书籍:The Happiness Choice(节选1)

THE HAPPINESS CHOICE简介(ZT)


Author Marilyn Tam takes what she learned from being an
unwanted, neglected, and abused child in Hong Kong to
become an international business success and humanitarian
who is happy, healthy, and at peace with herself. In The
Happiness Choice, she teaches readers how to live the life
of their dreams. This book reveals the principles, tools,
and philosophies she has used to achieve a balanced,
healthy, and joyful life. People want contentment, love,
and happiness from meaningful work, personal
relationships, healthy mind and body, a spiritual core,
and a reason for living. Tam details a path to get you
there.
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THE HAPPINESS CHOICE: The 5 Decisions That Will Take You From Where
You Are to Where You Want to Be by Marilyn Tam (ZT)


Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to
success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
--Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)


INTRODUCTION

You wake before the alarm, turn over, and then it hits you--you are
already behind on what you have to do today. Out of bed you rush to
get ready, grab something to eat, gulp down some coffee and "zoom"
your nerves are already vibrating at hyper speed. At the end of the
long and exhausting day, you fall into bed bone-tired and weary,
feeling that you didn't accomplish many of the things you had to do,
much less the ones you wanted to do. Sigh, is this the life I was
born to live, you wonder.

No! You have a choice; you can live the life that you've dreamed of
living. You can choose happiness.

"Hah," you say, "What is that? I would settle for having a life!"
Yes, I understand, I have been there. I know the edgy, nagging
feeling that gnaws at your insides and buzzes in your brain as you
juggle more demands than humanly possible. There "is" another way
and I am delighted to share that with you. Come with us on this
journey to discover and fulfill your birthright--to live the life
that you've always wanted.

Joan and I did not come from privilege. Our early years were hard,
and we both had a good number of devastating challenges in our later
years, too. However, those are the very things that we give thanks
for--our "training" gave us the understanding, insights, and skills
to achieve lives that surpass our wildest dreams.

I am the second daughter in a traditional Chinese family, and my
birth was followed quickly by the birth of three younger brothers.
To say that I was unwanted would be an understatement--my mother
left me in the hospital and had to be called to pick me up. My
inauspicious entry into the world foretold years of physical and
mental mistreatment. Rising from an abusive childhood and leaving my
home in Hong Kong as a teen for university in the United States
alone, to becoming a global business leader and humanitarian, I've
found the secrets to achieving a better life than I'd ever dreamed
was possible--and you can, too.

Now I live in Santa Barbara, California, walking distance to the
ocean and the mountains, sharing a sunny, spacious, and cozy home
with the love of my life. I have retired from the corporate
executive world to run my global speaking and consulting business,
pursue my writing, and manage the nonprofit charitable foundation I
co-founded.

As I look out the window of my home office, I see trees laden with
ripening oranges, lemons, and avocados in my organic garden, while
the roses in the flowerbeds vie with them for abundance and glory.
On the other side, the pool is glistening in the sunlight, white and
yellow plumeria flowers are wafting their sweet scent, the palm
fronds and bamboo leaves are fluttering gently while the
hummingbirds hover over the geraniums, lilies and irises are
blooming in front of the little meditation house. Ah, indeed, I am
so thankful for my life.