Patience and Self-Sacrifice |蚂蚁精神

[英语美文]

Ant will struggle with a leaf many times his weight to get it back to the hill. Ant does not set the leaf down, or find a smaller leaf. He just keeps working until he is home. since everything ant does is for the benefit of the Queen. Ant is self-sacrificing. Also ant is dedicated to1 the colony2—a member of the construction crew.
Ant’s patience and colony dedication makes ant have the long-term view of things. Ant does not worry about tomorrow, because he knows the day after tomorrow will always come. Ant has the insight3 to see that history unfolds a little at a time and the patience to accept that he might not be around to see the end result; nevertheless, ant does his share to build that future.
Ant may be telling you to stop worrying about the trees and start looking at the forest—the forest may grow slowly, but sure makes for a nice picture once it has grown.
Ant wants you to develop trust that things are going where the Great Spirit4 wants them. Has something had you wanting an immediate solution to something that you just may not be ready to have done with? As much as you may hate hearing it, you will be provided what you need—it always seems to work that way, if you’ll just admit it to yourself.
  If you have given up hope, ant may also be telling you to have that same faith that you are worthy of having something you want—as long as you don’t feel you should have it by depriving5 someone else.
  Ant may also be warning you about someone coming in, who does not have the interests of anyone but himself in mind. You may be the target of this person. You will be best targeted through your impatience! If you were too rash6 for success, you would be dead meat7 to this vulture8.


蚂蚁会挣扎着将比自己重许多倍的树叶运回巢穴,它不会放下这片叶子,也不会避重就轻找一片小一点儿的,它会坚持不懈直至到达目的地。蚂蚁所做的一切都是为了蚁后,它勇于自我牺牲。蚂蚁还为蚁群尽职尽责——它是建设大军中的一员。
    蚂蚁的耐心与对群体的奉献精神使它用长远的目光看待事物。蚂蚁不为明天担忧,因为它知道明天过后新的一天总会到来。蚂蚁可以洞察历史不经意中的彰显,也有耐心去接受它也许不会等到结果的事实;无论怎样,它都会尽自己的一份力去开创未来。
    蚂蚁会告诉你不要只见树木,不见森林——森林也许生长得很慢,但它一旦开始生长就注定会有一片好风景。
    蚂蚁要你坚信万物发展都注定有一定之规。你会因某件事亟待解决而措手不及吗?事情越是棘手,你就越能得到所需的帮助——只要你相信,这就是万物运作的规律。
    如果你放弃希望,蚂蚁也会告诉你要坚定信念。事情会如你所愿的——只要你不把自己的成功建立在牺牲他人利益之上。
    蚂蚁也会提醒你警惕自私自利的后来人,你也许会成为这类人的攻击对象。你会因自身的急躁不安而成为最佳攻击目标!如果你太急于求成,就注定会一败涂地。

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1. dedicate  v. 奉献给
2. colony n. (生物)群体
3. insight  n. 见识
4. the Great Spirit 上帝
5. deprive  v. 剥夺
6. harsh  adj. 严厉的
7. dead meat 指“注定玩完”之意
8. vulture n. 贪婪的人