Contribution Name: SiewShi / Tzu Chi Singapore
Pseudonym: Low Boo Tan
Year of Author: 1950
Low Boo Tan, born in 1950, grew up in a large family of 11 siblings, including eight brothers and two sisters. Her early years were shaped by the bustling life of Jurong, which was then a kampung (village) surrounded by simplicity and strong familial bonds. Despite her curiosity and effort in school, she found subjects like Mathematics and English particularly challenging and decided to leave her studies after completing Secondary 3.
With her schooling behind her, she turned her focus to supporting her family. Together with her siblings, she helped her parents run their hawker business in Jurong. The work was demanding, but it also cultivated her sense of responsibility and time management. Determined to contribute further, she took up factory work, spending 1-2 years in roles like assembling bottle caps and working with electrical components. Her days were meticulously planned—mornings spent helping her family at the hawker stall and afternoons at the factory.
At the age of 20, Low Boo Tan met her future husband through a mutual friend. They formed a connection and got married three years later when she was 23. Together, they built a family of their own, raising two sons and a daughter. Over time, all three of their children married and started families of their own, leaving Low Boo Tan and her husband to enjoy the quieter phase of their lives together.
Her husband retired a few years ago, but the idleness of retirement did not suit him. He decided to take on a job as a cleaner at NTU, where he now keeps the dormitories tidy. Though he appreciates staying active, he is not particularly fond of the exercises offered at the senior center, preferring his own way of staying occupied.
Low Boo Tan’s connection to Tzu Chi began in 2019. Before the center opened, she and her friends would gather at a nearby basketball court for yoga sessions. One day, she noticed seniors exercising outside the center and decided to join in. Since then, she has become a regular participant in Tzu Chi’s activities, even encouraging one of her Indian friends to join.
An avid reader, she particularly enjoys newspapers. She once subscribed to physical newspapers at home but has stopped since joining Tzu Chi, as the center provides ample reading materials. Although her husband has suggested digital options on his phone, she prefers physical newspapers, knowing they are better for her eyes.
Low Boo Tan’s life is a portrait of simplicity, hard work, and adaptability. Whether balancing family responsibilities with factory shifts, finding companionship through her marriage, or embracing the opportunities at Tzu Chi, she has consistently approached life with a practical and optimistic mindset. Through her love for exercise and reading, she continues to lead an active and fulfilling life.
简单与勤奋的旅程：刘武丹的故事
刘武丹出生于1950年，在一个拥有11个兄弟姐妹的大家庭中成长，包括8个兄弟和2个姐妹。她的童年是在裕廊度过的，那时的裕廊还是一个乡村（甘榜），充满了简单的生活方式和浓厚的家庭纽带。尽管她在学校充满好奇心并努力学习，但她发现数学和英语等科目特别具有挑战性。在完成中三后，她决定放弃学业。
放下学业后，她将注意力转向支持家庭的生计。与兄弟姐妹一起，她帮助父母经营裕廊的一个小贩摊。工作虽然辛苦，却也培养了她的责任感和时间管理能力。为了进一步分担家庭的经济压力，她选择进入工厂工作，在瓶盖组装和电子零件装配等岗位上工作了1到2年。她的日子安排得井井有条——早晨帮助家人经营小贩摊，下午则到工厂上班。
20岁时，刘武丹通过一位共同的朋友认识了她未来的丈夫。他们互相建立了感情，并在她23岁时结婚。婚后，两人共同建立了自己的家庭，养育了两个儿子和一个女儿。随着时间的推移，三个孩子陆续结婚成家，刘武丹和丈夫开始享受他们的晚年生活。
她的丈夫几年前退休，但他不喜欢退休后无所事事的生活。于是，他选择在南洋理工大学担任清洁工，为宿舍保持整洁。尽管他喜欢忙碌的状态，但他对老人中心提供的锻炼活动并不感兴趣，更倾向于用自己的方式保持活跃。
刘武丹与慈济的缘分始于2019年。在中心开放之前，她和朋友们常常在附近的篮球场上做瑜伽。有一天，她注意到一些老人在中心外锻炼，便决定加入。从那时起，她成为慈济活动的常客，还鼓励了一位印度朋友一起参与。
作为一名热爱阅读的人，她尤其喜欢看报纸。她曾经在家中订阅纸质报纸，但自从加入慈济后，她停止了订阅，因为中心有丰富的阅读材料。尽管丈夫建议她使用手机上的数字版本，但她更喜欢纸质报纸，认为对眼睛更好。
刘武丹的一生是一幅简单、勤奋与适应力的画卷。从在家庭责任与工厂工作之间寻找平衡，到通过婚姻获得陪伴，再到积极参与慈济的机会，她始终以务实与乐观的心态面对生活。通过热爱锻炼和阅读，她继续过着积极而充实的生活。
This work includes translation generated by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.此作品包含由OpenAI开发的AI语言模型ChatGPT生成的翻译内容.