超越自我篇11：The Lesson of the Bamboo Trees竹子的启示

One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water rush downstream and listen to the chirps¹ of birds and the rustling² of leaves in the trees. I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return gracefully³ to their upright after the wind had died down.
我童年最美好的回忆便是在小河边漫步，或懒懒地坐在河岸边。在那里，我静静地享受那份悠闲，流水溅溅，鸟鸣啾啾，树声萦耳。我还喜欢看那片竹林。清风拂来，它们全都弯下了腰；风势渐微，它们又都优雅地站了起来，恢复了之前的挺拔。

When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce back or return to its original position, the word "resilience" comes to mind. When used in reference to a person, this word means the ability to readily recover from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits of a person's emotions.
每当我想起竹子从弯曲中恢复挺拔身姿的能力，脑海里便出现“韧性”这个词。这个词用于人身上，便是指轻松地从震惊、沮丧或其他考验我们心理极限的境况中恢复过来的能力。

Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.
你是否曾感觉自己马上就要折断了?是否曾感觉自己已经到了崩溃的边缘?感谢上帝，你挺过来了，于是才有现在这活着的你去追忆那不堪回首的往事。

During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions that threatened your health. You felt emotionally drained, mentally exhausted⁴ and you most likely endured unpleasant physical symptoms.
在那一段往事中，你也许感到心中的情绪纠结正侵蚀着你的健康。你感到自己一颗心麻木了、脑力枯竭了，甚至你完全可能正经受身体的各种不适。 

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking point, bend, but don't break. Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.
人生便是起起伏伏，悲欢相继。下次当不幸或痛苦将你带到崩溃的边缘，记住：曲而勿折。努力吧，不要让这样的境况把你打倒。

A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant ordeal⁵.
心怀希望将会帮你渡过难关。

With hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation,
心怀希望迎接一个更美好的明天或者更好的状况时，

things may not be as bad as they seem to be.
事情或许就没有看上去的那么糟糕。

The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with if the end result is worth having.
如果结局值得拥有你将会更容易战胜那些不愉快的考验。

If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point,
假如你正面对困难处在崩溃的边缘，

show resilience.
请表现出你的韧性来

Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don't break.
就像竹子一样，弯曲但不折断。

1 chirps   

鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的第三人称单数 )； 啾； 啾啾

参考例句：

• The linnet chirps her vernal song. 红雀吱喳鸣叫着她春天的歌。
• She heard nothing but the chirps and whirrs of insects. 除了虫的鸣叫声外，她什么也没听见。

2 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

3 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

4 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

5 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。