双语魅力英文丛书收录了各种经典哲理美文,双语对照,其内容涉及青春、爱情、理想等方面,从不同的视角阐释了人生的种种道理。《双语魅力英文系列1:找回迷失的自己》中选用的文章体裁多样,有语句优美的散文;有感人至深的叙事文;也有世界权威研究**的研究成果报告。既有理性的人生思考,也有鲜活生动的感性触摸,读者在提高英语水平的同时,得到人生幸福的启示。非常适合中学生、大学生及对英语学习充满热情、抱有热望的人们来学习英文、欣赏美文。 找回迷失的自己-心灵鸡汤-双语魅力美文_(美)凯瑟琳_安徽人民出版社_

如果我回到18岁我会对自己说……

What I'd Tell Myself If I Were 18 Again...

I like to joke that I am who I am today because I did everything wrong in my 20's. I've always been fearless, and it often got me in trouble. I wasn't afraid to start a business, borrow a bunch of money, or quit a well-paying job to travel the world.

At the same time, the fact that I took chances (and often failed) gave me the wisdom that I have today. Lessons learned through failure tend to be much more meaningful than lessons learned otherwise.

Now that I'm in my 30's, life is pretty good. While I haven't learned it all, I feel my head is screwed on straight enough that life is much less stressful. I've come into my own and built the foundation for a secure and prosperous future.

Even though things are going well, I often imagine what it would be like to go back into the past and teach myself what I know now. I know enough to be certain that I lost most of my twenties to a struggle with debt and poor decisions. If I had done things differently, maybe I could have been where I am now at age 22.

Could you imagine? Self employed and almost financially independent at age 22? No... not almost. My expenses were much less back then... I would have been financially free!

I know it doesn't do any good to ask what if. If I had known it all at age 22, I probably would have been a little cocky. Doing things the hard way seasoned my character. I like who I am and I wouldn't change a thing.

But what if...

What I'd Tell Myself at 18?

Sometimes I imagine that I'm in a fishing boat, thousands of miles away from the life I know, slowly drifting across a lake. As I recline at an uncomfortable angle created by the wood bench and aluminum hull, I glance over at the 18 year-old version of myself and upload my wisdom to him.

我常开玩笑说,我之所以是现在的我,完全是因为我二十几岁时把一切事情都做错了。那个时候,我什么都不怕,所以经常惹麻烦。我不怕为了创业而借一屁股的债,又或者是辞去高薪的工作只是为了周游世界。

也正因为那时候的我抓住了很多机会(虽然经常以失败告终),才让今天的我学到了许多智慧。相较之下,从失败中吸取的教训比从其他地方学到的东西更加深刻。

现在,我过着幸福的三十岁生活。尽管我还没有掌握到生活的全部,但是我觉得已经足够让自己的生活没有太大的压力。我有自己的生活方式,并且给未来打下了**、繁荣的基础。

尽管一切都在顺利地进行,我还是经常想象,如果我回到过去并且把我现在学到的东西教给那个时候的我,事情会变成什么样子。我非常清楚,二十几岁的我大部分时间都在和债务以及自己的糟糕决定纠缠。如果我能用另外一种方式去做事,也许在我22岁的时候就能有今天的成就。

你能够想象在22岁的时候就自己当老板并且财政独立吗?不,简直不可想象啊!我那时的花费非常低,说不定那时我就可以得到财政自由了!

我也知道说“如果……”是没有什么意义的。如果我在22岁的时候就能知道这些了,我可能会变得有些骄傲自大。困难让我成长。我喜欢现在的我,我不打算去改变什么。

但是如果……

如果我回到18岁我会告诉我自己什么呢?

有时候我会想象我在一只渔船上,离真实的生活千里之遥,慢慢地在湖中漂荡。我不太舒服地躺在木凳上,瞥一眼18岁的自己,然后把自己现在的智慧传给他。

Here's what I say:

Don't be so Serious

Relax... You've got your whole life ahead of you. I know it can seem like the most important thing in the world is fighting the good fight, but don't let your life pass you by in the process. There'll be plenty of time for starting businesses, writing books, creating art, and solving the world's problems in your head.

It's impressive that you do those things at such a young age, but life is really about experiences. Above all, it's about sharing experiences with other people. Sometimes when you're all wrapped up in your own head, doing the things that you are determined to do, you miss a chance to connect with other people.

So take it easy. Have some fun. Do something crazy. Let loose. Call up some friends and share some great moments together.

Don't Be in Such a Hurry to Grow Up

A funny thing happens as you age: The older you get, the less of a hurry you're in. You'd think it would be the other way around: the less time you have, the more of a hurry you're in; but it's actually quite the opposite.

At 18, it seems like you have to rush everything before you get too old. You think you have to graduate college, get a good job, and get married before you turn 22, because (for some reason) you think 22 is old.

Don't take being young for granted! Being a kid without responsibility is a thing of beauty. I know you don't appreciate it now, but you will when you're my age.

22 is just getting started! In fact, life gets more enjoyable as you age. As you learn more about yourself and the world, it gets easier to enjoy what the world has to offer.

Your 20's are the perfect time to explore the world and experience new things. If you grow up before you turn 22, you'll have missed a perfect opportunity. Experiences at 18 are just not the same as when you're 25.

我会告诉他:

不要太认真

放松点……人生还长着呢。我也知道,似乎世界上**要紧的事情就是打一个漂亮仗,但是请不要与你的生活擦肩而过。对于你而言,还有大把的时间去创业、写书、创作,去解决那些你考虑的世界问题。

能够在年轻的时候就做出那些成就的确让人印象深刻,可生活的真谛在于经历。*首要的,就是和他人分享那些经历。有时候,当你自己规划好一切,做那些你决心要做的事情,却错失了和他人交流的机会。

所以,要放松点。去享受乐趣,去做一些疯狂的事情,不要把自己绷得太紧。和朋友们一起分享一些美好时光。

不要急着长大

你那个年龄是很奇妙的:你年岁越大,你越少着急。但你也许却有另外一种思路:你有的时间越少,你越着急。可是事实其实是完全相反的。

18岁的时候,看上去你必须要在自己变得太老之前急匆匆地做完一些事情。你认为自己必须要从大学毕业,找个好工作然后在22岁之前结婚,因为(不知道什么原因)你认为22岁已经老了。

不要把年轻看得那么理所当然!做一个不需要负太多责任的小孩是一件很美妙的事情。也许现在的你不太赞同,可当你到了我这个年纪的时候就会明白了。

22岁只是生命的开始。事实上,生活随着时间的流逝变得更有趣。当你对自己和世界了解得越多,就更容易去享受世界所提供的东西。

二十几岁是探索世界、体验新东西的*佳时段。如果你在22岁之前就长大了,你会失去这个*佳机会。18岁的感受**不会和25岁的感受一样。

……

出版说明

译者序

You Will Be Master Of Yourself

做自己想做的人

What I'd Tell Myself If I Were 18 Again...

如果我回到18 岁我会对自己说……

If I Were A Boy Again

假如我又回到了童年

Feeling Of Youth

青春常在

Letting Go Of Yesterday

让昨日随风

Youth Is Not A Time Of Life, It Is A State Of Mind

青春不是年华,而是心境

The Last Rose Of Summer

夏日*后的玫瑰

A Psalm Of Life

人生礼颂

Stray Birds

飞鸟集

Following Youth

青春的飞逝

Every Day Is A Good Day

把握生命里的每**

Think It Over...

好好想想……

Three Days To See

假如只有三天光明

Dance Like No One's Watching

纵情地舞蹈

Just For Today

就为了今天

Five Balls Of Life

生命中的五个球

If The World Were A Village Of 100 People

如果世界是个一百人的村落

Rush

匆匆

Love Is Just A Threa

爱若游丝

Homesick

乡愁

Angel

天使

Love Her More Than You Love Yourself

爱她,甚于爱你自己

A Boy With a Mission

男孩的使命

A Woman's Tears

女人的眼泪

A Brother Like That

哥哥的心愿

A Boy and His Tree

男孩和树

Father and Son in An Earthquake

地震中的父与子---父爱是一诺千金

A Good Heart to Lean On

善心可依

To Be A Better Friend

做个更好的朋友

Love Is Just A Thread

爱只是一根线

Love Is Not Merchandise

爱情不是商品

The Furthest Distance In the World

世界上*遥远的距离

11 Sensations In Your Life

生命中的11 种感动

About Love

关于爱情

Speak Out Your Love

爱在心里口要开

A Chance Of A Lifetime

生命的机遇

Silence Is Bliss

寂静的狂欢

A Little Piece Of Me

生命的过客

Excellence Is Not Enough

超越**的你

The Wisdom Of One Word

改变一生的邂逅

Steps To Happiness

通往幸福的阶梯

Catch The Dream

追随梦想

My Miraculous Family

生命的奇迹

Never Give Up Hope

永远别放弃希望

If

如果

Feed Your Mind

充实你的思想

Life Struggle

生命的拼搏

Growing Roots

成长的树根

I Never Write Right

我不懂写作

I Am The Fire Goddess Of The Volcano

我就是火女神

Excellence Is Not Enough

超越**的你

Life Is A Do-it-yourself Project

生活正如一项为自己打造的工程

The Best Time Of My Life

一生中*美好的时光

A Place To Stand

一个人的空间

A Do-it-yourself Project

为自己打造的工程

Your Life Is Not A Coincidence

生命中没有意外

The Life I Desired

我所追求的生活

Words To Life

生活的忠告

11 Mottos Of Your Life

11 条人生箴言

Three Peach Stones

三颗核桃

These Things Can Never Die

这些美好不会消逝

Compose A Symphony Of Humanity

谱写人性的乐章

Beautiful Smile And Love

美丽的微笑与爱心

The Arc Angels

亚克天使

Catch Of A Lifetime

一生的收获

The 4 Wives

生命中的四位爱人

Virtue

美德

Let Us Smile

让我们微笑

The More Loving One

让我们成为更有爱心的人

The Cobbler And The Banker

皮匠和银行家

The Most Beautiful Heart

*美的心灵

A Greek To Remember

一位值得纪念的希腊人

岁月如歌,以灵魂歌唱;生命如诗,尽一生品读。
人生的旅途有太多的不安,一不小心就弄丢了*初澄净的自己。
让我们追随心灵的声音,去找回曾经的感动,去找回迷途的温暖。