Five Balls of Life 生命中的五個球

幾年前，在一所大學的開幕典禮中﹐可口可樂的執行長(CEO) Brian Dyson，講到生活與工作的關係：

想像生命是一場不停丟擲五個球於空中的遊戲。這五個球分別為工作，家庭，健康，朋友和心靈。而且你很努力地擲著這五個球，不讓它們落地。很快地你會了解工作是一個橡皮球。如果你不幸失手落下它，它還是會彈回來。

但是家庭，健康，朋友和精神這四個球是用玻璃做成的。一旦你失手落下，他們可能會少了一角，留下無法挽回的記號、刻痕，損壞，或甚至碎落一地。他們將永遠不會跟以前一樣。你必須了解這個道理，並且致力為平衡你的生命而努力。但要怎麼才做得到？

別拿自己和他人比較，這只會降低了你原有的價值。因為我們都是獨一無二的，因為我們每一個人都很特別。別人認為重要的事不是你該列為遵循的目標。只有你才知道什麼最適合你。不要將貼近你的心的人事物視為理所當然的存在。你必須將他們視為你的生命一般好好地抓牢他們。沒有他們，生命將失去意義。別讓你的生命總在依戀過去種種或是寄望未來中逝去。如果你活在每個當下，你就活出了生命中的每一天。

當你還能給予的時候別輕言放棄。只要你不放棄，就有無限延伸的可能。別害怕承認你並非完美。正因如此，我們才得以藉由這脆弱的細絲緊密地串綁在一起。

別害怕遇到危險。正因如此，我們才得以藉由這些機會學習勇敢。別拿愛太難找到當藉口而緊閉你的心門。最迅速找到愛的方法就是散佈你的愛；最快速失去愛的方法就是緊緊地將守著你的愛不放；維持愛最好方式就是給它一雙翅膀。

莫要匆徨地過著你的一生，那匆徨讓你忘了曾經到過哪裡，也讓你忘了你要去哪裡。

莫忘記，情感上最大的需要是去感恩。

莫害怕學習。知識沒有重量，它是可以隨意攜帶的寶貝。莫漫不經心地地蹉跎光陰或口無遮攔。時間與言詞兩者都是，一放便收不回來。

生命不是一場賽跑, 而是一步一腳印的旅程。 昨天已是歷史, 明天尚是未知，而今天則是一個上天的禮物：那就是我們為什麼稱它為「現在」(Present) 的原因。

如果你活在每個當下，你就活出了生命中的每一天。



Five Balls of Life

In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Ent-erprises, spoke of the relation of work to one’s other commitments:

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.


But the other four balls family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as they would be your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.

Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery and Today is a gift: that’s why we call it ‘The Present’.