支招：如何做一只快乐的单身狗？

 　　The answer to how to be happy alone might be quite simple, actually, and it might depend on why you are searching for answers.

　　其实，孤单时如何快乐起来的答案很简单，可能就取决于你为什么要寻找这个答案。

　　Did your spouse¹ or a very close person to you just pass away? If so, my condolences, I do have some comforting and helpful words for you in this article. Did a relationship terminate² because of your actions or the actions of your former partner? What I’m going to write will help with that too. Is it because you just can’t seem to find someone to suit your expectations and you fear that you may have to resign to being single for the rest of your life? I’ll cover that as well.

　　伴侣或者一个非常亲近的人去世了？如果是这样的话，我对你表示哀悼，这篇文章里确实有要送给你的一些安慰的而且有帮助的言辞。还是由于你的所作所为或你前任的原因你们分手了？我要写的东西对你也会有所帮助。又或是因为你似乎找不到符合你期望的人，怕一辈子要这样孤单下去了？我也会谈到这点的。

　　支招：如何做一只快乐的单身狗？

　　How to be happy alone：You shouldn’t be alone

　　孤单时如何快乐起来：你不应该孤单

　　If you want to know how to be happy alone, you might not be asking yourself the right question. Being alone is not a good idea. Lack of social interaction³ can easily lead to depression and other unhealthy mental states.

　　如果你想知道独自一人时如何快乐起来，你可能问错问题了。孤单可不是好事。缺少社交活动很容易导致抑郁和其他不健康的精神状态。

　　You probably did not have had a choice when you became alone and I understand that. It is now up to you though (when you are ready) to figure out how not to be alone anymore. Look to do that instead of trying to turn “being alone” into a happy thing. Fortunately, the road from being alone to not being alone is much easier and more pleasant to travel than you think.

　　当你独自一人时你可能别无选择，我也理解。然而现在你要自己弄明白以后如何不再孤单。要解决孤单的问题，而不是努力把孤单变成一件乐事。幸运的是，从孤单到不孤单的过程比你想象的要容易愉快得多。

　　How to be Happy Alone：You don’t have to be alone

　　孤单时如何快乐起来：你不必孤单

　　First off, twice a week, surround yourself with friends or family. Go have a coffee or tea with a relative once a week or the like. Offer to babysit for a relative or close friends. Golf, walk, or play tennis, for example with an old workmate etc. Try to schedule two things that happen regularly.

　　首先，你要和朋友家人一星期聚两次。和亲戚一星期在一起喝一次或几次咖啡或茶，主动给亲戚或亲近的朋友看孩子，比如说和老搭档去打高尔夫、散步或者打网球等等，努力安排两件定期做的事。

　　You will find that there will be significantly⁴ less thought spent dwelling⁵ on loneliness (if any), even when you ARE alone. You will be happier and healthier. Be sure to really live in the present and the moment when you are hanging out with family or friends. Listen to them and understand them. Be there for them. Making them happy will make you happy.We just discussed a very simple way that we can make the rest of your life one in which you lived to the fullest and helped others to the same. This is how to be happy.

　　甚至当你确实独自一个人的时候，你也会发现你不再那么纠结于孤独（如果你感到过孤独的话）。你会更快乐更健康。一定要活在当下，享受正和家人朋友在一起的时刻，做他们的听众，理解他们，随时准备好帮他们。快乐别人也就是快乐你自己，我们刚说的是一种非常简单的能使我们充分享受余生的方法，你也可以帮助别人达到这个目标，这就是快乐的秘诀。

　　How to be Happy Alone：What if I don’t get along with my family?

　　孤单时如何快乐起来：我和家人处得不好怎么办？

　　If you have old friends or family that you no longer get along with, perhaps it’s now time to make peace of those situations. What a great way to turn an unhappy situation into something that will make more than just you happy. Sorry to give you work to do, but I just made that your goal.Look, I know that you want to be happy, you did a search on how to be happy alone. Well, one answer is to make other people happy.

　　如果你有很久没来往的老朋友或家人，可能现在你就该去化解这些局面了。能把不愉快的情况变成不仅仅使你一个人愉快的情况多好呀！很抱歉你又有事要做了，但我只是想让你把这个当作目标。你看，我知道你想快乐，你在寻找孤单时也能快乐起来的方法。好吧，唯一的答案就是让别人高兴。

　　How to be Happy Alone：Join a group

　　孤单时如何快乐起来：加入一个小团体

　　Still don’t have anyone to hang out with? Join a Yoga Class or a canoe⁶ paddling group (fun!). Lean to play cards, scrabble, or mahjong. Go to school. You will end up in a study group and you will further your career. There are book clubs and stuff⁷. The list is endless.

　　还没有能一起出去逛的朋友？那就参加一个瑜伽课程或者一个划独木舟的小组（真的很好玩！），或学学打牌、拼字游戏或麻将，或者去上学。你最终会学到点东西，也能对事业有所助益。有读书俱乐部之类的组织，这样的组织数不胜数。

　　Again, I’m not saying you have to be busy all the time. Just a couple of times a week is good enough. People are social. Being social will make you healthy and happy. Just join the group and a situation will come up to where you become social with other people – you’ll see. You will find yourself looking forward to next week and next year. It will foster⁸ joy and happiness.

　　再强调一下，我的意思不是让你一直忙忙碌碌，一周几次就足够了。人生活在社会里，有社交活动会使你健康快乐。去加入一个小团体，这样你最终能和别人处得来——你会看到自己的变化的。你会发现自己期待着下周，期待着第二年，这样会给你带来快乐幸福。

　　How to be Happy Alone：Buy a pet

　　孤单时如何快乐起来：买个宠物

　　If you end up living alone for an extended⁹ period of time I would also suggest a pet. If you are able to have a dog where you live, these make the very best pets for people who live alone. They provide structure, purpose, company, humor¹⁰, love to get outdoors, and they make great walking partners. If you can’t afford the time to give so much attention, a rabbit or a cat will do.

　　如果你独自生活很久，我也建议你养个宠物。如果你住的地方能养狗，它们就是独自生活的人的最好宠物。它们成为你生活的一部分，使你有目标，陪伴你，给你带来幽默，它们喜欢去户外，也是非常好的散步伙伴。如果你没有如此多的时间关注它们，养只兔子或猫也行。

　　How to be Happy Alone：Take darn good care of your lonely self

　　孤单时如何快乐起来：绝对要好好照顾孤单的自己

　　Twice a week cook yourself favorite dishes that you love to eat. Mix it up with brand new things to cook, too. Pay attention to detail. Eat without the TV or any other distractions¹¹. Preferably, eat somewhere which gives you a nice view of some sort, even if it is an urban setting¹². Just relax, enjoy your creation¹³, and watch. Savor¹⁴ each bite. Don’t reflect, but rather live in the moment.

　　一周给自己做两次喜欢吃的东西，也要搭配全新的烹饪材料。注意细节，吃的时候不要看电视，不要有任何分散注意力的东西。最好去某个景色好的地方吃饭，即使在城市里也行。只要放松就可以，享受你自己的杰作，看看美景。尽情享受每一口美味。不要多想，就享受眼前这一刻。

1 spouse   

n.配偶(指夫或妻)

参考例句：

• Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
• What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

2 terminate   

adj.有结尾的，有限的；vt.结束，终止，满期；vi.达到终点

参考例句：

• You have no right to terminate the contract.你无权终止合同。
• Many adverbs terminate in -ly.许多副词以“ly”结尾。

3 interaction   

n.交流；相互作用，相互影响，合作

参考例句：

• The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas.两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意。
• Price is determined through the interaction of demand and supply.价格在供需的相互作用中形成。

4 significantly   

adv.意味深长地；值得注目地

参考例句：

• Prices did not alter significantly during 2004. 2004年期间，价格没有大的变化。
• American English is significantly different from British English. 美国英语与英国英语有很大差异。

5 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

6 canoe   

n.独木舟；vi.乘独木舟，划独木舟

参考例句：

• They slid the canoe down to the water.他们使小舟滑到水中。
• It is only the second time he has been in a canoe.这仅是他第二次乘小游艇。

7 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。

8 foster   

vt.收养，培养，促进；adj.收养的，收养孩子的

参考例句：

• Nowadays young couple sometimes foster.现今年轻夫妇有时领养别人的孩子。
• The captain did his best to foster a sense of unity among the new recruits.队长尽力培养新成员之间的团结精神。

9 extended   

adj.延伸的；伸展的；延长的；扩大的v.延伸(extend的过去式和过去分词)；伸展；延长

参考例句：

• an extended lunch hour 延长了的午餐时间
• France has greatly extended its influence in world affairs. 在世界事务中，法国的影响已大大地扩大了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 humor   

n.(humour)幽默，诙谐

参考例句：

• He is distinguished for his sense of humor.他以其幽默感著称。
• American humor is founded largely on hyperbole.美式幽默主要以夸张为基础。

11 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 setting   

n.背景

参考例句：

• The play has its setting in Vienna.该剧以维也纳为背景。
• Where and when a story takes place is called the setting.故事发生的地点和时间称为故事背景。

13 creation   

n.创造，创造的作品，产物，宇宙，天地万物

参考例句：

• Language is the most important mental creation of man.语言是人类头脑最重要的产物。
• The creation of new playgrounds will benefit the local children.新游戏场的建立将有益于当地的儿童。

14 savor   

vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味

参考例句：

• The soup has a savor of onion.这汤有洋葱味。
• His humorous remarks added a savor to our conversation.他幽默的话语给谈话增添了风趣。