Important Things in Life|人生要事

[英语美文]

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away1 that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out2 who you are or who you want to become.
  You never know who these people may be — a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger — but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound3 way.
  Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection4 you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.
  Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer5 stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly6 pointless.
  The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls7 you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.
  If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
  If someone hurts you, betrays8 you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
  Make every day count9. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say.
  Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.
  You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.
  And if you love someone, tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store10.


有时候有人一走进你的生活,你马上就知道他们是理应来的。他们有一定的目的,比如为你传授经验,帮你弄清你是个什么样的人或是你想成为一个什么样的人。
  你永远也不会知道这些人会是谁——室友,邻居,老师,朋友,爱人,甚至可能完全是个陌生人——可当你一和他们交换眼神,就会明白他们对你的生活的影响极为深远。
  有时候发生在你身上的事起先看起来可怕,令人痛苦,有失公允,可当你回首往事时,你会发现若没有经历过这些困难阻碍,你就不可能了解自己的潜力、力量、毅力或是内心。
  病痛,伤害,爱情,重要事件上的失利时刻甚至十足的蠢事都是对你个人情操极限的考验。不管这些考验是什么,没有了这些,生活就如同一条路,笔直平坦但没有目标,可能安全舒适却沉闷单调,毫无意义。
  你遇到的那些影响你生活的人,你所经历的成功与挫折都有助于你树立一种意识:你是什么样的人,你要成为什么样的人。甚至那些令人不快的经历,你也可以从中汲取教训。事实上有时候它们是最重要的经历。
  如果有人爱你,那就用你所能的任何一种方式以爱回赠吧,这并不仅仅是因为他们爱你,而且从某种程度上说他们是在教你去爱,教你如何敞开心扉,放眼万物。
  如果有人伤害了你,背叛了你或是伤了你的心,原谅他们吧,因为他们帮你学到了什么是信任,还有对你诚心相待的人留有戒心很重要。
  让每一天过得有价值。感谢每一分钟,从这些分秒中尽量汲取你可能汲取的一切,因为你可能永远不会经历这些时刻了。与你没有谈过话的人攀谈吧,听一听他们要说的话。
  自由去爱,挣脱束缚,志存高远。抬起你的头因为你完全有这样的权利。告诉自己你是出类拔萃的,要相信自己,因为如果连你都不相信自己,别人也就很难相信你。
  你有能力实现你期望的任何事。创造你自己的生活,充满向往,了无遗憾地生活。
  如果爱上了一个人,那就告诉他,因为你不会知道明天会怎么样。

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1. right away 立刻,马上
2. figure out 解决,领会
3. profound adj. 深刻的
4. in reflection 回想起来
5. sheer adj. 纯粹的
6. utterly  adv. 彻底地
7. downfall  n. 失败,衰败
8. betray  v. 出卖,背叛
9. count  v. 有价值
10. in store 保存着,准备着