Struggle of any kind can be painful – physically, mentally, emotionally. Struggle with money in particular can affect a young child’s choices in life.
Lisa Ling, Chinese American journalist and TV host for “Our America” on the Oprah Network, recently told me in an interview how she got into television (see the full episode in September). I was surprised to hear her candid revelation about watching her parents struggle and fight about money when she was a child.
“Growing up struggling with money, I wanted to emancipate myself from the struggle with money. I wanted to get into TV to have a better life, I wanted to have money to take care of myself.”
Lisa’s soft voice and steady tone moved me. She impressed me with her childhood vision, adolescent drive, and later career success as she motivated herself to try out for one TV job after another.
She chronicled her journey to success–from her first audition for the TV show “Scratch,” to her pivotal career at “Channel One” as a national correspondent and her tough decision to drop out of college. She said she’s had no regrets. Her news assignments covering conflict and struggles in war-torn places such as Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran and Iraq have consumed her waking life, and proved to be the best education for her about life and struggle. They have also radically transformed her self-view and world view. Since Channel one, Lisa Ling has moved comfortably from network to network, landing high-profile assignments with National Geographic, hosting a popular daytime show “The View,” and now reporting and producing for “Our America” on Oprah network.
I’ve been thinking about her story since that day – the idea of life’s struggles and one’s life choices.
It dawned on me that we all have our own childhood life-changing moments that set the stage for our choices in life and career. Some of those defining moments, however, may sometimes get pushed down to the unconsciousness. But I believe some stay alive in one’s memories–they are not only visual but also visceral.
While my own story wasn’t related to money, it was about connection–connecting with people’s struggles through understanding and telling their stories. TV speaks to me, as do movies and books.
I’ve told stories about people’s struggle for safety, dignity, justice–as well as stories about people’s struggle for success, happiness, triumph. Ultimately, I love sharing and telling stories that can awaken one’s mind, and lead to breakthroughs in our own lives and the lives of others.
Without struggles, there’d be no stories.
Without stories, there’d be no connection.
Without connection, you and I would not be here.
Since we’re here, why not send me your stories?
任何形式的挣扎和奋斗都是一种疼痛表达，无论是生理上的，心理上的还是情感上的。因钱而起的挣扎，为了钱而去奋斗，更是会影响一个小孩儿的人生抉择。
凌志慧，华裔美国记者兼奥普拉·温弗瑞广播电视网“我们的美国”这一节目的主持人，在最近的一次采访中讲述了她是如何走进电视这一行的心路历程。当她讲起她还是小孩子的时候，就看着父母因为生活所迫，为了金钱而疲于奔命的感受的时候，她的那种坦率和真诚令我感到惊讶，并为之动容。
“成长的过程就是为了钱而挣扎着去奋斗的过程，我真的很想把那个因为没钱而痛苦挣扎的自己给解救出来，我当时想也许干电视这一行会给我带来更好的生活，我可以赚钱来照顾自己。”
志慧用她温柔的语气，沉稳的音调打动着我。无论是她童年时的幻想，抑或青春期的萌动还是她孜孜不倦的激励着自己做了一个又一个的电视工作之后取得的事业上的成功都让我叹为观止，印象深刻。
她按时间顺序讲述了她成功的履历，从她第一次试镜一个叫“Scratch”的电视剧，到她事业的巅峰，在“第一频道”成为了一名国家记者，还有她放弃学业，离开学校这样艰难的抉择。而她走到今天从未后悔过。她曾经的新闻任务涵盖阿富汗，阿尔及利亚，伊朗和伊拉克的战地新闻，在那里的一切耗尽了她所有清醒的时间，可她却认为这是她人生中对于生存和挣扎最好的一课。这些经历也彻底地改变了她的新闻视角和她看世界的视角。从第一频道以后，凌志慧一路平步青云的行走于各大广播电视网，高姿态地选择了国家地理主持一档很受欢迎的白天档节目“视角”，而她现在正在奥普拉广播电视网报道和制作一档叫“我们的美国”的电视节目。
自从那天的采访以后，她的故事一直浮现在我的脑海里，还有那个、因为生活的磨难而造就的人生选择的想法，让我的心久久不能平复。
她的故事启发了我，似乎在我们每个人的童年里都有能左右我们一生的几个时刻，冥冥中在那样的瞬间就设定好了我们未来人生和事业的舞台。但有的时候这样的时刻会在不经意间沉淀在了过去，但是我相信总有那么几个瞬间活在了我们的记忆中成为了永恒，因为它们不仅源自我们看到的世界，还源自我们的内心。
我说的这个故事与钱无关，我想表达的是人与人之间的那种感同身受，通过理解和讲述他们的故事来感受他们曾经的挣扎与奋斗，被他们生活的勇气感动着感染着。
我曾经讲过很多人为了安全，为了尊严，为了公正而奋斗的故事，也讲过很多人为了成功，为了快乐，为了胜利而拼搏的经历。我所做的一切都是因为我喜欢与人分享，向人讲述这些感人至深能打动我们的灵魂，并能给我们的生活甚至是别人的生活带来激励和改变的故事。
没有挣扎与奋斗，就不会有扣人心弦的故事。
没有励志的故事，就不会有这样的感同身受。
没有彼此的感动，就不会有你我此刻的共鸣。
既然你我都正在被感动着，被连系着，为什么不与我分享你曾经的奋斗故事呢？