1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
1. 重要的第一课—清洁女工
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:
"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
在我上大学的第二个月， 我们的教授给我们进行了一次突击测试。我平时比较用功，所以前面的问题都应付得很轻松， 直到看到最后一道题：“我们学校打扫卫生的女士叫什么名字？”
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?
这肯定是开玩笑的吧。我多次见过这个清洁女工， 她高个子， 黑头发， 大概50岁左右， 但是我怎么可能知道她的名字呢？
I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
我交了卷子， 最后一个问题留了空白。就在下课之前， 一个学生问教授， 最后一个问题会不会计入考试成绩。
"Absolutely, " said the professor.. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant.. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
Is smile and say "hello.."
“当然计分”，教授说， “在你们的职业生涯中， 你会遇到很多人。每个人都是值得注意的， 都值得你们注意和关心， 即使你只需要对他们微笑说声你好”
I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her Name was Dorothy.
我绝不会忘记那一课，我也记住了她的名字叫桃乐丝。
2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain
2. 重要的第二课—雨中的搭车人
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had
broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
一天晚上11点半， 一位上了年纪的非裔美国妇女站在阿拉巴马高速路边忍受着暴风雨的肆虐。她的车坏了， 她急需要搭个便车。
Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
浑身湿透的她决定打信号让下一辆过来的车停下。
A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
一个白人小伙子停下来帮了她， 在冲突不断的二十世纪60年代这种情况基本上没听说过。小伙子带她到了安全的地方， 帮助她寻求援助， 并帮她拦了出租车。
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home.
她看起来赶的很匆忙， 但是还是记下了小伙子的地址并向他说了感谢。几天之后， 小伙子家有人敲门， 让他感到惊讶的是， 有人给他家送来了一个遥控的大彩色电视机。
A special note was attached. It read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's' bedside just before he passed away...God Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
电视机上留了一个便条， 上书：“谢谢你那天晚上在高速路上帮助我， 大雨淋湿的不仅是我的衣服，还有我的精神。之后你来了， 因为你，我能够在我丈夫临终之前赶到他床前……上帝保佑你， 谢谢你帮助我并无私的为他人服务，。 ”
Sincerely,
你真诚的，
Mrs. Nat King Cole.
纳特．金 ．科尔夫人 （注Nat King Cole， 抒情歌王）
3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.
3. 重要的第三课----永远记住为你服务的人
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
在冰激淋圣代还不是这么贵的时候， 一个10岁的小男孩走进一家宾馆的咖啡店，坐在一张桌子旁边。一名服务员给他到了一杯水放在他面前的桌子上。
"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.
“一个冰激淋圣代多少钱？”他问道。
"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.
“五十分，”服务员回答。
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
小男孩从口袋里掏出手， 开始数手里的钱币。
"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.
“那， 仅仅一盘冰激淋多少钱？”他问。
By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient..
现在， 等桌子的人更多了， 服务员就有点失去耐心了。
"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
“三十五分”， 她草草地说。
The little boy again counted his coins.
小男孩又数了一遍他的硬币。
"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.
“那我只要冰激淋”， 他说。
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress
Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
Were two nickels and five pennies..
服务员送来了冰激淋，在桌子上留下账单就走开了。小男孩吃完冰激淋， 付完帐， 离开了。当服务员回来擦桌子的时候， 她哭了。那儿， 在空盘子的旁边， 整齐的放着两个五分及五个便士的硬币。
You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
你也看到了，小男孩不能吃圣代， 因为他要留足够的钱给服务员付小费。
4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.
4. 重要的第四课---路上的障碍
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it..
古时候， 一个国王把一块大石头摆在路中间，然后他自己躲起来， 观察会否有人把石头挪开。一些富有的商人和朝臣路过时只是绕开石头过去了。
Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
很多人很大声的埋怨国王没有把道路清理干净， 但是没有一个人去把石头搬开。
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
然后一个农夫负着一担蔬菜过来了。在大石头跟前， 农夫放下他的担子， 试图把石头搬到路边。在一阵又推又拉的努力下， 他终于成功了。
After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!
农夫挑起他的担子之后， 发现在原来放大石头的地方躺着一个钱袋， 里面有很多金币及国王留得纸条， 指明金币是给从路上搬开石头的人。农夫懂得我们许多人永远不会懂得道理:
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
每一个障碍提供的是一个改善我们自身情况的机会。
5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...
5.重要的第五课 –雪中送炭
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
很多年之前，我还在医院做义工的时候， 我认识了一个叫丽萨的小女孩， 她的了一种很罕见却很严重的疾病。她唯一康复的机会是从她5岁的小弟弟身上输血， 她弟弟患同一种疾病但竟神奇存活下来了， 因此身体中产生了可以抗击该疾病的抗体。
The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
医生给小弟弟说明了情况， 然后问小男孩他是否愿意把他的血给他姐姐。
I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek.
我看见小男孩仅仅犹豫了一下就深呼吸了一口， 说“我愿意， 如果这能挽救她的生命。”在输血过程中， 姐弟俩在相邻的两张床上躺着，看到血色慢慢回到小姐姐脸上时， 小弟弟笑了， 我们也都笑着。
Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".
然后小弟弟的脸变得苍白， 慢慢他的笑容褪去了。他抬起头看着医生， 用颤抖的声音问到“我马上就要死了吗？”
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
小男孩太小， 他误解了医生的意思，认为要救活姐姐就要把他所有的血液都输给姐姐。
Most importantly.... "Live with no regrets, Treat people the way you want to be treated, Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, and Dance like you do when nobody's watching."
最重要的是……“无悔的生活，善待他人吧， 正如你希望被别人对待的那样； 工作吧， 就像不需要钱那样；去爱吧， 正如从来不曾受伤那样； 跳舞吧， 就像没有人观看那样。 ”
You never know how or when you'll be paid!你从不知道你会在什么时候， 以什么方式得到回报！
[ 此帖被qhcaroline在2011-10-01 13:57重新编辑 ]
