on TAIPEI Kil'n time in Taipei - Community Services Center

watch my own mother sitting helplessly on the floor
with huge raindrops running down her pale and
unnourished cheeks. She could not sleep, and she
could not eat; the pain seemed unbearable. She asked
why would this happen to us?
As my father gently lifted her chin up, his deep
brown eyes meeting hers, he encouraged:
"We cannot sit here and do nothing. We have
Taipei American School's tuition fee that we need to
pay, we have rent to pay, and we have two children
to raise, we must overcome this challenge no matter
the damage that the family has caused us. We cannot
dwell on what has already happened; we cannot
change the past; we need to move forward, and do
our very best to keep our family together in one
piece.”
“Life is like a bicycle: you have to keep on peddling
if you want to get anywhere. If we want to make
progress, we have to stay strong.”
And so with that, my mother regained her
strength. After six years, the company has
blossomed, documents, checks and stamps are well
protected, and my brother and I learned that life is
never a crystal stairwell; it will always have jagged
corners and splintered steps. This challenge that we
faced and overcame as a family has taught each of
us something new; the experience that we all gained
through this challenge is, and forever will be, useful
throughout our lives.
Do I sometimes complain about homework? Yes.
Do I complain about the weather? All the time. Do
I complain about the challenges that I face every day?
I can be tempted to, but that little voice in my head
always reminds me, without these challenges, life
would be meaningless.
Through challenges, we are able to overcome our
greatest fears, and become stronger individuals. Take
my advice: Let adrenalin and excitement take over
when you are faced with a challenge, be confident
and think about what you can do to overcome this
challenge rather than asking why did this happen to
me? No one will come to rescue you. You must take
initiative.
So when you wake up tomorrow with that morning
glow on your face, open your eyes, put on a smile,
and shout out loud:
“BRING ON THE CHALLENGE!!!”
june 2010
27