not my art…
Translated…
A very long time ago, I thumbed across an article in “MY LOHAS Living”, it was written, by my good friend, Ke-Hsiang Liu, on his travel to the marketplace in Yuli, Hualien, on the conversation he’d shared, with an elderly woman of the Bunon Tribe.
What impressed me the most about the passage was, he’d found, that the elderly woman only sold a pack of live clams for $50N.T.s, way cheaper, than he believed the packs should sell for, at the price of two hundred. The elderly woman also wanted him to buy it from her, so she could make some income, from the selling price, he could, buy it, but, he’d worried, that if he take these live clams onto the trains with him, they’d become, no longer fresh, so, he’d declined to buy.
At the end of the article, Ke-Hsiang Liu spoke of how regrettable he was, to not have bought the clams from the elderly, he’d gone back to Taipei, with a scent of nostalgia, and loss.
Giving Someone a Ride, without Any Regrets
Awhile ago, the days turned sunny, the next day was the freshmen orientation at Chenggong University, the train station in Tainan became packed with students and their parents. At around noon, I drove past the intersection, and, there was, a mom, dragging along a suitcase, with a backpack, followed by a daughter, with the luggage, as well as a backpack too. I’m certain, that this, was a student who’s a freshman, with her, unsettling mother, to Tainan, the two of them looked, very lazy.
As they passed across the thirty meter long crosswalk, the scorching sun almost made them faint, especially, they’d had a ton of luggage. As the lights turned green, I’d pressed down on my gas pedal, thought to myself, “That’s really embarrassing, there’s just 500 meters, until the entrance for the freshman orientation, it wouldn’t be economical, to flag down a cab.” I’m guessing that they must have gotten off at the bus terminal, and because they’re not familiar with the region, that, was why they’d taken, the long way.
not my photo…
After five more second, it’d, dawned on me: I should’ve given them a lift! If they hopped on, it wouldn’t take them, but a minute to get there. But, would they turn down my kindness, thinking that I’m a bad guy? Do I, ignore them, or, should I, turn the car around? All those voices, they’d, started, sounding off in my head.
In the end, I recalled that article by Ke-Hsiang Liu, not wanting to have any regrets. Liu was not the driver of the trains, and, even IF he’d wanted to buy the clams, he couldn’t, but, I’m the driver of my car, I have the right of, my steering wheel, I’d not want to pass out on the opportunity to help out.
I’d turned my car around, parked in front of the pair, waited, for them, to head toward me. The daughter was walking in front, I’d hollered out to her, “Are you headed to the freshmen orientation at Chenggong University?” “Yes, I am!”, “I’m going the same way, why don’t I give you guys a lift, it’s so hot out!”
I can see, that this eighteen-year-old young girl has her doubts, wanted to turn me down, but her mother immediately stated behind her, “Yes, please, thank you so very much!”
I thought, “it’s really too hot, otherwise, the mother would’ve turned me into an example of turning away a stranger!”, I’d explained to them, that it’s on my way, that it was, no trouble at all.
In the end, they’d trusted, that my intentions were good, and got in. On the car, I’d asked the mother, “where, are you guys from?” “Taipei.” “What major did you get in?” “Chinese, but she’s going to transfer, it’s not a major she wanted to take up, she’d originally planned to retake the entrance exams.” This short conversation had gotten us to their destination.
As I parked, I’d helped them unload their luggage. The mother said, in a gracious tone asked my last name, I’d handed her my business card, told her, I am, Jia-De Wu, and asked her last name. “My last name is Chang, I’m truly, grateful to you.” “It’s on my way, bye then!”, I’d said.
Closed the door of my car, I’d let out, a light sigh. I’d not carried the regrets that Ke-Hsiang Liu had, not buying those clams.
So, this writer didn’t want to live with the regrets of NOT helping someone out like his friend had, that, was why he’d gone, out of his way, to drive the mother and daughter to school, and, in the end, he’d gotten pleased at, how he’d helped someone out!
The Meetings by the Side of the Road, Brought Along the Wonders
I have another story, similar to this past one to share.
One Saturday morning, as I finished my workout in the local school, on my ride back home, I saw a young man, resting, by the bridge side resting place. My instinct told me, that he was, a pedestrian. Didn’t know if he was in need of assistance, lacking water, or a muscle spray, perhaps? I’d just, wanted to ask him, to give him a taste of the local warmth from the people.
I rode my motorcycle back around, parked by the side of the road, said hello to him. He is, a student from Donghai University, Shih-Yu Hong, lives in Kaohsiung, a few days ago, he set out on foot from Taichung, as he reached the city in Tainan, he was, on his, sixth day on foot.
I asked Shih-Yu, why he’d needed to walk? He’d told me, he’d once ridden a bicycle from Taichung to Kaohsiung, and this time, he’d wanted to, try it on foot. He’d told me, that being young is a blessing, that he should do something that’s challenging to himself. I’d asked him, if he’d kept up with his schedules to date? He’d told me he hadn’t, that he’d arrived here, a day later than expected. I’d asked why? He’d smiled and told me, that he’d overestimated his own legs, the second day after he’d set out, he’d gotten blisters on his feet, causing him difficulty walking, which was why his schedule was delayed.
Although Shih-Yu’s plans couldn’t catch up to the changes, he’d not given up, still persisted. This reminded me of a passage by Mark Twain, “if you want security, do something you already know how to do; if you want to grow, then, challenge your own limits, losing that sense of security temporarily. So, when you’re unsure of what you’re doing, at least, know this, you are, growing.”
This line, I’d read, from when I first started working. Ever since, when I’d given lectures, I’d used it to encourage the younger generations, to not be beaten down in life.
We’d chatted for about fifteen minutes, left our contact information, added one another as Friends on Facebook and LIE, became friends who met, out of the blue. At about seven in the evening, I’d called Shih-Yu up, asked if he was home safe? He’d told me, that he arrived safely, and thanked me for my care and show of concerns toward him.
A kind thought, and a simple act, brought this temporary exchange and stop, it’d also allowed me to hear their life stories, with the sharing of “passion”, with the power of persistence, with the love as well.
Thanks for the scripts that the heavens had written, to allow me, to give everything I possibly can I life, and enjoy the fruits from my own giving to others.
And so, by offering that helping hand to someone, you’d felt more fulfilled, and, that, is what motivates you, to help a stranger out again, and thus, you’re continuing, this cycle of kindness that you’d, started………
Life, the Obstacle Course 