我的工作邁入最後十年，接下來的重心，將放在「自律養生」教育的延續與傳承。渴望看到一群熟練「身體之道」的人，能夠堅守身體的自然法則，並把這份文化開枝散葉，努力栽培未來的種子。

十年是計畫，也是願景，但我們並不擁有時間的主權，也沒有生死的裁決權。我能做的，就是盡人事而聽天命。

記錄「身體之道」這些年，我經常思考一個沒有退休時間表的人生，應該如何安排。

我的人生在嘉義留宿的那一夜開始轉向，方向是感恩與回饋。賺回健康與生命品質後，便不再覬覦任何與使命無關的事情。

人臨終時的遺憾，可以是發現銀行裡的九位數存款沒有花完，也可以是發現自己沒有好好善用進化賦予的身體天賦。

我從沒有八位數的存款，更不必說九位數，但我也曾汲汲營營追逐外界定義的成就與價值。幸運的是，生命不斷透過各種機會提醒我轉向。

斷食帶給我的領悟已超越健康的層次，而是一種更深刻的生命內涵。前半生因斷食而轉向，等於我親手為自己的前段人生「蓋棺論定」。不再喜歡被物化左右的自己，反而珍惜能與文字、真正的知己相知相惜的後半生。

 

我一個人獨處時，三件事總有其一發生：要麼我在走路並沉思，要麼我在閱讀並與作者的思想共鳴，要麼我在寫作，享受靈感與創意交織的喜悅。

我深愛與好友談心的時刻，那是彼此關心、付出的對話。對我而言，人生的滋養來自好書、好友、好食物與好音樂，那真是無盡的甘泉。

我一直以為自己很幸福，也覺得自己幸運，直到讀了大石繁宏的《內在富裕》，幸福被重新定義，生命的意義也被迫調整。他完整詮釋了三大主題：幸福、意義與內在富裕，原以為生命價值早已底定的我，竟被他一語擊中，我自以為符合「內在富裕」，其實並不真正富裕。

來自一種人格特質上的自我封閉，最簡單的例子就是：國外自由行、獨自旅行、甚至去玩飛行傘和雲霄飛車，我總是敬謝這些念頭或邀請。

是的，我膽小，從小就膽小如鼠。曾經以為自己早已突破桎梏，其實只是能夠一個人怡然自得，卻仍缺少刺激，當然就不夠精彩。

 

我成長於三代同堂的家庭，祖父與父親都是嚴謹不苟言笑的人。祖父從學校校長做到合作社理事主席，膝下有十三名子女，我就在重視禮節與分寸的教育環境中長大。

似乎承接了某些嚴謹的價值觀，既然選擇以教育為職志，就不容馬虎。這份態度讓我捨棄不少創造高產值的機緣，因為吸引我的不是金錢，而是態度。

被學員批評甚至不滿，我已習慣；被外界誤解或謾罵，也能泰然處之。我不需要取悅那些不愛惜身體的人，也不必迎合只重視商業利益的價值觀。

當我為自己設定未來志業的道路時，深知無法避免價值衝突，因此必須先清楚自己的原則，無法配合的，就直接割捨。

錢看不懂我所重視的價值，只看錢的人也不可能認同遠離功利的教育方向。若因此活不下去，我願意認輸，也認賠。

「天助自助者」說得很清楚，「自律養生」既不是急診室，也不是開處方的診所，那些態度端正、願意愛惜身體的人，才有機會結緣。

 

有一天，我突然意識到：生命有限，決定不再與志趣不投的人往來，不再奉陪不長進的對話。

人生因此多了幾百位過客，即便是親人，即便是曾經深交的朋友，我也願把生命奉獻給那些願意珍惜身體、珍惜生命的人，把時間投資在我珍愛、也愛我的人身上。

所有的聚焦，再次回到「身體天賦」。進化已為我們預設了這套程式，那是真正的財富，也是引領我們遠離病痛的真正實力。

讀完《內在富裕》，我進入更深層的自我檢視。我的志業與工作，只能歸入作者列出的「有意義的人生」一欄。我發現自己把時間都投注在工作，而忽略了更具挑戰性的生命視野。

必須說，我在工作中結識了很多很棒的人。對「自律養生」陌生的人，也許會覺得我太孤僻，因為我認為願意善待自己身體的人是地球上很珍貴的資產。如今，我又在遴選標準上加上感恩與謙卑的態度。

堅守了原則，拉高了標準，把有限的生命納入計畫。當你發現我不得不關上特定人士的大門，請原諒我認定時間有限的事實，也請原諒我想為自己撰寫一部屬於「內在富裕」的人生篇章。

 

（成長的關鍵，在於將更高維度的意識引入覺知之中。（人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。））

 

Time Is Finite — An Unavoidable Fact of Life

As I enter the final decade of my career, my focus will shift to sustaining and passing on the education of Selfasteam. I long to see a community of people well-versed in the Way of the Body — people who will honor the natural laws of the body and help this culture branch out, planting seeds for the generations to come.

Ten years is both a plan and a vision, but we do not own time, nor do we hold authority over life and death. What I can do is to fulfill my duty and leave the rest to the heavens.

In the years I have spent documenting the Way of the Body, I often ponder what life looks like for someone with no retirement date — how such a life ought to be arranged.

My own life took a turn one night when I stayed in Chiayi. That night marked a shift toward gratitude and giving back. Once I regained health and quality of life, I no longer coveted anything unrelated to my mission.

At the end of life, one may regret leaving a nine-digit bank balance unspent — or regret never having fully used the innate gifts of one’s body, endowed through evolution.

I have never had eight-figure savings, let alone nine, but I too once chased after society’s definitions of achievement and worth. Fortunately, life has kept sending me reminders to turn back toward what matters.

Fasting has given me insights that go far beyond health — it has become a profound lens for living. The first half of my life was rerouted by fasting, as though I had personally “sealed the coffin” of my former existence. I no longer wish to be swayed by external forces or objectified measures of success. Instead, I treasure a second half of life shared with words and with the few true confidants who resonate with my soul.
—

When I am alone, one of three things is always happening:
I am either walking and reflecting, reading and resonating with an author’s mind, or writing and savoring the joy of inspiration weaving into creation.

I deeply cherish heart-to-heart conversations with dear friends — exchanges where care is given and received. For me, life’s nourishment comes from good books, good friends, good food, and good music — an endless spring.

I have always considered myself happy and fortunate, until I read Shigehiro Oishi’s Life in Three Dimensions. Happiness was redefined, and my sense of life’s meaning was compelled to shift.

Oishi lays out three pillars — happiness, meaning, and inner wealth — and although I once believed the value of my life had long been settled, his words struck me. I thought I embodied “inner wealth,” but I realized I was not truly wealthy at all.

This came partly from a personality trait — a certain self-imposed isolation. The simplest example is that I have always declined solo trips abroad, independent travel, even adventurous invitations like paragliding or roller coasters.

Yes, I am timid — I have been timid since childhood. I once thought I had already broken free from my shackles, but in truth, I had merely learned to enjoy solitude. I still lacked stimulation, and thus, my life lacked some of its potential vibrancy.
—

I grew up in a three-generation household, with a grandfather and father who were both stern, serious men. My grandfather served as a school principal and later as chairman of a cooperative society. With thirteen children under his roof, I was raised in a culture that valued propriety and order.

Perhaps I inherited some of those strict values. Since I chose education as my calling, I cannot afford to be careless. This attitude led me to forgo many opportunities that could have generated high profits — because what draws me is not money, but integrity.

I am used to being criticized or even resented by students. I can remain calm when misunderstood or condemned by outsiders. I have no need to please those who neglect their bodies, nor must I cater to a value system that prioritizes commercial gain.

When charting the future of my life’s work, I knew conflicts of values would be inevitable. Therefore, I had to clarify my principles first — and decisively let go of anything that could not align.

Money cannot comprehend the values I hold dear, and those who see only money cannot embrace an educational path that rejects utilitarianism. If that choice ever costs me survival, I am willing to accept defeat and bear the loss.

The saying goes, “Heaven helps those who help themselves. Selfasteam is neither an emergency room nor a prescription-writing clinic. Only those with a sincere attitude — those willing to honor their bodies — will find resonance here.
—

One day, I suddenly realized: life is finite. I resolved to stop associating with those who share no common ground, to stop indulging in conversations that lead nowhere.

As a result, hundreds of people became mere passersby in my life. Even relatives, even once-close friends, I am willing to release. I would rather dedicate my life to those who cherish their bodies and their lives — and invest my time in those I love and who love me back.

In the end, all focus returns to the gifts of the body. Evolution has preinstalled this program within us. It is true wealth, the very power that leads us away from sickness.

After reading Life in Three Dimensions, I entered a deeper phase of self-examination. My work and my mission fall squarely under what Oishi calls a “life of meaning.” But I realized I have poured almost all of my time into work, neglecting the more challenging dimensions of life.

I must say, I have met many wonderful people through my work. To those unfamiliar with Self-Discipline Health, I may seem reclusive. But to me, those who are willing to treat their bodies kindly are among the earth’s most precious treasures.

Now, I have raised the bar again — adding gratitude and humility to my criteria. By holding to my principles, raising my standards, and placing the reality of life’s finitude into my plan, I have chosen a narrower, deeper path.

So if you find that I must close the door on certain people, forgive me for acknowledging the fact that time is limited — and forgive me for wanting to write a life chapter that truly belongs to inner wealth.