英语美文:生命的度量

 　　Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That's why you pay him/her.

　　一些无关紧要的数字不要挂怀，包括你的年龄、体重和身高。让医生来操心吧。因为他们收了你的报酬。

　　Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches¹ pull you down.

　　结交快乐的朋友。整日愁眉不展只能让你雪上加霜。

　　Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop. And the devil's name is Alzheimer's."

　　学无止境。多学学电脑、手艺、园艺等等。不要让你的大脑闲置下来。无所事事是魔鬼的加工厂。魔鬼的名字叫"痴呆症".

　　Enjoy the simple things.

　　享受简单事物的乐趣。

　　Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp² for breath.

　　多笑，开怀大笑。上气不接下气地笑。

　　The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

　　有泪就流。在忍耐和伤心过后，要继续前行。陪伴我们度过此生的只有一人--那就是我们自己。让生命鲜活起来。

　　Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

　　让你的所爱包围着你，无论是家人、宠物、纪念品、音乐、植物、爱好，什么都好。你的家就是避风港。

　　Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable³, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

　　珍惜健康：如果它还好端端的，就好好地保护它。如果它反复无常，就调养好它。如果你已无力改善它了，就请别人帮忙吧。

　　Don't take guilt⁴ trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next country, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

　　别踏上犯罪的道路。你可以去逛街，可以到邻县去，可以出国旅行，但就是别踏上犯罪的道路。

　　Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

　　把你的爱告诉你所爱着的人们，把握住每一个表达机会。

　　AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

　　千万记住：度量生命的不是呼吸的次数，而是那些最最难忘的时刻。

1 grouches   

n.爱抱怨的人( grouch的名词复数 )；脾气坏的人；牢骚；生气

参考例句：

• One of the biggest grouches is the new system of payment. 人们抱怨最多的一点就是这种新的支付方式。 来自辞典例句
• One of my main grouches against the council is that they don't run enough buses. 我对市议会不满，主要是投入营运的公共汽车不够用。 来自辞典例句

2 gasp   

n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说

参考例句：

• She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
• The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。

3 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

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。