英语美文：如何种植幸福

 Step one:

Plant yourself deep in a bed of faith, and pack it down solid and tight. Drench¹ daily with positive thinking, and keep saturated² just right. Mulch often with forgivenss, for this will help you grow. Quickly remove any seeds of worry, for they will soon germinate³, and keep out the weeds of despair. Nourish disappointments with hope whenever it is neeeded, and always stay cool and shaded when you feel irritated or heated. Trim away guilt⁴ or depression, for they create decay, and cultivate with happy memories as often as every day.

步骤一：

把自己紧紧牢牢地埋在“信念”的土壤里。每天浇灌以“积极”的思想，并始终保持湿润。经常以“宽容”来护根，这样有利于幸福的幼苗成长。一旦发现忧虑的种子，及时除掉，否则它们很快就生根发芽，同时也将绝望消灭在萌芽状态。在必要时，用希望来滋养失望；烦躁不安的时候，保持冷静。修剪枝叶，修剪去愧疚和沮丧，否则很快出现衰枝败叶。每天用“幸福回忆”细心照料幼苗。

Step two:

Harvest the lessons of the past; just dig, pick, and hoe. And nurture⁵ the roots of the present, for now is when you flourish and grow. Start planting for the future; set your goals in a row. Spade the bed well for all your dreams to grow.

步骤二：

挖掘、收割、筛选，从“过往”收获经验。精心照料“此时此刻”的根茎，因为这正是旺盛生长的时期。有所计划与目标，着手种植“明天”。翻掘一下泥土，为孕育明天的梦想做好准备。

Step three:

Remember that grief is a natural predator⁶, so learn to tolerate some damage. Protect your garden with daily prayers, for this will help you manage. Bury the criticism and complaining, for they are injurious pests. Sow the seed of love wherever you may go--for joy, love, and laughter are surely bound to grow. Although the thorns of life may be here to stay, just sprout⁷ a smile along the way...and be thankful for what you have today!

步骤三：

记住，“不幸”是天生的肉食动物，明白它们带来的伤害在所难免，你就会对不完美多一份理解和宽容。每天“祈祷”，保护你的花园，这有利于掌控。将“批评”与“埋怨”这些害虫掩埋起来。将“爱”的种子播散到你足迹所至的每个角落，“欢乐”、“爱”和“微笑”就会生机无限地发育成长。哪怕生命“荆棘”满途，也要在一旁种上微笑的芽苗……不管一切如何，为今天你所拥有的全部心存感激吧！

1 drench   

v.使淋透，使湿透

参考例句：

• He met a drench of rain.他遇上一场倾盆大雨。
• They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them.他们将消防水管对着人们，把他们浇了个透。

2 saturated   

a.饱和的，充满的

参考例句：

• The continuous rain had saturated the soil. 连绵不断的雨把土地淋了个透。
• a saturated solution of sodium chloride 氯化钠饱和溶液

3 germinate   

v.发芽；发生；发展

参考例句：

• Seeds will not germinate without water.没有水，种子是不会发芽的。
• Can thin and hollow seeds germinate?瘦瘪的种子能够发芽吗？

4 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

5 nurture   

n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持

参考例句：

• The tree grows well in his nurture.在他的培育下这棵树长得很好。
• The two sisters had received very different nurture.这俩个姊妹接受过极不同的教育。

6 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

7 sprout   

n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条

参考例句：

• When do deer first sprout horns?鹿在多大的时候开始长出角？
• It takes about a week for the seeds to sprout.这些种子大约要一周后才会发芽。