
(本文由曾俊彦同学推荐)
Isn’t it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70’s and 80’s - could write something so very eloquent…and so very appropriate.
A Message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
If you don’t send this to other people….Who cares?
George Carlin

许多人快到生命终结的时候,为什么总是懊悔虚度了一生,总是假设如果再给他一次生命,他将如何如何?觉得自己不该失去很多,觉得人生还有潜力,只是加法做得不够。可是生命是一次单程不归的旅程,没有后悔药!
那么人生的“加法”是什么呢?是追求知识、成功、富贵、名利。而生活仿佛是一个容器,总想放很多东西进去来丰富我们的人生,这并没有错,关键是你要放什么进去,你要怎么放
但仔细想想,一辈子只是拼命地做“加法”,有了金钱,又要美女;有了豪宅,又要名车;有了地位,还要名声;生怕自己的东西比别人少,没完没了,岂能不累?结果可能生活失调,精神崩溃。并不幸福。
我们来到这个世上,每个人都背着一个空篓子,而人的一生,就是不断地往自己的篓子里放东西的过程。如果有了,就想更多,贪得无厌,欲壑难填。只做加法就很悲哀。明智的选择是做“减法”人生了。
生命是一道算术题,人的一生不过三万个日子,活一天就会减少一天。功名和财富却随时间推移做着加法。可是有一天当这两条曲线交叉时,生命的显示屏上就会出现零,0乘以任何数都等于0。再多的也都带不走。这就是生命的算术公式。残酷而真实。
人生的加法,给我们加入智慧的光芒,加入品格的力量,加入财富的积累,加入亲情的温馨,使人生更加丰盈。而人生的减法,为我们减去多余的物质,减去奢侈的欲望,减去心灵的负担,减去环境的纷扰,合理安排人生的进退取舍,使人生更健康。
因此,加法是一种成长,减法是一种成熟。
它们是生命中的两个轮子,不可或缺。一个是孔子孟子“兼济天下”的历史使命和社会担当,一个是庄子老子“顺乎自然”的内在修养和自我完善。加法减法并用,两个轮子齐转,生命之旅才会风光无限。