Unit 2 Values
Text A
A Life Full of Riches
富足的一生
1 It was early December 2003, my first season as a Salvation Armybell ringer, when I was confronted with the question. I wasstanding just outside the doorway of a Wal-Mart, offering a 'thankyou' and a smile to each person who dropped a donation into my redkettle. A neatly dressed woman and her young son walked up to thekettle stand. While she searched her purse for some cash, the boylooked up at me. I can still see the confusion and curiosity in hiseyes as he asked, 'Are you poor?'
首次面對這個問題，是在2003年12月初，我第一次為救世軍搖鈴募捐的時候。當(dāng)時我就站在沃爾瑪商場入口處門外，對每一位向我的紅壺里投入捐款的人都報以一聲“謝謝”和一個微笑。一位穿著整潔的婦人牽著她的幼子向放壺的臺子走過來。她在錢包里摸著找錢時，孩子抬頭看了我一眼，問我：“你窮嗎？”當(dāng)時他眼里充滿疑惑和好奇，時至今日仍歷歷在目。
2 'Well,' I stammered, trying to think, 'I have more than somepeople, but not as much as others.' His mother scolded him for thesocial no-no, and they hurried off to do their shopping. Hisquestion, however, did not leave me.
“嗯，”我結(jié)結(jié)巴巴，邊想邊回答，“我比有些人擁有的多，但比其他人擁有
的少?！蹦赣H因為孩子問了一個在社交上不該問的問題，訓(xùn)斥了他一頓，他倆便匆匆的趕去購物。但是孩子的問題卻一直留在我的心頭揮之不去。
3 I've never thought of myself as 'poor,' but I can't deny certainfacts. Every time I fill out my 1040 form, I fall into one of thelowest income brackets. In the past 35 years, I've taken just onevacation trip. My TV is a black-and-white set that someone gave meeight years ago.
我從不認(rèn)為自己“窮”，但有些事實我不可否認(rèn)。每當(dāng)我填1040稅務(wù)申報表時，我都屬于收入最低的檔次之一。在過去的三十五年中，我只出去度過一次假。我的電視機是黑白的，還是八年前別人送給我的。
4 Yet I feel nothing more than a passing whim to attain thematerial things so many other people have. My 1999 car shows thewear and tear of 105,000 miles. But it is still dependable. Myapartment is modest, but quiet and relaxing. My clothes are wellsuited to my work, which is primarily outdoors. My minimal computerneeds can be met at the library.
然而，想要得到其他那么多人都有的物質(zhì)的東西，對我來說，只不過是轉(zhuǎn)瞬即逝的念頭而已。我的汽車是1999年的產(chǎn)品，到現(xiàn)在開了十萬五千英里，已經(jīng)很破很舊了，但是它依然可靠。我的住房不大，但是很安靜，住著挺舒心。我的衣服很適合于我的工作，主要都在戶外。我對計算機的很少的需求，可以在圖書館得到解決。
5 In spite of what I don't have, I don't feel poor. Why? I'veenjoyed exceptionally good health for 53 years. It's not just thatI've been illness-free, it's that I feel vigorous and spirited.Exercising is actually fun for me. I look forward to long,energizing walks. And I love the 'can do' attitude thatfollows.
盡管有些東西我沒有，我并不感到貧窮。這是為什么五十三年來我一直非常健康。我不但不生病，而且精力充沛，情緒飽滿。鍛煉對我而言是確確實實的快事，我樂意長距離步行，越走越有勁。我喜愛步行后隨之產(chǎn)生的一種“什么都干得了”的心態(tài)。
6 I also cherish the gift of creativity. When I write a beautifulline of poetry, or fabricate a joke that tickles someone, I feelrich inside. I'm continually surprised at the insights that comethrough my writing process. And talking with so many interestingwriter friends is one of my main sources of enjoyment.
我還十分珍惜我的創(chuàng)作才能。當(dāng)我寫出美麗的詩句或編造出能把人逗樂的笑話時，我內(nèi)心感到很富有。通過寫作而獲得的洞察力，不斷地令我驚奇。而與那么多寫作朋友交談，是我樂趣的主要源泉之一。
7 But there is one vital area of my life where I am not so welloff. In a society that spends so much emotional energy on thepursuit of possessions, I feel out of place
但是在我生活中,有一個重要方面我并不那么富有。在一個對物資財富的追求投入如此之多心力的社會中,我覺得很不自在。
8 When I was younger, there was an exceptionally interesting personI dated. What was most important to her, she told me, was 'what'son the inside.' I thought I had found someone special to share mylife with. Then I took her to see my apartment. At the time, Ilived in a basement efficiency with a few pieces of datedfurniture. The only new, comfortable chair was the one at my desk.Shortly after her visit, our relationship went straightsouth.
我年輕時曾與一位非常有趣的女士談過朋友。她對我說，對她而言，最重要的是“一個人的內(nèi)心”。我以為我找到了非同一般的生活伴侶。后來我就帶她到我的寓所。當(dāng)時我住的是一個地下室經(jīng)濟型小套間，只有幾件陳舊的家具。唯一新而舒適的椅子是書桌旁的那把。她來訪后不久，我們的關(guān)系就急轉(zhuǎn)直下。
9 The seemingly abrupt change in her priorities was jolting. Itremains a most memorable turning point in my personaljourney.
她所看重的東西似乎突然有了變化,使我大為震動。在我的人生旅途上,這仍然是一個最難以忘懷的轉(zhuǎn)折點。
10 In contrast to relationships, stuff just doesn't mean that muchto me. I think most people feel the same way — except when thereare social consequences to not having particular items. There is acommercial on the radio that begins, 'Everybody wants a high-end TV...' The pressure to purchase is real. It may be true thateverybody wants a high-end TV. After all, nobody wants to be anobody.
相對于人際關(guān)系而言，物質(zhì)財富對我并不那么重要。我認(rèn)為大多數(shù)人與我同感——除非當(dāng)某一物品的缺失會引發(fā)社會后果時，人們才會有不同的想法。電臺播放的一個商業(yè)廣告開頭這樣說：“每個人都想擁有一臺高檔電視…”，購買這種電視機的壓力千真萬確。也許每個人真的都想要一臺高檔電視機，畢竟沒有人想做一個無名之輩。
11 But I'm happy to live without one. In fact, not being focused onmaterial goods feels quite natural to me. There are many peoplethroughout the world who would consider my lifestyle to beaffluent.
但是沒有這樣的電視機我也照樣活得快樂。事實上不專注于物質(zhì)財富，對我而言相當(dāng)自然。在這個世界上有很多人認(rèn)為我活得很富足。
12 Near the end of the year, when I put on the Salvation Army's redapron, something changes inside me. Instead of feeling out of placeeconomically, I begin to feel a genuine sense of belonging. As Iring my bell, people stop to share their personal stories of howmuch it meant to be helped when they were going through a roughtime. People helping people is something I feel deeply connectedto. While I'm ringing the bell, complete strangers have brought mehot chocolate, leaving me with a lingering smile. Countlessindividuals have helped to keep me warm with the sentiments of theseason: 'Thank you for ringing on such a cold day.' 'Can I get youa cup of coffee?' 'Bless you for your good work.' December is thetime of year I feel wealthiest.
臨近歲末每當(dāng)我系上救世軍的紅圍裙時，我的內(nèi)心會發(fā)生變化。我非但不感到經(jīng)濟上不自在，還開始感到一種真正的歸屬感。我搖鈴時，人們會停下腳步，給我講述他們的故事，講述他們遇到困難時受到幫助對他們多么重要。我感到我與人助人這件事深深地聯(lián)系在一起。在我搖鈴的時候，從未謀面的陌生人給我拿來熱乎乎的巧克力飲料，留給我一個久不消逝的微笑。無數(shù)的路人向我表達圣誕節(jié)的祝愿，使我感到溫暖?！爸x謝你在這樣的冷天搖鈴?！薄耙灰医o您弄一杯咖啡?”“你做好事，上帝保佑你。”十二月是一年中我感到最富足的時候。
13 Over the past four years, I've grown to understand more aboutmyself because of a single question from a curious child. As I'veexamined what it means to be poor, it has become clear to me what Iam most thankful for: both my tangible and my intangible goodfortune.
由于一個好奇的孩子提了一個簡單問題，我在過去的四年中對自己的了解進了一步。當(dāng)我審視貧窮究竟意味著什么時，我清楚了我最應(yīng)感恩的是什么：我的有形和無形的好運氣。
