這里有一個(gè)短篇故事，講述了簡(jiǎn)單的人生哲學(xué)。閱讀對(duì)話(huà)，在第一次讀的時(shí)候，試著掌握大意，不要看后面的習(xí)語(yǔ)解釋。第二次讀的時(shí)候，第二次閱讀時(shí)，可以利用后面的定義解釋?zhuān)瑏?lái)幫助你在學(xué)習(xí)新的習(xí)語(yǔ)的同時(shí)理解全文。在故事的末尾，有習(xí)語(yǔ)的定義解釋以及一個(gè)表達(dá)的小測(cè)驗(yàn)。

A Little Life Philosophyrens

人生哲學(xué)

Here are some thoughts on how to live a reasonably balanced life.

下面是關(guān)于和諧生活的一些思考

These aren't any great insights, just everyday thoughts on how to be satisfied and relatively happy despite the curves that life throws us at times. First and foremost, it's important to find people that you like. That means finding someone who won't make you feel put upon. That's truly a horrible feeling! It's also a good idea to find people who aren't going to press your buttons too much. Friends will kid around, but good friends will hit a happy medium between joking and respecting each other. On the topic of friends, it's a good idea to treat your friends like you'd like them to treat you. It's simple, but put this advice into practice and you'll be surprised at what great friends you find.

面對(duì)生活時(shí)不時(shí)給我們帶來(lái)的困難，怎樣獲得滿(mǎn)足感和相對(duì)地幸福感，下面這些建議并不是多么偉大的見(jiàn)解，大事一些日常的思考。首要的是，找到你喜歡的人很重要。就是說(shuō)，找到不會(huì)讓你有種被欺騙的感覺(jué)的人。欺騙真的是一件糟糕的感覺(jué)!找到不會(huì)總是讓你難堪的人也很重要。朋友之間免不了開(kāi)玩笑，但是真正的好朋友會(huì)在開(kāi)玩笑和相互尊重之間取得一個(gè)平衡點(diǎn)。說(shuō)到朋友這個(gè)話(huà)題，我們應(yīng)該設(shè)身處地地對(duì)待他們。雖然說(shuō)起來(lái)很簡(jiǎn)單，但一旦你落實(shí)到行動(dòng)中，你就會(huì)為自己擁有那么好的朋友而驚訝不已。

In these modern times, we all enjoy having the latest, greatest products such as smart phones and stylish clothing. Just remember that all that glitters is not gold. I find it helpful to always keep the presence of mind about me when I'm shopping.

在現(xiàn)代社會(huì)，我們都喜歡最新的、最棒的產(chǎn)品，例如智能手機(jī)和時(shí)裝。你要記住，所有這些表面的繁華都不是真正珍貴的東西。我發(fā)現(xiàn)，購(gòu)物時(shí)保持清醒的思考對(duì)自己十分有用。

Rather than fall into the trap of using your credit card too much, wait a day or two. Try this trick the next time your heart skips a beat because some beautiful piece of technology calls to you from the shop window. Once you've got this technique under your belt, you'd be surprised how much you will save.

比起掉進(jìn)刷爆信用卡的陷阱，你不如靜下心來(lái)等一等。等到下次你的心又因?yàn)闄淮袄锬硞€(gè)漂亮的產(chǎn)品而激動(dòng)不已的時(shí)候，你可以試試這個(gè)竅門(mén)。一旦你有了這種經(jīng)驗(yàn)，你會(huì)訝異于自己省下了一大筆錢(qián)。

Finally, when things do go wrong be careful and take it slowly. Take a few deep breaths, regain your composure, and then act. Unfortunately, we all get the short end of the stick at times. When this happens, know that life doesn't turn on a dime. Ups and downs are all part of the puzzle that is life. Taking this approach will make problems run like water off a duck's back. You'll need to straighten things out from time to time, but you'll know it's not the end of the world. Of course, it's also a good idea to cross bridges when you come to them rather than worry too much about everything that could go wrong in life!

最后，當(dāng)困難出現(xiàn)的時(shí)候，你要謹(jǐn)慎一些，慢慢來(lái)。深呼吸幾次，恢復(fù)冷靜，然后再行動(dòng)。不幸的是，有試過(guò)我們總是會(huì)處于劣勢(shì)。每當(dāng)這種時(shí)候，你要知道生活并不是毫無(wú)征兆的。人的一生就是充滿(mǎn)了起起伏伏。這種方法可以使得問(wèn)題不波及到別人。你可能時(shí)不時(shí)地得去解決問(wèn)題，但你也要指導(dǎo)這并不是最終的結(jié)果。當(dāng)然，比起為那些生活中可能出現(xiàn)的困難而過(guò)度焦慮，待到問(wèn)題真的出現(xiàn)后再解決也是一個(gè)不錯(cuò)的辦法。

Idioms and Expressions

習(xí)語(yǔ)和表達(dá)

all that glitters is not gold = not everything that looks good is good

不是所有的東西像表面上那么好

cross a bridge when one comes to it = deal with a situation when it happens, used when explaining that one shouldn't worry too much about possible problems

當(dāng)問(wèn)題出現(xiàn)后再去解決，通常用于表示，某人不應(yīng)該杞人憂(yōu)天。

fall into the trap = do something that something wants you to do in order to take advantage of you

因?yàn)檎心橙说南聭炎隽四呈拢粍e人利用。

feel put-upon = feel like someone is forcing your to do something you don't want to do

感覺(jué)別人在強(qiáng)迫你做你不愿意的事。

get something under one's belt = experience something

經(jīng)歷某事

get the short end of the stick = lose in an arrangement of some sort, receive the smallest portion

處于劣勢(shì)，沒(méi)有分量。

have the heart skip a beat = be surprised by something

對(duì)某事感到驚訝

hit a happy medium = find balance between extremes

在兩種極端之間找到平衡

kid around = have fun, joke

玩得開(kāi)心，開(kāi)玩笑。

presence of mind = the ability to calmly think about a situation and make the best decision rather than act on emotion

比起情緒化，冷靜思考并作出最佳決定的能力。

push someone's buttons = know exactly what to say to anger another person

非常清楚怎樣激怒某人

put something into practice = do something that you want to become a habit, often used when following advice

做你想做的事，常用于表示采納建議。

regain one's composure = find balance after having becoming very emotional (anger, sadness, spite, etc.)

在情緒化(憤怒、悲傷、怨恨等等)之后，冷靜下來(lái)。

run like water off a duck's back = not bother or affect someone

不要去打擾或影響某人

straighten something out = resolve a problem

解決問(wèn)題

throw someone a curve = do something that surprises someone, often used when negative events happen

因做了某事使某人感到驚訝，通常是不好的事

turn on a dime = change without hesitation

毫不猶豫就改變