书城外语我的世界我做主
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第11章 把握生命里的每一天 (3)

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned onto me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment that you have. And remember that time waits for no one. So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school; until you get married, until you get divorced; until you have kids, until your kids leave home; until you start work, until you retire; until you get a new car or home; until spring; until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy…

Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So,

Work like you don’t need money,

Love like you’ve never been hurt,

And dance like no one’s watching.

我们总是相信,等我们结了婚,生了孩子生活会更美好。等有了孩子,我们又因为他们不够大而烦恼,想等他们大些时,我们就会开心了。可等他们进入青少年时期,我们还是同样地苦恼,于是又相信等他们过了这一阶段,幸福就会到来。

我们总是告诉自己,等夫妻间任一方肯于合作,等我们拥有更好的车,等我们能去度一次美妙的假期,等我们退休后,我们的生活一定会完美的。而事实的真相是,没有任何时刻比现在更宝贵。倘若不是现在,又会是何时?我们的生活每时每刻都会有挑战。最好是让自己接受这一事实,无论如何使自己保持快乐的心境。

我很欣赏艾尔弗雷德·苏泽的一段名言。他说:“长期以来,我都觉得生活——真正的生活似乎即将开始,可是总会遇到某种障碍,得先完成一些事情:没做完的工作,要奉献的时间,该付的债,等等。之后生活才会开始。最后我醒悟过来了,这些障碍本身就是我的生活。”这一观点让我意识到没有什么通往幸福的道路。幸福本身就是路。所以,珍惜你拥有的每一刻,且记住时不我待,不要再作所谓的等待——等你上完学,等你再回到学校;等你结婚或离婚;等你有了孩子或孩子长大离开家;等你开始工作或等你退休;等你有了新车或新房;等春天来临;等你有幸再来世上走一遭才明白此时此刻最应快乐……

幸福是一个旅程,不是终点站。所以,

投入地工作吧,就像你根本不需要钱;

尽情去爱吧,就像你从未被伤害过;

纵情地起舞吧,就像根本无人观望。

Just For Today就为了今天

Just for today I will try to live through this day only and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Just for today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my “luck” as it comes.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways. I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out: If anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don’t want to do—just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt: they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticize not one bit, and try not to improve or regulate anybody but myself.

Just for today I will have a program, I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.

Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

就为了今天,我将尽力只度过今天而不立刻去解决终身的问题。对一件令我沮丧而又必须坚持一辈子的事,我只能坚持十二个小时。

就为了今天,我会很快乐。亚伯拉罕·林肯说过:“大多数人都是决定想怎么高兴就怎么高兴。”这已经被认为是真理。

就为了今天,我会做自我调整适应事物本来的面目,而不是想方设法使每一件事满足自己的欲望。当机会来临的时候我会抓住它。

就为了今天,我会尽力心强志坚。我会学习,学一些有用的东西。我不会做一个精神上的流浪汉。我会读一些需要努力、思考和注意力集中的东西。

就为了今天,我会用三种方法来磨炼我的灵魂。我会做对某人有利的事但不能被发现,若有人发现了就不算数。我将会做至少两件我不愿做的事情——只为了磨练。我不会让任何人感到我的感情受到了伤害:它们可能受到了伤害,但今天我不想表现出来。

就为了今天,我会过得很惬意。看起来我达到了最佳状态,穿着得体、讲话谦虚、行为礼貌、一点不吹毛求疵,尽量改进和调节自己而不是别人。

就为了今天,我会制定一个计划,我也许不会严格地遵守它,但我一定要有计划。我会避免两种错误:仓促行事和优柔寡断。

就为了今天,我将会独自静静地呆上半小时放松。在这半小时里,某个时刻,我会日后对我的生活有个更好的看法。

就为了今天,我将不再害怕。尤其我不会再害怕享受美丽的事物,并且相信我给予世界的,世界也会给予我。

Feeling In Snow雪天随想

As soon as I walked outside, I was greeted with the shimmering white blanket of cold. Despite the chill overwhelming my skin, inside I was warm. I felt as though I could be giving off heat; I had the desire to stay out in this freeze for hours. It was the type of day that speaks to you through its elements; I took a deep breath to hear more snow was coming.

As I walked I looked up, trying to realize what made this day so beautiful, so serene. It was as if time had been put temporarily on hold and I along with it. Or maybe I was the only one unpaused...