使你成為獨特的存在。

• If you need emergency help from a bystander, command them what to do. By giving them an assignment, you transform them from bewildered bystander to a responsible assistant.

• 如果你需要路人的緊急幫助,請命令他們該做什麼。透過給予他們任務,你將他們從困惑的路人變成了負責任的助手。

• The most common mistake we make is to do a great job on an unimportant task.

• 我們最常犯的錯誤是,在一項不重要的任務上做得很出色。

• Don’t work for a company you would not invest money in, because when you are working you are investing the most valuable thing you have: your time.

• 不要為你不會投資的公司工作,因為當你在工作時,你正在投資最寶貴的東西:你的時間。

• Fail fast. Fail often. Fail forward. Failing is not a disgrace if you keep failing better.

• 快速失敗。經常失敗。向前失敗。如果你持續改進,失敗並不可恥。

• Doing good is its own reward. When you do good, people will question your motive, and any good you accomplish will soon be forgotten. Do good anyway.

• 行善自有其回報。當你行善時,人們會質疑你的動機,你所做的任何善事也很快就會被遺忘。但無論如何,還是要去行善。

• Best sleep aid: first, get really tired.

• 最佳助眠法:首先,精力耗盡。

• For every success there is a corresponding non-monetary tax of some kind. To maintain success you have to gladly pay these taxes.

• 每一次成功都會有相應的非金錢性的代價。要維持成功,你必須樂於支付這些代價。

• Do not cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.

• 不要僅僅因為花了很多時間而堅持錯誤。

• For small tasks the best way to get ready is to do it immediately.

• 對於小任務來說,最好的準備方式就是立即去做。

• If someone is calling you to alert you to fraud, nine out of ten times they are themselves the fraudster. Hang up. Call the source yourself if concerned.

• 如果有人打電話警告你受騙,九次之中有十次是他們自己才是騙子。掛斷電話,如果有疑慮,自己打給對方查證。

• When you try to accomplish something difficult, surround yourself with friends.

• 當你嘗試完成困難的事情時,應該讓朋友們環繞在你身邊。

• You should be willing to look foolish at first, in order to look like a genius later.

• 你應該願意一開始看起來很愚蠢,從而最終看起來像個天才。

• Think in terms of decades, and act in terms of days.

• 用十年的時間思考,用一天的時間行動。

• The most selfish thing in the world you can do is to be generous. Your generosity will return you ten fold.

• 世界上最自私的事就是大方慷慨。你的慷慨將會帶給你十倍的回報。

• Discover people whom you love doing “nothing” with, and do nothing with them on a regular basis. The longer you can maintain those relationships, the longer you will live.

• 發現你喜歡和誰”無所事事”,並經常與他們無所事事。能夠維持這些關係越長久,你的生命就會越長久。

• Forget diamonds; explore the worlds hidden in pebbles. Seek the things that everyone else ignores.

• 忘掉鑽石吧,探索隱藏在石子中的世界。尋找別人忽視的事物。

• Write your own obituary, the one you’d like to have, and then everyday work towards making it true.

• 給自己寫一份你希望得到的訃文,然後每天努力實現它。

• Avoid making any kind of important decision when you are either hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). Just halt when you are HALT.

• 當你飢餓、憤怒、孤獨或疲憊(HALT)時,請避免做出任何重要的決定。當你處於 HALT 狀態時,請暫停行動。

• What others want from you is mostly to be seen. Let others know you see them.

• 別人從你這裡要的大多是被看見。讓別人知道你看見了他們。

• Working differently is usually more productive than working harder.

• 不同的工作方式通常比更加努力工作更有成效。

• When you try something new, don’t think of it as a matter of success / failure, but as success / learning to succeed.

• 當你嘗試新事物時,不要把它看作成功/失敗的問題,而是把它看作成功/學習如何成功。

• If you have a good “why” to live for, no “how” will stop you.

• 如果你有一個好的活著的”理由”,沒有任何”方式”能阻止你。

• If you are out of ideas, go for a walk. A good walk empties the mind—and then refills it with new stuff.

• 如果你缺乏靈感,就去散步吧。一次好的散步能讓你的思緒變得清晰,然後再次充滿新的東西。

• The highest form of wealth is deciding you have enough.

• 最高形式的財富是決定你已經擁有足夠的東西。

• Education is overly expensive. Gladly pay for it anyway, because ignorance is even more expensive.

• 教育的費用過於昂貴。不過還是樂意為此付出代價,因為無知的代價更高。

• The cheapest therapy is to spend time with people who make you laugh.

• 最便宜的療程就是花時間和那些能讓你開懷大笑的人在一起。

• Always be radically honest, but use your honesty as a gift not as a weapon. Your honesty should benefit others.

• 永遠要徹底誠實,但要把你的誠實當作一份禮物,而不是武器。你的誠實應該讓別人受益。

• A good sign that you are doing the kind of work you should be doing is that you enjoy the tedious parts that other people find tortuous.

• 一個好的跡象表明你正在做你應該做的工作,那就是你享受別人覺得極其痛苦的瑣碎部分。

• Being envious is a toxin. Instead take joy in the success of others and treat their success as your gain. Celebrating the success of others costs you nothing, and increases the happiness of everyone, including you.

• 嫉妒是一種毒素。相反,你應該為別人的成功感到高興,把別人的成功視為你的收穫。慶祝別人的成功不會給你帶來任何損失,反而會增加包括你在內所有人的快樂。

• The more persistent you are, the more chances you get to be lucky.

• 你越堅持,就越有機會走運。

• To tell a good story, you must reveal a surprise; otherwise it is just a report.

• 要講好一個故事,你必須透露一個驚喜,否則就只是報告而已。

• Small steps matter more when you play a long game because a long horizon allows you to compound small advances into quite large achievements.

• 在長期計劃中,小步伐更為重要,因為長遠來看,你可以將微小的進步累積成相當大的成就。

• If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table rather than a taller fence.

• 如果你比別人更幸運,就多搭建一張長桌,而不是築起更高的圍牆。

• Many fail to finish, but many more fail to start. The hardest work in any work is to start. You can’t finish until you start, so get good at starting.

• 許多人未能完成,但更多人連開始都沒開始。任何工作中最艱難的是開始。你不開始就無法完成,所以要擅長開始。

• Work on your tone. Often ideas are rejected because of the tone of voice they are wrapped in. Humility covers many blemishes.

• 要注意你的言辭。許多想法之所以被拒絕,往往是因為包裹它們的言辭口吻。謙遜可掩蓋許多瑕疵。

• When you are right, you are learning nothing.

• 當你是對的時候,你就什麼也沒有學到。

• Very small things accumulate until they define your larger life. Carefully choose your everyday things.

• 很小的事物會持續累積,直到定義你更大的生活。要小心選擇你的日常事物。

• It is impossible to be curious and furious at the same time, so avoid furious.

• 好奇心和憤怒是不可能同時存在的,所以要避免憤怒。

• College is not about grades. No one cares what grades you got in college. College is about exploring. Just try stuff.

• 大學不在於成績。沒有人在乎你在大學裡拿了什麼成績。大學是為了探索。就去嘗試各種事物吧。

• Weird but true: If you continually give, you will continually have.

• 奇怪但真實:只要你持續給予,你就會持續擁有。

• To clean up your city, sweep your doorstep first.

• 要打掃你的城市,先從掃你家門口開始。

• Decisions like to present themselves as irreversible, like a one-way door. But most deciding points are two-way. Don’t get bogged down by decisions. You can usually back up if needed.

• 決定往往自我呈現為不可逆轉的,就像一扇單向門。但大多數決策點實際上是雙向的。不要被決定困住。如果需要,你通常可以倒回去。

• Every mistake is an opportunity to improvise.

• 每一個錯誤都是一個即興創作的機會。

• You’ll never meet a very successful pessimistic person. If you want to be remarkable, get better at being optimistic.

• 你永遠不會遇到一個非常成功的悲觀主義者。如果你想要非凡,就要更擅長樂觀。

• You can’t call it charity unless no one is watching.

• 除非沒人在看,否則你不能稱之為慈善。

• When you think of someone easy to despise—a tyrant, a murderer, a torturer—don’t wish them harm. Wish that they welcome orphans into their home, and share their food with the hungry. Wish them goodness, and by this compassion you will increase your own happiness.

• 當你想到一個容易被人瞧不起的人——一個暴君、殺手或施虐者時,不要希望他們遭受傷害。願他們歡迎孤兒進入家園,並與飢餓者分享食物。祝願他們善良,透過這種同情心,你將增加自己的快樂。

• Get good at being corrected without being offended.

• 要學會在被糾正時不生氣。

• The week between Christmas and New Years was invented to give you the perfect time to sharpen your kitchen knives, vacuum your car, and tidy the folders on your desktop.

• 聖誕節和新年之間的這一周是為了給你一個完美的時間來磨利廚房刀具、吸塵汽車和整理桌面上的資料夾而設計的。

• There is no formula for success, but there are two formulas for failure: not trying and not persisting.

• 成功沒有公式,但有兩個失敗的公式:不嘗試和不堅持。

• We tend to overrate the value of intelligence.You need to pair your IQ with other virtues. The most important things in life can not be attained through logic only.

• 我們往往高估了智力的價值。你需要將智商與其他美德結合起來。生命中最重要的事情不能僅僅透過邏輯來獲得。

• If you are impressed with someone’s work, you should tell them, but even better, tell their boss.

• 如果你對某人的工作印象深刻,你應該告訴他們,更好的是告訴他們的老闆。

• In matters of the heart, one moment of patience can save you years of regret.

• 在感情問題上,一點耐心可以為你省卻多年的遺憾。

• Humility is mostly about being very honest about how much you owe to luck.

• 謙遜主要是對你所欠運氣的程度非常誠實。

• Slow progress is still a million times better than no progress.

• 緩慢的進步仍然比沒有進步好一百萬倍。

• Recipe for greatness: expect much of yourself and little of others.

• 偉大的秘訣:對自己要求很高,對他人要求很低。

• The very best way to win a friend is to be one.

• 贏得朋友的最好方式就是做一個朋友。

大兒人生的分水嶺

我開始給大兒,做一系列的離校申請。

我對女兒說,天易是知道了他要做什麼,
因此上學對他就成了不必要的事情,
而且他也能夠保證成績不低於B。

我說你與天恩還沒到這一步,
因此我還是會push你們去上學。

女兒問我,你認為我需要上11、12年級嗎?
我說,我認為沒必要,因為如何如何。
她也問過我,如果她不上11、12年級,
以後還能上大學嗎?我說,能。

我大兒子,不是在健身,就是在去健身的路上。他吃飯,旁邊要放個秤,一邊秤一邊記錄,然後才吃。我佩服他這種執著的精神。

可是大兒對上學,是能不去就不去。但是他不會落下作業與考試,也會讓成績保持在我所要求的平均B。

我覺得他的人生若能一直這樣過下去,就是非常完美了。

知道自己喜歡什麼,不喜歡什麼,知道哪些是必須做的,需要做到什麼程度。

大兒現在十五歲。

我對大兒說,我會接送你上學到這個學年結束,然後明年你開始做學徒時,我也還是可以接送你到工作的地方(只要我時間安排得過來)。

但是除此之外,你在工作中遇到什麼麻煩,遇到誰對你說了什麼不好聽的話,這些事情,你都得自己想辦法去解決。他說,是。

心中有愛,眼中有光
人生便是幸福的 🌸

圖為大兒三歲半到四歲半時在一所Steiner School的Pre-kindy。

唐汀,我是陈悦旭

这也是我对唐汀曾许下的一个誓言:无论你去到哪里,我都会找到你。
在中国时我未能做到,在澳洲生儿育女时我未能做到,但是现在我可以做。

我认识唐汀的时候,是在广州东山区看守所(那时被称作东扣)。那一年,她十六岁,我二十四岁。我在那里待了三个月后,被送去广州槎头女子劳教所服刑。

在劳教所时,我接到唐汀写给我的一封信,用了非常端庄清秀的笔迹,告诉我她的近况。我回信给她说,无论你以后去到哪里,我都会找到你。

唐汀回信说,我会记着你说过的话。

我从劳教所出来后,去唐汀的爷爷奶奶那里打听过她的消息,说是她被送去了哪个少年管教所之类的,具体的我记不太清。考虑到那个时候我不想让婆家全家再为我操心,我就没有继续去打听唐汀的下落。

但是,唐汀,我一直都没有忘记,我对你所说过的话。

还原法輪功的4.25

425由来:99年4月,何祚休院士在天津一份破杂志上写了个人看法“青少年不适合练气功”。其中举一例flg学员练疯。李在此前有经文“大曝光”鼓动学员去证实法。学员遂围攻报社起了冲突。警察抓了几个闹事学员。4/22李从香港回京。召集纪烈武等主要成员在他北京家开会。告诉他们到北京来告。去府右街告。(1)

4/23纪烈武等下达通知各辅导员。4/24大部分学员前往学法时被告知“早点回去休息,明天去府右街上访”。府右街旁边儿就是中南海。很多人害怕,4/25去了1万人,形成“包围中南海”局面。有说朱荣基接见学员代表放了天津学员。1万人立即消失。所谓来无影去无踪。(2)

李在4/23离京去澳洲。425事件震动当局,国际报道有不少。江政府觉得flg势力可怕,这样的号召力行动力。遂于7/20下令全面取缔flg,称其为邪教。此时李发表声明说完全不知此事。但纪烈武等多个在场证人录像证明他的布置,当局并查出李4/22入镜及飞往北京机票,李随后改口说路过北京 但不知道。(3)

谈先生和众多北京老学员都说425头一天接到去府右街上访的通知。绝不是像李宣称的“学员自发的”。其实也就是说,李在4/23召见主要负责人,4/24全体接到“自发上访”通知。 从那时起,flg就绝对不允许别人说一点不是,否则围你们! 如果没有425,会有镇压吗?720后 明慧网迅即成立,督促学员走出去证实法。(4)

有关新唐人厨艺大赛

最近新唐人武术大赛自嗨刷频,我凑个热闹。并且轮畜听好了,每次你们辱骂我一次,我就爆个料。记住我有27年的库存。老少咸宜。远香近臭俱全 十几年前他们最初搞厨艺大赛。有个淮扬菜薛泉生弟子之一小薛,憨厚老实,厨艺精湛。找到我帮他成功报上名。我帮他订票飞过去 安排纽约学员接机,和住处。(1)

小薛敦厚认真 淮扬菜讲究的是刀功。他的文思豆腐那叫一个漂亮。味道讲究的是煲汤细腻清淡。他上飞机前千叮咛万嘱咐我接机后直接去买活青鱼。到学员家宰杀后用细细清水溜24小时去腥,剁碎打馅调味手指飞转出品晶莹透亮Q弹雪白的青鱼丸,这道功夫菜一般人做不来。比赛前一天 没咋睡觉的小薛准备完毕(2)

比赛当天为了小薛专心我没联系他。两日后接机见他不言语。因他淮扬菜厨艺是薛老亲传的童子功 除一个师哥在德州可以跟他比高下 第一名无疑志在必得。厚道至极的小薛在我再三逼问下,才说他拿了第三名。他摇摇头说,第一名竟然是flg学员的清炒虾仁。要知道这是家常菜,没有刀功煨汤 参赛从没有这道!(3)

清炒虾仁来做淮扬菜比赛本身就是业内的笑话。清汤鱼丸懂行的都知道是非得有真功夫的才能做漂亮。那么厨艺大赛评委(我不点名)给出的理由是,鱼丸太漂亮完美了 一定是机制不是小薛自己做的!也就是跟骂我是特务一样的,他深刻的羞辱了小薛!此后小薛再也不提此事。我给这位评委发了邮件质疑舞弊(4)

之后评委不断给来电各种解释,要和小薛沟通。小薛从不回应。当时一等奖金很高。我受冲击很大:我们真的舞弊啊!再后来老叶家的二女儿在纽约开高档餐厅也无数次力邀小薛加盟,多次被婉拒。小薛再也不与flg有染。但我有幸成为他的好友,尽品佳肴 实属幸运。一直自掏腰包。他说:姐,flg真的和你不一样。

我没有遗憾他的一等奖 小薛也很淡然。但是我从此知道各种大赛一定不会让常人拿大奖的。学员一等奖谁会真的拿钱啊,肯定是一分不要。所以从此我对新唐人大赛一概不看。知道他们不过是自导自演而已。