總覺得，帶著覺知去做任何事，事事都可以是一種修心養性的練習，從打掃、洗碗碟、清雜物、練倒立.......
多年前讀了Gretchen Rubin寫的The Happiness Project─中文版是《過得還不錯的一年：我的快樂生活提案》，斷斷續續有追看她的文章更新。最近的文章訪問居於曼哈頓九十平方英呎小室的作者整理者兼講者Felice Cohen。
曾有數年時間頗為頻密的飛到當地，寄住於表哥在曼哈頓或姐姐在布魯克林家的我，有不少探親探病過日子的生活，故紐約之於我難以單純是旅遊玩樂的地方。但每讀到談紐約的文章，就會回味那時喜歡用走路來建構對這大都會的印象(也只是曼哈頓)。
會想到讀完文章還要寫點什麼來記錄下來，全因文中所說予我不少共鳴，例如居於小室、例如清理身外物、例如鍛練身體、或多或少反映了我正在努力的方向。
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| 想起在十多年前在紐約買的這書，滿足愛看floor plan的我，尤其喜歡閱讀那些tiny historic house，真的小而美啊！ "a little house of my own, by Lester Walker" |
喜歡閱讀全文的可以到這裡：
“Just Like It’s Not Easy to Lose Weight, It’s Not Easy for People to Let Go of Their Past.”
以下我把作者highlighted的部分重點列下來，並給簡單翻譯一下，分享分享。
p.s. 文中短片「Simple life Manhattan」也值得看看啊！
Gretchen: What’s a simple habit that consistently makes you happier?
Felice: Writing out a new To Do list. Seeing the tasks I’ve already crossed out makes me feel accomplished, while writing out new goals inspires me. A To Do list also adds structure to my day and frees up mental space I’d otherwise spend trying to remember all that I need to do. Best of all, these lists capture life’s moments.
Gretchen：有沒有持續讓你覺得更快樂的生活小習慣？
Felice:：編寫待辦事項清單。眼看任務完成並劃掉帶給我成就感，而寫新的清單意味著訂下新目標激勵著我。待辦事項清單令我的生活有系統，對頭腦是種釋放，不然我要花心力記住需要做的事。最重要的是這清單捕捉生活中的精彩瞬間。
What’s something you know now about forming healthy habits that you didn’t know when you were 18 years old?
Healthy habits are cumulative.
對於健康生活習慣，有什麼是現在的你才知道，而18歲時是茫然不知的？
健康的生活習慣是累積的。
Which habits are most important to you? (for health, for creativity, for productivity, for leisure, etc.)
Exercise.
Many people ask how I find the time. Simple. I don’t have a lot of stuff and I’m organized and efficient with my time. When you spend less time looking for stuff, cleaning stuff or working to pay off stuff, you’ll find you have a lot more time to do the things you love.
I also make my bed first thing every morning. It sets a productive intention to the day.
哪些習慣是對你最重要？(健康、創造力、生產力、休閒等)
鍛練身體。
很多人問我如何騰出時間做運動，簡單！我沒有太多身外物，我對自己的時間管理有條理重效率。當你不用花太多時間去尋找東西放哪裡、幫它們洗白白、為了想維護它們而要努力工作時，你會發現自己有更多時間做自己喜歡的事情。
整理床舖是我每早醒來所做的第一件事，提醒自己當天要有所為而為。
Do you embrace habits or resist them?
Embrace. Habits to me signify change and change represents new possibilities.
We get attached to things and don’t think we’ll be able to live without it.
Just like it’s not easy to lose weight, it’s not easy for people to let go of their past. Once I explain getting rid of stuff does not mean they’re forgetting their past, but making room for their future with new experiences, they’re more able to part with things they no longer have use for but are keeping out of habit.
對於習慣，你是接納或抗拒？
接納。習慣對我來說是變化，變化代表了新的可能性。我們對事情執著，並以為自己沒了它們就活不下去。正如減肥不容易，人們對自己的過去也不容易放手。有一次我向人們解釋擺脫舊東西並不意味著他們會忘記過去，然而，為未來騰出空間卻可以發掘全新體驗，這讓他們比較容易跟已經沒用但因為習慣而保留下來的舊東西說再見。
Has another person ever had a big influence on your habits?
My boss had many rules, but her most important – “Better 10 minutes early than one minute late,”
有其他人對你的生活習慣起重大影響？
我的老闆有很多規則，最重要的一項是「提早十分鐘比遲到一分鐘好。」
延伸閱讀：家居減物修心兼瘦身
