2023回顧——平淡的一年

雖然2023不管是工作還是生活都有變化，但整體而言我覺得是個很平淡的一年，或者說原地踏步的一年，沒有過多的動盪、人生也沒什麼長進。

Although 2023 brought changes in both work and life, overall, I found it to be a rather mundane year, perhaps even a year of stagnation, with no significant upheavals or personal advancements.

如果要用一個字來代表我的2023年，我會用「平」。

If I were to sum up my 2023 in a single word, it would be “tranquil."

除了上述的平淡之外，我也學會用更平靜的方式面對討厭的人事物，就當自己是個NPC、其他人也是NPC，如此想像練習後，便覺得那些討厭的人事物只是「如此」，不再去思考「為什麼如此」。這種想法解脫了束縛。

In addition to the aforementioned tranquility, I learned to face unpleasant people and things in a calmer manner, treating myself and others as if we were characters in a video game, detached from the usual emotional entanglements. This imaginative exercise allowed me to perceive those unpleasant aspects of life as merely “being," without delving into the “whys." This mindset liberated me from unnecessary constraints.

今年上半年活動較下半年豐富，首先農曆春節是婚後首次遇到的過年，因此擁有了許多第一次的初體驗。去男方老家拜拜、和公婆一家圍爐、和公婆一家走春，一切都很新鮮。

The first half of the year was more eventful than the latter. It began with celebrating the Lunar New Year for the first time after marriage, marking numerous first-time experiences. Visiting my husband’s family home for New Year’s greetings, having reunion dinners with my in-laws, and joining them for traditional New Year activities—all were refreshingly novel experiences.

因為沒有辦婚宴，所以娘家和婆家都在農曆春節時才安排餐敘初次見面。

Since we didn’t hold a wedding banquet, both my family and my in-laws arranged their first meetings during the Lunar New Year festivities.

初次見面後還有沒有什麼交流呢？我爸爸和繼母就不提了，基本上不在台灣生活所以平常也見不到面。我媽媽今年5月店鋪開張，公婆時不時會去店面走訪，和我媽媽比較有往來，媽媽也很感謝他們常常帶伴手禮。公婆今年也有拜訪阿嬤，婆婆常常跟我說要多珍惜和阿嬤相處的機會。

Was there any subsequent interaction after the initial meeting? Well, let’s skip over my father and stepmother; they live abroad and we hardly ever see each other. My mother opened a store in May this year, and my in-laws occasionally visit her shop. There’s more interaction between them, and my mother is grateful for their frequent visits bearing gifts. My in-laws also visited my grandmother this year. My mother-in-law often tells me to cherish the time spent with my grandmother.

很佩服我媽媽的勇氣，離開連鎖家具店自己開店，這年頭創業不容易啊。

I greatly admire my mother’s courage. Leaving her job at a chain furniture store to start her own business—entrepreneurship is no easy feat these days.

一家主要是賣床墊、枕頭的居家用品小店，在台中南區的小巷裡，大家走過路過可以捧捧場。床墊真的很划算(可以先去百貨公司比價後再去看看)。

Her shop mainly sells mattresses and pillows, a small household goods store nestled in a lane in south district of Taichung. If you happen to pass by, do drop in. The mattresses are genuinely cost-effective (you can compare prices at department stores first before visiting).

窩家居WGG

今年下半年公婆說要買房租給我們，讓我們省點房租，於是11月開始看房，開始認真看房之後對於房價和屋況真的蠻絕望的。因為房子的事情和先生工作不順利讓我心裡總覺得不安穩，但每次聽國際事件或是讀現代史書就覺得雖然在台灣的我煩惱多多，至少我不用連三餐的溫飽、每日的安危都陷入苦惱。幸福真的是比較而來的，多多看外界就覺得日子還行了。

In the latter half of the year, my in-laws expressed their intention to buy a house for us to rent, allowing us to save on rent. So, in November, we started house-hunting. However, after seriously considering the prices and conditions of the houses, I felt quite disheartened. The uncertainty surrounding the housing situation and my husband’s job made me feel uneasy. Yet, every time I hear about international events or read about modern history, I realize that although I may have many worries in Taiwan, at least I don’t have to worry about basic needs like food and shelter, or the safety of my daily life. Happiness is indeed relative, and the more I look at the outside world, the more content I feel about my life.

以下是我1月到12月的活動行事曆。

Here’s a rundown of my activities and events from January to December:

習慣性記錄真是件好事，會讓我很具體地感受到——我真的活過這一年了。

It’s a good habit to record one’s life, making me vividly realize—I’ve truly lived through this year.