万花筒 2011-08-01&08-03 中年妇女：压力最大的人群

 The results are eminent¹. We now know the most stressed-out person in this whole country, someone at risk of shortening their own life. And here is ABC's Linsey Davis to tell us. 

 

 

 

Who would you guess is the most stressed-out person in America? Fireman? Stock broker²? Air traffic controller? Think again. Chances are you know the person and she looks something like Debbie Watkins. 

 

 

 

"It's oh, I'm not spending enough time with mom. Then if I go over and try to spend more time with her, then I'm thinking, my kids need more of my time, my husband needs more of my time or my job. "

 

 

 

Let me give you a headline. Medical experts say this could be the first generation of women who do not outlive their male counterparts by 5 to 7 years. According to the Gallup-Healthways well-being³ index, middle aged⁴ American women have the lowest well-being of any age group or sex, and this is why. 

 

 

 

"Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Come on. "

 

 

 

Debbie gets up with the son. Her kids still live at home. She works a full-time⁵ job, takes a lunch break to visit her mom who recently suffered a stroke and she's trying to balance her marriage, all well attempting to stay healthy. 

 

 

 

"Yeah, those days I want to find a corner and, you know, curl myself up and get away from everybody and everything."

 

 

 

This is a wake up call for middle aged women to change their behavior now. 

 

 

 

"Women really need to take care of themselves first. Like the old adage⁶, when you are flying on the plane, put your own oxygen mask on first before you assist others."

 

 

 

Gail Sheehy, writer for USA today and recently wrote about today's midlife women. 

 

 

 

"They are not making healthy choices. And they don't think they can had(have). Because they would feel too guilty of taking the time away from caring for their families. "

 

 

 

"So what is a woman like Debbie to do? "

 

 

 

"Well, she has to get other people to trade off with her. And then she will do it for them because their parents are gonna need help, too. "

 

 

 

She calls it a circle of care, essentially⁷ carpooling the stresses in our lives, where relatives and friends pitch in to help each other. She also recommends at least one hour of time each day to do something for yourself. 

 

 

 

Debbie's already taking this advices to heart. And in doing so, could just be adding years to her life. 

 

 

 

Linsey Davis, ABC News, New York.

1 eminent   

adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的

参考例句：

• We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
• He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。

2 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

3 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

4 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

5 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

6 adage   

n.格言，古训

参考例句：

• But the old adage that men grow into office has not proved true in my experience.但是，根据我的经验，人们所谓的工作岗位造就人材这句古话并不正确。
• Her experience lends credence to the adage " We live and learn!"她的经验印证了一句格言: 活到老，学到老！

7 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。