Category: Lifestyle

One unforgettable volunteering experience

Two years ago, at the crossroads of life, I joined Peace Boat as an international volunteer going around the world for four months. No internet and no contact with the outside world, feeling lost in nature; time and space became not relevant as you’re surrounded only by endless water and infinite blue sky. All you can hear are the ship vibrating and the water splashing. You get to experience this vast quietness that allows you to only focus on yourself, on what you do and how it makes you feel. When it always feels like yesterday, it’s timeless.

一個特別深刻的志工經歷發生在兩年前，在人生的交叉路口上，加入了和平號國際志工行列，坐遊輪環遊世界了四個月。幾乎沒有網路，沒有電話，跨時區常搞不清時間，而且長時間周圍都只有無限海連天，不知道自己在哪裡現在幾點。這也才發現時間、空間，其實不是那麼重要。重要的你的生命裡做了什麼，帶給你什麼感覺，若能讓你反覆回味都好像是昨天，這才是真正的永恆timeless，一個「不需要天長地久，只要曾經擁有」的概念。—小時候覺得那只是廣告口號，不知道在說什麼，現在了解了，感覺、知識、能力、氣質都是別人拿不走，時間無法抹滅的;)

Real taste of freedom

One day in November 2018, it was my second time in the Caribbean. Somewhere between Jamaica and Cuba, there was an open-air party on board after the sailing ceremony. I remember hanging out with my friends at the bar after a long day of work. The weather was great and the music was right, everybody was having a good time chatting, dancing and having dance battles. I suddenly realized that among the people with high energy, I am no longer the hyper-freak anymore. That night was epic! We danced to our hearts’ content. But after a while, time for a break as I reached my physical limit. I leaned my upper body over the railing to rest. My head over the fence, my eyes looking over the ship at the water splashing by, my arms open in the air and the wind blowing, I felt like I was flying, being totally free; freed from the old self chained by my insecurities. I told myself never to forget that moment.

我還記得十一月的某天，在加勒比海結束一整天的靠岸行程，離岸時在甲板上都會舉行出航式，讓大家回頭和停靠的港口夜景揮揮手告別。出航式結束，會有露天派對，在音樂和海風的伴隨下結束一天。那天，我記得和同事一起跳舞，累了就隨意靠在欄杆上休息，這是我第二次到加勒比海，幾年間很多人事物都已變遷，也不再是以前的我，那個無助的自己。在大自然裡，人類真的很渺小，再多的壓力和煩惱都是自己創造出來的。聽著海浪拍打著船身，微風吹著我的臉，疲憊的身軀感到無比的放鬆，時不時把眼睛閉起來，感覺像是在飛一樣，我告訴自己絕對不能忘記這個感覺，真正的自由就是放下。

And then what?

Getting off Peace Boat, I know exactly what I want and what I need to do.
I don’t need much material to be happy.
I don’t need to travel far to find peace.
All comes within me.
I know I just need to decipher my emotions as it’s a channel to my soul.

After visiting 47 countries, I stopped traveling and stopped chasing things that are not for me so I can embrace the true happiness with my own definition.

What is your definition of happiness? Let me know by commenting below!

下船後，我知道我要什麼，該怎麼做。
我的快樂不需要太多物質，
找內心的和平，並不需要遠行，
我知道我只需要傾聽自己的情緒，這個連接靈魂的通道

終於在訪問了47個國家/地區後，我決定不再旅行並停止追求不適合我的人事物，
擁抱自己定義的真正的幸福。

你呢？你對幸福的定義是什麼？留言和我分享吧！

Let it sail again

Last but not least, recently the tourism industry has been hit very hard due to the virus. Peace Boat was forced to cancel six voyages. Our support will determine whether it can resume the voyage in December. I hope this Japanese non-profit organization, the ship in the name of peace, can continue to sail and bring peace to the world. We count on your support to donate and to forward this message. Every bit counts!

最後，最近因為病毒的關係，旅遊業大受打擊，和平號已被迫取消6回的航程，12月能不能復航，之後能不能繼續營運，還需要你的支持。希望這日本的非營利組織，這艘以和平之名的船，能繼續航行下去，帶給世界和你我內心的和平。靠你了…希望你能捐款支持這項募款活動，並轉發給更多人知道，點滴都是感激，謝謝你！

#supportpeaceboat

Thank you!
不限金額捐款方式如下
https://peaceboat.org/english/donation?lang=en#supportpeaceboat