英语故事:和阻碍你发展的人做最后的告别

  There was a big company located in St. Louis, Missouri. One day, after lunch, all the staff saw a poster beside the gate of the company. The poster read: “Yesterday a clerk who had long impeded¹ your promotion² passed away. Therefore, we would like to invite you to a farewell memorial in the stadium now.”

  在密苏里州圣路易斯市，有一家大型公司。一天，员工们外出吃完午餐回来，看见公司门口贴着一张告示，上面写着：“昨日，本公司一位长久以来阻碍你们晋升的人去世了。我们谨邀请各位参加正在体育馆里举行的悼念活动，向他做最后的告别。”

  All the staff were standing³ in line, saying goodbye to the deceased one by one. However, when they approached the coffin⁴ and looking inside, they found nothing inside but a crystal mirror. Everyone who looked inside could only see his or her face. Looking carefully, you could also see a piece of paper attached next to the mirror saying: the only one who can restrain your development is yourself!

　员工们排着长队，一个接一个上前向死者做“最后的告别”。可是，当他们向棺材里张望时，却惊讶地发现棺材里空荡荡的，只有一面明晃晃的镜子。每个朝里面张望的人，都只看到自己的脸。仔细一看，镜子旁边还有一张小纸条，上面写着：“只有一个人能限制你的发展，那就是你自己！”　

   You are the only one who can change your life. You are also the only one who can determine your happiness, dreams and achievements and who can help yourself. Your boss may change, your friends may change, your partners many change and your company may change. But your life will not be changed due to all these. Only when you change yourself, break the limit of your thinking pattern and brave your responsibilities can you change your life for better!

　　你是唯一能改变自己生活的人，你也是唯一能决定自己的幸福、梦想和成就的人，你还是唯一能帮助自己的人。你的老板变了，朋友变了，搭档变了，公司变了，你的生活仍然不会起变化。只有当你自己变了，只有当你跳出自己思维的局限，勇于担当起生活的重任时，你的生活才会有起色。

1 impeded   

阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Work on the building was impeded by severe weather. 楼房的施工因天气恶劣而停了下来。
• He was impeded in his work. 他的工作受阻。

2 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。