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 first 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 confidence. Today I have completed 96 credits and I have 33 more to go. I' ve come a long way from that first 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 fulfill 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 for the 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.
你曾有过醍醐灌顶的感觉吗？
我永远忘不了那一天——2001年1月18日星期四晚8:05。
我需要在此说明一下，好让你对我有所了解。我第一次上大学是在1997年9月，那时我作为一名44岁的成人学生，穿梭于玛丽安学院的各个教室之间。上大学是我的夙愿，但进了大学并未缓解我内心的紧张感，也未使我的自信有所提升。我现在已经修完了96个学分，还要再修33个。从踏进大学校门到现在，已经有52个月了，这漫漫长路，我一路走了过来。
在我选修的市场营销学课上，帕姆·施伦沃特老师谈到“去做”，她的一番话，我至今记忆犹新。
她说，人的一生中要作出许多选择。有些选择很明智，有些则欠考虑，她希望我们能从已作出的选择中汲取经验教训。那晚，她和我们讨论了个人的“态度”及其影响这个问题。她发给我们一份题为《生活是一种态度》的讲义，还与我们畅谈责任感、坚忍不拔、真诚、正直、信任、理解、奉献以及卓越的成就。她还说，我们无法选择生活中所发生的事，但对已发生的事情，我们能选择自己的态度。
倘若我们总认为人生路上的种种选择都是必须作出的，那么，我们终有一天会崩溃。她说，我们可以换一种态度对待每天呈现在我们面前的各种机会。如果我们用“去做”的心理看待这些机遇或挑战，而不是视这些为“必须作出”的抉择，那样，或许我们会生活得更开心。
我决定在此后的两三天里，与亲朋好友、同事交谈时，最重要的是在自己的思想中，有意识地把“必须作出”的字眼换成“去做”。最终，结果让我大为吃惊。我注意到所有需要我“去做”的事，并开始欣赏人生旅途中的种种机遇和挑战。
试想：
我实现了自己上大学的梦想。
别人失业了，我仍能上班。
洗衣服时，我为有洗衣机和烘干机而满怀感激。
我与孩子们一同玩耍，他们值得我倾注更多的注意力。
我把时间花在陪伴需要帮助的朋友身上。
在我视力尚佳时，要多读书。
我要铭记那些令我快乐欣喜的事。
……
我要让你接受一个挑战。在随后的一两天里，把你的每一个“必须作出”的想法和谈话变为“去做”，看看那样是否会给你的生活带来变化。
instructor [in'strkt] n. 教员；指导者；指导书
The instructor of this computer lab says he's already noticed some
differences.
该计算机实验室的指导员说，他早就注意到了一些差异。
dedication [,dedi'kein] n. 奉献；献身
I really appreciate your dedication to this project.
我非常感激你对这一项目的奉献。
conscious ['kns] adj. 意识到的；故意的；神志清醒的
She spoke to us in her concious moments.
她神志清醒时跟我们说过话。
challenge ['t鎙ind] n. 挑战；怀疑
A challenge is an opportunity to prove your ability to yourself,and others.
一次挑战就是向自己和他人证明你的能力的一次机会。
我们无法选择生活中所发生的事，但对已发生的事情，我们能选择自己的态度。
倘若我们总认为人生路上的种种选择都是必须作出的，那么，我们终有一天会崩溃。
如果我们用“去做”的心理看待这些机遇或挑战，而不是视这些为“必须作出”的抉择，那样，或许我们会生活得更开心。
Did you ever have something that someone said hit you like a ton of bricks?
a ton of：大量的
I just can' t get it off my mind.
get off：动身；免于受罚；从……下来
再等一会儿
Later
佚名 / Anonymous