筷子

鄧楊周

Right now， millions of people are digging into1 their food with two sticks that have stood the test of time for humans， even when thousands of other tools and products havent. But whats so special about them？

現如今，成千上萬的工具和產品都已被時間淘汰，只有兩根棍子經受住了時間的考驗，成千上萬的人們用它們來夾取食物。那么它們到底有什么特別之處呢？

What can we learn from mere chopsticks？

從這簡簡單單的筷子中，我們能學到什么？

Personally， I have used them all my life， but it was only recently that I realized the depth of influence they had in many peoples way of life. They teach us a lot.

對于我個人而言，我一生都在使用筷子，但直到最近，我才認識到它們對許多人的生活方式的深遠影響。它們教會了我們許多事。

The first thing is simplicity. They can come in all kinds of colours and sizes but essentially they are just two long sticks. Theres hardly anything more simple than two bits of wood being pushed together. With new technology being released everyday and advertisement bombarding2 us with the need to be able to do more with less， multi-tasking and multiple-use machines， it is special to still have something which has just one use—simply to eat. Chopsticks are a living example that simplicity simply works， and we dont need to keep developing， improving and fixing things all the time.

第一件事是簡簡單單。雖然筷子顏色各異，長短不同，但實質上，它們就是兩根長棍。沒有比兩根靠在一起就能使用的木棍更簡單的東西了。在科技日新月異的今天，鋪天蓋地的廣告告訴我們應該使用那些多功能多用途的設備，筷子卻與眾不同地仍舊保持著其唯一的用途——就只是用來吃飯。而筷子這個活生生的實例說明：簡單的東西照樣能派上大用場，我們并不需要一直改善、更新和調整。

The second thing is versatility3. Chopsticks can be used for picking up all kinds of food： meat， vegetables， rice and even the bones from fish， because by nature， their simplicity means that they are adaptable4. Instead of aiming for finding a“gap in the market”， or to fill a hole that probably doesnt need filling， they match a wide range purposes. Imagine being like chopsticks in this way， able to appeal to5 many people because you are useful， without worrying about being kicked away in anyway. They just do what they are made to do； they just are.

第二件事是運用廣泛。筷子能用來夾取各種各樣的食物，諸如肉、蔬菜、米飯等，還能用來挑魚骨頭，因為它們簡單的本質意味著能屈能伸、適應性強。它們能滿足各種廣泛的要求，而非只為尋找某些市場缺口或者填補那些可能沒必要填補的空白。想想筷子的哲學——用途廣泛且不用擔心被一腳踢開，所以深受人們喜愛。筷子只是做它本應做的，筷子就是筷子。

The third thing is aim. If youve ever tried using them， you know that you have to aim for it in order to be able to get what you want. Theres no way you can pick up everything in one go. Know what you want， and just do it. Sometimes， a little bit of focus makes the difference between failure and success.

第三件事是目標明確。如果你曾經試過用筷子吃飯，就會知道必須得瞄準目標下筷才能夾到你想要的東西。你不可能一下夾到所有東西，而應認清你要什么，然后再去得到它。有時候，成功或失敗的關鍵就在于那一點點的專注。

The next thing is practice. Using chopsticks doesnt come naturally. You have to learn to use them and practice it. But how will you learn？ Should you just read about it？ Most would agree that theres no better way to practice than to look at the delicious food in front of you and tell yourself that you cant have any until you can use the chopsticks to get it. In real life， you can read as much as you like about all the things you want to do， but they will just be dreams and theory if you dont try actually doing them. Dont just watch others eating， put yourself out there and give the chopsticks a go.

還有一件事是熟能生巧。沒人生來就會使用筷子。你必須要學著使用并不斷練習。但是如何學習呢？僅僅只是看嗎？大部分人都同意最好的練習方法就是看著擺在眼前的美味食物，告訴自己不用筷子夾就不能吃。在現實生活中，你能讀到任何你想要做的事情，但是如果你不去真正嘗試，它們就僅僅只是夢想和理論。不要只看著別人吃，自己也去拿雙筷子試試看。

The last thing is slowing down. A common health tip is to try to eat with chopsticks when you can. Why？ Because it slows you down and allows your stomach to tell your brain youre full before you overeat. Eating with chopsticks is a slower process， but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes we need to slow down and take things one step at a time， break it down at each stage so that we have time to think， to realize that were actually full and that we dont have to keep charging full speed through life. Sometimes its nice to enjoy each bite of life as it comes.

最后一件事情是放慢節奏。有一個眾所周知的健康技巧是：盡可能使用筷子吃飯。為什么呢？因為它能讓你放慢節奏，讓肚子在吃撐前告訴大腦：你飽了。用筷子吃飯是個較慢的過程，但這不見得是件壞事。有時我們需要放慢節奏，一步一步來，每個階段停頓一下，使我們有時間思考，認識到自己實際上已經飽了。我們沒有必要總是保持高速沖刺的生活。有時候，按部就班地享受生活的一點一滴是很幸福的。

Notes：

1. dig into 開始（大）吃（或喝）

2. bombard [ ] vt. 炮擊；轟炸

3. versatility [ ] n. 多用途；多功能

4. adaptable [ ] adj. 能適應的；可修改的

5. appeal to 有感染力；有吸引力；投合所好