佚名/Anonymous
Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about, regretted, or incomplete about. The next week he invited participants to read their lists aloud. This seemed like a very private process, but there's always some brave soul in the crowd who will volunteer. As people read their lists, mine grew longer. After three weeks, I had 101 items on my list, the instructor then suggested that we find ways to make amends, apologize to people, or take some action to right any wrongdoing. I was seriously wondering how this could ever improve my communications, having visions of alienating just about everyone from my life.
The next week, the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story.
“While making my list, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town in Iowa. There was a sheriff in town that none of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a trick on Sheriff Brown. After drinking a few beers, we found a can of red paint, climbed the tall water tank in the middle of town, and wrote, on the tank, in bright red letters：Sheriff Brown is an s.o.b. The next day, the town arose to see our glorious sign. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had my two pals and me in his offce. My friends confessed and I lied, denying the truth. No one ever found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown's name appears on my list. I didn't even know if he was still alive. Last weekend, I dialed information in my hometown back in Iowa. Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed. I dialed his number. After a few rings, I heard：‘Hello?’I said：”
“‘Sheriff Brown?’Pause.‘Yup.’‘Well, this is Jimmy Calkins. And I want you to know that I did it.’Pause.‘I knew it!’he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a lively discussion. His closing words were.‘Jimmy, I always felt badly for you because your buddies got it off their chest, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years. I want to thank you for calling me……for your sake.’”
Jimmy inspired me to clear up all 101 items on my list. It took me almost two years, but it became the springboard and true inspiration for my career as a conflict mediator. No matter how difficult the confict, crisis or situation, I always remember that it's never too late to clear up the past and begin resolution.
幾年前，我在參加一個交際課程班的時候，經曆了一段非比尋常的過程。教員讓我們把過去所有感到羞愧、內疚、遺憾或半途而廢的事，全部列出清單。第二個星期，他邀請學員把清單大聲讀出來。這看起來可是個人隱私，但人群中，還是有勇敢的人自願參加。聽人們讀時，我的清單更長了。過了三周後，我已經在清單上寫下了101條。然後，教員建議我們想方設法彌補，或賠禮道歉，或者采取某些行動以改正錯誤。我認真地考慮這個問題，這樣怎麽能提高我的交際能力呢？我覺得，這隻會讓我生命中的人疏遠自己。
又一周過後，坐在我旁邊的一個人舉起了手，自願講述了一個這樣的故事。
“我列舉清單時，想起了高中時的一件小事。我是在艾奧瓦州的一個小鎮長大的，那裏有一個治安官，我們所有的小孩都討厭他。一天晚上，我和兩個朋友決定把治安官布朗好好捉弄一番。我們喝了點兒啤酒，然後，找到一罐紅漆，爬到鎮中心高高的蓄水池上，用鮮紅的大字在上麵寫道：治安官布朗是畜生。第二天，全鎮人都看到了我們的‘傑作’。不到兩個小時，我和兩個朋友就被帶到了他的辦公室。我的兩個朋友招供了，而我撒了謊，拒不承認事實，後來也沒有人發現。”
“大約過了二十多年，我的清單上出現了治安官布朗的名字。他是否還活著，我也不知道。上個周末，我打電話到家鄉艾奧州瓦谘詢。果然，清單上有一個叫羅傑·布朗的人，於是我撥通了他的電話。電話響了幾聲後，我聽到：‘你好？’我說：”
“‘是治安官布朗嗎？’遲疑了一會兒。‘是的。’‘呃，我是吉米·考克斯。我想讓你知道，我曾做過那件事。’又停了一下。‘我早就知道了！’他大聲說道。我們都笑了，並歡快地聊了起來。最後，他說道：‘吉米，以前我總是為你難過，因為，你的朋友說出了心裏話，而你這些年來一直背負著它。我很感謝你打電話給我……為你的解脫。’”
吉米鼓勵了我清除清單上的101件事，為此我幾乎花了兩年時間。但這件事真正激發了我作為矛盾調解員的靈感，成為我的事業的新起點。不論境況何等艱難，我總會記得，抹去過去的陰影，踏上新的尋求之路，永遠都不晚。
心靈小語
生存就是希望，隻要敢於奮鬥，即便是耳順古稀，也能成就一番事業。
W詞匯筆記
volunteer[v?l?n'ti?]v.誌願
例“Tim's busy but I'll come,”he volunteered.
“蒂姆很忙，我來吧。”他主動說道。
sheriff['?erif]n.郡治安官；州長
例 The sheriff convicted the man of murder.
法官宣判那人犯有謀殺罪。
glorious['gl?:ri?s]adj.光榮的；輝煌的
例 He succeeded to the glorious traditions of Italy.
他繼承了意大利的光榮傳統。
sake[seik]n.緣故
例 My father often coughs for the sake of smoking.
因為吸煙的緣故，我父親經常咳嗽。
S小試身手
我認真地考慮這個問題，這樣怎麽能提高我的交際能力呢？我覺得，這隻會讓我生命中的人疏遠自己。
譯________________________________________
以前我總是為你難過，因為，你的朋友說出了心裏話，而你這些年來一直背負著它。我很感謝你打電話給我……為你的解脫。
譯________________________________________
不論境況何等艱難，我總會記得，抹去過去的陰影，踏上新的尋求之路，永遠都不晚。
譯________________________________________
P短語家族
One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a trick on Sheriff Brown.
play a trick on：捉弄……
造________________________________________
Jimmy, I always felt badly for you because your buddies got it off their chest……
get sth off one's chest：說出積存已久的話
造________________________________________