Dear All,

时间过得真快，转眼就是2009年的感恩节了。回望历史，大约四个世纪以前，当载着英国受迫害的清教徒（Pilgrims）的五月花号（The May flower）航船在麻萨诸塞州的普利斯敦登陆后，这些来到美洲大陆的朝圣者们（即美国人的先祖们）在经历了一个严酷的寒冬之后迎来了丰收的季节，于是他们举办了一个欢庆丰收的盛大宴会来感谢上帝。

Cindy & Qiang's embroidery at Orchard Villas gate

华盛顿总统在1789年首次正式宣布感恩节成为美国全国性的节日，林肯总统在内战期间又恢复了感恩节的传统，并在1863年作了感恩节宣言，宣布每年十一月的最后一个星期四为感恩节。请求美国人民以“同样一颗心和同一种声音”来表达感恩之情。从那以后，美国人民都会在这样一个特殊的日子里与家人和朋友相聚来对上帝表达感恩之情，祈求上帝保佑。

很多美国家庭在感恩节当天早上会先去教堂感谢上帝，然后回到家里从中午或下午就开始享用丰盛的火鸡大餐。主妇们除了要准备丰盛的大餐之外，家里还要放置一些像小型南瓜和彩色的玉米等感恩节装饰物。

现在中国也有很多朋友喜欢这个节日，他们会在这个特别的日子里用各种形式向他们生命中重要的人或曾经帮助、关爱他们的人献上感恩的心。无论是一张贺卡，还是一条短信、一件礼物……

在这个特殊的节日，我亦感慨万千。回想我的成长经历，虽然曲折艰辛，但亦有许多好心人相助。不论是相识相知相交多年的朋友，还是现在的老师和同学，以及许许多多，也许只是一面之缘的陌生人。一个友善的微笑，一句鼓励的话语，一个支持的握手，一个温暖的拥抱……
    虽然无法一一回报每一个曾经的帮助和关爱，唯有怀着感恩的心回报社会，力所能及地去帮助一切有需要的人。

记得几年前曾看过一本书《德兰修女传（在爱中行走）》深受感动，决心做一个像她那样的人倾尽全力去帮助别人。我将她的格言抄写在卡片上，贴在我办公桌的墙上，以此每天勉励自己。

Cindy's a handwriting of  As Good As Water

另外还有几样宝贝每天与我为伴，一幅朋友送我的书法字《上善若水》及我的英语老师为我写的《施比受更有福》的英文小画框（It is  more  blessed to give than to receive），以及我存在手机里有空时必看的若干条短信：

友爱就像油，可以去除生活中的摩擦。

Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.

给他人带来和平，首先要使自己内心有平安。

First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.

我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处丰富，或饱足或饥饿或有余或缺乏，随事随在我都得了秘诀。

I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty, in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of beeing in need.

不在小事上忠心，就难以在大事上忠心，所以今天的勤恳工作是来日承担重任的基础。

One should never trouble about getting a better job, but one should do one’s present job in such a manner as to gualify for a better job when it comes along.

你对自己的生死无能为力，但可以使你的生命影响深远。

You can’t do much about the Length of your life, but you can do a lot about its depth and Width.

Cindy's an frame of It is more blessed to give than to receive

    所以我立志在我的业余时间里全力做两件事情：慈善和教育。

今年的感恩节也是爸爸的67岁生日，我给爸爸买了一套最好的保暖内衣作为生日的礼物。希望在这个寒冷的冬天他能感受到一点温暖和女儿的爱。父亲16岁就离开湘西老家去外地工作了一辈子，当他退休来到成都定居时，除了必备的生活物品外，还有一件他珍藏的宝贝。那是一份荣誉证书，是父亲单位发给的献身祖国航空航天计量事业工作二十余年的证书。我的老爸是一个热情好客,乐于助人,大方又宽容的人，在大家吃饭都很困难，更无营养补品的那个特殊年代里，为了挽救在文革武斗中受伤同事的生命无偿献血300毫升；在邻居家来了客人发愁无菜招待时，老爸可以把自家里仅有的三个鸡蛋和蔬菜都送给别人；来到成都定居多年还是喜欢和小区里左邻右舍的朋友打成一片。喜欢垂钓的老爸常常把他的战利品送给邻居们分享；总是无偿地把家门口的过道卫生打扫的干干净净，自己买来花草栽种在小区的花坛里。每次回去看老爸，在小区里陪他散步时总是听到许多人和他打招呼的声音：龙大爷，女儿回来啦！其实我本应姓龙，因为我父亲的家庭祖祖辈辈都姓“龙”，在湘西也是一个大家庭啊。

我母亲的家庭祖辈是姓“向”，只有我和母亲姓“秦”。这个秘密就留在下一篇我写的纪念母亲的文章“Cindy’s湿湿的想念”里再告诉朋友们吧。

Cindy was sent to Sang Zao hospital in Anxian

PS：因为最近一个月来工作和学习很忙，过度劳累，加之季节变化气温骤降，上周三下午（11月18日）到达安县的绵州温泉酒店时咳嗽不止，晚上被送去安县桑枣医院看病。此后每天一边服药一边坚持参加完电子科技大学EMBA四天的移动课堂学习。回到成都后，11月23日下午又去四川华西医院看病，医生检查诊断只是上呼吸道感染和咽喉少量发炎充血，开好药后医生叮嘱多休息。还好身体无大碍，24号开始写作此文。经过这些，让我再次意识到健康的重要性。所以在这里将《黄帝内经》的养生智慧和德兰修女的格言与朋友们分享，祝福各位身体健康！感恩节快乐!

生活要有人分享才甜美，悲伤要有人分担才释然；和你一起走过的欢笑，和你一起经历过的忧伤，都是成长的时光，回忆的宝藏！感谢陪伴，感恩节快乐如常！

            《皇帝内经》养生摘要

（一）《素问·四气纲神大论》云：“阴阳四时者，万物之始终也，死生之本也。逆之则灾害生，从之则苛疾不起。”意即春生、夏长、秋收、冬藏，为万事万物生长变化的根本规律，违反了就对我们产生灾害。

（二）《素问·上古天真论》云：“上古之人，知其道者，法于阴阳，和于术数，饮食有节，起居有常，不妄作劳，故能形与神俱，而尽终其天年，度百岁乃去。”意即既要顺应四时阴阳的变化，又要饮食起居有常规，还要学习健身的“术数”，更不要过于劳累，才能保持形神兼备，长寿百年，这就是养生之道（即规律）。

（三）《素问·四气纲神大论》云：“是故圣人不治已病治未病，不治已乱治未乱。夫病已成而后药之，乱已成而后治之，譬犹渴而穿井，计而铸锥，不亦晚乎”。“治未病”是我国最早的预防医学思想。

（四）《素问·上古天真论》云：“今时之人，不然也。以酒为浆，以妄为常，醉以入房，以欲竭其精，以耗散其真，不知持满，不时御神，务快其心，逆于生乐，起居无节，故事百而哀也”。指出起居无节，逆于生乐，是丰百而衰的道理。

（五）《素问·脏气法时论》云：“毒药攻邪，五谷为养，五果为助，五畜为益，五菜为充，气味合而服之，以补精益气，谷肉果菜，食养尽之，无使过之，伤其还也”。本节为治病大法，余邪用食养扶正祛邪，恐满过伤正，明确指出治疗中谷肉果菜的补精益气的作用。

（六）《素问·五常政大论》云：“大毒治病，十去其六，常毒治病，十去其七，小毒治病，十去其八，无毒治病，十去其九”。

（七）《素问·上古天真论》云：“膏粱之变，足生大丁，受如持虚”，又云：“虚邪贼风，避之有时，恬淡虚无，真气从之，精神内守，病安从来”。本节意义有三：一则膏粱厚味不宜过多，否则易生大病；二则应避虚邪贼风；三则对身外之物保持恬淡，使人精神内守，正气盛则邪气不易侵犯，是为养生大法。

德兰修女格言

　　If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

　　Be honest and frank anyway.

Cindy's Card of Mother Teresa's dictums on the wall

　　即使你是诚实的和率直的，人们可能还是会欺骗你

　　不管怎样，你还是要诚实和率直

　　People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

　　Forgive them anyway.

　　人们经常是不讲道理的、没有逻辑的和以自我为中心的

　　不管怎样，你要原谅他们

　　If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

　　Be kind anyway.

　　即使你是友善的，人们可能还是会说你自私和动机不良

　　不管怎样，你还是要友善

　　If you are successful, you will win some false friends

　　And some true enemies;

　　Succeed anyway.

　　当你功成名就，你会有一些虚假的朋友

　　和一些真实的敌人

　　不管怎样，你还是要取得成功

　　What you spend years building,

　　Someone could destroy overnight;

　　Build anyway.

　　你多年来营造的东西

　　有人在一夜之间把它摧毁

　　不管怎样，你还是要去营造

　　If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

　　Be happy anyway.

　　如果你找到了平静和幸福，他们可能会嫉妒你

　　不管怎样，你还是要快乐

　　The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

　　Be good anyway.

　　你今天做的善事，人们往往明天就会忘记

　　不管怎样，你还是要做善事

　　Give the world the best you have,

　　And it may never be enough;

　　Give the world the best you have anyway.

　　即使把你最好的东西给了这个世界

　　也许这些东西永远都不够

　　不管怎样，把你最好的东西给这个世界

Dear All,

Time elapsed quickly, and 2009’s Thanksgiving Day is in advent soon. In retrospect to the history, about four centuries ago, The May Flower boarded on Plymouth of Massachusetts, and the passengers on the ship were called Pilgrim Fathers, namely, they were prosecuted in England and later became ancestors of many American families. These pilgrim fathers celebrated their first harvest with a big feast after a chilly winter, and expressed their thanks to God. President Washington declared Thanksgiving as a National festival for the first time, and President Lincoln resumed the Thanksgiving tradition during the civil war and made a Thanksgiving Speech in 1863. President Lincoln proclaimed that the fourth Thursday of every November is the day for Thanksgiving, and he also pleaded all Americans with “the same heart and the same voice” to express their gratitude. From then on, American people will have a get-together with family and friends in this special day, to be grateful to God and ask for blessing from God.

Many American families will go to church to attend the Thanksgiving ceremony in the morning of Thanksgiving Day, and then enjoy a turkey banquet in the noon or afternoon at home. The housewives will also decorate rooms with mini-pumpkins and colorful corns except preparing the rich feast.

Cindy & Miao's father

Now in China there are many friends loving this festival too. They will dedicate their thanks by all different means to the important persons in their lives or to people once helped and cared them. No matter it is a card, a message, or a small gift……
This special day also makes me touched. Looking back on my own experience which is full of difficulties, I have been supported by many kindhearted people, though, whether they are old friends for many years, or the present teachers and classmates, and many others, even a stranger came across. A friendly smile, an encouraging word, a supporting handshake, and a warm hug… Although I can not return every help and care, I will devote this love to the society, and help all people in need with my ability.
Several years ago, I was deeply moved by The Biography of Mother Teresa (walk in love) and decided to behave as her to help others with my heart.I recorded her dictum on cards and stuck them on my office wall, in order to encourage myself. And there are some other precious gifts accompanying me, including a handwriting of As Good as Water, an frame of It’s more blessed to give than to receive, which was presented by my English teacher, and many messages stored in my cell phone which I will have a look whenever I am free:

友爱就像油，可以去除生活中的摩擦。
Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.

给他人带来和平，首先要使自己内心有平安。
First keep the peace within yourself,then you can also bring peace to others.

我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处丰富，或饱足或饥饿或有余或缺乏，随事随在我都得了秘诀。
I know what it is to have little,and I know what it is to have plenty,in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,of having plenty and of beeing in need.

不在小事上忠心，就难以在大事上忠心，所以今天的勤恳工作是来日承担重任的基础。
One should never troubl about getting a better job,but one should do one’s present job in such a manner as to gualify for a better job when it comes along.

你对自己的生死无能为力，但可以使你的生命影响深远。
You can’t do much about the Length of your life,but you can do a lot about its depth and Width.

Therefore, I was aspired to complete two works in my spare time: charity and education.
This Thanksgiving Day is also my father’s 67th birthday. I bought one best thermal underwear for him as his birthday gift, hoping to give him warmth and a daughter’s love in this cold winter. My father left Xiangxi hometown to work when he was sixteen, and he settled down in Chengdu after his retirement. What he brought along, besides the necessary utilities, is his cherished honor certificate which demonstrated his more than twenty years work for the national space and air force career. My father is hospitable, generous, easygoing and tolerant. He could donate 300cc blood for his colleague who were injured in the Cultural Revolution, although at that time the whole nation suffered from starvation and lack of any nourishment; he could present three eggs and vegetable to the neighbors when they were no dishes to treat their guests, without consideration those food were the only leftover of his own family; and he made friends with people in his communities after his settlement in Chengdu as well.
Daddy often shared his gains in his fishing with the neighbours; and he kept cleaning of the corridors of his apartment without pay, and he himself bought flowers and raised them in the community. Every time when I visit my Daddy, or take a walk with him, people will greet us friendly: Grandpa Long, your daughter went home! I should be named Long, because my family name is “Long”, which is a big family in Xiangxi; and My mother’s family name is “Xiang”, only my mother and I are named “Qin”. This secret will be uncovered in my next essay commemorating  my Mother, “ Cindy’s cherished and tearful memory ”.
 

PS: Due to the heavy work and study in the last month, and the seasonal change, I was coughing continuously when I arrived at Mianzhou Spring Hotel in AnXian on 18th, November.I was sent to Sangzao hospital in Anxian, and then I insisted to finish the four-days-mobile-study in EMBA of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China,while taking medicine every day.

After I was back to Chengdu, I went to Huaxi hospital on the afternoon of 23rd, November. The doctor said it was URTI and sore throat, and told me to take a break after his diagnose. 
It’s already O.K. now, and I began writing this essay on 24th, November. After this experience, I recognized the importance of health again. In this case, I want to share the wisdom on life from Huang Di Nei Jing and Mother Teresa’s dictums with friends:
May you all healthy!  Happy Thanksgiving Day!