The Frogs and the Tower

　　《青蛙登塔》

　　Once upon a time, there was a tiny, but closely knit group of frogs who held a running competition because they wanted to leave behind an inspiring story, which is now retold by the many. Their goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to observe the race and cheer on the contestants...

　　从前，有一群青蛙，他们数量不多，但关系密切。他们想要留给后人一个励志故事，于是举办了一场跑步比赛（这个故事至今仍广为流传）。他们比赛的终点是一座非常高的塔的塔顶。比赛吸引了一大群人聚集在高塔周围，观看比赛，为参赛者加油鼓劲……

　　However, no one in the crowd really believed that the frogs would ever reach the top of the tower. No one. They said: "Oh, WAY too difficult!!" "Not a chance they will make it to the top". "The tower is too high!"

　　然而，人群中却没有人真的相信青蛙们会到达塔顶，一个人也没有。他们说：“哎呀，这太难了！！”“他们毫无机会登上塔顶”。“这塔简直太高了！”

　　The frogs felt very discouraged by these comments of the bystanders. One by one, they collapsed and fell. While it kept on faking cheers, the crowd now also yelled: "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!" More frogs gave up...only ONE continued and climbed higher...He wouldn't give up!

　　青蛙们听到观众们的这些评论后感到非常气馁。他们一只接一只地瘫倒下来。虽然那虚伪的欢呼声仍在继续，但现在从人群中传来的呐喊声已经变成了：“这太难了！！！没人能做到！”更多的青蛙放弃了比赛......只剩下一只继续向上爬......他会坚持到底的！

　　In the end, only that one frog had reached the top! All of the other frogs wanted to know how he managed to perform this inspiring feat of strength and courage. So a fellow contestant asked the frog how he did it, how he had reached the goal.

　　最后，只有那只青蛙到达了塔顶！其他所有青蛙都想知道他是如何实现这一充满力量和勇气的励志壮举。于是，其中一位参赛者问这只青蛙他是如何到达终点的。

　　It turned out that the winning frog was deaf. Dear friends, are you surrounded by people who encourage you or do they do the opposite? If you want to build your own INSPIRING STORY—stay away from negative people and build bonds with those who encourage you.

　　原来，获胜的青蛙是个聋子。亲爱的朋友们，你们身边的人更多的是在鼓励你，还是在用负面情绪打击你的积极性？如果你也想创造自己的励志故事，就请远离那些消极的人，同时去接近那些经常鼓励你的人。

　　两个秘密（二）

　　The Secret Of Happiness Is Your Secret Weapon

　　快乐的秘诀是你的秘密武器

　　Once upon a time, a farmer sent his son, who was always unhappy to the wisest man in the world, to learn the secret of happiness. This wise man was famous and his life was an inspiring story to many others.

　　从前，一位农夫派他那总是闷闷不乐的儿子去找世界上最聪明的智者，学习快乐的秘诀。这位智者非常著名，他的人生甚至成为了许多人的励志故事。

　　The lad wandered through the desert for 30 days, and finally found a beautiful palace. It was there, that the wise man lived. But, instead of finding a saint inside the palace he beheld something he had never seen before.

　　这个少年在沙漠中游荡了30天，终于在沙漠的尽头找到了一座华丽的宫殿。这就是那位智者居住的地方。然而，进入宫殿后，他并没有急于寻找那位智者，而是将目光投向了那些他从来没见过的东西。

　　He saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing background music, and there was a table covered with platters of many delicacies. The wise man was conversing with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man's attention.

　　他看到了一番繁忙的景象：商人们来来往往，人们在角落里交谈，一个小管弦乐队正在演奏背景音乐，还有一张桌子上摆满了一盘盘美味佳肴。智者正在依次与每个人交谈，要得到智者的关注，少年还得等待两个小时。

　　Although the wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of the purpose of his visit, he told him that he didn't have time to explain the secret of happiness to him. However, he suggested that the boy should look around in the palace and return after 3 hours. "Besides this, you should do something", he said, handing the boy a teaspoon with two drops of oil on it. "As you wander around, carry this spoon with you, without spilling any liquid".

　　尽管智者认真听完了少年对本次拜访目的的说明，但他还是告诉少年他没有时间向他解释快乐的秘诀。不过，他建议少年在宫殿里到处走走看看，3个小时后回来找他。“除此之外，你还得做点什么”他说，同时递给少年一个盛有两滴油的茶匙，“你在宫殿里四处走动的时候，拿着这个茶匙，别让油溅出来。”

　　The boy knew that he had to fulfil this task entrusted to him. His father wanted him learn the secret of happiness, so he had to follow the wise mans' instructions. He climbed and descended the many stairs in the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After 3 hours, he proudly returned to the room where the wise man was. All the oil in the spoon was still there!

　　少年知道他必须完成交给他的这项任务。他的父亲希望他学到快乐的秘诀，所以他必须服从智者的指示。他爬上爬下宫殿里的许多楼梯，但始终没让自己的眼睛离开茶匙。3个小时后，他得意洋洋地回到了智者的房间，茶匙里的油一滴没少！

　　"Well", asked the wise man, "Did you see my Persian tapestries in the dining hall? Did you smell the roses in my garden, that took my master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice my library full of ancient parchments?"

　　智者问道：“你有没有在餐厅里看到我的波斯挂毯？你有没有在我的花园里闻到玫瑰花香？那可是我的主园艺师花了十年时间打造的。你有没有注意到我的藏书室里摆满了古老的羊皮纸卷？”

　　The boy, feeling embarrassed, confessed that he had seen nothing, because his only concern had been not to spill the oil on the spoon. The wise man then said: "The Secret of Happiness and living an Inspired Life lies within you. You may leave now."

　　少年感到非常尴尬，承认自己什么也没有看到，因为他关注的只是不要把茶匙中的油溅出来。智者接着说：“如何获得快乐的秘诀以及人生的智慧全在于你自己。你现在可以离开了。”

　　Dear friends, do you often get bogged down by work or the pressures of life? Do you have time to 'smell the roses'? Do you see beauty in whatever you do?

　　亲爱的朋友们，你是否经常会因为工作或生活的压力深陷困境？你是否有时间“闻一闻玫瑰花香”？你是否会随时注意到生活中的美好？