1.  古典教養

    嘉瑄在2008秋日踏進創作坊。大大的眼睛，微微的笑，長長的髮，像一個精緻打造出來的小娃娃。我猜想，每個剛帶領這孩子的老師，應該都會很開心，她學習認真，持續進步，尤其難得的是，有一種走脫時代的深厚教養，優雅而從容，和同學相處時，溫柔、細膩，說話輕輕的，動作輕輕的，像個小天使，常常帶著笑臉，「感覺上」很快樂，也帶給身邊的人很大的快樂，讓人心情跟著飛揚起來了呢！

    慢慢地，跟著嘉瑄的作文簿，彷彿在她的青春日記，翻讀到美好，也猜想著美好背後的無限付出。和嘉瑄媽媽一路共同陪伴著這孩子，印象中一直很難忘記的是，有一個學期，媽媽報名的時間晚了，適合嘉瑄上課的班別額滿，媽咪竟然哭了，沒有爭執，也沒有勉強我們「再加收一個啦！」只是非常感傷：「怎麼辦？嘉瑄真的想要繼續上。」

    我想起這孩子在作文簿裡無數次的回顧和感謝，細膩書寫著媽媽點點滴滴的付出，雖然年紀很小，總是想盡辦法用自己的方式回報，這個體貼的孩子，所有承情與感恩的溫暖，原來都來自於母親美好的身教，第一次，深刻感受到古典教養裡的「溫良恭儉讓」。在思索快樂時自由命題，嘉瑄毫不猶豫地下筆〈快樂是分享〉，她喜歡分享，總是帶著笑容，用行動表現出最真誠的自己。

    像老天爺送來的禮物一樣，看著嘉瑄，一路在創作坊長大，聯想起來的，都是「善良」、「美好」的小亮點，總覺得她就不論在哪裡、面對誰，總是這麼容易就交到朋友，在人際聯結中，表現出最大的善意和退讓。我開始覺得，在對這孩子的無限安心中，慢慢多出一些擔心。

    這孩子很幸運，在家裡有關心她、包容她，為了她的幸福什麼都可以付出的爸爸、媽媽；在學習歷程上，好像也很容易交到好朋友，遇到很多欣賞她、鼓勵她的好老師。她感謝爸媽在她出生前，為屬兔的她，選了「Bunny」這個英文名字，邦妮，幫你！每想起這個諧音，就覺得隨時有人在幫自己，不管是在沮喪的時候、生氣的時候，負面的心情馬上減少一半。

    這種流動在家人間的親密聯繫，真的好美，但也讓嘉瑄在深情回報這濃濃的愛時，慢慢收斂起所有的「任性」和「自我」，用嚴格的「自律」在慎用「自由」。她的文字，充滿自我約束和提醒，只要轉身，就會找到出口，只要變通就能得到希望；高處是自己的目標，將高處的標準，設在別人身上，就失去了意義，只要心高，自然就在高處……這個超齡成熟的孩子，永遠為自己的幸福不斷努力，越拼命就越讓人疼惜，大大的眼睛，只剩下勇氣和力量，偶而在悄悄揚起的嘴角，才洩漏出小小的淘氣，我開始無止盡地擔心著，這孩子如何在奮鬥和樂趣中找到平衡呢？

                            2.  生命淬鍊

    嘉瑄站在台上，成熟穩重地分析自己的優勢在於語言表達；當大家都這麼欣賞她時，她又揭露出對自己「沒信心」的恐懼和在適應環境時慢熟的苦惱。

    生命，就這樣在美好和焦慮的兩端，淬鍊這個孩子，等著她慢慢長大。她最難忘的看板是，看到「桃園縣語文競賽」這幾個字，差點昏了過去，那是她反覆忐忑的生命印記。尤其在升上國中後，等於接觸了小型社會，文字裡流露出她感觸，當自己和別人意見不同的時候，簡直是一種人際關係的折磨與考驗；在同學身上學到的事，也是人際付出和堅持的分際拿捏。

    選擇去美國時，她確信自己不是單純的語言練習或求學，而是透過飲食、建築等生活細節，學習、體驗不同的文化，將世界的形影，刻劃在心裡，規劃出生命版圖的嘗試和開展。語言和文字，不斷形塑出她的個人特色，但也越來越凸顯出「希望自己可以做到更好」的高標壓力，從此，每想起嘉瑄，我就多出了許多憂心。

    小學畢業前，嘉瑄寫了篇〈說「再見」的時候〉

   光陰似箭，一千多個日子就在我們的眼前消失了，要畢業了，也是跟大家說再見的時候……

    「世界上有兩種悲劇，一種是得不到想要的，另一種是得到了」這真是說得太好了，因為，我正處在兩種悲劇之間，就要畢業了，真想讓時間快轉，趕快到享受那種解脫，還有我人生的第一個畢業旅行；相反的，我也想讓時間暫停，好和同學在最後的時光裡來一段無憂無慮的玩耍，沒有時間限制，沒有老師的約束，沒有父母的叮嚀，擺脫考試、讀書的壓力，那該有多好啊！可是，問題來了，我要怎麼同時把時間停止又快轉呢？而且，這根本不可能實現，只能順其自然，讓時間正常運作了。這種猶豫的心情真是前後矛盾不合理，不過，這真的是太難決定了，算了，再想下去也不是辦法啊！

    要畢業，我雖然害怕，不過，我不會因此而退縮，反而要更努力，讓我的畢業證書拿得更光榮、更驕傲！

3.  成長備忘

    我想起嘉瑄小時候，對字有一種簡單的直覺。她說，世界上最會說話的字，就是「甜」，一如創作坊的三大守則「說好話、負責任、有團體感」中最重要的「說好話」，我們說出來的話，甜甜蜜蜜的，讓聽的人心裡也覺得非常溫暖。

    這是她的信仰，也是她的幸福。只是這個世界，無法一直像她期待的那樣，永遠充滿「溫暖」和「希望」，一如童年時她喜歡的「白色」，她說，這是一種讓人心裡感到期待以及希望的顏色，黑暗中突然透出的一束白色陽光，讓人感到期待，結婚典禮的白色，為大家帶來浪漫和溫暖，但是，小小的嘉瑄也擔心，白色是一種不吉祥的顏色，在辦喪事的時候，也都用白色的呢！

    嘉瑄只能要求自己，付出更多更多。在創作坊學姊林郁嫺回來演講「活得更有趣！」時，她提醒自己，記得觀察生活周遭，把平淡無奇的人生，變成有趣的彩色世界；當大家自由分享著，想要經營出甚麼樣的學習環境？嘉瑄期盼，人人可以輕鬆自在地穿過綠色步道，一路悠揚的音樂，使人陶醉，還擺放著各種大娃娃，讓大家和睦相處、同心發現，每個大娃娃究竟藏著什麼祕密？每次上課，都可以「玩出心得」。

    這些小小的溫暖和美好，是一種「成長的備忘錄」，在長大以後，為我們守護著心裡永遠不會褪色的信念和夢想。知道嘉瑄在高中時，仍然擁抱著文字，繼續紀錄著生命的淬煉和成長，真的很高興，翻讀她這篇〈A Letter To My Future Self〉，寫給未來的自己，忍不住又想起，這是個多麼讓我安心又擔心的孩子啊！

     Have you ever wondered about all thepossibilities that future holds? Have you ever looked at your empty bucket listand prepared yourself for a boring life? Well, I know I haven't. A dull andunchanging life is just not acceptable for me, and up until now, I already have3 tasks assigned to myself in order to own a spectacular and amazing future.Therefore, to make sure that I have stayed on track, I'm going to mail a letteraddressed to the future self as a reminder that I have a dream to fulfill.

☆☆☆

Dearfuture self,

      Remember we had a deal about living afantastic life? You may or may not have accomplished some of the tasks by now,therefore, I am here to do a checkup and make sure you have not forgotten yourpromise. To start with, let me remind you about your 13th birthday wish ofclimbing up the statue of liberty with your brother and sister. The last timewe were there, we didn’t have the chance to go up to the top of Lady Liberty,and now is the time to complete the unfinished trip.

      Throwing back to the days we were livingin the US, those memories reminded me of the promise we made to donate toys tocharities on Christmas. Remember how Dad used to pretend to be Santa andsecretly send us gifts on Christmas eve? I still smile at the memory of wakingup with excitement the next morning and racing to check under the Christmastree for presents. Since you are now over the age of receiving presents, it istime to pass on the love and make some magical memories for the children livingin poverty. Remember, giving is always better than receiving.

      Last but not least, it is also time thatyou showed gratitude towards your parents. Mom has always wanted a westernstyle kitchen, for she likes to cook all kinds of delicacies for everyone to enjoy.As for Dad, he has been wanting a brand new Sienna for a long time. With acapacity of 8 people, the car would be able to provide a quality road tripexperience for the family. By granting their wishes, more pleasant memories arebound to made.

      Allin all, make sure the above tasks are completed in the near future. Remember toalways keep a pure heart, and you will travel through the journey of life withrelative ease.

                                                Sincerely, the 14 year old self

☆☆☆

      As William Ross once said, “Every mandies, but not every man lives.” This letter would not only be a guide formyself, but would also act as a reminder for those with unfulfilled dreams----- it is time for all of us to take action in owning a future withoutregrets.

☆P.S.

How’sthat Europe trip going? If you haven't already found a friend and get the tripplanned, you had better start as soon as possible. Don't forget the deadline ofthat task is when you become 30 years old, and you wouldn't want to miss theperfect timing of traveling abroad, do you?

☆：

Travelaround Europe with a friend before 30

Getan admirable job

Donatetoys on Christmas

Goonto the Statue of Liberty with siblings

Getmom a western style kitchen

BuyDad a brand new Sienna

                4.  珍惜美好

    嘉瑄的英文，有一種清澈的簡淨。除了她的文筆好之外，認真為孩子們打造美國生活情境的爸爸，以及專注全陪伴的媽媽，意義更重大。

    嘉瑄媽咪是一位讓人尊敬的高中英文老師。站在學測、指考之前，沒有萎縮成應考的侏儒，反而拉高視野，領著全班學生分段分章翻譯英文小說，以一種悖逆聯考侷限的文學高度，讓孩子們學會對照文化差異、深入文學領略、靈活解決問題，全方位擁抱語言學習的意義和價值。

    分享嘉瑄這篇〈We seldomthink of what we have, but always what we lack〉，好像也跟著這個從小到大就懂得珍惜美好的孩子，深刻感受到，我們擁有的「此生」，這樣豐富而美好。

    If we go out in the field to do a survey onpeople’s opinion about their current state of life, nine out of ten would tellus that they are not satisfied. They would express their dissatisfaction andeven list out all the things they lack in their lives. Why is that? It isbecause humans are never content. Our constant desire for new things wouldeventually form cavities in our hearts, waiting to be filled.

    As a teenager, we would always compareourselves to others, causing us to feel unbalanced. When a person talks on thephone with the latest version of the rose gold iphone6S, we wouldn’t be able totake our eyes off it. If a guy wearing a brand new pair of Jordan briskly walkpast us, we couldn’t help but stare at it with jealousy. We would wonder why wearen’t the lucky ones to own these fancy accessories.

    However, we seldom think of how much wepossess. The love from families, the support from friends, and theencouragements from peers are all the things surrounding us that we barelynotice or might even take for granted. But have we ever thought about how wewould be like without these spiritual nourishment?

    To us, we will never be pretty enough, richenough, or wise enough. But if we think it through, a high quality materiallife doesn’t necessarily equal to an ideal life. So why not be grateful andcherish what we already have? Fill your heart with gratitude and you will findyour world better than ever.