When my kids kissed me impetuously，I would never have said，“Later.Now go get washed up for dinner.”There would have been more “I love you’s”...More “I’m sorry’s”...But mostly，given another shot at life，I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ...live it ...and never give it back.
Stop sweating the small stuff.Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you，who has more，or who’s doing what.Instead，let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.Let’s think about what God has blessed us with.
And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally，physically，emotionally，as well as spiritually.
Life is too short to let it pass you by.We only have one shot at this and then it’s gone.I hope you all have a blessed day.
生命短暂
生病的时候我就卧床休息，不会假装自己一天不工作，地球就会停止转动。
我要将雕成玫瑰花状的粉红蜡烛点上，而不让它在闲置中熔化。
我要自己少说话，多听别人说。
我要请朋友来家里吃饭，地毯弄脏了，沙发褪色了又何妨？
我要在“讲究”的客厅里吃爆玉米花。倘若有人在壁炉生火带出了炉灰，我不会操那么多闲心。
我要从从容容听爷爷讲他年轻时候的事情。
我决不会因为夏天头发刚刚梳理过、喷过发胶，就一定要把车窗玻璃摇起来。
我要和孩子们一起坐在草坪上，不担心衣服上会染上草渍。
看电视我要少哭一点，少笑一点，看生活我要多哭一点，多笑一点。
我买东西不会只看它很实用，不显脏，或能保证用一辈子。我不会在盼望中度过九个月妊娠期，我要珍惜每一刻，要意识到体内生长的神奇是我今生帮助上帝创造奇迹的惟一机会。
孩子们毛手毛脚地亲我，我决不会说：“等等。先去洗手洗脸，准备吃饭。”我要更多地说“我爱你”……“对不起”……但总的来说，如果再让我活一回，我要把握好分分秒秒，留心生活，真正关注生活，品味生活，决不使岁月蹉跎。
不为小事烦心。不担心谁不喜欢我，谁比我富有，或者谁在干什么。让我们珍惜与真心关爱我们的人之间那份感情。让我们多想想上帝赐予我们的福分。
多想想我们每天做了哪些有益于自己思想、身体、感情和精神的事。
人生短暂，不可虚度。每个人只能活一回，然后生命就消失了。祝愿大家生活幸福。
A Chance of a Lifetime（1）
“This is a chance of a life time，”I declared to my friend Stacy as I locked the door of my office and left the restaurant I managed.“It’s every twentysevenyearold woman’s dream to live in New York City，and in a few months I’ll know if I get the transfer.”
I watched the moonlight glisten on the waters of Laguna Beach.“I’ll miss it here，but living in the Big Apple is everything I’ve ever wanted—a dream come true.”
We met a group of our friends at a local cafe，and I jabbered on about the possibility of my move.Laughter erupted from a nearby table.I watched as a handsome man captured the attention of his friends with his engaging story.His broad，warm smile and air of confidence held me in a trance.Stacy nudged me.“You’re staring，Michelle，and about to drool.”
“Wow，”I whispered.I watched the gorgeous guy push up the sleeves of his bulky sweater.Everyone at his table had their eyes fixed on him.“That’s the man I want to marry.”“Yeah，right，”Stacy droned.“Tell us more about where you’d like to live in New York，because we all plan to visit you there when you land this job.”As I spoke my gaze drifted back to the debonair man.
Three months later my friends and I gathered at the same restaurant.“To life in the Big Apple！”they cheered as we tapped our glasses together.“My chance of a lifetime！”We talked for hours.I told them of my plan to save money by moving out of my beach cottage and renting a room for the few remaining months.Our friend offered，“I have a fellow South African friend who is considering renting one of the four bedrooms in his house.His name is Barry.A great guy.”He scribbled on a napkin.“This is his number.He’s a fortytwoyearold confirmed bachelor.Says he’s much too busy being a single dad to be a husband.”
I made an appointment to see the room the same day.I approached the entrance of the spacious house，and the door opened.“You must be Michelle.”he said.He pushed up the sleeves of his bulky sweater and flashed his handsome smile.It was the man from the restaurant months before—the man I wanted to marry.
I stood staring，my mouth gaping，hoping I wasn’t drooling.
“You are Michelle，aren’t you？”he said，coaxing me out of my trance.“Would you like to see the room？”
机遇垂青（1）
“这可是我生命中的一次机遇，”我对斯泰西说。说着，我锁上办公室的门，离开了我经营多年的饭店。在纽约生活，这可是每个27岁的女人所梦寐以求的，还有几个月我就可以知道能否获准迁入。
我凝视着倒映在拉古纳湾水面上的月光。“我很留恋这里，可住在纽约是长久以来我心中惟一的梦想——如今，美梦就要成真了！”
在街上的一家小咖啡店里，我们遇到了一群朋友，我便和他们闲聊着我可能要走的事。这时，邻近的一张桌子爆发出阵阵笑声。我应声望去，看见一个英俊的男人正在给他的朋友讲一个引人入胜的故事。他那坦率、温暖的笑容和自信的模样让我不由得发怔。斯泰西轻轻地捅了我一下，说道：“嘿，米歇尔，你发什么呆，好像着魔了一样。”
我看着那英俊的家伙卷起他那宽松外套的衣袖。他桌边的同伴都全神贯注地望着他。我轻呼道：“哦！那正是我要嫁的男人。”“的确不错，”斯泰西说。“不过，还是快说说你在纽约打算住哪儿？要知道我们都打算等你工作定了去那儿看你。”我回答着她的问题，目光却不由自主地移向那个神采飞扬的男人。
三个月后，我和朋友又相聚在同一家餐厅里。我们互相碰杯，欢呼道：“为了纽约的新生活！”我们聊了几个小时，我总说这是我生命中的一次机遇。我告诉他们为省钱我决定搬出海边的小木屋，准备在离开前的几个月内租一间房间住。“我有一个来自南非的朋友，”一个朋友主动提出，“他叫巴里，是个很不错的家伙。”“这是他的电话，”他在一张餐巾纸上写下了号码。“他是个42岁坚定的单身主义者。他戏言自己忙于做一个单身父亲而没有时间再做丈夫。”
当天，我便预约去看房子。我正朝那所大房子走去时，门开了。“你一定是米歇尔，”他说着，卷起他宽松外套的衣袖，脸上漾起迷人的微笑。这不就是几个月前饭店里的那个男人——那个我想要嫁的男人！
我目瞪口呆地站在那里，希望自己没有失态。
“你就是米歇尔，对吗？”他打断了我的思绪，说道：“你想看看房间吗？”
A Chance of a Lifetime（2）
I followed him through a tour of the house，then accepted when he offered me a cup of tea.Barry had a sophisticated kindness about him and listened attentively as I chattered nervously about myself.His silverrimmed glasses accented a few gray streaks in his dark hair.Soon，his warm，inviting smile put me at ease，and we spent the next two hours talking casually.Ultimately，I decided not to take the room and reluctantly bade him goodbye.
The months went by quickly while I busied myself with preparation for the move.I thought of Bany often，but couldn’t consider calling him.
“I’m moving to New York in three weeks.”I said to Stacy as we walked out of my office and into the dining area.As much as I’d like to see him again，it would only complicate my life.
“Well，brace yourself for complications.”Stacy muttered，then nodded toward the door.Barry，with his big blue eyes and engaging smile，walked into my restaurant.
“Hello，”he said softly.“Do you have time to join me for a cup of coffee？”
“Of course.”I tried not to gasp.quot；
We slid into a booth and our conversation picked up where it left off before.He，too，was making a career change and was moving back to South Africa.His departure date was one week before mine.Now I knew I had to calm my pounding heart.We obviously had no future together.He took my phone number and invited me to dinner sometime.I accepted，suppressing my sadness，knowing I would be leaving in two short weeks and the date would probably never happen.