佚名/Anonymous
Did you ever have something that someone said hit you like a ton of bricks?
That happened to me at 8：05 pm on Thursday, January 18，2001. It is a day I will never forget.
I need to back track a little here, so you will understand where I am coming from. In September of 1997，I walked through the doors of Marian College as an adult student going to college for the frst time, at 44 years old. It has always been a dream of mine to go to college, but that didn't lessen the butterflies in my stomach, or my lack of confdence. Today I have completed 96 credits and I have 33 more to go. I've come a long way from that frst night 52 months ago.
It was during one of my current marketing classes that my instructor, Pam Schlenvogt, told us about“Get To”，and I just can't get it off my mind.
She told us that we walk through life making choices. Some of them are good, and some of them not so good, but hopefully we learn something from all of them. She told us that night a little about attitude and how it affects us. She gave us a handout called“Life is an Attitude”and walked us through Accountability, Tenacity, Truth, Integrity, Trust, Understanding, Dedication, and Excellence. She also told us that we cannot choose what happens to us, but we can choose our attitudes toward each situation.
If we walk through life on the path we have chosen feeling as though we have to do this or we have to do that, eventually we might feel overwhelmed. She then told us about changing our attitude and looking at the opportunities presented to us each day. If we look at those opportunities or challenges with a“get to”instead of a“have to”we might enjoy the journey just a little bit more.
I decided to make a conscious effort over the next couple of days to exchange the words“have to”with“get to”in my conversations with friends, co-workers, and family, but most of all in my thoughts, and something amazing happened. I noticed all the things I“get to”do and started appreciating the opportunities and challenges on my path.
Just imagine：
I get to go to school to fulfll my dream.
I get to go to work when so many people can't.
I get to do the laundry, thankful for a washer and dryer.
I get to play with my kids who deserve more attention of mine.
I get to spend time with a friend, who needs my help.
I get to read a book. I still have my sight.
I get to remember the things that make me happy.
……
I give you a challenge. With every thought and conversation forthe next day or two, change the words“I have to”with the words“I get to”and see if it makes a difference in your day.
你曾有過醍醐灌頂的感覺嗎？
我永遠忘不了那一天——2001年1月18日星期四晚8：05。
我需要在此說明一下，好讓你對我有所了解。我第一次上大學是在1997年9月，那時我作為一名44歲的成人學生，穿梭於瑪麗安學院的各個教室之間。上大學是我的夙願，但進了大學並未緩解我內心的緊張感，也未使我的自信有所提升。我現在已經修完了96個學分，還要再修33個。從踏進大學校門到現在，已經有52個月了，這漫漫長路，我一路走了過來。
在我選修的市場營銷學課上，帕姆·施倫沃特老師談到“去做”，她的一番話，我至今記憶猶新。
她說，人的一生中要作出許多選擇。有些選擇很明智，有些則欠考慮，她希望我們能從已作出的選擇中汲取經驗教訓。那晚，她和我們討論了個人的“態度”及其影響這個問題。她發給我們一份題為《生活是一種態度》的講義，還與我們暢談責任感、堅忍不拔、真誠、正直、信任、理解、奉獻以及卓越的成就。她還說，我們無法選擇生活中所發生的事，但對已發生的事情，我們能選擇自己的態度。
倘若我們總認為人生路上的種種選擇都是必須作出的，那麽，我們終有一天會崩潰。她說，我們可以換一種態度對待每天呈現在我們麵前的各種機會。如果我們用“去做”的心理看待這些機遇或挑戰，而不是視這些為“必須作出”的抉擇，那樣，或許我們會生活得更開心。
我決定在此後的兩三天裏，與親朋好友、同事交談時，最重要的是在自己的思想中，有意識地把“必須作出”的字眼換成“去做”。最終，結果讓我大為吃驚。我注意到所有需要我“去做”的事，並開始欣賞人生旅途中的種種機遇和挑戰。
試想：
我實現了自己上大學的夢想。
別人失業了，我仍能上班。
洗衣服時，我為有洗衣機和烘幹機而滿懷感激。
我與孩子們一同玩耍，他們值得我傾注更多的注意力。
我把時間花在陪伴需要幫助的朋友身上。
在我視力尚佳時，要多讀書。
我要銘記那些令我快樂欣喜的事。
……
我要讓你接受一個挑戰。在隨後的一兩天裏，把你的每一個“必須作出”的想法和談話變為“去做”，看看那樣是否會給你的生活帶來變化。
W詞匯筆記
instructor[in'str?kt?]n.教員；指導者；指導書
例 The instructor of this computer lab says he's already noticed some differences.
該計算機實驗室的指導員說，他早就注意到了一些差異。
dedication[,dedi'kei??n]n.奉獻；獻身
例 I really appreciate your dedication to this project.
我非常感激你對這一項目的奉獻。
conscious['k?n??s]adj.意識到的；故意的；神誌清醒的
例 She spoke to us in her concious moments.
她神誌清醒時跟我們說過話。
challenge['t??lind?]n.挑戰；懷疑
例 A challenge is an opportunity to prove your ability to yourself, and others.
一次挑戰就是向自己和他人證明你的能力的一次機會。
S小試身手
我們無法選擇生活中所發生的事，但對已發生的事情，我們能選擇自己的態度。
譯________________________________________
倘若我們總認為人生路上的種種選擇都是必須作出的，那麽，我們終有一天會崩潰。
譯________________________________________
如果我們用“去做”的心理看待這些機遇或挑戰，而不是視這些為“必須作出”的抉擇，那樣，或許我們會生活得更開心。
譯________________________________________
P短語家族
Did you ever have something that someone said hit you like a ton of bricks?
a ton of：大量的
造________________________________________
I just can't get it off my mind.
get off：動身；免於受罰；從……下來
造________________________________________