愛在那個夏天雙語悅讀.pdf
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愛在那個夏天是關于兒童雙語閱讀的書籍,包含了45篇心靈美文,每一篇都有英漢雙譯,幫助孩子學習人生哲理的同時,也能提高孩子的英語知識理解能力。

愛在那個夏天內容簡介
《愛在那個夏天(心如花園雙語悅讀)》是一本讀五分鐘就能讓你享用一生的書!五分鐘——你完全可以讀完一篇心靈美文;五分鐘——你完全可以了解一個充滿智慧的人生故事;五分鐘——你完全可以感悟出一段深入淺出的處世哲理;五分鐘——這本書可以幫助我們以感恩的積極心態(tài),面對那些陰雨連綿、沒有鮮花和掌聲的生命時光。
愛在那個夏天精彩內容
有位大學教授去拜訪一位頗有聲望的禪師。在禪師靜靜地為他沏茶之時,教授談起了禪。禪師往客人的杯子里倒茶,茶滿而溢,但他仍然不停。教授一直盯著那溢出的水杯,到最后他實在忍無可忍,脫口道:“已經溢出來了!不能再往里面倒了!”禪師回應道:“你就跟這個杯子一樣。你若不先將腹中騰空,我又如何向你展示禪呢。”
我們無法選擇出生,無法選擇父母,無法選擇出生的歷史時期與國家,或是成長的周遭環(huán)境。我們大多數人都無法選擇死亡,也無法選擇死亡的時間或條件。但是在這些無法選擇中,我們的確可以選擇自己的生活方式:是勇敢無畏還是膽小怯懦,是光明磊落還是厚顏無恥,是目標堅定還是隨波逐流。我們決定生活中哪些至關重要,哪些微不足道。我們決定,用以顯示我們自身重要性的,不是我們做什么,就是我們拒絕做什么。但是不論世界對我們所做的選擇和決定有多么漠不關心,這些選擇和決定終究是我們自己做出的。我們決定,我們選擇。而當我們決定和選擇時,我們的生活便得以形成。最終構筑我們命運的就是抱負之所在。
愛在那個夏天目錄
The Real Meaning of Peace寧靜的真諦
Five Balls of Life生命中的五個球
Life Is a Do-it-yourself Project 生活是一項為自己打造的工程
Empty Your Cup倒空你的杯子
Life Is All about Choices 生活充滿選擇
Where There Is Life.There Is Hope生命就是希望
Ambition 抱負
ALesson in Life 生活的課堂
Three Passions 三種激情
The Real Meaning of Peace寧靜的真諦
However Mean Your Life Is無論你的生活如何卑微
Catch the Star That Will Take You to your Dreams摘取夢想的啟明
Think of What You Have 想想你所擁有的
Human Life Is like a Poem 人生如連
Yolu Are What You Do 你即你所為
Human Life Is like a Poem人生如詩
If the Dream Is Big Enough 心中有且標,風雨不折腰
The Love in That Summer愛在那個夏天
Facing the Enemies within 直面內在的敵人
AGentle Holding指間的溫柔
Hungry for Your Love渴望你的愛
The Best Kind of Love天底下最直摯的愛情
Love of Self 愛自己
The Flower in Her Hair 別在頭發(fā)上的花兒
Every Woman Is Beautiful 每個女人都漂亮
Love and a Broken Arm愛如斷橙
Grandfather's Wooden Bowl爺爺的本碗
One Hour's Time一小時
AGlass of Milk一杯生奶的溫暖
Sand and Stone傷害只寫在沙地上
My Life Was Saved by a Smile一個微笑挽救一條生金
The Flower in Her Hair 別在頭發(fā)上的花兒
The Apple Tree蘋果樹
Song of Wisdom智慧之歌
Sit by Thy Side坐在你身旁
Sand and Foam沙與沫
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day把你比作夏日
Smile微笑
song of Wisdom智慧之歌
Long Path漫長的路途
Blowing in the Wind隨風飄揚
Gettysburg Address 葛底斯堡演說
Obama:Paving a Brilliant Way 奧巴馬:鋪就輝煌之路
The First Lady-Michelle Obama 美國第一夫人米歇爾·奧巴馬的華麗轉型
AMessage to Garcia 致加西亞的信
愛在那個夏天截圖


Copyright ? Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
distributed by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without
the prior written permission of Foreign Language Teaching and Research
Press.
本書版權由外語教學與研究出版社獨家所有。如未獲得該社書面同
意,書中任何部分之文字及圖片,不得用任何方式抄襲、節(jié)錄、翻印或
存儲利用于任何數據庫及檢索系統(tǒng)等。
Published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
No. 19 Xisanhuan Beilu
Beijing, China 100089
http:www.fltrp.com圖書在版編目(CIP)數據
愛在那個夏天=The Love in That Summer:英漢對照雙語悅讀編
輯組編.—北京:外語教學與研究出版社,2013.6
(心如花園雙語悅讀)
ISBN 978-7-5135-3215-0
Ⅰ.①愛… Ⅱ.①雙… Ⅲ.①英語-漢語-對照讀物②散文集
-世界 Ⅳ.①H319.4:I
中國版本圖書館CIP數據核字(2013)第120759號
出版人 蔡劍峰
責任編輯 米曉瑞
出版發(fā)行 外語教學與研究出版社
社 址 北京市西三環(huán)北路19號(100089)
網 址 http:www.fltrp.com
版 次 2013年6月第1版
書 號 ISBN 978-7-5135-3215-0
制售盜版必究 舉報查實獎勵
版權保護辦公室舉報電話:(010)88817519CONTENTS
目錄
The Real Meaning of Peace 寧靜的真諦
Five Balls of Life 生命中的五個球
Life Is a Do-it-yourself Project 生活是一項為自己打造的工程
Empty Your Cup 倒空你的杯子
Life Is All about Choices 生活充滿選擇
Where There Is Life, There Is Hope 生命就是希望
Ambition 抱負
A Lesson in Life 生活的課堂
Three Passions 三種激情
The Real Meaning of Peace 寧靜的真諦
However Mean Your Life Is 無論你的生活如何卑微
Catch the Star That Will Take You to your Dreams 摘取夢想的啟明
星
Think of What You Have 想想你所擁有的
Human Life Is like a Poem 人生如詩
You Are What You Do 你即你所為
Human Life Is like a Poem 人生如詩
If the Dream Is Big Enough 心中有目標,風雨不折腰
The Love in That Summer 愛在那個夏天Facing the Enemies within 直面內在的敵人
A Gentle Holding 指間的溫柔
Hungry for Your Love 渴望你的愛
The Best Kind of Love 天底下最真摯的愛情
Love of Self 愛自己
The Flower in Her Hair 別在頭發(fā)上的花兒
Every Woman Is Beautiful 每個女人都漂亮
Love and a Broken Arm 愛如斷臂
Grandfather's Wooden Bowl 爺爺的木碗
One Hour's Time 一小時
A Glass of Milk 一杯牛奶的溫暖
Sand and Stone 傷害只寫在沙地上
My Life Was Saved by a Smile 一個微笑挽救一條生命
The Flower in Her Hair 別在頭發(fā)上的花兒
The Apple Tree 蘋果樹
Song of Wisdom 智慧之歌
Sit by Thy Side 坐在你身旁
Sand and Foam 沙與沫
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day 把你比作夏日
Smile 微笑
Song of Wisdom 智慧之歌
Long Path 漫長的路途
Blowing in the Wind 隨風飄揚Gettysburg Address 葛底斯堡演說
Obama: Paving a Brilliant Way 奧巴馬:鋪就輝煌之路
The First Lady — Michelle Obama 美國第一夫人米歇爾·奧巴馬的
華麗轉型
A Message to Garcia 致加西亞的信The Real Meaning of Peace
寧靜的真諦Five Balls of Life
生命中的五個球
In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson,CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises, spoke of the relation of work to one's other
commitments:
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the
air. You name them — work, family, health, friends and spirit — and you're
keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber
ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
But the other four balls — family, health, friends and spirit — are made
of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked,nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must
understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?
Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is
because we are different and each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you
know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as
they would be your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or forthe future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of
your life.
Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really
over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile
thread that binds us to each together.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn
how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The
quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to
hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been,but also where you are going.
Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can
always carry easily.
Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift: that's
why we call it The Present.
irrevocably adv. 不可挽回地
savor v. 品味;享受
幾年前,在一所大學的畢業(yè)典禮上,可口可樂的首席執(zhí)行官布賴恩
·戴森講到工作與其他義務的關系:
想象生命是一場不停拋擲五個球于空中的游戲。這五個球分別為工作、家庭、健康、朋友和心靈,而且你努力地不讓這五個球落地。很快
你會明白工作是一個橡皮球。如果你不幸失手落下它,它還是會彈回
來。
但是家庭、健康、朋友和心靈這四個球是用玻璃做成的。一旦你失
手落下,它們可能會磨損,留下無法挽回的記號、刻痕、損壞,甚至碎
落一地。它們將永遠不會跟以前一樣。你必須了解這個道理,并且為平
衡你的生命而努力。但要怎樣才做得到呢?
別拿自己和他人比較,這只會降低你原有的價值。因為我們都是不
同的,因為我們每一個人都很特別。
不要將別人認為重要的東西當成自己的目標。只有你才知道什么最
適合你。
不要熟視無睹最貼近心靈的東西。將它們視為你的生命一般牢牢抓
住。沒有它們,生命將失去意義。
別讓你的生命總在依戀過去或是寄望未來中逝去。如果你活在每個
當下,你就活好了生命中的每一天。
當你還能給予的時候別輕言放棄。只要你不放棄,就有繼續(xù)的可
能。
別害怕承認你不夠完美。正因如此,我們才得以借由這脆弱的細絲
緊密地彼此串綁在一起。
別害怕遭遇風險。我們正是通過冒險才學會勇敢。
別以愛太難找到作為借口而緊閉你的心扉。最迅速找到愛的方法就
是給予你的愛;最快速失去愛的方法就是緊緊地守著你的愛不放;維持
愛的最好方式就是給愛一雙翅膀。
莫要匆忙度過你的一生,那匆忙讓你忘了曾經到過哪里,也讓你忘
了你要去哪里。
莫忘記,人類情感上最大的需要是感恩。
莫害怕學習。知識沒有重量,它是可以隨身攜帶的珍寶。莫要漫不經心地蹉跎光陰或口無遮攔。時間與言辭兩者都是一旦過
去,便覆水難收。
生命不是一場賽跑,而是每一步都要細細品味的旅程。
昨天已是歷史,明天還是未知,而今天則是上天的一個禮物:那就
是我們?yōu)槭裁捶Q它為“現在”(Present
)的原因。Life Is a Do-it-yourself Project
生活是一項為自己打造的工程
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his
plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with
his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he
needed to retire. They could get by.
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could
build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in
time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to
shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way
to end his career.
When the carpenter finished his work and the employer came to inspect
the house and handed the front-door key to the carpenter. This is your
house, he said, My gift to you.
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his
own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the
home he had built none too well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather
than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not
give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation wehave created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we
had realized, we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day
you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only
life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day
deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says,Life is a do-it-yourself project. Who could say it more clearly? Your life
tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
paycheck n. 薪水
shoddy adj. 劣質的,差的
distracted adj. 分心的,思想不集中的
有一位上了年紀的木匠準備退休了。他告訴老板他打算離開建筑行
業(yè),與老伴和兒孫們一起共享天倫之樂,過一種更悠然自得的生活。雖
然他因此而少了份薪水,但他得退休了。至于日子嘛,還可以湊合著
過。
眼看這位優(yōu)秀的木工就要離去,老板很遺憾。他問木工可否看在私
人的情面上幫忙再建一所房子。木工答應了,可明眼人一眼就看得出
來,此時他做事心不在焉,做出的活兒很粗糙,用的料也沒那么講究
了。他就這樣為自己的建筑生涯畫上了句號,真是令人遺憾。
房子建好后,老板過來看新房并將大門鑰匙交給木工,說:“這房
子歸你,我送給你的禮物!
多么讓人吃驚,多么讓人遺憾啊!假如他知道這房子是為自己造
的,他會做得大不一樣,F在他不得不住在自己建造的那所粗制濫造的
房子里了。
我們又何嘗不是如此呢?我們心浮氣躁地打造生活,不是主動工作而是被動應付,能將就則將就,關鍵的時候也沒盡心盡力。驀然回首,才驚訝地發(fā)現自己正住在自己建造的那所房子中,自食其果。早知如
此,何必當初!
就當你自己是那位木工吧。就當你在為自己建房,每天要釘釘、鋪
板、砌墻。如果你能這么想,那么你就用心地去建,而且你的生活也只
能這樣建造。哪怕你只在房子里生活一天,這一天也應該活得優(yōu)雅而體
面。墻上的銘匾寫道:“生活是一項為自己打造的工程!边有什么能比
這更清楚的呢?明天的生活,就是你今天的態(tài)度和抉擇的結果。Empty Your Cup
倒空你的杯子
A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the
master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured
the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched
the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. It's overfull!
No more will go in! The professor blurted. You are like this cup, the
master replied, How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.
Zen n. 禪,禪宗(佛教派派別之一,以專修禪定為主)
brim n. (杯)邊,緣
restrain v. 控制,克制
blurt v. 脫口而出
有位大學教授去拜訪一位頗有聲望的禪師。在禪師靜靜地為他沏茶
之時,教授談起了禪。禪師往客人的杯子里倒茶,茶滿而溢,但他仍然
不停。教授一直盯著那溢出的水杯,到最后他實在忍無可忍,脫口
道:“已經溢出來了!不能再往里面倒了!”禪師回應道:“你就跟這個
杯子一樣。你若不先將腹中騰空,我又如何向你展示禪呢。”Life Is All about Choices
生活充滿選擇
Henry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood
and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him
how he was doing, he would reply, If I were any better, I'd be twins! He
was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, Henry was there telling the
employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style
really made me curious, so one day I went up to Henry and asked him, I
don't get it. You can't be positive all the time. How do you do it?
Henry replied, Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Henry, you
have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can
choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time
something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or choose to learn from
it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I
can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of
life. I choose the positive side of life.
Yeah, right. It isn't that easy. I protested.
Yes, it is, Henry said. Life is all about choices. When you cut away
all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react tosituations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be
in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line is: It's your choice how you
live life. I reflected on what Henry said.
Soon thereafter, I left the big enterprise that I had worked in for years to
start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I
made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard
Henry was involved in a serious accident, falling off 60 feet from a
communications tower.
After 18 hours of surgery, and weeks of intensive care, Henry was
released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Henry about
six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, If I
were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars? I declined to see his
wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took
place.
The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my
soon-to-born daughter, Henry replied. Then, as I lay on the ground,remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to
die. I chose to live. Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness? I
asked. Henry continued, … the paramedics were great. They kept telling
me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the operation
room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got
really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He'd a dead man.' I knew I needed to take
action. What did you do? I asked. Well, there was a big burly nurse
shouting questions at me. said Henry. She asked me if I was allergic to
anything. 'Yes,' I said. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they
waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.' Over their
laughter, I told them, 'I'm choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, notdead.'
Henry lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his
amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have a choice to live
fully. Attitude is everything.
junk n. 無用的東西
rod n. 桿,棒
paramedic n. 急救醫(yī)士
burly adj. 壯實的,魁梧的
亨利是那種你真想恨一恨的家伙。他總是樂呵呵的,總是說些積極
上進的話。如果有人問他近況如何,他會這樣回答:“如果我還能再好
點的話,我想成雙胞胎!”他生來就會讓人積極進取。
如果哪位雇員有天過得很糟糕,亨利會告訴他們如何看待問題的積
極一面。他的這種方式著實讓我好奇,所以有一天我找到亨利問:“我
真弄不明白。你怎么能總是那樣積極樂觀?你是如何做到這一點的?”
亨利回答說:“每天早晨醒來時我對自己說,‘亨利,今天你有兩種
選擇。你可以選擇心情愉快,你也可以選擇心情糟糕!疫x擇心情愉
快。每次有什么不愉快的事情發(fā)生時,我可以選擇成為一個犧牲品,也
可以選擇從中吸取教訓。我選擇從中吸取教訓。每次有人來找我抱怨,我可以選擇接受他們的抱怨,也可以選擇向他們指出生活的積極面。我
選擇指出生活的積極面!
“是的,不錯?刹⒉荒敲慈菀籽!蔽冶硎井愖h。
“不,其實很容易,”亨利說,“生活就是選擇。每一情形剔除一切
枝節(jié)后所剩下的都是一種選擇。你選擇如何應對生活中的種種情形。你
選擇他人會怎樣影響你的情緒。你選擇是心情愉快還是心情糟糕。說到
底,如何生活是你自己的選擇!蔽易聊ブ嗬倪@席話。那以后不久,我離開了工作數年的那家大企業(yè)去創(chuàng)建自己的公司。
我們失去了聯系,但當我對生活做出選擇而非對它做出反應時,我時常
想起亨利。幾年之后,我聽說亨利遭遇一場嚴重事故,從一座通信塔的
60英尺高處掉了下來。
在經歷了18個小時的手術和數周的特別護理之后,亨利出院了,背
部打著鋼針。事故發(fā)生大約半年之后,我見到了亨利。當我問他怎么樣
時,他回答:“如果我還能再好點的話,我想成雙胞胎。想看看我的傷
疤嗎?”我拒絕看他的傷痕,但的確問了他事故發(fā)生時他是怎么想的。
“我首先想到的是我那即將出世的女兒的日子怎么過!焙嗬
道,“當時我躺在地上,我記起我有兩種選擇:我可以選擇活著,也可
以選擇死亡。我選擇了活著。”“你難道不害怕嗎?你失去知覺了
嗎?”我問。亨利接著說:“……那些急救人員棒極了。他們不停地告訴
我會沒事的。但當他們把我推進手術室,我看到醫(yī)生和護士臉上的表情
時,我真是嚇壞了。在他們的眼里,我讀出了‘他是個死人!抑牢
應該采取行動。”“你采取了什么行動?”我問道!坝幸晃蝗烁唏R大的護
士大聲沖我問問題,”亨利說,“她問我是否對什么過敏!堑摹!
說。醫(yī)生和護士都停下手中的活兒等我回答。我深吸一口氣大聲叫
道‘重力!麄兊男β曃戳耍腋嬖V他們,‘我選擇活著。把我當活人而
不是死人來做手術。’”
亨利活了下來,這要感謝那些醫(yī)生的高明醫(yī)術,但也要歸功于他那
令人贊嘆的態(tài)度。我從他那里懂得了我們每天都可以選擇充實地活著。
態(tài)度決定一切。Where There Is Life, There Is Hope
生命就是希望
When I was in the 8th
grade in California, a girl named Grace in my class
had a terrible accident. As she was running to the bus in order not to miss it,she slipped on some ice and fell under the rear wheels of the bus. She
survived the accident, but was paralyzed from the waist down. I went to see
her, in my 13-year-old mind thinking she wouldn't live normally from then
on.
Over the years, I moved and didn't think much about Grace after that.
Three years ago, in Florida, my oldest son was hit by a car while riding his
bike, causing a terrible brain injury. While I was looking after my son, a lady
who said she was the hospital's social worker called. It was a particularly
trying day. I burst into tears for no reason and hung up.
A short time later, a beautiful woman, in a wheelchair, rolled into my
son's room with a box of tissues. After 16 years, I still recognized Grace. She
smiled, handed me the tissues and hugged me. I told her who I was, and after
we both got through the shock of that, she began to tell me about her life
since we last saw each other. She had married, had children and got her
degree so that she could smooth the path for those less fortunate than her.
She told me that if there was anything she could give me, it would be hope.Looking at this wonderful, giving person, I felt small. But I also felt the
first hope I had felt since learning that my son was hurt. From this person that
I thought would have no quality of life, I learned that where there is life, there
is hope. My son miraculously recovered and we moved back north, but I owe
Grace a debt that I can never repay.
paralyze v. 使……癱瘓,使……麻痹
tissue n. 餐巾紙,手巾紙
fortunate adj. 幸運的
我在加州讀八年級時,班上有一個名叫格雷絲的女孩遭遇了一場嚴
重的車禍。當時她怕錯過公交車,急匆匆地跑過去,不慎踩到冰塊,滑
倒在后車輪下。她幸免于難,但腰部以下癱瘓了。去探望她時,當時13
歲的我想,從此以后,她再也不能正常地生活了。
數年后,我搬了家,從那以后再也沒怎么想起過格雷絲。三年前,在佛羅里達州,我的大兒子騎車時被汽車撞倒,腦部受到嚴重的創(chuàng)傷。
在我照顧兒子的期間,有一位女士打來電話,自稱是醫(yī)院義工。那天特
別難熬。我不知怎么地突然失聲痛哭,然后掛了電話。
不久,一位坐著輪椅的漂亮女士出現在兒子的病房,她手里拿著一
盒紙巾。16年以后,我仍然認出是格雷絲。她微笑著,遞紙巾給我并擁
抱了我。我告訴她自己是誰,我們倆為此都非常震驚。震驚過后,她開
始告訴我我們分別后她的生活經歷。她結婚生子,并獲得了學位,這樣
她能為那些比自己更不幸的人們鋪平道路。她告訴我,如果她有什么可
以給我的話,那就是“希望”。
看著這位了不起又樂于奉獻的女士,我深感渺小。但是,我也感受
到了自從得知兒子受傷后的第一絲希望。從這位我曾以為不會有生活質
量的人的身上,我明白了:只要有生命,就有希望。兒子奇跡般地康復了,我們又搬回了北方,但是,我欠格雷絲的情誼將永遠無法償還。Ambition
抱負
It is not difficult to imagine a world short of ambition. It would probably
be a kinder world: without demands, without abrasions, without
disappointments. People would have time for reflection. Such work as they
did would not be for themselves but for the collectivity. Competition would
never enter in. Conflict would be eliminated, tension become a thing of the
past. The stress of creation would be at an end. Art would no longer be
troubling, but purely celebratory in its functions. Longevity would be
increased, for fewer people would die of heart attack or stroke caused by
tumultuous endeavor. Anxiety would be extinct. Time would stretch on and
on, with ambition long departed from the human heart.
Ah, how unrelievedly boring life would be!
There is a strong view that holds that success is a myth, and ambition
therefore a sham. Does this mean that success does not really exist? That
achievement is at bottom empty? That the efforts of men and women are of
no significance alongside the force of movements and events? Now not all
success, obviously, is worth esteeming, nor all ambition worth cultivating.
Which are and which are not is something one soon enough learns on one's
own. But even the most cynical secretly admit that success exists; thatachievement counts for a great deal; and that the true myth is that the actions
of men and women are useless. To believe otherwise is to take on a point of
view that is likely to be deranging. It is, in its implications, to remove all
motives for competence, interest in attainment, and regard for posterity.
We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not
choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate
circumstances of our upbringing. We do not, most of us, choose to die, nor do
we choose the time or conditions of our death. But within all this realm of
choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live: courageously or in
cowardice, honorably or dishonorably, with purpose or in drift. We decide
what is important and what is trivial in life. We decide that what makes us
significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do. But no matter how
indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions, these choices
and decisions are ours to make. We decide. We choose. And as we decide
and choose, so are our lives formed. In the end, forming our own destiny is
what ambition is about.
abrasion n. 摩擦
tumultuous adj. 喧囂的,紛亂的
at bottom 實際上
derange v. 打亂
posterity n. 子孫,后裔
一個缺乏抱負的世界將會怎樣,這不難想象;蛟S,這將是一個更
為友善的世界:沒有渴求,沒有摩擦,沒有失望。人們將有時間進行反
思。他們所從事的工作將不是為了他們自身,而是為了整個集體。競爭
永遠不會介入;沖突將被消除;人們的緊張關系將成為過往云煙。創(chuàng)造的重壓將得以終結。藝術將不再惹人費神,其功能將純粹為了慶典。人
的壽命將會更長,因為越來越少的人會死于由激烈拼爭引起的心臟病和
中風。焦慮將會消失。時光流逝,抱負卻早已遠離人心。
啊,長此以往,人生將變得多么乏味無聊!
有一種盛行的觀點認為,成功是一種神話,因此抱負亦屬虛幻。這
是不是說成功實際上并不存在?成就本身就是一場空?與諸多運動和事件
的力量相比,男男女女的努力顯得微不足道?顯然,現在并非所有的成
功都值得景仰,也并非所有的抱負都值得追求。哪些值得,哪些不值
得,一個人自然而然很快就能明白。但即使是最為憤世嫉俗的人暗地里
也承認,成功確實存在,成就的意義舉足輕重,而把世上男男女女的所
作所為說成是徒勞無功,這才是真正的無稽之談。認為成功不存在的觀
點很可能造成混亂。這種觀點的本意是將所有提高能力的動機、求取業(yè)
績的興趣和對子孫后代的關注都一筆勾銷。
我們無法選擇出生,無法選擇父母,無法選擇出生的歷史時期與國
家,或是成長的周遭環(huán)境。我們大多數人都無法選擇死亡,也無法選擇
死亡的時間或條件。但是在這些無法選擇中,我們的確可以選擇自己的
生活方式:是勇敢無畏還是膽小怯懦,是光明磊落還是厚顏無恥,是目
標堅定還是隨波逐流。我們決定生活中哪些至關重要,哪些微不足道。
我們決定,用以顯示我們自身重要性的,不是我們做什么,就是我們拒
絕做什么。但是不論世界對我們所做的選擇和決定有多么漠不關心,這
些選擇和決定終究是我們自己做出的。我們決定,我們選擇。而當我們
決定和選擇時,我們的生活便得以形成。最終構筑我們命運的就是抱負
之所在。A Lesson in Life
生活的課堂
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by
means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity
all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be
events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved,straight, flat road to nowhere.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them.
For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being
cautious to who you open your heart to.
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because
they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your
heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it
everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it
again.
Talk to people who you have never talked to before, and actually listen.
Hold your head up because you have every right to.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for ifyou don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either.
You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and
then go out and live.
illness n. 疾;生病
injury n. 傷害
betray v. 背叛,對……不忠
萬事皆有因,沒有什么事是因巧合或運氣的好壞而發(fā)生的。
疾病、傷害、情愛、過往中真正的偉大和十足的愚蠢,都是對你靈
魂的考驗。如果沒有這些瑣碎的考驗,無論是事變、疾病或各種復雜的
關系,那么生活就會如同一條鋪設好了卻沒有目的地的平直道路。
若有人傷害你、背叛你、令你心碎,請寬恕他們!因為他們使你了
解信任以及向他人敞開心扉時要謹慎的重要性。
若有人愛你,要無條件地用愛回報他們。不僅因為他們愛你,更因
為他們是在教你如何去愛,是在讓你敞開心扉去感受、睜開雙眼去看,沒有他們,你將不會看到或感受過這些事物。
珍惜每一天。感激生命中的每一個瞬間,盡己所能從中汲取所需,因為你可能永遠無法再有這種經歷。
與你未曾交談過的人聊天吧,實際上要去傾聽。昂起頭,因為你完
全有權利這樣做。
告訴自己你是一個了不起的人,要相信自己。若你都不相信自己,別人就更不會相信你了。
你可以按自己的意愿去生活,創(chuàng)造你自己的人生,活出自我。Three Passions
三種激情
伯特蘭·羅素
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my
life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for
the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me
hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of anguish,reaching to the very verge of despair.
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy —so great that I
would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I
have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness — that terrible loneliness
in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the
cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the
union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the
heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though
it might seem too good for human life, this is what — at last — I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the
hearts of men. I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which
number holds sway above the flu. A little of this, but not much, I haveachieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward
the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of
pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by
oppressors, helpless old people — a hated burden to their sons, and the whole
world of loneliness, poverty and pain make a mockery of what human life
should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly
live it again if the chance were offered me.
thither adv. 那里;向那里
miniature n. 縮圖;小畫像
reverberate v. 回響
alleviate v. 減輕;使緩和
三種激情雖然簡單,卻異常強烈,它們統(tǒng)治著我的生命,那便是:
對愛的渴望,對知識的追求,以及對人類苦難的難以承受的同情。這三
種激情像變化莫測的狂風,任意地把我刮來刮去,把我刮入痛苦的深
海,到了絕望的邊緣。
我曾經尋找愛,首先是因為它能使我欣喜若狂——這種喜悅之情如
此強烈,使我常常寧愿為這幾個小時的愉悅而犧牲生命中的其他一切。
我尋求愛,其次是因為愛能解除孤獨——在這種可怕的孤獨中,一顆顫
抖的良心在世界的邊緣,注視著下面冰涼、毫無生氣、望不見底的深
淵。我尋求愛還因為在愛的融合中,我能以某種神秘的縮影看到曾被圣
人和詩人想象過的天堂里未來的景象。這就是我所追求的東西,雖然這
似乎對于人類的生命來說過于完美,但這確實是我最終發(fā)現的東西。我
懷著同樣的激情去尋找知識,我曾渴望理解人心,我還企圖弄懂畢達哥拉斯所謂的用數字控制變化的力量。但在這方面,我只知道一點點。
愛的力量和知識的力量引我接近天堂,但同情之心往往又把我拉回
大地。痛苦的哭泣回響、震蕩在我的心中。饑餓的兒童,被壓迫折磨的
人們,成為兒孫們討厭的包袱的無助的老人們,充斥著整個世界的孤
獨、貧窮和苦難,所有這一切都是對人類生活本該具有的樣子所做的諷
刺。我渴望消除一切邪惡,但我辦不到,因為我自己也處于苦難之中。
這就是我的生活,我認為值得一過。而且,如果還有機會,我將樂
意再過一次。The Real Meaning of Peace
寧靜的真諦
There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint
the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the
pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose
between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror
for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with
fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect of
peace.
The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare.
Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played.
Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not
look peaceful at all.
But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny
bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her
nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on
her nest — in perfect peace. The king chose the second picture.
Because, explained the king, peace does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst
of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning ofpeace.
tumble v. 翻騰
midst n. 中間,當中
從前有個國王,他設立獎項想找到一個能夠把“寧靜”畫得出神入化
的畫家。很多畫家都躍躍欲試。可當國王看過他們所有的作品后,覺得
真正讓他喜歡的只有兩幅。他要從中選出最好的。一幅畫得是平靜的湖
泊,它就像一面鏡子,周圍環(huán)繞的高山寧靜地倒映其上,頭上湛藍的天
空飄著朵朵白云。凡是看過這幅畫的人都認為這是一幅把寧靜表現得最
完美的畫卷。
另一幅畫也有山脈,但崎嶇不平,而且寸草不生。上面是烏云密布
的天空,大雨如注,電閃雷鳴。一條瀑布從山的一側直泄下來,飛沫四
濺。這樣的畫面看起來一點兒也不寧靜。
然而當國王仔細看過這幅畫后,才發(fā)現在瀑布后面的巖石縫隙里長
著一棵小小的灌木。鳥媽媽把家安在了這里。在洶涌澎湃的水流中,她
正守在自己的巢穴中——如此平靜。國王選擇了第二幅。
“因為”,國王解釋道,“寧靜并不是指沒有噪音、沒有煩惱、沒有
艱辛,而是指當你周圍所有這些喧囂因素都存在的時候,你的心依然能
夠靜如止水。這才是寧靜的真諦!盚owever Mean Your Life Is
無論你的生活如何卑微
亨利·戴維·梭羅
However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shirk it and call it
hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest.
The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise.
Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant,thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected
from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man's abode;
the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet
mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a
palace. The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives
of any. Maybe they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving.
Most think that they are above being supported by the town; but it oftener
happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means,which should be more disreputable. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like
sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or
friends. Turn the old; return to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell
your clothes and keep your thoughts. God will see that you do not wantsociety. If I were confined to a corner of garret all my days, like a spider, the
world would be just as large to me while I had my thoughts about me. The
philosopher said, From an army of three divisions one can take away its
general, and put it in disorder; from the man the most abject and vulgar one
cannot take away his thought. Do not seek so anxiously to be developed, to
subject yourself to many influences to be played on; it is all dissipation.
Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly lights. The shadows of poverty
and meanness gather around us, and lo! Creation widens to our view. We
are often reminded that if there were bestowed on us the wealth of Croesus,our aims must still be the same, and our means essentially the same.
Moreover, if you are restricted in your range by poverty, if you cannot buy
books and newspapers, for instance, you are but confined to the most
significant and vital experiences; you are compelled to deal with the material
which yields the most sugar and the most starch. It is life near the bone where
it is sweetest. You are defended from being a trifler. No man loses ever on a
lower level by magnanimity on a higher. Superfluous wealth can buy
superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.
I live in the angle of a leaden wall, into whose composition was poured a
little alloy of bell-metal. Often, in the repose of my mid-day, there reaches
my ears a confused tintinnabulum from without. It is the noise of my
contemporaries. My neighbors tell me of their adventures with famous
gentlemen and ladies, what notabilities they met at the dinner-table; but I am
no more interested in such things than in the contents of the Daily Times. The
interest and the conversation are about costume and manners chiefly; but a
goose is a goose still, dress it as you will. They tell me of California and
Texas, of England and the Indies, of the Hon. Mr. — of Georgia or of
Massachusetts, all transient and fleeting phenomena, till I am ready to leapfrom their courtyard like the Mameluke bey.
I delight to come to my bearings — not walk in procession with pomp
and parade, in a conspicuous place, but to walk even with the Builder of the
universe, if I may — not to live in this restless, nervous, bustling, trivial
Nineteenth Century, but stand or sit thoughtfully while it goes by. What are
men celebrating? They are all on a committee of arrangements, and hourly
expect a speech from somebody. God is only the president of the day, and
Webster is his orator. I love to weigh, to settle, to gravitate toward that which
most strongly and rightfully attracts me — not hang by the beam of the scale
and try to weigh less — not suppose a case, but take the case that is; to travel
the only path I can, and that on which no power can resist me. It affords me
no satisfaction to commence to spring an arch before I have got a solid
foundation. There is a solid bottom everywhere. We read that the traveler
asked the boy if the swamp before him had a hard bottom. The boy replied
that it had. But presently the traveler's horse sank in up to the girths, and he
observed to the boy, I thought you said that this bog had a hard bottom. So
it has, answered the latter, but you have not got half way to it yet. So it is
with the bogs and quicksands of society; but he is an old boy that knows it.
Only what is thought, said, or done at a certain rare coincidence is good. I
would not be one of those who will foolishly drive a nail into mere lath and
plastering; such a deed would keep me awake nights. Give me a hammer, and
let me feel for the furring. Do not depend on the putty. Drive a nail home and
clinch it so faithfully that you can wake up in the night and think of your
work with satisfactory — a work at which you would not be ashamed to
invoke the Muse. So will help you God, and so only. Every nail driven
should be as another rivet in the machine of the universe, you carrying on the
work.Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. I sat at a table
where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but
sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable
board. The hospitality was as cold as the ices. I thought that there was no
need of ice to freeze them. They talked to me of the age of the wine and the
fame of the vintage; but I thought of an older, a newer, and purer wine, of a
more glorious vintage, which they had not got, and could not buy. The style,the house and grounds and entertainment pass for nothing with me. I called
on the king, but he made me wait in his hall, and conducted like a man
incapacitated for hospitality. There was a man in my neighborhood who lived
in a hollow tree. His manners were truly regal. I should have done better had
I called on him.
almshouse n. 貧民所,救濟院
transient adj. 短暫的;一時的
invoke v. 懇求,祈求,乞求
obsequious adj. 諂媚的,奉承的
不管你的生活如何卑微,你都要正視它,生活下去;不要逃避生
活,也不要惡語相加。你的生活并不像你想象得那么糟糕。當你最富有
的時候,生活反倒看似最貧窮。吹毛求疵的人即使在天堂也能挑出毛
病。
雖然生活清貧,也要熱愛生活。即便身處濟貧院,你也可能會擁有
一段快樂、激動、燦爛的時光。夕陽映在濟貧院的窗上,與照在富貴人
家寓所上一樣光亮;到了早春,門前的積雪同樣融化。我只看到:一個
心態(tài)平靜的人,在那里也像在皇宮中一樣,生活得心滿意足而富有愉快
的思想。在我看來,城鎮(zhèn)中的貧民倒往往過著最獨立不羈的生活。也許他們只是很偉大,所以受之無愧。大部分人對城鎮(zhèn)的恩惠不屑一顧,可
實際上,他們往往是利用了不正當的手段來維持生活,這應該讓他們更
為聲名狼藉。像圣賢一樣,視貧窮如園中之花去培育吧。沒必要不辭辛
苦地去獲取新東西,不管是衣服還是朋友,把舊的翻新,回到它們的懷
抱。世間萬物不會變化,變的是我們?梢再u掉自己的衣服,但要保留
自己的思想。上帝會見證,你并不想融入社會。如果我整日被局限在閣
樓的角落,如同一只蜘蛛,可只要我還有自己的思想,那么世界還如原
來那樣大。一位哲人曾說過:“三軍可奪帥也,匹夫不可奪志也!辈灰
迫切謀求自己的發(fā)展,不要讓各種影響干擾自己,這一切都會消散。因
為謙卑如同黑暗,暴露出天國之光。貧窮與卑賤的陰云圍繞著我
們,“看啊!天地萬物在我們的眼界中擴大了!蔽覀兂31惶嵝眩绻
上天賦予我們克里薩斯相同的財富,我們的目標必須依舊保持不變,我
們的手段也不會改變。此外,如果貧困束縛了你,例如,你沒錢買書和
報紙,每天只是忙于應付柴米油鹽這些最基本的生活需求;你被迫食用
那些高糖高淀粉的食品。越貧困的生活就越甜美,你不會再成為一個不
務正業(yè)的人。寬宏大量,讓曾在較低層次的人到了較高層次也不會失去
什么。過多的財富只能買到多余的物品,而人的靈魂所需并不需要用金
錢來購買。
我住在一堵鉛墻的角落里,而且鉛墻里還灌注了一點鐘銅的合金。
每當我正午休息時,陣陣雜亂無章的喧鬧聲經常從外面?zhèn)魅胛业亩洹?br/>
這噪音源自我的同代人。我的鄰居向我講述他們的奇遇,都是和那些知
名的紳士淑女有關,如他們在宴會桌上遇到了哪些顯要人物。但是我對
這些事情根本沒有興趣,就如同《每日時報》的內容一樣乏味。服飾打
扮和禮儀舉止是興趣和談話的主題,但是任你怎么刻意裝扮,呆頭鵝總
歸是呆頭鵝。他們向我講述加利福尼亞和德克薩斯,英格蘭和印度群
島,來自佐治亞或馬薩諸塞的尊敬的某某先生——全是過眼煙云,我終
于無法忍受,差點要像馬穆魯克大人一樣從他們的庭院中偷偷溜走。我喜歡處在我自己的世界——不愿引人注目地走在盛大的游行慶祝
隊伍中,而想與宇宙的創(chuàng)造者平等地同行,假如可以的話;我不想生活
在這個煩躁不安、神經兮兮、熙熙攘攘、淺薄輕浮的19世紀,而想伴著
19世紀一天天地流逝,或立或坐,思考著。人們在慶祝什么呢?他們都
成了某個籌備委員會成員,時刻期待著某個大人物的演說。上帝不過是
今天的輪值主席,而韋伯斯特才是他的演說家。對于那些強烈地、正確
地吸引我的事物,我喜愛對它們進行權衡、解決并向其靠攏——不是放
在秤桿上,嘗試減輕重量——不妄加推測,而是完全根據實際情況。在
那條我能走的唯一道路上繼續(xù)前行。在這條路上,我可以戰(zhàn)勝任何力
量。在擁有堅實穩(wěn)固的基礎之前,就開始建造起一座拱門,這不會讓我
感到絲毫滿足。所有地方的底部都是結實的。我們從書中讀到:旅行者
問男孩,前方的沼澤底部是否堅固。男孩回答道:“是堅固的。”可是沒
多久,旅行者的馬便深陷沼澤,不一會兒就到了馬的腰部。他對男孩
說,“我本以為你說這塊沼澤的底部是堅固的……”“是堅固的啊,”男孩
回答,“可是你還沒有觸到它的一半深呢!鄙鐣哪嗾雍土魃骋彩沁@個
道理,但是只有老成的人才知曉這一點。只有在一些少有的巧合中,人
們的所想、所言、所為才是正確的。有一些人愚蠢地只知道是將釘子釘
入板條和灰泥中,我可不想與他們?yōu)槲椋灰悄敲醋,我會徹夜難眠。
給我一把錘子,讓我感受一下釘板條的感覺。不要依靠油灰狀的膩子。
釘入一只釘子,就釘得結結實實,這樣就算是在半夜醒來,一想到自己
的工作,你也會心滿意足——即便請來繆斯女神,你對這件工作也沒有
愧疚。這么做,而且只有這么做,上帝才會伸出援助之手。釘入的每顆
釘子,都應像宇宙機器中的鉚釘一樣牢固,你的工作才能繼續(xù)下去。
我不在乎愛、金錢、名譽,我只要真理。我坐在擺滿佳肴美酒的桌
旁,身邊有諂媚的侍從,但是卻少于真誠和真理。我便餓著肚子轉身離
開這冷漠的餐桌。這種盛情如冰一樣寒冷,我想無需再用冰塊來凍結它
們。他們告訴我葡萄美酒的年份和產地的名望,而我卻想起了一種更年深月久且更新更純、更光榮的佳釀,可他們手上沒有,也無法買到。我
把他們的風格、豪宅、庭園和“娛樂”當做草芥。我去拜見國王,他卻讓
我在客廳等候,他的行為如同喪失了好客能力似的。我的一個鄰居住在
樹洞里,他的舉止才是真正的王者。我要是去拜訪他,肯定會做得好得
多。Catch the Star That Will Take You to your Dreams
摘取夢想的啟明星
Catch the star that holds your destiny, the one that forever twinkles
within your heart. Take advantage of precious opportunities while they still
sparkle before you. Always believe that your ultimate goal is attainable as
long as you commit yourself to it.
Though barriers may sometimes stand in the way of your dreams,remember that your destiny is hiding behind them. Accept the fact that not
everyone is going to approve of the choices you've made, have faith in your
judgment, catch the star that twinkles in your heart, and it will lead you to
your destiny's path. Follow that pathway and uncover the sweet sunrises that
await you.
Take pride in your accomplishments, as they are stepping stones to
your dreams. Understand that you may make mistakes, but don't let them
discourage you. Value your capabilities and talents for they are what make
you truly unique. The greatest gifts in life are not purchased, but acquired
through hard work and determination. Finding the star that twinkles in your
heart for you alone are capable of making your brightest dreams come true.
twinkle v. 閃爍,閃亮sparkle v. 發(fā)光,閃耀
stand in the way 妨礙,擋住……的路
accomplishment n. 成就,才藝
摘取把握命運的星星,那是一顆永遠會在你心里閃爍的星星。當它
們還在你眼前熠熠生輝的時候,要好好利用這些寶貴的機遇。要始終相
信,只要全身心投入,你的終極目標一定會實現。
有時候,盡管在通往夢想的道路上會出現各種障礙,但要記住,你
的命運就在這些障礙的背后藏身。接受這樣一個事實,不是每個人都會
贊同你所作出的選擇,相信自己的判斷,摘取閃爍于你內心的星星,它
將引領你走向命運之路。沿路前行,美好的日出正等著你,快去揭開她
的面紗吧。
以你的才能造詣為傲,因為那是你實現夢想的階石。要懂得自己可
能會犯錯誤,但不要讓這些錯誤將你擊垮。重視自身的能力和天賦,因
為它們真正能讓你與眾不同。生活中最美好的禮物不是買來的,而是從
努力工作和堅定的決心中獲得的。找到那顆只在你一個人心里閃爍的星
星,會使你得以實現那些最耀眼、最璀璨的夢想。Think of What You Have
想想你所擁有的
In over a dozen years as a stress consultant, the most pervasive and
destructive mental tendencies I've seen is that of focusing on what we want
instead of what we have. It doesn't seem to make any difference how much
we have; we just keep expanding our list of desires, which guarantees we
will remain dissatisfied. The mind-set that says I'll be happy when this
desire is fulfilled is the same mind-set that will repeat itself once that desire
is met.
A friend of ours closed escrow on his new home on a Sunday. The very
next time we saw him he was talking about his next house that was going to
be even bigger. He isn't alone. Most of us do the very same thing. We want
this or that. If we don't get what we want, we keep thinking about all that we
don't have — and we remain dissatisfied. If we do get what we want, we
simply recreate the same thinking in our new circumstances. So, despite
getting what we want, we still remain unhappy. Happiness can't be found
when we are yearning for new desires.
Luckily, there is a way to be happy. It involves changing the emphasis
of our thinking from what we want to what we have. Rather than wishing
your spouse was different, try thinking about her wonderful qualities. Insteadof complaining about your salary, be grateful that you have a job. Rather than
wishing you were able to take a vacation to Hawaii, think of how much fun
you have had close to home. The list of possibilities is endless. Each time you
notice yourself falling into the I wish life were different trap, back off and
start over. Take a breath and remember all that you have. When you focus not
on what you want, but on what you have, you end up getting more of what
you want anyway. If you focus on the good qualities of your spouse, she'll be
more loving. If you are grateful for your job rather than complaining about it,you'll do a better job, be more productive, and probably end up getting a raise
any way. If you focus on ways to enjoy yourself around home rather than
waiting to enjoy yourself in Hawaii, you'll end up having more fun. If you
ever do get to Hawaii, you'll be in the habit of enjoying yourself. And, if by
some chance you don't, you'll have a great life anyway.
Make a note to yourself to start thinking more about what you have than
what you want. If you do, your life will start appearing much better than
before. For perhaps the first time in your life, you'll know what it means to
feel satisfied.
destructive adj. 破壞的;消極的,有害的
guarantee v. 擔保,保證
dissatisfied adj. 不滿意的;不高興的
做了十幾年的心理壓力顧問,我所見到的最為普遍也最具破壞性的
心理趨向,就是一味地盯著我們想要得到的,而不是我們已經擁有的。
我們擁有多少似乎并不重要,我們只是不斷擴大自己的欲望清單,而這
就注定我們始終得不到滿足!皩崿F這個欲望我就會幸!薄@種心態(tài)
在欲望達成之后又會重現。我們的一位朋友剛剛在某個星期天履行完他新房子的契約。當我們
又一次見到他的時候,他又談道他的下一棟房子一定會更大。他這樣的
人并不少,我們中大多數人所做的事情都與此類似。我們想要這個想要
那個,如果我們得不到自己想要的,就會不停地想我們沒有的——于是
我們就總是不滿足?扇绻覀冋娴牡玫搅俗约合胍模谛碌那闆r
下,這種同樣的想法又會重現在我們的腦海里面。于是,盡管得到了自
己想要的,我們依然不快活。只要我們不斷地追求新的渴望,便無從找
尋幸福。
幸運的是,有一種辦法能讓我們幸福,這便是把我們考慮的重點從
我們想要得到的轉到我們已經擁有的上面來。與其希望你的配偶應該有
所不同,不妨想想她擁有的一些可愛的品質。與其抱怨你的薪水,不妨
感激你有一份工作。與其希望你能夠去夏威夷度假,不妨想想你在家門
口已找到了多少樂趣。這種可能性的單子是列不完的。每當發(fā)現自己落
入“我多么希望擁有另一種生活”這一陷阱時,趕緊抽身重新想一想。吸
一口氣,記住你所擁有的。如果你注重的是自己所擁有的而非想要得到
的,你最終得到的會比你想要的更多。如果你注重的是你的配偶的良好
品質,她會更加溫柔體貼。如果你對你的工作心存感激而非一味抱怨,你會做得更好,取得更多成就,或許最終也會加薪。如果你琢磨的是如
何在家門口玩得開心,而非等著去夏威夷玩兒,你最終得到的樂趣就會
更多。如果你真能去成夏威夷,那么你出于習慣會玩得更加痛快。即使
由于某些原因你沒能去成,你的生活依然會豐富多彩。
記住要開始多想想自己已經擁有的而不是自己渴望得到的。如果你
能做到,你的生活就會開始變得比以往更加美好。也許這是生平第一
次,你會知道什么才是真正的滿足。
注釋 編者注:present在英語中既有“現在”的意思,又有“禮物”的意思。Human Life Is like a Poem
人生如詩You Are What You Do
你即你所為
If the past has taught us anything, it is that every cause brings effect —
every action has a consequence. This thought, in my opinion, is the moral
foundation of the universe; it applies equally in this world and the next.
We Chinese have a saying: If a man plants melons, he will reap
melons; if he sows beans, he will reap beans. And this is true of every man's
life: good begets good, and evil leads to evil.
True enough, the sun shines on the saint and sinner alike, and too often
it seems that the wicked wax and prosper. But we can say with certitude
that, with the individual as with the nation, the flourishing of the wicked is an
illusion, for, unceasingly, life keeps books on us all.
In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions. Character cannot be
counterfeited, nor can it be put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet
the whim of the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in
the very heart of the tree, character requires time and nurture for growth and
development.
Thus also day by day, we write our own destiny, for inexorably we
become what we do. This, I believe, is the supreme logic and law of life.wax v. 增強,增加
certitude n. 確實,確信
counterfeit v. 偽造,假冒
inexorably adv. 無情地
如果過去的日子曾經教過我們一些什么的話,那便是有因必有果
——每一個行為都有一種結果。依我之見,這種觀念是宇宙的道德基
礎;它也同樣適用于今生和來世。
我們中國人有句諺語說:“種瓜得瓜,種豆得豆。”這也適用于每個
人的生活:善有善報,惡有惡報。
的確,圣人與罪人皆會受到陽光的披澤,而且常常似乎是惡者大行
其道。但是我們可以確定地說,不管是對個人或是對國家而言,惡人猖
獗只是一種幻象,因為生命無時無刻不將我們的所作所為一筆一筆記錄
下來。
最終,我們就是我們行為的總和。品德是無法偽造的,也無法像衣
服一樣隨興地穿上或丟在一旁。就像木頭紋路源自樹木的中心,品德的
成長與發(fā)育也需要時間和滋養(yǎng)。
也因此,我們日復一日地寫下自身的命運,因為我們的所為毫不留
情地決定我們的命運。我相信,這就是人生的最高邏輯和法則。Human Life Is like a Poem
人生如詩
I think that, from a biological standpoint, human life almost reads like a
poem. It has its own rhythm and beat, its internal cycles of growth and decay.
It begins with innocent childhood, followed by awkward adolescence trying
awkwardly to adapt itself to mature society, with its young passions and
follies, its ideals and ambitions; then it reaches a manhood of intense
activities, profiting from experience and learning more about society and
human nature; at middle age, there is a slight easing of tension, a mellowing
of character like the ripening of fruit or the mellowing of good wine, and the
gradual acquiring of a more tolerant, more cynical and at the same time a
kindlier view of life; then in the sunset of our life, the endocrine glands
decrease their activity, and if we have a true philosophy of old age and have
ordered our life pattern according to it, it is for us the age of peace and
security and leisure and contentment; finally, life flickers out and one goes
into eternal sleep, never to wake up again.
One should be able to sense the beauty of this rhythm of life, to
appreciate, as we do in grand symphonies, its main theme, its strains of
conflict and the final resolution. The movements of these cycles are very
much the same in a normal life, but the music must be provided by theindividual himself. In some souls, the discordant note becomes harsher and
harsher and finally overwhelms or submerges the main melody. Sometimes
the discordant note gains so much power that the music can no longer go on,and the individual shoots himself with a pistol or jump into a river. But that is
because his original leitmotif has been hopelessly over-shadowed through the
lack of a good self-education. Otherwise the normal human life runs to its
normal end in a kind of dignified movement and procession. There are
sometimes in many of us too many staccatos or impetuosos, and because the
tempo is wrong, the music is not pleasing to the ear; we might have more of
the grand rhythm and majestic tempo of the Ganges, flowing slowly and
eternally into the sea.
No one can say that a life with childhood, manhood and old age is not a
beautiful arrangement; the day has its morning, noon and sunset, and the year
has its seasons, and it is good that it is so. There is no good or bad in life,except what is good according to its own season. And if we take this
biological view of life and try to live according to the seasons, no one but a
conceited fool or an impossible idealist can deny that human life can be lived
like a poem. Shakespeare has expressed this idea more graphically in his
passage about the seven stages of life, and a good many Chinese writers have
said about the same thing. It is curious that Shakespeare was never very
religious, or very much concerned with religion. I think this was his
greatness; he took human life largely as it was, and intruded himself as little
upon the general scheme of things as he did upon the characters of his plays.
Shakespeare was like Nature itself, and that is the greatest compliment we
can pay to a writer or thinker. He merely lived, observed life and went away.
endocrine gland 內分泌腺leitmotif n. 主樂調
staccato n. 斷奏
impetuoso n. <音>[意大利語]強音
the Ganges 恒河
我以為,從生物學角度看,人的一生恰如詩歌。人生自有其韻律和
節(jié)奏,自有內在的生長與衰亡周期。人生始于無邪的童年,經過少年的
青澀,帶著激情與愚笨、理想與雄心,笨拙而努力地走向成熟;后來人
到壯年,經歷漸廣,涉世漸深,閱人漸多,收益也漸大;及至中年,人
生的緊張稍得舒緩,人的性格日漸成熟,如芳馥之果實、如醇美之佳
釀,逐漸更具容忍之心,雖亦憤世嫉俗,但對人生的態(tài)度趨于和善;再
后來就是人生遲暮,內分泌系統(tǒng)活動減少,若此時吾輩已經悟得老年真
諦,并據此安排殘年,那生活將平和、安定、閑適而知足;終于,生命
之燭搖曳熄滅,人開始永恒的長眠,不再醒來。
人們當能夠感受生命韻律之美,像聽宏偉的交響樂一樣,欣賞其主
旋律、激昂的高潮和舒緩的尾聲。這些周而復始的樂章對于我們的生命
都大同小異,但個人的樂曲必須由自己去譜寫。在某些人心中,不和諧
音會越來越刺耳,最終竟能掩蓋主曲;有時不和諧音會獲得巨大的能
量,令樂曲不能繼續(xù),這時人們或舉槍自殺或投河自盡。這是他最初的
主題被無望地遮蔽,只因他缺少良好的自我教育。否則,常人將以體面
的運動和進程走向既定的終點。在我們很多人心中時常會有太多的斷奏
或強音,那是因為節(jié)奏錯了,生命的樂曲便不再悅耳。我們應該如恒
河,學她氣勢恢宏而永不停息地緩緩流向大海。
人生有童年、成年和老年,誰也不能否認這是一種美好的安排。一
天要有清晨、正午和日落,一年要有四季之分,如此才好。人生本無好
壞之分,只是各個季節(jié)有各自的好處。如若我們對生活持此種生物學的
觀點,并循著季節(jié)去生活,除了狂妄自大的傻瓜和無可救藥的理想主義者,誰能說人生不能像詩一般度過呢。莎翁在他的一段話中更為形象地
闡述了人生分七個階段的觀點,很多中國作家也說過類似的話。奇怪的
是,莎士比亞從不是虔誠的宗教徒,也不怎么關心宗教。我想這正是他
的偉大之處,他對人生秉著順其自然的態(tài)度,他對生活總體設計的干涉
和改動很少,正如他對戲劇人物那樣。莎翁就像自然本身一樣,這是我
們能給作家或思想家的最高褒獎。對人生,他只是一路經歷著、觀察
著,然后便離我們遠去了。If the Dream Is Big Enough
心中有目標,風雨不折腰
I used to watch her from my kitchen window; she seemed so small as
she muscled her way through the crowd of boys on the playground. The
school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids
as they played during recess. A sea of children, and yet to me, she stood out
from them all.
I remember the first day I saw her playing basketball. I watched in
wonder as she ran circles around the other kids. She managed to shoot jump
shots just over their heads and into the net. The boys always tried to stop her
but no one could.
I began to notice her at other times, basketball in hand, playing alone.
She would practice dribbing and shooting over and over again, sometimes
until dark. One day I asked her why she practiced so much. She looked
directly in my eyes and without a moment of hesitation she said, I want to
go to college. The only way I can go is if I get a scholarship. I like basketball.
I decided that if I were good enough, I would get a scholarship. I am going to
play college basketball. I want to be the best. My daddy told me if the dream
is big enough, the facts don't count. Then she smiled and ran towards the
court to recap the routine I had seen over and over again.Well, I had to give it to her — she was determined. I watched her
through those junior high years and into high school. Every week, she led her
varsity team to victory.
One day in her senior year, I saw her sitting in the grass, head cradled in
her arms. I walked across the street and sat down in the cool grass beside her.
Quietly I asked what was wrong. Oh, nothing, came a soft reply, I am just
too short. The coach told her that at 5.5, she would probably never get to
play for a top ranked team much less offered a scholarship —so she should
stop dreaming about college.
She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat tighten as I sensed her
disappointment. I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet.
She lifted her head from her hands and told me that her father said those
coaches were wrong. They just did not understand the power of a dream. He
told her that if she really wanted to play for a good college, if she truly
wanted a scholarship, that nothing could stop her except one thing—her own
attitude. He told her again, If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count.
The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California
Championship game, she was seen by a college recruiter. She was indeed
offered a scholarship, a full ride, to a Division I, NCAA women's basketball
team. She was going to get the college education that she had dreamed of and
worked toward for all those years.
It's true: If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count.
recess n. 休息;學校的假期
recap v. 重演;再現
varsity n. (學校的)校隊,代表隊我以前常常從廚房的窗戶看到她。她穿梭于操場上的一群男孩子中
間,顯得那么矮小。學校在我家的街對面,我可以經?吹胶⒆觽冊谙
課時間打球。操場上有很多孩子,但在我眼里,她顯得與眾不同。
我記得第一天看到她打籃球的情景?粗谄渌⒆优赃叾祦磙D
去,我感到十分驚奇。她總是設法跳起投籃,球恰好越過那些孩子的頭
頂飛入籃筐。那些男孩總是設法阻止她,但沒有人可以做得到。
我開始注意到有時候,她手里拿著籃球在一個人打。她一遍遍地練
習運球和投籃,有時直到天黑。有一天我問她為什么這么刻苦地練習。
她直視著我的眼睛,不假思索地說:“我想上大學。只有獲得獎學金我
才能上大學。我喜歡打籃球。我想只要我打得好,我就能獲得獎學金。
我要到大學校隊去打籃球。我想成為最棒的球員。我爸爸告訴我說,心
中有目標,風雨不折腰。”說完她笑了笑,跑向籃球場,又開始我之前
見過的一遍又一遍的練習。
嘿,我服了她了——她是下定決心了。我看著她這些年從初中升到
高中。每個星期,她帶領的校隊都能夠獲勝。
高中時的某一天,我看見她坐在草地上,雙臂抱著頭。我穿過街
道,坐到她旁邊清涼的草地上。我輕輕地問出什么事了!芭,沒什
么,”她輕聲回答,“只是我太矮了!痹瓉斫叹毟嬖V她,以五英尺五英
寸的身材,她幾乎不會有機會到一流的球隊去打球的——更不用說獲得
獎學金了——所以她應該放棄上大學的夢想。
她很傷心,我也覺得喉嚨發(fā)緊,因為她的那種失望我能感同身受。
我問她是否與她的爸爸談過這件事。
她從臂彎里抬起頭,告訴我,她爸爸說那些教練錯了。他們根本就
不懂夢想的力量。他告訴她,如果她真想到一所好的大學去打籃球,如
果真想獲得獎學金,什么都不能阻止她,除非她自己不愿意。他又一次
跟她說:“心中有目標,風雨不折腰。”
第二年,當她和她的球隊去參加北加利福尼亞州冠軍賽時,她被一位大學的招生人員看中了。她真的獲得了獎學金,而且還是全額獎學
金,并進入了全國大學生體育協會的一隊——女子甲組籃球隊。在那
里,她將開始她曾經夢想并為之奮斗多年的大學生活。
是的,心中有目標,風雨不折腰。The Love in That Summer
愛在那個夏天
She was fond of Strauss, KFC, and Brazil Espresso. Dressed in decent
grey skirt suit, she was busy working in a modernized office. That was her
life before meeting me. Ever since our dating all those have vanished.
It was in 1997 when I started my so-called great business. She
followed me wholeheartedly. That summer came early. Flowers dyed the
town dazzlingly red. We stayed in the outskirts, in a small room of a condo
known as an illegal structure of this city. Wind blew through all the four
walls into the room, then home of her and me.
In order to save money, we walked to our store downtown every day.
Lunches were always simple like doggie food, worth no more than 1.5 yuan
for each of us. We walked back home at the end of the day, so beat that all
we wanted was collapse into bed. It seemed that we make it through one
whole year this way.
Those days were bitter. Business was my totem; love was her belief.
Both supported us from falling apart.
We walked home late one day. She sat at the bed edge, washing her feet
in a bucket on the floor. I went to the landlord for boiled water to make
instant noodle. When I got back carrying a thermos bottle, she fell back intothe bed sound asleep, feet in water. She must have been extremely
exhausted. One of her hands was under her body. I heard her light snore. I
tiptoed to the bed and tried to flip her over so that she would be in a more
comfortable position. I stared at her face, which was a young and pretty one
and yet so wearied and exhausted. I saw one mosquito on this pretty face.
That summer my city was like a huge steamer box. We put off one day
to another the plan to buy a mosquito net, just to save money. I knew
mosquitoes were flying all about in our room, but I seemed not to be
bothered. So exhausted when I got back each day, I doubted if I would wake
up even though someone cut a piece of flesh off my body, let alone mosquito
bites.
That mosquito stayed at her forehead, sipping her blood greedily. She
was still sound asleep, not feeling anything. Perhaps she was in a sweet
dream in which our business was turning better. There came an abrupt throb
of my heart. I reached to wave my hand at the mosquito. But it was not at all
scared. I wanted to bat it to death. I raised my hand up high, but it could not
descend. I was afraid of waking her up —she was really worn out.
There lay a weak mosquito between her and me, doing harm to her right
now. I froze there, hand in the air. I did not know what to do. I was worried.
Suddenly, I began to get deeply fed up with myself. I hated me. On the night
of that summer, I stood by her side, feeling extremely guilty of her, of our
love. The mosquito finally flew away. I forgave it, but I could never forgive
myself.
In the daytime I went by a peddler's stall and saw a pink mosquito net
priced 16 yuan. That amount could be spent on a lot of dealings at the time. I
headed back home without buying it. After she fell asleep, I got out of bed,stood by her side, and waved away mosquitoes with a hard paper board as aweapon. I was her temporary mosquito net all that night through. After a
while she woke up to find what I was doing. She gazed at me, and ten
minutes later tears flooded her face.
The next day saw a pink mosquito net in my room. We were both silent
working together to fix it on our bed. In my mind I had presented the net as a
gift to her. I did not tell her that it was a gift. I was feeling that it was like a
rose in full bloom. It was my compensation to love. Then I realized that
nothing could really make it up. It was her birthday that day.
Years went by. I earned 160,000 yuan, or precisely we earned 160,000
yuan. We did a lot of shopping, but never a mosquito net any more. We did
not need any mosquito net, living in a very well decorated apartment, where
no mosquitoes could fly inside. Nevertheless, I always feel that all my
money, and all my belongings are far less important than the 16-yuan
mosquito net, which was invaluable to her, to our love.
That summer was past. We had no choice but to love each other.
decent adj. 得體的;相當好的
exhausted adj. 疲憊的
mosquito n. 蚊子
guilty adj. 內疚的,有罪的
flood v. 涌到;充滿
她喜歡聽施特勞斯,吃肯德基,喝巴西特濃咖啡,穿著得體的灰色
套裙在現代化的寫字樓里忙碌。但那只是她遇見我之前的生活。后來,自從她與我相戀,這一切便消失了。
那是在1997年,我開始了自己所謂的大事業(yè),她跟著我,義無反
顧。那個夏天來得很早,花兒染得城市一片彤紅。我們住在市郊,一個屬于該城非法公寓的小屋,四壁透風。那是我倆暫時的家。
為了省錢,每天我們步行至市區(qū)的店鋪,午飯總是像狗糧一樣簡
單,每人不超過一塊五毛錢,晚上再步行回來,疲憊不堪只想倒在床
上。好像整整一年,我們都是這樣熬過來的。
那是一段艱苦而心酸的日子。那時,事業(yè)是我的圖騰,愛情是她的
信仰。這就是支撐我們沒有倒下去的全部。
有一次,我們很晚才步行回家。她坐在床沿用水桶洗腳,我去房東
那里討開水泡面。當我提著暖水瓶返回時,發(fā)現她已經躺倒在床上睡著
了,雙腳仍在水里泡著。她一定是累壞了,一只手還壓在身子底下。我
聽見了她輕微的鼾聲。我踮著腳走到床邊,想給她翻下身,好讓她睡得
更舒服。我盯著她的臉,那是一張年輕美麗的臉,此時卻寫滿疲憊。在
這張俊俏的臉上,我發(fā)現了一只蚊子。
那個夏天,我所處的城市像個巨大的蒸籠,可為了省錢,我們把買
蚊帳的計劃一推再推。我知道屋里到處都飛著蚊子,但我似乎未受干
擾。每天回來后那樣勞累的身體,睡下了,別說蚊子,就算有人從我身
上切下一塊肉,我都懷疑自己能不能醒來。
蚊子落在她的額頭,貪婪地吸食著她的血。她依然睡得很香,毫無
察覺,也許正做著生意好轉的夢。我的心猛地抽搐了一下。我伸出手,向蚊子揮去,但蚊子對我的恐嚇毫不理睬。我想用手拍死它,手揚起
來,卻不忍落下。我怕驚醒了她——她真得累壞了。
我與她之間,有一只弱小的蚊子,此刻正叮咬著她。我僵在那里,就那樣手舉在空中,不知該做些什么,心焦著。突然間,我開始對自己
產生了一種深深的厭惡。我恨自己。在那個夏天的夜晚,我站在她身
旁,感到極度內疚,對她,對愛情。蚊子最后飛走了。我原諒了蚊子,卻決不能原諒自己。
白天經過一個小攤,我注意到一個粉色的蚊帳,標價16元。這16元
在當時可以做許多事。我回了家而沒有買它。那天在她睡著后,我起了床,站在她身旁,我把一個硬紙板當做武器一樣揮動著,不讓蚊蟲靠近
她的身體。那整晚,我成了她臨時的蚊帳。后來她醒了,看到我的行
為,她盯著我看,10分鐘后,她便淚流滿面。
第二天,小屋里掛上了粉色的蚊帳。一起掛蚊帳時,我們都一直沒
有說話。在我心里,我是把蚊帳當成禮物送給她的,但我沒這樣說。我
覺得那像一朵盛開的玫瑰,就算是我對愛情的補償。但后來我意識到,其實什么也補償不了。那天,是她的生日。
多年過去了,我賺了16萬,或者確切地說我們賺了16萬。我們買了
很多東西,卻沒有再買一床蚊帳。我們已經不再需要蚊帳了,精裝修的
房間,已經飛不進一只蚊蟲?墒俏铱傆X得,我所有的錢,所有的這些
東西,都遠不如那個曾經只值16元的蚊帳重要。那對她、對我們的愛都
是無價之寶。
那個夏天過去了,我們別無選擇,只能相愛。Facing the Enemies within
直面內在的敵人
We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe
some of our fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone
has told you, by what you've read in the papers. Some fears are valid, like
walking alone in a bad part of town at two o'clock in the morning. But once
you learn to avoid that situation, you won't need to live in fear of it.
Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions. Fear
can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left unchecked,can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.
Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from within. The
first enemy that you've got to destroy before it destroys you is indifference.
What a tragic disease this is! Ho-hum, let it slide. I'll just drift along. Here's
one problem with drifting: you can't drift your way to the top of the
mountain.
The second enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of
opportunity and enterprise. It will steal your chances for a better future. Take
a sword to this enemy.
The third enemy inside is doubt. Sure, there's room for healthy
skepticism. You can't believe everything. But you also can't let doubt takeover. Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt
the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worst of
all, they doubt themselves. I'm telling you, doubt will destroy your life and
your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart.
Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it.
The fourth enemy within is worry. We've all got to worry some. Just
don't let it conquer you. Instead, let it alarm you. Worry can be useful. If you
step off the curb in New York City and a taxi is coming, you've got to worry.
But you can't let worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small
corner. Here's what you've got to do with your worries: drive them into a
small corner. Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it. Whatever is
pushing on you, you've got to push back.
The fifth interior enemy is overcaution. It is the timid approach to life.
Timidity is not a virtue; it's an illness. If you let it go, it'll conquer you. Timid
people don't get promoted. They don't advance and grow and become
powerful in the marketplace. You've got to avoid overcaution.
Do battle with the enemies. Do battle with your fears. Build your
courage to fight what's holding you back, what's keeping you from your goals
and dreams. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you
want and the person you want to become.
lurk v. 潛藏
skepticism n. 懷疑的態(tài)度
curb n. 路緣石
我們的勇氣并不是與生俱來的,我們的恐懼也不是。也許有些恐懼
來自你的親身經歷、別人告訴你的故事,或是你在報紙上讀到的東西。有些恐懼可以理解,例如在凌晨兩點獨自走在城里不安全的地段。但是
一旦你學會避免那種情況,就不必生活在恐懼之中。
恐懼,哪怕是最基本的恐懼,也能徹底粉碎我們的抱負?謶挚赡
摧毀財富,也可能摧毀一段感情。如果不加以控制,恐懼還可能摧毀我
們的生活?謶质菨摲谖覀儍刃牡谋姸鄶橙酥。
讓我來告訴你我們面臨的其他五個內在的敵人。第一個你要先發(fā)制
人將其擊敗的敵人是冷漠。這是多么可悲的疾病啊!打著哈欠說:“隨
它去吧,我就隨波逐流吧。”隨波逐流的問題是:你不可能漂流到山頂
上去。
我們面臨的第二個敵人是優(yōu)柔寡斷。它是竊取機會和事業(yè)的賊。它
還會偷走你實現更美好未來的機會。向這個敵人出劍吧!
第三個內在的敵人是懷疑。當然,正當的懷疑還是有一席之地的,你不能相信一切。但是你也不能讓懷疑掌管一切。許多人懷疑過去、懷
疑未來、懷疑彼此、懷疑政府、懷疑可能性,并懷疑機會。最糟糕的
是,他們懷疑自己。聽著,懷疑會毀掉你的生活和你成功的機會。它不
僅會耗盡你的存款,也會留給你干涸的心靈。懷疑是敵人,追趕它,消
滅它。
第四個內在的敵人是憂慮。我們都會有些憂慮,不過千萬不要讓憂
慮征服你。相反,讓它來警醒你。憂慮也許能派上用場。當你在紐約走
向路邊時有一輛出租車向你駛來,你就得擔憂。但你不能讓憂慮像瘋狗
一樣失控,將你逼至死角。你應該這樣對付自己的憂慮:把它們驅至死
角。不管是什么來打擊你,你都要打擊它。不管是什么攻擊你,你都要
反擊。
第五個內在的敵人是過分謹慎。那是怯懦的生活方式。膽怯不是美
德,而是一種疾病。如果你不理會它,它就會將你征服。膽怯的人不會
得到提拔,他們在市場中不會前進、不會成長、不會變得強大。你要避
免過分謹慎。一定要向這些敵人開戰(zhàn)。一定要向恐懼開戰(zhàn)。鼓起勇氣向阻擋你的
事物、阻止你實現目標和夢想的事物作斗爭。要勇敢地生活,勇敢地追
求你想要的事物并勇敢地成為你想成為的人。A Gentle Holding
指間的溫柔
Rick and I hardly noticed when the waitress came and placed the plates
on our table. Our exchange was lively, if not profound. We laughed about the
movie that we had seen the night before and disagreed about the meaning
behind the text we had just finished for our literature seminar.
As our sweet conversation continued, my eyes glanced across the
restaurant, stopping at the small corner booth where an elderly couple sat.
Her floral-print dress seemed as faded as the cushion on which she had rested
her worn handbag. The top of his head was as shiny as the soft-boiled egg on
which he very slowly nibbled. She also ate her oatmeal at a slow, almost
tedious pace.
But what drew my thoughts to them was their undisturbed silence. It
seemed to me that a melancholy emptiness permeated their little corner. As
the exchange between Rick and me fluctuated from laughs to whispers,confessions to assessments, this couple's poignant stillness called to me. How
sad, I thought, not to have anything left to say. Wasn't there any page that
they hadn't yet turned in each other's stories?
Rick and I paid our small tab and got up to leave the restaurant. As we
walked by the corner where the old couple sat, I accidentally dropped mywallet. Bending over to pick it up, I noticed that under the table, each of their
free hands was ......
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
distributed by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without
the prior written permission of Foreign Language Teaching and Research
Press.
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意,書中任何部分之文字及圖片,不得用任何方式抄襲、節(jié)錄、翻印或
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Published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
No. 19 Xisanhuan Beilu
Beijing, China 100089
http:www.fltrp.com圖書在版編目(CIP)數據
愛在那個夏天=The Love in That Summer:英漢對照雙語悅讀編
輯組編.—北京:外語教學與研究出版社,2013.6
(心如花園雙語悅讀)
ISBN 978-7-5135-3215-0
Ⅰ.①愛… Ⅱ.①雙… Ⅲ.①英語-漢語-對照讀物②散文集
-世界 Ⅳ.①H319.4:I
中國版本圖書館CIP數據核字(2013)第120759號
出版人 蔡劍峰
責任編輯 米曉瑞
出版發(fā)行 外語教學與研究出版社
社 址 北京市西三環(huán)北路19號(100089)
網 址 http:www.fltrp.com
版 次 2013年6月第1版
書 號 ISBN 978-7-5135-3215-0
制售盜版必究 舉報查實獎勵
版權保護辦公室舉報電話:(010)88817519CONTENTS
目錄
The Real Meaning of Peace 寧靜的真諦
Five Balls of Life 生命中的五個球
Life Is a Do-it-yourself Project 生活是一項為自己打造的工程
Empty Your Cup 倒空你的杯子
Life Is All about Choices 生活充滿選擇
Where There Is Life, There Is Hope 生命就是希望
Ambition 抱負
A Lesson in Life 生活的課堂
Three Passions 三種激情
The Real Meaning of Peace 寧靜的真諦
However Mean Your Life Is 無論你的生活如何卑微
Catch the Star That Will Take You to your Dreams 摘取夢想的啟明
星
Think of What You Have 想想你所擁有的
Human Life Is like a Poem 人生如詩
You Are What You Do 你即你所為
Human Life Is like a Poem 人生如詩
If the Dream Is Big Enough 心中有目標,風雨不折腰
The Love in That Summer 愛在那個夏天Facing the Enemies within 直面內在的敵人
A Gentle Holding 指間的溫柔
Hungry for Your Love 渴望你的愛
The Best Kind of Love 天底下最真摯的愛情
Love of Self 愛自己
The Flower in Her Hair 別在頭發(fā)上的花兒
Every Woman Is Beautiful 每個女人都漂亮
Love and a Broken Arm 愛如斷臂
Grandfather's Wooden Bowl 爺爺的木碗
One Hour's Time 一小時
A Glass of Milk 一杯牛奶的溫暖
Sand and Stone 傷害只寫在沙地上
My Life Was Saved by a Smile 一個微笑挽救一條生命
The Flower in Her Hair 別在頭發(fā)上的花兒
The Apple Tree 蘋果樹
Song of Wisdom 智慧之歌
Sit by Thy Side 坐在你身旁
Sand and Foam 沙與沫
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day 把你比作夏日
Smile 微笑
Song of Wisdom 智慧之歌
Long Path 漫長的路途
Blowing in the Wind 隨風飄揚Gettysburg Address 葛底斯堡演說
Obama: Paving a Brilliant Way 奧巴馬:鋪就輝煌之路
The First Lady — Michelle Obama 美國第一夫人米歇爾·奧巴馬的
華麗轉型
A Message to Garcia 致加西亞的信The Real Meaning of Peace
寧靜的真諦Five Balls of Life
生命中的五個球
In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson,CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises, spoke of the relation of work to one's other
commitments:
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the
air. You name them — work, family, health, friends and spirit — and you're
keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber
ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
But the other four balls — family, health, friends and spirit — are made
of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked,nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must
understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?
Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is
because we are different and each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you
know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as
they would be your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or forthe future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of
your life.
Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really
over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile
thread that binds us to each together.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn
how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The
quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to
hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been,but also where you are going.
Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can
always carry easily.
Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift: that's
why we call it The Present.
irrevocably adv. 不可挽回地
savor v. 品味;享受
幾年前,在一所大學的畢業(yè)典禮上,可口可樂的首席執(zhí)行官布賴恩
·戴森講到工作與其他義務的關系:
想象生命是一場不停拋擲五個球于空中的游戲。這五個球分別為工作、家庭、健康、朋友和心靈,而且你努力地不讓這五個球落地。很快
你會明白工作是一個橡皮球。如果你不幸失手落下它,它還是會彈回
來。
但是家庭、健康、朋友和心靈這四個球是用玻璃做成的。一旦你失
手落下,它們可能會磨損,留下無法挽回的記號、刻痕、損壞,甚至碎
落一地。它們將永遠不會跟以前一樣。你必須了解這個道理,并且為平
衡你的生命而努力。但要怎樣才做得到呢?
別拿自己和他人比較,這只會降低你原有的價值。因為我們都是不
同的,因為我們每一個人都很特別。
不要將別人認為重要的東西當成自己的目標。只有你才知道什么最
適合你。
不要熟視無睹最貼近心靈的東西。將它們視為你的生命一般牢牢抓
住。沒有它們,生命將失去意義。
別讓你的生命總在依戀過去或是寄望未來中逝去。如果你活在每個
當下,你就活好了生命中的每一天。
當你還能給予的時候別輕言放棄。只要你不放棄,就有繼續(xù)的可
能。
別害怕承認你不夠完美。正因如此,我們才得以借由這脆弱的細絲
緊密地彼此串綁在一起。
別害怕遭遇風險。我們正是通過冒險才學會勇敢。
別以愛太難找到作為借口而緊閉你的心扉。最迅速找到愛的方法就
是給予你的愛;最快速失去愛的方法就是緊緊地守著你的愛不放;維持
愛的最好方式就是給愛一雙翅膀。
莫要匆忙度過你的一生,那匆忙讓你忘了曾經到過哪里,也讓你忘
了你要去哪里。
莫忘記,人類情感上最大的需要是感恩。
莫害怕學習。知識沒有重量,它是可以隨身攜帶的珍寶。莫要漫不經心地蹉跎光陰或口無遮攔。時間與言辭兩者都是一旦過
去,便覆水難收。
生命不是一場賽跑,而是每一步都要細細品味的旅程。
昨天已是歷史,明天還是未知,而今天則是上天的一個禮物:那就
是我們?yōu)槭裁捶Q它為“現在”(Present
)的原因。Life Is a Do-it-yourself Project
生活是一項為自己打造的工程
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his
plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with
his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he
needed to retire. They could get by.
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could
build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in
time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to
shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way
to end his career.
When the carpenter finished his work and the employer came to inspect
the house and handed the front-door key to the carpenter. This is your
house, he said, My gift to you.
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his
own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the
home he had built none too well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather
than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not
give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation wehave created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we
had realized, we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day
you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only
life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day
deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says,Life is a do-it-yourself project. Who could say it more clearly? Your life
tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
paycheck n. 薪水
shoddy adj. 劣質的,差的
distracted adj. 分心的,思想不集中的
有一位上了年紀的木匠準備退休了。他告訴老板他打算離開建筑行
業(yè),與老伴和兒孫們一起共享天倫之樂,過一種更悠然自得的生活。雖
然他因此而少了份薪水,但他得退休了。至于日子嘛,還可以湊合著
過。
眼看這位優(yōu)秀的木工就要離去,老板很遺憾。他問木工可否看在私
人的情面上幫忙再建一所房子。木工答應了,可明眼人一眼就看得出
來,此時他做事心不在焉,做出的活兒很粗糙,用的料也沒那么講究
了。他就這樣為自己的建筑生涯畫上了句號,真是令人遺憾。
房子建好后,老板過來看新房并將大門鑰匙交給木工,說:“這房
子歸你,我送給你的禮物!
多么讓人吃驚,多么讓人遺憾啊!假如他知道這房子是為自己造
的,他會做得大不一樣,F在他不得不住在自己建造的那所粗制濫造的
房子里了。
我們又何嘗不是如此呢?我們心浮氣躁地打造生活,不是主動工作而是被動應付,能將就則將就,關鍵的時候也沒盡心盡力。驀然回首,才驚訝地發(fā)現自己正住在自己建造的那所房子中,自食其果。早知如
此,何必當初!
就當你自己是那位木工吧。就當你在為自己建房,每天要釘釘、鋪
板、砌墻。如果你能這么想,那么你就用心地去建,而且你的生活也只
能這樣建造。哪怕你只在房子里生活一天,這一天也應該活得優(yōu)雅而體
面。墻上的銘匾寫道:“生活是一項為自己打造的工程!边有什么能比
這更清楚的呢?明天的生活,就是你今天的態(tài)度和抉擇的結果。Empty Your Cup
倒空你的杯子
A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the
master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured
the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched
the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. It's overfull!
No more will go in! The professor blurted. You are like this cup, the
master replied, How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.
Zen n. 禪,禪宗(佛教派派別之一,以專修禪定為主)
brim n. (杯)邊,緣
restrain v. 控制,克制
blurt v. 脫口而出
有位大學教授去拜訪一位頗有聲望的禪師。在禪師靜靜地為他沏茶
之時,教授談起了禪。禪師往客人的杯子里倒茶,茶滿而溢,但他仍然
不停。教授一直盯著那溢出的水杯,到最后他實在忍無可忍,脫口
道:“已經溢出來了!不能再往里面倒了!”禪師回應道:“你就跟這個
杯子一樣。你若不先將腹中騰空,我又如何向你展示禪呢。”Life Is All about Choices
生活充滿選擇
Henry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood
and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him
how he was doing, he would reply, If I were any better, I'd be twins! He
was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, Henry was there telling the
employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style
really made me curious, so one day I went up to Henry and asked him, I
don't get it. You can't be positive all the time. How do you do it?
Henry replied, Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Henry, you
have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can
choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time
something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or choose to learn from
it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I
can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of
life. I choose the positive side of life.
Yeah, right. It isn't that easy. I protested.
Yes, it is, Henry said. Life is all about choices. When you cut away
all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react tosituations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be
in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line is: It's your choice how you
live life. I reflected on what Henry said.
Soon thereafter, I left the big enterprise that I had worked in for years to
start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I
made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard
Henry was involved in a serious accident, falling off 60 feet from a
communications tower.
After 18 hours of surgery, and weeks of intensive care, Henry was
released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Henry about
six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, If I
were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars? I declined to see his
wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took
place.
The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my
soon-to-born daughter, Henry replied. Then, as I lay on the ground,remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to
die. I chose to live. Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness? I
asked. Henry continued, … the paramedics were great. They kept telling
me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the operation
room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got
really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He'd a dead man.' I knew I needed to take
action. What did you do? I asked. Well, there was a big burly nurse
shouting questions at me. said Henry. She asked me if I was allergic to
anything. 'Yes,' I said. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they
waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.' Over their
laughter, I told them, 'I'm choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, notdead.'
Henry lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his
amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have a choice to live
fully. Attitude is everything.
junk n. 無用的東西
rod n. 桿,棒
paramedic n. 急救醫(yī)士
burly adj. 壯實的,魁梧的
亨利是那種你真想恨一恨的家伙。他總是樂呵呵的,總是說些積極
上進的話。如果有人問他近況如何,他會這樣回答:“如果我還能再好
點的話,我想成雙胞胎!”他生來就會讓人積極進取。
如果哪位雇員有天過得很糟糕,亨利會告訴他們如何看待問題的積
極一面。他的這種方式著實讓我好奇,所以有一天我找到亨利問:“我
真弄不明白。你怎么能總是那樣積極樂觀?你是如何做到這一點的?”
亨利回答說:“每天早晨醒來時我對自己說,‘亨利,今天你有兩種
選擇。你可以選擇心情愉快,你也可以選擇心情糟糕!疫x擇心情愉
快。每次有什么不愉快的事情發(fā)生時,我可以選擇成為一個犧牲品,也
可以選擇從中吸取教訓。我選擇從中吸取教訓。每次有人來找我抱怨,我可以選擇接受他們的抱怨,也可以選擇向他們指出生活的積極面。我
選擇指出生活的積極面!
“是的,不錯?刹⒉荒敲慈菀籽!蔽冶硎井愖h。
“不,其實很容易,”亨利說,“生活就是選擇。每一情形剔除一切
枝節(jié)后所剩下的都是一種選擇。你選擇如何應對生活中的種種情形。你
選擇他人會怎樣影響你的情緒。你選擇是心情愉快還是心情糟糕。說到
底,如何生活是你自己的選擇!蔽易聊ブ嗬倪@席話。那以后不久,我離開了工作數年的那家大企業(yè)去創(chuàng)建自己的公司。
我們失去了聯系,但當我對生活做出選擇而非對它做出反應時,我時常
想起亨利。幾年之后,我聽說亨利遭遇一場嚴重事故,從一座通信塔的
60英尺高處掉了下來。
在經歷了18個小時的手術和數周的特別護理之后,亨利出院了,背
部打著鋼針。事故發(fā)生大約半年之后,我見到了亨利。當我問他怎么樣
時,他回答:“如果我還能再好點的話,我想成雙胞胎。想看看我的傷
疤嗎?”我拒絕看他的傷痕,但的確問了他事故發(fā)生時他是怎么想的。
“我首先想到的是我那即將出世的女兒的日子怎么過!焙嗬
道,“當時我躺在地上,我記起我有兩種選擇:我可以選擇活著,也可
以選擇死亡。我選擇了活著。”“你難道不害怕嗎?你失去知覺了
嗎?”我問。亨利接著說:“……那些急救人員棒極了。他們不停地告訴
我會沒事的。但當他們把我推進手術室,我看到醫(yī)生和護士臉上的表情
時,我真是嚇壞了。在他們的眼里,我讀出了‘他是個死人!抑牢
應該采取行動。”“你采取了什么行動?”我問道!坝幸晃蝗烁唏R大的護
士大聲沖我問問題,”亨利說,“她問我是否對什么過敏!堑摹!
說。醫(yī)生和護士都停下手中的活兒等我回答。我深吸一口氣大聲叫
道‘重力!麄兊男β曃戳耍腋嬖V他們,‘我選擇活著。把我當活人而
不是死人來做手術。’”
亨利活了下來,這要感謝那些醫(yī)生的高明醫(yī)術,但也要歸功于他那
令人贊嘆的態(tài)度。我從他那里懂得了我們每天都可以選擇充實地活著。
態(tài)度決定一切。Where There Is Life, There Is Hope
生命就是希望
When I was in the 8th
grade in California, a girl named Grace in my class
had a terrible accident. As she was running to the bus in order not to miss it,she slipped on some ice and fell under the rear wheels of the bus. She
survived the accident, but was paralyzed from the waist down. I went to see
her, in my 13-year-old mind thinking she wouldn't live normally from then
on.
Over the years, I moved and didn't think much about Grace after that.
Three years ago, in Florida, my oldest son was hit by a car while riding his
bike, causing a terrible brain injury. While I was looking after my son, a lady
who said she was the hospital's social worker called. It was a particularly
trying day. I burst into tears for no reason and hung up.
A short time later, a beautiful woman, in a wheelchair, rolled into my
son's room with a box of tissues. After 16 years, I still recognized Grace. She
smiled, handed me the tissues and hugged me. I told her who I was, and after
we both got through the shock of that, she began to tell me about her life
since we last saw each other. She had married, had children and got her
degree so that she could smooth the path for those less fortunate than her.
She told me that if there was anything she could give me, it would be hope.Looking at this wonderful, giving person, I felt small. But I also felt the
first hope I had felt since learning that my son was hurt. From this person that
I thought would have no quality of life, I learned that where there is life, there
is hope. My son miraculously recovered and we moved back north, but I owe
Grace a debt that I can never repay.
paralyze v. 使……癱瘓,使……麻痹
tissue n. 餐巾紙,手巾紙
fortunate adj. 幸運的
我在加州讀八年級時,班上有一個名叫格雷絲的女孩遭遇了一場嚴
重的車禍。當時她怕錯過公交車,急匆匆地跑過去,不慎踩到冰塊,滑
倒在后車輪下。她幸免于難,但腰部以下癱瘓了。去探望她時,當時13
歲的我想,從此以后,她再也不能正常地生活了。
數年后,我搬了家,從那以后再也沒怎么想起過格雷絲。三年前,在佛羅里達州,我的大兒子騎車時被汽車撞倒,腦部受到嚴重的創(chuàng)傷。
在我照顧兒子的期間,有一位女士打來電話,自稱是醫(yī)院義工。那天特
別難熬。我不知怎么地突然失聲痛哭,然后掛了電話。
不久,一位坐著輪椅的漂亮女士出現在兒子的病房,她手里拿著一
盒紙巾。16年以后,我仍然認出是格雷絲。她微笑著,遞紙巾給我并擁
抱了我。我告訴她自己是誰,我們倆為此都非常震驚。震驚過后,她開
始告訴我我們分別后她的生活經歷。她結婚生子,并獲得了學位,這樣
她能為那些比自己更不幸的人們鋪平道路。她告訴我,如果她有什么可
以給我的話,那就是“希望”。
看著這位了不起又樂于奉獻的女士,我深感渺小。但是,我也感受
到了自從得知兒子受傷后的第一絲希望。從這位我曾以為不會有生活質
量的人的身上,我明白了:只要有生命,就有希望。兒子奇跡般地康復了,我們又搬回了北方,但是,我欠格雷絲的情誼將永遠無法償還。Ambition
抱負
It is not difficult to imagine a world short of ambition. It would probably
be a kinder world: without demands, without abrasions, without
disappointments. People would have time for reflection. Such work as they
did would not be for themselves but for the collectivity. Competition would
never enter in. Conflict would be eliminated, tension become a thing of the
past. The stress of creation would be at an end. Art would no longer be
troubling, but purely celebratory in its functions. Longevity would be
increased, for fewer people would die of heart attack or stroke caused by
tumultuous endeavor. Anxiety would be extinct. Time would stretch on and
on, with ambition long departed from the human heart.
Ah, how unrelievedly boring life would be!
There is a strong view that holds that success is a myth, and ambition
therefore a sham. Does this mean that success does not really exist? That
achievement is at bottom empty? That the efforts of men and women are of
no significance alongside the force of movements and events? Now not all
success, obviously, is worth esteeming, nor all ambition worth cultivating.
Which are and which are not is something one soon enough learns on one's
own. But even the most cynical secretly admit that success exists; thatachievement counts for a great deal; and that the true myth is that the actions
of men and women are useless. To believe otherwise is to take on a point of
view that is likely to be deranging. It is, in its implications, to remove all
motives for competence, interest in attainment, and regard for posterity.
We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not
choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate
circumstances of our upbringing. We do not, most of us, choose to die, nor do
we choose the time or conditions of our death. But within all this realm of
choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live: courageously or in
cowardice, honorably or dishonorably, with purpose or in drift. We decide
what is important and what is trivial in life. We decide that what makes us
significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do. But no matter how
indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions, these choices
and decisions are ours to make. We decide. We choose. And as we decide
and choose, so are our lives formed. In the end, forming our own destiny is
what ambition is about.
abrasion n. 摩擦
tumultuous adj. 喧囂的,紛亂的
at bottom 實際上
derange v. 打亂
posterity n. 子孫,后裔
一個缺乏抱負的世界將會怎樣,這不難想象;蛟S,這將是一個更
為友善的世界:沒有渴求,沒有摩擦,沒有失望。人們將有時間進行反
思。他們所從事的工作將不是為了他們自身,而是為了整個集體。競爭
永遠不會介入;沖突將被消除;人們的緊張關系將成為過往云煙。創(chuàng)造的重壓將得以終結。藝術將不再惹人費神,其功能將純粹為了慶典。人
的壽命將會更長,因為越來越少的人會死于由激烈拼爭引起的心臟病和
中風。焦慮將會消失。時光流逝,抱負卻早已遠離人心。
啊,長此以往,人生將變得多么乏味無聊!
有一種盛行的觀點認為,成功是一種神話,因此抱負亦屬虛幻。這
是不是說成功實際上并不存在?成就本身就是一場空?與諸多運動和事件
的力量相比,男男女女的努力顯得微不足道?顯然,現在并非所有的成
功都值得景仰,也并非所有的抱負都值得追求。哪些值得,哪些不值
得,一個人自然而然很快就能明白。但即使是最為憤世嫉俗的人暗地里
也承認,成功確實存在,成就的意義舉足輕重,而把世上男男女女的所
作所為說成是徒勞無功,這才是真正的無稽之談。認為成功不存在的觀
點很可能造成混亂。這種觀點的本意是將所有提高能力的動機、求取業(yè)
績的興趣和對子孫后代的關注都一筆勾銷。
我們無法選擇出生,無法選擇父母,無法選擇出生的歷史時期與國
家,或是成長的周遭環(huán)境。我們大多數人都無法選擇死亡,也無法選擇
死亡的時間或條件。但是在這些無法選擇中,我們的確可以選擇自己的
生活方式:是勇敢無畏還是膽小怯懦,是光明磊落還是厚顏無恥,是目
標堅定還是隨波逐流。我們決定生活中哪些至關重要,哪些微不足道。
我們決定,用以顯示我們自身重要性的,不是我們做什么,就是我們拒
絕做什么。但是不論世界對我們所做的選擇和決定有多么漠不關心,這
些選擇和決定終究是我們自己做出的。我們決定,我們選擇。而當我們
決定和選擇時,我們的生活便得以形成。最終構筑我們命運的就是抱負
之所在。A Lesson in Life
生活的課堂
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by
means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity
all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be
events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved,straight, flat road to nowhere.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them.
For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being
cautious to who you open your heart to.
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because
they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your
heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it
everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it
again.
Talk to people who you have never talked to before, and actually listen.
Hold your head up because you have every right to.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for ifyou don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either.
You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and
then go out and live.
illness n. 疾;生病
injury n. 傷害
betray v. 背叛,對……不忠
萬事皆有因,沒有什么事是因巧合或運氣的好壞而發(fā)生的。
疾病、傷害、情愛、過往中真正的偉大和十足的愚蠢,都是對你靈
魂的考驗。如果沒有這些瑣碎的考驗,無論是事變、疾病或各種復雜的
關系,那么生活就會如同一條鋪設好了卻沒有目的地的平直道路。
若有人傷害你、背叛你、令你心碎,請寬恕他們!因為他們使你了
解信任以及向他人敞開心扉時要謹慎的重要性。
若有人愛你,要無條件地用愛回報他們。不僅因為他們愛你,更因
為他們是在教你如何去愛,是在讓你敞開心扉去感受、睜開雙眼去看,沒有他們,你將不會看到或感受過這些事物。
珍惜每一天。感激生命中的每一個瞬間,盡己所能從中汲取所需,因為你可能永遠無法再有這種經歷。
與你未曾交談過的人聊天吧,實際上要去傾聽。昂起頭,因為你完
全有權利這樣做。
告訴自己你是一個了不起的人,要相信自己。若你都不相信自己,別人就更不會相信你了。
你可以按自己的意愿去生活,創(chuàng)造你自己的人生,活出自我。Three Passions
三種激情
伯特蘭·羅素
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my
life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for
the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me
hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of anguish,reaching to the very verge of despair.
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy —so great that I
would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I
have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness — that terrible loneliness
in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the
cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the
union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the
heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though
it might seem too good for human life, this is what — at last — I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the
hearts of men. I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which
number holds sway above the flu. A little of this, but not much, I haveachieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward
the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of
pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by
oppressors, helpless old people — a hated burden to their sons, and the whole
world of loneliness, poverty and pain make a mockery of what human life
should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly
live it again if the chance were offered me.
thither adv. 那里;向那里
miniature n. 縮圖;小畫像
reverberate v. 回響
alleviate v. 減輕;使緩和
三種激情雖然簡單,卻異常強烈,它們統(tǒng)治著我的生命,那便是:
對愛的渴望,對知識的追求,以及對人類苦難的難以承受的同情。這三
種激情像變化莫測的狂風,任意地把我刮來刮去,把我刮入痛苦的深
海,到了絕望的邊緣。
我曾經尋找愛,首先是因為它能使我欣喜若狂——這種喜悅之情如
此強烈,使我常常寧愿為這幾個小時的愉悅而犧牲生命中的其他一切。
我尋求愛,其次是因為愛能解除孤獨——在這種可怕的孤獨中,一顆顫
抖的良心在世界的邊緣,注視著下面冰涼、毫無生氣、望不見底的深
淵。我尋求愛還因為在愛的融合中,我能以某種神秘的縮影看到曾被圣
人和詩人想象過的天堂里未來的景象。這就是我所追求的東西,雖然這
似乎對于人類的生命來說過于完美,但這確實是我最終發(fā)現的東西。我
懷著同樣的激情去尋找知識,我曾渴望理解人心,我還企圖弄懂畢達哥拉斯所謂的用數字控制變化的力量。但在這方面,我只知道一點點。
愛的力量和知識的力量引我接近天堂,但同情之心往往又把我拉回
大地。痛苦的哭泣回響、震蕩在我的心中。饑餓的兒童,被壓迫折磨的
人們,成為兒孫們討厭的包袱的無助的老人們,充斥著整個世界的孤
獨、貧窮和苦難,所有這一切都是對人類生活本該具有的樣子所做的諷
刺。我渴望消除一切邪惡,但我辦不到,因為我自己也處于苦難之中。
這就是我的生活,我認為值得一過。而且,如果還有機會,我將樂
意再過一次。The Real Meaning of Peace
寧靜的真諦
There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint
the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the
pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose
between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror
for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with
fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect of
peace.
The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare.
Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played.
Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not
look peaceful at all.
But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny
bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her
nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on
her nest — in perfect peace. The king chose the second picture.
Because, explained the king, peace does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst
of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning ofpeace.
tumble v. 翻騰
midst n. 中間,當中
從前有個國王,他設立獎項想找到一個能夠把“寧靜”畫得出神入化
的畫家。很多畫家都躍躍欲試。可當國王看過他們所有的作品后,覺得
真正讓他喜歡的只有兩幅。他要從中選出最好的。一幅畫得是平靜的湖
泊,它就像一面鏡子,周圍環(huán)繞的高山寧靜地倒映其上,頭上湛藍的天
空飄著朵朵白云。凡是看過這幅畫的人都認為這是一幅把寧靜表現得最
完美的畫卷。
另一幅畫也有山脈,但崎嶇不平,而且寸草不生。上面是烏云密布
的天空,大雨如注,電閃雷鳴。一條瀑布從山的一側直泄下來,飛沫四
濺。這樣的畫面看起來一點兒也不寧靜。
然而當國王仔細看過這幅畫后,才發(fā)現在瀑布后面的巖石縫隙里長
著一棵小小的灌木。鳥媽媽把家安在了這里。在洶涌澎湃的水流中,她
正守在自己的巢穴中——如此平靜。國王選擇了第二幅。
“因為”,國王解釋道,“寧靜并不是指沒有噪音、沒有煩惱、沒有
艱辛,而是指當你周圍所有這些喧囂因素都存在的時候,你的心依然能
夠靜如止水。這才是寧靜的真諦!盚owever Mean Your Life Is
無論你的生活如何卑微
亨利·戴維·梭羅
However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shirk it and call it
hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest.
The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise.
Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant,thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected
from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man's abode;
the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet
mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a
palace. The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives
of any. Maybe they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving.
Most think that they are above being supported by the town; but it oftener
happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means,which should be more disreputable. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like
sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or
friends. Turn the old; return to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell
your clothes and keep your thoughts. God will see that you do not wantsociety. If I were confined to a corner of garret all my days, like a spider, the
world would be just as large to me while I had my thoughts about me. The
philosopher said, From an army of three divisions one can take away its
general, and put it in disorder; from the man the most abject and vulgar one
cannot take away his thought. Do not seek so anxiously to be developed, to
subject yourself to many influences to be played on; it is all dissipation.
Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly lights. The shadows of poverty
and meanness gather around us, and lo! Creation widens to our view. We
are often reminded that if there were bestowed on us the wealth of Croesus,our aims must still be the same, and our means essentially the same.
Moreover, if you are restricted in your range by poverty, if you cannot buy
books and newspapers, for instance, you are but confined to the most
significant and vital experiences; you are compelled to deal with the material
which yields the most sugar and the most starch. It is life near the bone where
it is sweetest. You are defended from being a trifler. No man loses ever on a
lower level by magnanimity on a higher. Superfluous wealth can buy
superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.
I live in the angle of a leaden wall, into whose composition was poured a
little alloy of bell-metal. Often, in the repose of my mid-day, there reaches
my ears a confused tintinnabulum from without. It is the noise of my
contemporaries. My neighbors tell me of their adventures with famous
gentlemen and ladies, what notabilities they met at the dinner-table; but I am
no more interested in such things than in the contents of the Daily Times. The
interest and the conversation are about costume and manners chiefly; but a
goose is a goose still, dress it as you will. They tell me of California and
Texas, of England and the Indies, of the Hon. Mr. — of Georgia or of
Massachusetts, all transient and fleeting phenomena, till I am ready to leapfrom their courtyard like the Mameluke bey.
I delight to come to my bearings — not walk in procession with pomp
and parade, in a conspicuous place, but to walk even with the Builder of the
universe, if I may — not to live in this restless, nervous, bustling, trivial
Nineteenth Century, but stand or sit thoughtfully while it goes by. What are
men celebrating? They are all on a committee of arrangements, and hourly
expect a speech from somebody. God is only the president of the day, and
Webster is his orator. I love to weigh, to settle, to gravitate toward that which
most strongly and rightfully attracts me — not hang by the beam of the scale
and try to weigh less — not suppose a case, but take the case that is; to travel
the only path I can, and that on which no power can resist me. It affords me
no satisfaction to commence to spring an arch before I have got a solid
foundation. There is a solid bottom everywhere. We read that the traveler
asked the boy if the swamp before him had a hard bottom. The boy replied
that it had. But presently the traveler's horse sank in up to the girths, and he
observed to the boy, I thought you said that this bog had a hard bottom. So
it has, answered the latter, but you have not got half way to it yet. So it is
with the bogs and quicksands of society; but he is an old boy that knows it.
Only what is thought, said, or done at a certain rare coincidence is good. I
would not be one of those who will foolishly drive a nail into mere lath and
plastering; such a deed would keep me awake nights. Give me a hammer, and
let me feel for the furring. Do not depend on the putty. Drive a nail home and
clinch it so faithfully that you can wake up in the night and think of your
work with satisfactory — a work at which you would not be ashamed to
invoke the Muse. So will help you God, and so only. Every nail driven
should be as another rivet in the machine of the universe, you carrying on the
work.Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. I sat at a table
where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but
sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable
board. The hospitality was as cold as the ices. I thought that there was no
need of ice to freeze them. They talked to me of the age of the wine and the
fame of the vintage; but I thought of an older, a newer, and purer wine, of a
more glorious vintage, which they had not got, and could not buy. The style,the house and grounds and entertainment pass for nothing with me. I called
on the king, but he made me wait in his hall, and conducted like a man
incapacitated for hospitality. There was a man in my neighborhood who lived
in a hollow tree. His manners were truly regal. I should have done better had
I called on him.
almshouse n. 貧民所,救濟院
transient adj. 短暫的;一時的
invoke v. 懇求,祈求,乞求
obsequious adj. 諂媚的,奉承的
不管你的生活如何卑微,你都要正視它,生活下去;不要逃避生
活,也不要惡語相加。你的生活并不像你想象得那么糟糕。當你最富有
的時候,生活反倒看似最貧窮。吹毛求疵的人即使在天堂也能挑出毛
病。
雖然生活清貧,也要熱愛生活。即便身處濟貧院,你也可能會擁有
一段快樂、激動、燦爛的時光。夕陽映在濟貧院的窗上,與照在富貴人
家寓所上一樣光亮;到了早春,門前的積雪同樣融化。我只看到:一個
心態(tài)平靜的人,在那里也像在皇宮中一樣,生活得心滿意足而富有愉快
的思想。在我看來,城鎮(zhèn)中的貧民倒往往過著最獨立不羈的生活。也許他們只是很偉大,所以受之無愧。大部分人對城鎮(zhèn)的恩惠不屑一顧,可
實際上,他們往往是利用了不正當的手段來維持生活,這應該讓他們更
為聲名狼藉。像圣賢一樣,視貧窮如園中之花去培育吧。沒必要不辭辛
苦地去獲取新東西,不管是衣服還是朋友,把舊的翻新,回到它們的懷
抱。世間萬物不會變化,變的是我們?梢再u掉自己的衣服,但要保留
自己的思想。上帝會見證,你并不想融入社會。如果我整日被局限在閣
樓的角落,如同一只蜘蛛,可只要我還有自己的思想,那么世界還如原
來那樣大。一位哲人曾說過:“三軍可奪帥也,匹夫不可奪志也!辈灰
迫切謀求自己的發(fā)展,不要讓各種影響干擾自己,這一切都會消散。因
為謙卑如同黑暗,暴露出天國之光。貧窮與卑賤的陰云圍繞著我
們,“看啊!天地萬物在我們的眼界中擴大了!蔽覀兂31惶嵝眩绻
上天賦予我們克里薩斯相同的財富,我們的目標必須依舊保持不變,我
們的手段也不會改變。此外,如果貧困束縛了你,例如,你沒錢買書和
報紙,每天只是忙于應付柴米油鹽這些最基本的生活需求;你被迫食用
那些高糖高淀粉的食品。越貧困的生活就越甜美,你不會再成為一個不
務正業(yè)的人。寬宏大量,讓曾在較低層次的人到了較高層次也不會失去
什么。過多的財富只能買到多余的物品,而人的靈魂所需并不需要用金
錢來購買。
我住在一堵鉛墻的角落里,而且鉛墻里還灌注了一點鐘銅的合金。
每當我正午休息時,陣陣雜亂無章的喧鬧聲經常從外面?zhèn)魅胛业亩洹?br/>
這噪音源自我的同代人。我的鄰居向我講述他們的奇遇,都是和那些知
名的紳士淑女有關,如他們在宴會桌上遇到了哪些顯要人物。但是我對
這些事情根本沒有興趣,就如同《每日時報》的內容一樣乏味。服飾打
扮和禮儀舉止是興趣和談話的主題,但是任你怎么刻意裝扮,呆頭鵝總
歸是呆頭鵝。他們向我講述加利福尼亞和德克薩斯,英格蘭和印度群
島,來自佐治亞或馬薩諸塞的尊敬的某某先生——全是過眼煙云,我終
于無法忍受,差點要像馬穆魯克大人一樣從他們的庭院中偷偷溜走。我喜歡處在我自己的世界——不愿引人注目地走在盛大的游行慶祝
隊伍中,而想與宇宙的創(chuàng)造者平等地同行,假如可以的話;我不想生活
在這個煩躁不安、神經兮兮、熙熙攘攘、淺薄輕浮的19世紀,而想伴著
19世紀一天天地流逝,或立或坐,思考著。人們在慶祝什么呢?他們都
成了某個籌備委員會成員,時刻期待著某個大人物的演說。上帝不過是
今天的輪值主席,而韋伯斯特才是他的演說家。對于那些強烈地、正確
地吸引我的事物,我喜愛對它們進行權衡、解決并向其靠攏——不是放
在秤桿上,嘗試減輕重量——不妄加推測,而是完全根據實際情況。在
那條我能走的唯一道路上繼續(xù)前行。在這條路上,我可以戰(zhàn)勝任何力
量。在擁有堅實穩(wěn)固的基礎之前,就開始建造起一座拱門,這不會讓我
感到絲毫滿足。所有地方的底部都是結實的。我們從書中讀到:旅行者
問男孩,前方的沼澤底部是否堅固。男孩回答道:“是堅固的。”可是沒
多久,旅行者的馬便深陷沼澤,不一會兒就到了馬的腰部。他對男孩
說,“我本以為你說這塊沼澤的底部是堅固的……”“是堅固的啊,”男孩
回答,“可是你還沒有觸到它的一半深呢!鄙鐣哪嗾雍土魃骋彩沁@個
道理,但是只有老成的人才知曉這一點。只有在一些少有的巧合中,人
們的所想、所言、所為才是正確的。有一些人愚蠢地只知道是將釘子釘
入板條和灰泥中,我可不想與他們?yōu)槲椋灰悄敲醋,我會徹夜難眠。
給我一把錘子,讓我感受一下釘板條的感覺。不要依靠油灰狀的膩子。
釘入一只釘子,就釘得結結實實,這樣就算是在半夜醒來,一想到自己
的工作,你也會心滿意足——即便請來繆斯女神,你對這件工作也沒有
愧疚。這么做,而且只有這么做,上帝才會伸出援助之手。釘入的每顆
釘子,都應像宇宙機器中的鉚釘一樣牢固,你的工作才能繼續(xù)下去。
我不在乎愛、金錢、名譽,我只要真理。我坐在擺滿佳肴美酒的桌
旁,身邊有諂媚的侍從,但是卻少于真誠和真理。我便餓著肚子轉身離
開這冷漠的餐桌。這種盛情如冰一樣寒冷,我想無需再用冰塊來凍結它
們。他們告訴我葡萄美酒的年份和產地的名望,而我卻想起了一種更年深月久且更新更純、更光榮的佳釀,可他們手上沒有,也無法買到。我
把他們的風格、豪宅、庭園和“娛樂”當做草芥。我去拜見國王,他卻讓
我在客廳等候,他的行為如同喪失了好客能力似的。我的一個鄰居住在
樹洞里,他的舉止才是真正的王者。我要是去拜訪他,肯定會做得好得
多。Catch the Star That Will Take You to your Dreams
摘取夢想的啟明星
Catch the star that holds your destiny, the one that forever twinkles
within your heart. Take advantage of precious opportunities while they still
sparkle before you. Always believe that your ultimate goal is attainable as
long as you commit yourself to it.
Though barriers may sometimes stand in the way of your dreams,remember that your destiny is hiding behind them. Accept the fact that not
everyone is going to approve of the choices you've made, have faith in your
judgment, catch the star that twinkles in your heart, and it will lead you to
your destiny's path. Follow that pathway and uncover the sweet sunrises that
await you.
Take pride in your accomplishments, as they are stepping stones to
your dreams. Understand that you may make mistakes, but don't let them
discourage you. Value your capabilities and talents for they are what make
you truly unique. The greatest gifts in life are not purchased, but acquired
through hard work and determination. Finding the star that twinkles in your
heart for you alone are capable of making your brightest dreams come true.
twinkle v. 閃爍,閃亮sparkle v. 發(fā)光,閃耀
stand in the way 妨礙,擋住……的路
accomplishment n. 成就,才藝
摘取把握命運的星星,那是一顆永遠會在你心里閃爍的星星。當它
們還在你眼前熠熠生輝的時候,要好好利用這些寶貴的機遇。要始終相
信,只要全身心投入,你的終極目標一定會實現。
有時候,盡管在通往夢想的道路上會出現各種障礙,但要記住,你
的命運就在這些障礙的背后藏身。接受這樣一個事實,不是每個人都會
贊同你所作出的選擇,相信自己的判斷,摘取閃爍于你內心的星星,它
將引領你走向命運之路。沿路前行,美好的日出正等著你,快去揭開她
的面紗吧。
以你的才能造詣為傲,因為那是你實現夢想的階石。要懂得自己可
能會犯錯誤,但不要讓這些錯誤將你擊垮。重視自身的能力和天賦,因
為它們真正能讓你與眾不同。生活中最美好的禮物不是買來的,而是從
努力工作和堅定的決心中獲得的。找到那顆只在你一個人心里閃爍的星
星,會使你得以實現那些最耀眼、最璀璨的夢想。Think of What You Have
想想你所擁有的
In over a dozen years as a stress consultant, the most pervasive and
destructive mental tendencies I've seen is that of focusing on what we want
instead of what we have. It doesn't seem to make any difference how much
we have; we just keep expanding our list of desires, which guarantees we
will remain dissatisfied. The mind-set that says I'll be happy when this
desire is fulfilled is the same mind-set that will repeat itself once that desire
is met.
A friend of ours closed escrow on his new home on a Sunday. The very
next time we saw him he was talking about his next house that was going to
be even bigger. He isn't alone. Most of us do the very same thing. We want
this or that. If we don't get what we want, we keep thinking about all that we
don't have — and we remain dissatisfied. If we do get what we want, we
simply recreate the same thinking in our new circumstances. So, despite
getting what we want, we still remain unhappy. Happiness can't be found
when we are yearning for new desires.
Luckily, there is a way to be happy. It involves changing the emphasis
of our thinking from what we want to what we have. Rather than wishing
your spouse was different, try thinking about her wonderful qualities. Insteadof complaining about your salary, be grateful that you have a job. Rather than
wishing you were able to take a vacation to Hawaii, think of how much fun
you have had close to home. The list of possibilities is endless. Each time you
notice yourself falling into the I wish life were different trap, back off and
start over. Take a breath and remember all that you have. When you focus not
on what you want, but on what you have, you end up getting more of what
you want anyway. If you focus on the good qualities of your spouse, she'll be
more loving. If you are grateful for your job rather than complaining about it,you'll do a better job, be more productive, and probably end up getting a raise
any way. If you focus on ways to enjoy yourself around home rather than
waiting to enjoy yourself in Hawaii, you'll end up having more fun. If you
ever do get to Hawaii, you'll be in the habit of enjoying yourself. And, if by
some chance you don't, you'll have a great life anyway.
Make a note to yourself to start thinking more about what you have than
what you want. If you do, your life will start appearing much better than
before. For perhaps the first time in your life, you'll know what it means to
feel satisfied.
destructive adj. 破壞的;消極的,有害的
guarantee v. 擔保,保證
dissatisfied adj. 不滿意的;不高興的
做了十幾年的心理壓力顧問,我所見到的最為普遍也最具破壞性的
心理趨向,就是一味地盯著我們想要得到的,而不是我們已經擁有的。
我們擁有多少似乎并不重要,我們只是不斷擴大自己的欲望清單,而這
就注定我們始終得不到滿足!皩崿F這個欲望我就會幸!薄@種心態(tài)
在欲望達成之后又會重現。我們的一位朋友剛剛在某個星期天履行完他新房子的契約。當我們
又一次見到他的時候,他又談道他的下一棟房子一定會更大。他這樣的
人并不少,我們中大多數人所做的事情都與此類似。我們想要這個想要
那個,如果我們得不到自己想要的,就會不停地想我們沒有的——于是
我們就總是不滿足?扇绻覀冋娴牡玫搅俗约合胍模谛碌那闆r
下,這種同樣的想法又會重現在我們的腦海里面。于是,盡管得到了自
己想要的,我們依然不快活。只要我們不斷地追求新的渴望,便無從找
尋幸福。
幸運的是,有一種辦法能讓我們幸福,這便是把我們考慮的重點從
我們想要得到的轉到我們已經擁有的上面來。與其希望你的配偶應該有
所不同,不妨想想她擁有的一些可愛的品質。與其抱怨你的薪水,不妨
感激你有一份工作。與其希望你能夠去夏威夷度假,不妨想想你在家門
口已找到了多少樂趣。這種可能性的單子是列不完的。每當發(fā)現自己落
入“我多么希望擁有另一種生活”這一陷阱時,趕緊抽身重新想一想。吸
一口氣,記住你所擁有的。如果你注重的是自己所擁有的而非想要得到
的,你最終得到的會比你想要的更多。如果你注重的是你的配偶的良好
品質,她會更加溫柔體貼。如果你對你的工作心存感激而非一味抱怨,你會做得更好,取得更多成就,或許最終也會加薪。如果你琢磨的是如
何在家門口玩得開心,而非等著去夏威夷玩兒,你最終得到的樂趣就會
更多。如果你真能去成夏威夷,那么你出于習慣會玩得更加痛快。即使
由于某些原因你沒能去成,你的生活依然會豐富多彩。
記住要開始多想想自己已經擁有的而不是自己渴望得到的。如果你
能做到,你的生活就會開始變得比以往更加美好。也許這是生平第一
次,你會知道什么才是真正的滿足。
注釋 編者注:present在英語中既有“現在”的意思,又有“禮物”的意思。Human Life Is like a Poem
人生如詩You Are What You Do
你即你所為
If the past has taught us anything, it is that every cause brings effect —
every action has a consequence. This thought, in my opinion, is the moral
foundation of the universe; it applies equally in this world and the next.
We Chinese have a saying: If a man plants melons, he will reap
melons; if he sows beans, he will reap beans. And this is true of every man's
life: good begets good, and evil leads to evil.
True enough, the sun shines on the saint and sinner alike, and too often
it seems that the wicked wax and prosper. But we can say with certitude
that, with the individual as with the nation, the flourishing of the wicked is an
illusion, for, unceasingly, life keeps books on us all.
In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions. Character cannot be
counterfeited, nor can it be put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet
the whim of the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in
the very heart of the tree, character requires time and nurture for growth and
development.
Thus also day by day, we write our own destiny, for inexorably we
become what we do. This, I believe, is the supreme logic and law of life.wax v. 增強,增加
certitude n. 確實,確信
counterfeit v. 偽造,假冒
inexorably adv. 無情地
如果過去的日子曾經教過我們一些什么的話,那便是有因必有果
——每一個行為都有一種結果。依我之見,這種觀念是宇宙的道德基
礎;它也同樣適用于今生和來世。
我們中國人有句諺語說:“種瓜得瓜,種豆得豆。”這也適用于每個
人的生活:善有善報,惡有惡報。
的確,圣人與罪人皆會受到陽光的披澤,而且常常似乎是惡者大行
其道。但是我們可以確定地說,不管是對個人或是對國家而言,惡人猖
獗只是一種幻象,因為生命無時無刻不將我們的所作所為一筆一筆記錄
下來。
最終,我們就是我們行為的總和。品德是無法偽造的,也無法像衣
服一樣隨興地穿上或丟在一旁。就像木頭紋路源自樹木的中心,品德的
成長與發(fā)育也需要時間和滋養(yǎng)。
也因此,我們日復一日地寫下自身的命運,因為我們的所為毫不留
情地決定我們的命運。我相信,這就是人生的最高邏輯和法則。Human Life Is like a Poem
人生如詩
I think that, from a biological standpoint, human life almost reads like a
poem. It has its own rhythm and beat, its internal cycles of growth and decay.
It begins with innocent childhood, followed by awkward adolescence trying
awkwardly to adapt itself to mature society, with its young passions and
follies, its ideals and ambitions; then it reaches a manhood of intense
activities, profiting from experience and learning more about society and
human nature; at middle age, there is a slight easing of tension, a mellowing
of character like the ripening of fruit or the mellowing of good wine, and the
gradual acquiring of a more tolerant, more cynical and at the same time a
kindlier view of life; then in the sunset of our life, the endocrine glands
decrease their activity, and if we have a true philosophy of old age and have
ordered our life pattern according to it, it is for us the age of peace and
security and leisure and contentment; finally, life flickers out and one goes
into eternal sleep, never to wake up again.
One should be able to sense the beauty of this rhythm of life, to
appreciate, as we do in grand symphonies, its main theme, its strains of
conflict and the final resolution. The movements of these cycles are very
much the same in a normal life, but the music must be provided by theindividual himself. In some souls, the discordant note becomes harsher and
harsher and finally overwhelms or submerges the main melody. Sometimes
the discordant note gains so much power that the music can no longer go on,and the individual shoots himself with a pistol or jump into a river. But that is
because his original leitmotif has been hopelessly over-shadowed through the
lack of a good self-education. Otherwise the normal human life runs to its
normal end in a kind of dignified movement and procession. There are
sometimes in many of us too many staccatos or impetuosos, and because the
tempo is wrong, the music is not pleasing to the ear; we might have more of
the grand rhythm and majestic tempo of the Ganges, flowing slowly and
eternally into the sea.
No one can say that a life with childhood, manhood and old age is not a
beautiful arrangement; the day has its morning, noon and sunset, and the year
has its seasons, and it is good that it is so. There is no good or bad in life,except what is good according to its own season. And if we take this
biological view of life and try to live according to the seasons, no one but a
conceited fool or an impossible idealist can deny that human life can be lived
like a poem. Shakespeare has expressed this idea more graphically in his
passage about the seven stages of life, and a good many Chinese writers have
said about the same thing. It is curious that Shakespeare was never very
religious, or very much concerned with religion. I think this was his
greatness; he took human life largely as it was, and intruded himself as little
upon the general scheme of things as he did upon the characters of his plays.
Shakespeare was like Nature itself, and that is the greatest compliment we
can pay to a writer or thinker. He merely lived, observed life and went away.
endocrine gland 內分泌腺leitmotif n. 主樂調
staccato n. 斷奏
impetuoso n. <音>[意大利語]強音
the Ganges 恒河
我以為,從生物學角度看,人的一生恰如詩歌。人生自有其韻律和
節(jié)奏,自有內在的生長與衰亡周期。人生始于無邪的童年,經過少年的
青澀,帶著激情與愚笨、理想與雄心,笨拙而努力地走向成熟;后來人
到壯年,經歷漸廣,涉世漸深,閱人漸多,收益也漸大;及至中年,人
生的緊張稍得舒緩,人的性格日漸成熟,如芳馥之果實、如醇美之佳
釀,逐漸更具容忍之心,雖亦憤世嫉俗,但對人生的態(tài)度趨于和善;再
后來就是人生遲暮,內分泌系統(tǒng)活動減少,若此時吾輩已經悟得老年真
諦,并據此安排殘年,那生活將平和、安定、閑適而知足;終于,生命
之燭搖曳熄滅,人開始永恒的長眠,不再醒來。
人們當能夠感受生命韻律之美,像聽宏偉的交響樂一樣,欣賞其主
旋律、激昂的高潮和舒緩的尾聲。這些周而復始的樂章對于我們的生命
都大同小異,但個人的樂曲必須由自己去譜寫。在某些人心中,不和諧
音會越來越刺耳,最終竟能掩蓋主曲;有時不和諧音會獲得巨大的能
量,令樂曲不能繼續(xù),這時人們或舉槍自殺或投河自盡。這是他最初的
主題被無望地遮蔽,只因他缺少良好的自我教育。否則,常人將以體面
的運動和進程走向既定的終點。在我們很多人心中時常會有太多的斷奏
或強音,那是因為節(jié)奏錯了,生命的樂曲便不再悅耳。我們應該如恒
河,學她氣勢恢宏而永不停息地緩緩流向大海。
人生有童年、成年和老年,誰也不能否認這是一種美好的安排。一
天要有清晨、正午和日落,一年要有四季之分,如此才好。人生本無好
壞之分,只是各個季節(jié)有各自的好處。如若我們對生活持此種生物學的
觀點,并循著季節(jié)去生活,除了狂妄自大的傻瓜和無可救藥的理想主義者,誰能說人生不能像詩一般度過呢。莎翁在他的一段話中更為形象地
闡述了人生分七個階段的觀點,很多中國作家也說過類似的話。奇怪的
是,莎士比亞從不是虔誠的宗教徒,也不怎么關心宗教。我想這正是他
的偉大之處,他對人生秉著順其自然的態(tài)度,他對生活總體設計的干涉
和改動很少,正如他對戲劇人物那樣。莎翁就像自然本身一樣,這是我
們能給作家或思想家的最高褒獎。對人生,他只是一路經歷著、觀察
著,然后便離我們遠去了。If the Dream Is Big Enough
心中有目標,風雨不折腰
I used to watch her from my kitchen window; she seemed so small as
she muscled her way through the crowd of boys on the playground. The
school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids
as they played during recess. A sea of children, and yet to me, she stood out
from them all.
I remember the first day I saw her playing basketball. I watched in
wonder as she ran circles around the other kids. She managed to shoot jump
shots just over their heads and into the net. The boys always tried to stop her
but no one could.
I began to notice her at other times, basketball in hand, playing alone.
She would practice dribbing and shooting over and over again, sometimes
until dark. One day I asked her why she practiced so much. She looked
directly in my eyes and without a moment of hesitation she said, I want to
go to college. The only way I can go is if I get a scholarship. I like basketball.
I decided that if I were good enough, I would get a scholarship. I am going to
play college basketball. I want to be the best. My daddy told me if the dream
is big enough, the facts don't count. Then she smiled and ran towards the
court to recap the routine I had seen over and over again.Well, I had to give it to her — she was determined. I watched her
through those junior high years and into high school. Every week, she led her
varsity team to victory.
One day in her senior year, I saw her sitting in the grass, head cradled in
her arms. I walked across the street and sat down in the cool grass beside her.
Quietly I asked what was wrong. Oh, nothing, came a soft reply, I am just
too short. The coach told her that at 5.5, she would probably never get to
play for a top ranked team much less offered a scholarship —so she should
stop dreaming about college.
She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat tighten as I sensed her
disappointment. I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet.
She lifted her head from her hands and told me that her father said those
coaches were wrong. They just did not understand the power of a dream. He
told her that if she really wanted to play for a good college, if she truly
wanted a scholarship, that nothing could stop her except one thing—her own
attitude. He told her again, If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count.
The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California
Championship game, she was seen by a college recruiter. She was indeed
offered a scholarship, a full ride, to a Division I, NCAA women's basketball
team. She was going to get the college education that she had dreamed of and
worked toward for all those years.
It's true: If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count.
recess n. 休息;學校的假期
recap v. 重演;再現
varsity n. (學校的)校隊,代表隊我以前常常從廚房的窗戶看到她。她穿梭于操場上的一群男孩子中
間,顯得那么矮小。學校在我家的街對面,我可以經?吹胶⒆觽冊谙
課時間打球。操場上有很多孩子,但在我眼里,她顯得與眾不同。
我記得第一天看到她打籃球的情景?粗谄渌⒆优赃叾祦磙D
去,我感到十分驚奇。她總是設法跳起投籃,球恰好越過那些孩子的頭
頂飛入籃筐。那些男孩總是設法阻止她,但沒有人可以做得到。
我開始注意到有時候,她手里拿著籃球在一個人打。她一遍遍地練
習運球和投籃,有時直到天黑。有一天我問她為什么這么刻苦地練習。
她直視著我的眼睛,不假思索地說:“我想上大學。只有獲得獎學金我
才能上大學。我喜歡打籃球。我想只要我打得好,我就能獲得獎學金。
我要到大學校隊去打籃球。我想成為最棒的球員。我爸爸告訴我說,心
中有目標,風雨不折腰。”說完她笑了笑,跑向籃球場,又開始我之前
見過的一遍又一遍的練習。
嘿,我服了她了——她是下定決心了。我看著她這些年從初中升到
高中。每個星期,她帶領的校隊都能夠獲勝。
高中時的某一天,我看見她坐在草地上,雙臂抱著頭。我穿過街
道,坐到她旁邊清涼的草地上。我輕輕地問出什么事了!芭,沒什
么,”她輕聲回答,“只是我太矮了!痹瓉斫叹毟嬖V她,以五英尺五英
寸的身材,她幾乎不會有機會到一流的球隊去打球的——更不用說獲得
獎學金了——所以她應該放棄上大學的夢想。
她很傷心,我也覺得喉嚨發(fā)緊,因為她的那種失望我能感同身受。
我問她是否與她的爸爸談過這件事。
她從臂彎里抬起頭,告訴我,她爸爸說那些教練錯了。他們根本就
不懂夢想的力量。他告訴她,如果她真想到一所好的大學去打籃球,如
果真想獲得獎學金,什么都不能阻止她,除非她自己不愿意。他又一次
跟她說:“心中有目標,風雨不折腰。”
第二年,當她和她的球隊去參加北加利福尼亞州冠軍賽時,她被一位大學的招生人員看中了。她真的獲得了獎學金,而且還是全額獎學
金,并進入了全國大學生體育協會的一隊——女子甲組籃球隊。在那
里,她將開始她曾經夢想并為之奮斗多年的大學生活。
是的,心中有目標,風雨不折腰。The Love in That Summer
愛在那個夏天
She was fond of Strauss, KFC, and Brazil Espresso. Dressed in decent
grey skirt suit, she was busy working in a modernized office. That was her
life before meeting me. Ever since our dating all those have vanished.
It was in 1997 when I started my so-called great business. She
followed me wholeheartedly. That summer came early. Flowers dyed the
town dazzlingly red. We stayed in the outskirts, in a small room of a condo
known as an illegal structure of this city. Wind blew through all the four
walls into the room, then home of her and me.
In order to save money, we walked to our store downtown every day.
Lunches were always simple like doggie food, worth no more than 1.5 yuan
for each of us. We walked back home at the end of the day, so beat that all
we wanted was collapse into bed. It seemed that we make it through one
whole year this way.
Those days were bitter. Business was my totem; love was her belief.
Both supported us from falling apart.
We walked home late one day. She sat at the bed edge, washing her feet
in a bucket on the floor. I went to the landlord for boiled water to make
instant noodle. When I got back carrying a thermos bottle, she fell back intothe bed sound asleep, feet in water. She must have been extremely
exhausted. One of her hands was under her body. I heard her light snore. I
tiptoed to the bed and tried to flip her over so that she would be in a more
comfortable position. I stared at her face, which was a young and pretty one
and yet so wearied and exhausted. I saw one mosquito on this pretty face.
That summer my city was like a huge steamer box. We put off one day
to another the plan to buy a mosquito net, just to save money. I knew
mosquitoes were flying all about in our room, but I seemed not to be
bothered. So exhausted when I got back each day, I doubted if I would wake
up even though someone cut a piece of flesh off my body, let alone mosquito
bites.
That mosquito stayed at her forehead, sipping her blood greedily. She
was still sound asleep, not feeling anything. Perhaps she was in a sweet
dream in which our business was turning better. There came an abrupt throb
of my heart. I reached to wave my hand at the mosquito. But it was not at all
scared. I wanted to bat it to death. I raised my hand up high, but it could not
descend. I was afraid of waking her up —she was really worn out.
There lay a weak mosquito between her and me, doing harm to her right
now. I froze there, hand in the air. I did not know what to do. I was worried.
Suddenly, I began to get deeply fed up with myself. I hated me. On the night
of that summer, I stood by her side, feeling extremely guilty of her, of our
love. The mosquito finally flew away. I forgave it, but I could never forgive
myself.
In the daytime I went by a peddler's stall and saw a pink mosquito net
priced 16 yuan. That amount could be spent on a lot of dealings at the time. I
headed back home without buying it. After she fell asleep, I got out of bed,stood by her side, and waved away mosquitoes with a hard paper board as aweapon. I was her temporary mosquito net all that night through. After a
while she woke up to find what I was doing. She gazed at me, and ten
minutes later tears flooded her face.
The next day saw a pink mosquito net in my room. We were both silent
working together to fix it on our bed. In my mind I had presented the net as a
gift to her. I did not tell her that it was a gift. I was feeling that it was like a
rose in full bloom. It was my compensation to love. Then I realized that
nothing could really make it up. It was her birthday that day.
Years went by. I earned 160,000 yuan, or precisely we earned 160,000
yuan. We did a lot of shopping, but never a mosquito net any more. We did
not need any mosquito net, living in a very well decorated apartment, where
no mosquitoes could fly inside. Nevertheless, I always feel that all my
money, and all my belongings are far less important than the 16-yuan
mosquito net, which was invaluable to her, to our love.
That summer was past. We had no choice but to love each other.
decent adj. 得體的;相當好的
exhausted adj. 疲憊的
mosquito n. 蚊子
guilty adj. 內疚的,有罪的
flood v. 涌到;充滿
她喜歡聽施特勞斯,吃肯德基,喝巴西特濃咖啡,穿著得體的灰色
套裙在現代化的寫字樓里忙碌。但那只是她遇見我之前的生活。后來,自從她與我相戀,這一切便消失了。
那是在1997年,我開始了自己所謂的大事業(yè),她跟著我,義無反
顧。那個夏天來得很早,花兒染得城市一片彤紅。我們住在市郊,一個屬于該城非法公寓的小屋,四壁透風。那是我倆暫時的家。
為了省錢,每天我們步行至市區(qū)的店鋪,午飯總是像狗糧一樣簡
單,每人不超過一塊五毛錢,晚上再步行回來,疲憊不堪只想倒在床
上。好像整整一年,我們都是這樣熬過來的。
那是一段艱苦而心酸的日子。那時,事業(yè)是我的圖騰,愛情是她的
信仰。這就是支撐我們沒有倒下去的全部。
有一次,我們很晚才步行回家。她坐在床沿用水桶洗腳,我去房東
那里討開水泡面。當我提著暖水瓶返回時,發(fā)現她已經躺倒在床上睡著
了,雙腳仍在水里泡著。她一定是累壞了,一只手還壓在身子底下。我
聽見了她輕微的鼾聲。我踮著腳走到床邊,想給她翻下身,好讓她睡得
更舒服。我盯著她的臉,那是一張年輕美麗的臉,此時卻寫滿疲憊。在
這張俊俏的臉上,我發(fā)現了一只蚊子。
那個夏天,我所處的城市像個巨大的蒸籠,可為了省錢,我們把買
蚊帳的計劃一推再推。我知道屋里到處都飛著蚊子,但我似乎未受干
擾。每天回來后那樣勞累的身體,睡下了,別說蚊子,就算有人從我身
上切下一塊肉,我都懷疑自己能不能醒來。
蚊子落在她的額頭,貪婪地吸食著她的血。她依然睡得很香,毫無
察覺,也許正做著生意好轉的夢。我的心猛地抽搐了一下。我伸出手,向蚊子揮去,但蚊子對我的恐嚇毫不理睬。我想用手拍死它,手揚起
來,卻不忍落下。我怕驚醒了她——她真得累壞了。
我與她之間,有一只弱小的蚊子,此刻正叮咬著她。我僵在那里,就那樣手舉在空中,不知該做些什么,心焦著。突然間,我開始對自己
產生了一種深深的厭惡。我恨自己。在那個夏天的夜晚,我站在她身
旁,感到極度內疚,對她,對愛情。蚊子最后飛走了。我原諒了蚊子,卻決不能原諒自己。
白天經過一個小攤,我注意到一個粉色的蚊帳,標價16元。這16元
在當時可以做許多事。我回了家而沒有買它。那天在她睡著后,我起了床,站在她身旁,我把一個硬紙板當做武器一樣揮動著,不讓蚊蟲靠近
她的身體。那整晚,我成了她臨時的蚊帳。后來她醒了,看到我的行
為,她盯著我看,10分鐘后,她便淚流滿面。
第二天,小屋里掛上了粉色的蚊帳。一起掛蚊帳時,我們都一直沒
有說話。在我心里,我是把蚊帳當成禮物送給她的,但我沒這樣說。我
覺得那像一朵盛開的玫瑰,就算是我對愛情的補償。但后來我意識到,其實什么也補償不了。那天,是她的生日。
多年過去了,我賺了16萬,或者確切地說我們賺了16萬。我們買了
很多東西,卻沒有再買一床蚊帳。我們已經不再需要蚊帳了,精裝修的
房間,已經飛不進一只蚊蟲?墒俏铱傆X得,我所有的錢,所有的這些
東西,都遠不如那個曾經只值16元的蚊帳重要。那對她、對我們的愛都
是無價之寶。
那個夏天過去了,我們別無選擇,只能相愛。Facing the Enemies within
直面內在的敵人
We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe
some of our fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone
has told you, by what you've read in the papers. Some fears are valid, like
walking alone in a bad part of town at two o'clock in the morning. But once
you learn to avoid that situation, you won't need to live in fear of it.
Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions. Fear
can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left unchecked,can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.
Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from within. The
first enemy that you've got to destroy before it destroys you is indifference.
What a tragic disease this is! Ho-hum, let it slide. I'll just drift along. Here's
one problem with drifting: you can't drift your way to the top of the
mountain.
The second enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of
opportunity and enterprise. It will steal your chances for a better future. Take
a sword to this enemy.
The third enemy inside is doubt. Sure, there's room for healthy
skepticism. You can't believe everything. But you also can't let doubt takeover. Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt
the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worst of
all, they doubt themselves. I'm telling you, doubt will destroy your life and
your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart.
Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it.
The fourth enemy within is worry. We've all got to worry some. Just
don't let it conquer you. Instead, let it alarm you. Worry can be useful. If you
step off the curb in New York City and a taxi is coming, you've got to worry.
But you can't let worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small
corner. Here's what you've got to do with your worries: drive them into a
small corner. Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it. Whatever is
pushing on you, you've got to push back.
The fifth interior enemy is overcaution. It is the timid approach to life.
Timidity is not a virtue; it's an illness. If you let it go, it'll conquer you. Timid
people don't get promoted. They don't advance and grow and become
powerful in the marketplace. You've got to avoid overcaution.
Do battle with the enemies. Do battle with your fears. Build your
courage to fight what's holding you back, what's keeping you from your goals
and dreams. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you
want and the person you want to become.
lurk v. 潛藏
skepticism n. 懷疑的態(tài)度
curb n. 路緣石
我們的勇氣并不是與生俱來的,我們的恐懼也不是。也許有些恐懼
來自你的親身經歷、別人告訴你的故事,或是你在報紙上讀到的東西。有些恐懼可以理解,例如在凌晨兩點獨自走在城里不安全的地段。但是
一旦你學會避免那種情況,就不必生活在恐懼之中。
恐懼,哪怕是最基本的恐懼,也能徹底粉碎我們的抱負?謶挚赡
摧毀財富,也可能摧毀一段感情。如果不加以控制,恐懼還可能摧毀我
們的生活?謶质菨摲谖覀儍刃牡谋姸鄶橙酥。
讓我來告訴你我們面臨的其他五個內在的敵人。第一個你要先發(fā)制
人將其擊敗的敵人是冷漠。這是多么可悲的疾病啊!打著哈欠說:“隨
它去吧,我就隨波逐流吧。”隨波逐流的問題是:你不可能漂流到山頂
上去。
我們面臨的第二個敵人是優(yōu)柔寡斷。它是竊取機會和事業(yè)的賊。它
還會偷走你實現更美好未來的機會。向這個敵人出劍吧!
第三個內在的敵人是懷疑。當然,正當的懷疑還是有一席之地的,你不能相信一切。但是你也不能讓懷疑掌管一切。許多人懷疑過去、懷
疑未來、懷疑彼此、懷疑政府、懷疑可能性,并懷疑機會。最糟糕的
是,他們懷疑自己。聽著,懷疑會毀掉你的生活和你成功的機會。它不
僅會耗盡你的存款,也會留給你干涸的心靈。懷疑是敵人,追趕它,消
滅它。
第四個內在的敵人是憂慮。我們都會有些憂慮,不過千萬不要讓憂
慮征服你。相反,讓它來警醒你。憂慮也許能派上用場。當你在紐約走
向路邊時有一輛出租車向你駛來,你就得擔憂。但你不能讓憂慮像瘋狗
一樣失控,將你逼至死角。你應該這樣對付自己的憂慮:把它們驅至死
角。不管是什么來打擊你,你都要打擊它。不管是什么攻擊你,你都要
反擊。
第五個內在的敵人是過分謹慎。那是怯懦的生活方式。膽怯不是美
德,而是一種疾病。如果你不理會它,它就會將你征服。膽怯的人不會
得到提拔,他們在市場中不會前進、不會成長、不會變得強大。你要避
免過分謹慎。一定要向這些敵人開戰(zhàn)。一定要向恐懼開戰(zhàn)。鼓起勇氣向阻擋你的
事物、阻止你實現目標和夢想的事物作斗爭。要勇敢地生活,勇敢地追
求你想要的事物并勇敢地成為你想成為的人。A Gentle Holding
指間的溫柔
Rick and I hardly noticed when the waitress came and placed the plates
on our table. Our exchange was lively, if not profound. We laughed about the
movie that we had seen the night before and disagreed about the meaning
behind the text we had just finished for our literature seminar.
As our sweet conversation continued, my eyes glanced across the
restaurant, stopping at the small corner booth where an elderly couple sat.
Her floral-print dress seemed as faded as the cushion on which she had rested
her worn handbag. The top of his head was as shiny as the soft-boiled egg on
which he very slowly nibbled. She also ate her oatmeal at a slow, almost
tedious pace.
But what drew my thoughts to them was their undisturbed silence. It
seemed to me that a melancholy emptiness permeated their little corner. As
the exchange between Rick and me fluctuated from laughs to whispers,confessions to assessments, this couple's poignant stillness called to me. How
sad, I thought, not to have anything left to say. Wasn't there any page that
they hadn't yet turned in each other's stories?
Rick and I paid our small tab and got up to leave the restaurant. As we
walked by the corner where the old couple sat, I accidentally dropped mywallet. Bending over to pick it up, I noticed that under the table, each of their
free hands was ......
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