今天，還活著。問自己：有因此而感到雀躍嗎？有因此而生出珍惜生命的感動嗎？

活著，或許是一種再正常不過的狀態。可是，能夠很有自信、很健康、很自由的活著，對許多人而言，或許早已是一種奢望。

我沒有把活著視為理所當然，相反的，我很感恩自己對圓滿人生有了異於往常的看見，也很感恩自己接收到生命的召喚，選擇了一份能夠督促自己不斷進步的工作。

人生前五十年，我不曾有過這樣的感覺。若要形容此刻的心境，「生命的躍升」應該夠精準。早年曾記錄在書中的標題「恰如其分的美感」，也恰好呼應我此刻對生命的感受。

問自己一個問題：假如現在的我擁有數十棟房子，有可觀的存款與穩定的房租收入，只可惜每週必須進醫院洗腎三次；這樣的人生，與現在的自己相比，快樂會落在哪一邊？

這究竟是「有錢真好」的喜悅，還是「自由無價」的覺悟？你心中的浮標，正在往哪一邊靠攏？也許，你和我的選擇並不一樣。

 

我是一個很不會「玩」的人，所謂的玩，指的是規劃旅行的能力。我身邊不乏這樣的高手，他們能夠安排國內外自由行，行程縝密，節奏流暢，幾乎天衣無縫。

走到這一生的此刻，我大致累積了三種出國經驗。第一種，是跟隨父母親去日本，而且幾乎只限日本。日本是我父母親最熱衷的旅遊國家，因為他們語言相通，溝通無礙，這是很大的誘因。

第二種，是跟隨旅行團。那是最不需要用腦的旅行方式，主要目的只是散心，記錄當地文化與歷史的動機，反而其次。

第三種，是出差。曾經去過馬來西亞、新加坡和中國講課，一樣不需要自己動腦規劃，因為都會有人接送安排。

即使出國旅遊的經驗不算少，面對規劃旅行這件事，我始終是一個菜鳥。曾經利用到北京講課的機會，圓了想去萬里長城走一趟的夢想。可是，說穿了，就是去過而已，並沒有什麼成就感。

所謂沒有成就感，指的是假他人之力而行，而不是靠自己的能力完成。因為不是透過自己的計畫抵達，腦袋裡留下的記憶，依然是一張白紙。

 

當我把出國旅行的記憶與人生旅途對照，發現跟隨別人走過以及靠自己的力量前行，對應出的，是記憶一片空白與成就滿滿之間的差異。

能夠在這一生走遍全世界，當然是一樁美事。若問我這是不是此生的夢想，我會誠實回答：不是。

讓自己放鬆，和讓自己快樂，並不是同一件事。在我的視野中，兩者屬於不同的生命版圖。

失去人生伴侶之後，我的人生觀做了一些調整。對照她有限的人生歲月，以及她實事求是的性格，我更傾向珍惜自己還有能力幫助更多人的餘生。

她可以豁達走完這一生，我當然也可以。既然我已經勾勒出志業的藍圖，生命的圓滿與喜樂，也應該在這裡被發掘。

我不忘提醒自己：人生就是我的旅遊計畫，自律養生就是我的旅遊勝地。協助人遠離醫療的束縛，重新理解身體、信任身體、照顧身體，是多麼榮耀而重要的旅程。

我的確嚮往去一趟北歐和加拿大，也曾經夢想在這一生前進幾座美麗的大聯盟棒球場。只是，不時有內在聲音提醒我：台灣還有許多人需要我協助他們改變養生觀念。

 

當生命與健康的體悟交會，我才發現，真正的財富與寶藏，其實都在自己身上。想起自己身處全世界最具人情味的國度，卻曾經一天到晚奢望走到地球另一端，甚至還不時得體驗來自不同國家的不友善。不是說遠方不值得嚮往，而是提醒自己：眼前的土地，是否已經被我真正看見？

「人性本善」不是遙遠的口號，而是真實存在於我們身上的光明與光輝。「身體無所不能」也不是我高調的標語，而是許多願意與自己身體在一起的人，親自寫下的生命紀錄。

「台灣最美麗的風景是人」，說這句話的，往往不是台灣人。來自全球各地對台灣人情味的風評如此一致，我因此問自己：先把台灣走完，如何？

身為戰後嬰兒潮的一員，我從小到大所見證的反差，可謂洋洋大觀。從政治面到經濟面，從文化面到科技面，從忍氣吞聲到揚眉吐氣的身分認同，這塊土地在幾十年的時間內，經歷一段不容易的路。

推廣身體之道多年，我何其有幸，能夠藉由這塊土地的天然資源，進一步體會人體本有的療癒實力。這是多麼重要的生命際遇，也是多麼值得珍惜的人生旅程。「就把這份志業發揮到極致吧！」寫著寫著，內在不斷浮現這樣的提醒。一路上，也始終有一道聲音反覆出現：「莫忘初衷」。

 

人的一生，總會在某些地方留下「到此一遊」的痕跡。有人把它刻在名山大川，有人把它留在異國城市，有人把它寫在財富與成就之上。

至於我，若真要為這一生留下痕跡，我更願意把它刻在一個又一個重新醒來的身體裡，刻在一群人願意回頭照顧自己的轉念中。

也許，生命最珍貴的旅行，不是走到多遠的地方，而是走回自己身上。到此一遊，不必然是抵達一處美麗風景。

若能在這一生，抵達自己的身體，抵達自己的志業，抵達自己願意奉獻的地方，這趟人生旅程已經不虛此行。

 

（人生真正重要的，不是最後抵達哪裡，而是一路上如何走過。）

 

I Was Here

Today, I am still alive.
I ask myself: Do I feel joy because of this? Do I feel a sense of gratitude that makes me cherish life more deeply?

To be alive may seem like the most ordinary state of being. And yet, to live with confidence, health, and freedom may already be an unreachable luxury for many people.

I have never taken being alive for granted. On the contrary, I am deeply grateful that I have come to see a fulfilled life from a perspective unlike before. I am also grateful that I heard the calling of life and chose a vocation that continues to urge me toward growth.

For the first fifty years of my life, I had never felt this way. If I had to describe my present state of mind, “a leap of life” would be precise enough. A title I once recorded in one of my books—The Beauty of Being Just Right—also happens to echo how I now feel about life.

Let me ask myself one question:
If I owned dozens of houses, had considerable savings, and received steady rental income, but had to go to the hospital for dialysis three times a week, compared with the life I have now, on which side would happiness truly fall?

Is this the joy of “how wonderful it is to be rich,” or the awakening that “freedom is priceless”?
Which way is the buoy in your heart drifting? Perhaps your answer and mine are not the same.

I am not someone who knows how to “have fun”—at least not in the sense of planning trips. Around me, there are many experts in this field. They can arrange independent travel, both domestically and internationally, with precise itineraries, smooth pacing, and almost flawless execution.

At this point in my life, I have roughly accumulated three kinds of overseas travel experiences.

The first was traveling to Japan with my parents, and almost only to Japan. Japan was the country they loved visiting most, mainly because they could communicate in the language, which was a great incentive.

The second was traveling with tour groups. That was the least mentally demanding way to travel. The main purpose was simply to relax; the motivation to record the local culture and history became secondary.

The third was business travel. I once went to Malaysia, Singapore, and China to give lectures. Again, there was no need for me to plan anything, because others arranged the transportation and schedule.

Even though I have had a fair amount of overseas travel experience, I remain a novice when it comes to planning trips. I once took advantage of a lecture trip to Beijing to fulfill my dream of walking on the Great Wall. But to put it plainly, I merely went there. There was no real sense of accomplishment.

By “no sense of accomplishment,” I mean that I relied on the help of others rather than arriving there through my own ability. Because it was not a destination reached through my own planning, what remained in my mind was still a blank sheet of paper.

When I compare my memories of overseas travel with the journey of life, I realize that following others and moving forward by one’s own strength lead to two very different outcomes: one leaves the memory nearly blank, while the other fills the heart with accomplishment.

To travel around the world in this lifetime is, of course, a beautiful thing. But if you ask me whether it is my dream in this life, I would answer honestly: no.

Allowing myself to relax and allowing myself to be happy are not the same thing. In my view, they belong to different territories of life.

After losing my life partner, my view of life made some adjustments. When I think of her limited years, and of her practical, down-to-earth nature, I feel even more inclined to cherish the remaining years in which I still have the ability to help more people.

If she could walk through this life with openness and acceptance, then surely I can too. Since I have already outlined the blueprint of my vocation, the fulfillment and joy of life should also be discovered here.

I never forget to remind myself: life itself is my travel plan, and Selfasteam is my travel destination. To help people move away from the bondage of medicine, to help them understand the body again, trust the body again, and care for the body again—what an honorable and important journey this is.

Indeed, I still long to visit Northern Europe and Canada. I once dreamed of stepping into several beautiful Major League Baseball stadiums in this lifetime. Yet from time to time, an inner voice reminds me: there are still many people in Taiwan who need help changing their understanding of health and wellness.

When my realizations about life and health began to meet, I discovered that the real wealth and treasure are actually within myself.

I think of how I live in one of the most humane countries in the world, yet once spent so much time longing to go to the other side of the earth, even while having to experience unfriendliness from different countries from time to time. This does not mean distant places are not worth longing for. It is merely a reminder to myself: have I truly seen the land before my eyes?

“Human nature is kind” is not a distant slogan. It is a real brightness and radiance that exists within us.

“The body is capable beyond measure” is not a high-profile slogan of mine either. It is a life record personally written by many people who were willing to stay connected with their own bodies.

“The most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is its people.”Those who say this are often not Taiwanese. Since people from around the world speak so consistently of Taiwan’s warmth and humanity, I ask myself: how about first walking through Taiwan completely?

As a member of the postwar baby-boomer generation, I have witnessed tremendous contrasts throughout my life. From politics to economics, from culture to technology, from swallowing humiliation to standing tall with a renewed sense of identity, this land has walked a difficult path over the past several decades.

After promoting the Body Way for many years, how fortunate I am to have further understood the body’s innate healing power through the natural resources of this land. What an important encounter in life this has been, and what a journey worthy of deep appreciation.

“Then bring this vocation to its fullest expression.”As I write, this reminder continues to rise within me. Along the way, another voice has also appeared again and again:“Do not forget your original intention.”

In a person’s lifetime, we all leave traces somewhere that say, “I was here.”Some carve it into famous mountains and rivers. Some leave it in foreign cities. Some write it upon wealth and achievement.

As for me, if I am truly to leave a trace in this life, I would rather carve it into one awakened body after another, into the turning point of a group of people willing to come back and care for themselves.

Perhaps the most precious journey in life is not about how far we travel, but about returning to ourselves.

“I was here” does not necessarily mean reaching a beautiful scenic destination.

If, in this lifetime, I can arrive at my own body, arrive at my vocation, and arrive at the place where I am willing to give, then this journey of life has not been in vain.