Contribution Name: SiewShi / Tzu Chi Singapore
Pseudonym: Tan Kim Chye
Year of Author: 1951
Tan Kim Chye, born in 1951, has spent his life embodying resilience and quiet strength. Growing up as the third child in a family of eight siblings, with three younger sisters, he shouldered responsibilities from a young age. Due to financial constraints, he left school early, stopping his studies after Primary 3. By the age of 13, Tan Kim Chye began working to help support his family, taking on various jobs, one of which was in a soap factory. The work was often grueling and hazardous, and job security was rare. Unfortunately, one of these jobs left him with a permanent reminder of the difficulties he faced: an injury that deformed his finger due to an accident with a machine.
Despite the hardships, he continued working in various industries, adapting to whatever job he could find to make ends meet. He did not marry until the age of 28, which was considered late by the standards of his time. He met his wife through his older sisters, who introduced them. His wife, four years his senior, became his steadfast partner. Together, they built a life marked by love and mutual support, facing both challenges and joys together.
In 2016, Tan Kim Chye faced a significant health setback—a stroke that left him unable to work. It was a difficult adjustment for him, as he had always been hardworking and had intended to keep working for as long as possible. His stroke marked the end of his working years, but it was not the end of his spirit. Unfortunately, life dealt him and his wife another blow when she too suffered a stroke, leaving her bed-bound and dependent on a caregiver. Despite these challenges, he remains positive and grateful for the support of a maid, who takes care of his wife while he participates in activities that help him stay strong and active.
In 2019, Tan Kim Chye was introduced to Tzu Chi through friends, and he decided to join Gym Tonic, a program designed to support seniors in building strength and maintaining mobility. Through dedication and hard work, he has seen remarkable improvements in his physical abilities. With pride, he mentions that he lifts the heaviest loads in the program, outpacing all his peers. For him, Gym Tonic has become not only a place to exercise but also a place of personal triumph, where he measures his progress against his past limitations.
When asked why he volunteers for Gym Tonic, he admits that it wasn’t his idea initially. His friends were the ones who convinced him to give it a try, and now he’s glad he did. Tan Kim Chye’s life is a testament to resilience, not just in the face of hardship but in the face of aging and illness. Through his journey, he has found strength, pride, and community, all of which keep him motivated and engaged. He continues to look forward, embodying a quiet perseverance that inspires those around him.
坚韧与力量的一生：陈金财的故事
陈金财，1951年出生，用他的一生诠释了坚韧与内敛的力量。作为家中八个兄弟姐妹中的第三个孩子，他还有三个年幼的妹妹。从小他便承担起了家庭的责任。由于家境贫困，他早早辍学，小学三年级后便离开了学校。年仅13岁时，陈金财开始工作，帮助家庭分担经济压力。他做过多种工作，其中包括在一家肥皂厂打工。工作往往艰苦且危险，而工作稳定性也很低。不幸的是，在一次工作中，他因机器事故导致手指受伤变形，这成为了他生活困境的永久印记。
尽管如此，他仍然在多个行业中辗转求职，为了生计适应各种工作环境。他直到28岁才结婚，这在当时被视为较晚。他的妻子比他年长四岁，是通过姐姐们介绍认识的。妻子成为了他坚定的伴侣，与他共同面对生活中的挑战与喜悦。
2016年，陈金财经历了一次重大的健康危机——中风，这使得他无法继续工作。对于一向勤劳的他来说，这是一个艰难的调整，因为他原本计划尽可能长时间地工作。然而，中风结束了他的工作生涯，却没有摧毁他的意志。不幸的是，他的妻子也在之后患上了中风，导致她长期卧床，需要看护的帮助。面对这些挑战，他依然保持积极乐观，并感激有一位女佣协助照顾妻子，而他自己则参加一些活动来保持身体的强壮与活力。
2019年，在朋友的介绍下，陈金财加入了慈济的“Gym Tonic”项目，这是一个专为帮助长者增强力量和维持行动能力而设计的健身计划。通过他的坚持与努力，他的身体能力得到了显著的改善。他自豪地提到，在这个项目中，他举起的重量是所有参与者中最重的，超越了所有同龄人。对于他来说，Gym Tonic不仅是一个锻炼的地方，更是一个让他超越自我、取得个人胜利的舞台，在这里他不断以过去的限制作为参照，衡量自己的进步。
当被问及为什么会选择参加Gym Tonic时，他坦言这并不是他最初的想法，而是朋友劝说他尝试，如今他对此感到庆幸。陈金财的一生是对坚韧的最好诠释，不仅在面对生活困难时坚韧不拔，也在面对年老和病痛时不言放弃。他在自己的旅程中找到了力量、自豪与社区的支持，这些都让他充满动力并积极投入生活。他依然心怀期待，用一种内敛却坚定的方式，激励着身边的每一个人。
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