朗姆薄荷儿
学习英语可以是一个枯燥的过程，也可以是一个有趣的过程。我在此献上经典英语美文，希望对大家喜欢。
美文欣赏：我决定从此过上幸福的生活
It was many years ago. I was a young dad sitting on the couch reading a fairy tale to my little girl. She sat next to me with her head on my arm as I told the tale. When it came to the end I finished with those famous words: "And they lived happily ever after." As I looked over to her with her wavy, brown hair and big, innocent eyes I could see the smile on her face and I never wanted it to end. It dawned on me then that the ending of the book was what I wanted for her. I wanted her to "live happily ever after."
很多年前我还是个年轻的爸爸，坐在沙发上给小女儿讲童话故事。她坐在我身边，头枕在我胳膊上听我讲故事。故事的最后我用那句经典的话作结束语：“从此他们过上了幸福的生活。”我看着她，她有着卷曲的棕色头发和大大的、天真的眼睛，我能从她的脸上看到微笑，我希望能永远这样看着她。那时我明白了故事的结尾也是我对她的期望，我希望她“从此过上幸福的生活。”
Still, deep in my heart I knew that this couldn't always be so. I knew that there would be times when her heart was broken. I knew there would be times when she cried in grief and I couldn't comfort her. I knew there would be times when all she felt was fear, sadness, sorrow, and despair. As I stroked her hair and smiled at her I hoped that those times would be brief and that she would have joy in her life more often than not. Living happily ever after, though, seemed out of the question.
然而内心深处我知道现实并非总能如我所愿。我知道有时她会伤心;我知道有时她会伤心地哭泣，而我却不能给她安慰;我知道有时她只会感到恐惧、伤心、懊悔和绝望。我抚摸着她的头发，对她微笑，我希望那些时刻都能很快过去，希望她的生活中更多的是快乐，然而，从此过上幸福生活似乎是不可能的。
It took me a lot of years to realize that it IS possible to live happily ever after. You just have to do it "one day at a time." Happiness you see isn't some reward that you get at the end of your journey. Happiness isn't something dependent on what life hands you. Happiness is something you create in your life choice by choice and day by day.
很多年以后我才意识到从此过上幸福生活是可以实现的。你只需要“认真过好每一天”。你看到的幸福并非你人生旅程最终的奖励，幸福不是取决于生活赐予你什么，而是你日复一日通过一个个选择在生活中创造出来的。
The truth is happiness comes when you love. Love is a gift from God. It is love that mends broken hearts. It is love that heals grief. It is love that gives us joy. Choose to "live happily ever after, one day at a time."
事实是幸福就是付出爱时的体验，爱是上帝恩赐的礼物。只有爱才能修复受伤的心灵;只有爱才能抚平伤痛;只有爱才能给我们带来快乐。选择“从此过上幸福的生活，过好每一天。”
美文欣赏：想逃离现在的生活追寻自由
Have you ever gone on vacation and said to yourself, “I could live here?” On a trip to Jamaica, Kalisa Martin entertained that idea —and actually went through with it.
你是否曾经旅行过并告诉你自己：“我能住在这里”?在去牙买加的一次旅途中，卡丽萨·马汀思考了这个想法——也事实上将它完成了。
It was during a lingering and nasty New York City winter in March 2014. Martin and her boyfriend Jeff Belizaire decided to escape the snow by taking a last-minute getaway to Jamaica.
那是在2014年三月纽约市一个漫长而恶劣的冬季期间。马汀和她的男朋友杰夫·贝利泽尔突发奇想决定马上跑去牙买加躲避雪天。
At the time, Martin had a dream job in the New York culinary world: brand director at Tasting Table, a digital destination for culinary enthusiasts. She also appeared on national television shows like Good Morning America.
在那时，马汀在纽约的烹饪界有着一份理想的工作：Tasting Table的品牌主理人，这是一家美食热爱者的线上聚集地。她同时也在国家电视节目如《早安美国》中出现过。
But there was something about that trip that spoke to Martin — profoundly.
但是，有关那趟旅程的什么东西深深地印在了马汀的内心。
“That long weekend, the idea of the B&B concept came up and we thought, ‘Why not?’It could happen, and it could happen right here in Jamaica,”said 30-year-old Martin. “That was the first time we seriously considered the idea.”
“在那个漫长的周末里，“床加早餐”理念(一种旅店形式)的想法蹦了出来，我们想着‘为什么不呢?’那是有可能发生的，而且有可能就发生在这儿，在牙买加，”30岁的马汀说道。“那是我们第一次认真考虑这个想法。”
Within four months Martin had quit her job and was on her way to Jamaica with Belizaire to create The Runaway, a bed-and-breakfast that has grown into a lifestyle travel brand.
在四个月里，马汀辞了职，并和贝利泽尔踏上了去牙买加创造The Runaway的道路，一个有着“床加早餐”理念的想法开始成为一个生活方式旅游品牌。
“We ran away from the cold and the typical 9-5 to follow our dreams and create this new life,”says Martin.
“我们从寒冷与典型的朝九晚五中逃离出来追寻我们的梦，并创造了这个全新的生活，”马汀说。
And this isn’t your average bed-and-breakfast. The Runaway Jamaica is the first successfully funded B&B on Kickstarter. Backers donated almost $47,000 to help bring the property to life.
这也并非只是典型的“床加早餐”。The Runaway Jamaica是第一家成功在Kickstarter上得到资助的“床加早餐”理念的品牌。支持者们捐献了将近47000美元来帮助它成为现实。
美文欣赏：这就是信仰的力量
As we slowly drove down the street on that cold December evening we spotted the porch light. "This must be the house." I told our "Positive Teens In Action" group. We pulled up in front of an older home with the porch light glowing. We gathered up our song books, walked up the steps, and knocked on the door. We heard a faint voice from inside say, “Come on in. The door is open." We opened the door.
在那个寒冷的12月份的夜晚我们开车在路上慢慢行驶时看到了门廊的灯光，我跟我们这个“积极行动的青年小队”说：“一定就是这家了。”我们把车停在一栋旧房子前，门廊灯光很亮。我们拿出歌集，走上台阶敲了敲门，听到里面传来一个虚弱的声音：“进来吧，门开着呢”，我们推开了门。
There in a rocking chair sat an elderly woman with a big smile on her face. "I've been expecting you." she said weakly. Ruth was one of our Meals On Wheels stops I had arranged; along with the usual church members who enjoyed carolers. We handed Ruth the basket of goodies the teens had assembled earlier that evening. Then I asked Ruth what carols she would like to hear. Ruth's face was beaming as she joined in singing each song.
摇椅上坐着一位老太太，脸上带着灿烂的笑容，她虚弱地说：“我一直盼着你们来。”Ruth的家是我安排的上门送餐服务的一站，和我们一起来的还有喜欢唱圣歌的常去教堂的人。我们递给Ruth一篮子美味的食物，都是我们这些年轻人那天晚上提前装好的。然后我问Ruth她想听什么圣诞颂歌，她跟着唱每首歌时脸上都洋溢着笑容。
As we hugged Ruth good-bye she said to me with tears glistening in her eyes, “The day you called I was still in bed. I had just finished praying. I asked God if it would be possible to have some Christmas Carolers come to my home and sing this year. Thank you for being the answer to my Christmas prayer."
我们跟Ruth拥抱说再见时，她眼睛里闪着泪光对我说：“你打电话那天我还躺在床上，刚刚做完祷告，我问上帝今年能否让唱圣诞颂歌的人来我家唱颂歌。感谢你使我梦想成真。”
Wow, what an awesome experience to have the opportunity to be the answer to someone's Christmas prayer.
哇哦，能使别人的祷告得以实现是多棒的一次经历呀。
Bible Text: When you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. Matthew 6:6
《圣经》原文：祈祷时要去房间里，关上门向无形的上帝祈祷，上帝看见你在秘密祈祷，就会回报给你。马太福音6:6
超肥狐狸
英语作为学习生涯中必不可少的课程，想学好真的不容易。我在此献上英语美文，希望大家喜欢。
英文美文欣赏
布达佩斯之恋 Down in Budapest
The night is long,goes on and on
Before me lies the break of dawn
Another day to wonder
What I'll find along my way
Just what to do I wish I knew
So all alone I'm missing you
The blue Danube
The sun put color of my soul in you
Budapest....
The day begins,the gentle wnd
As sweet as lonesome violins
So clear and bright
I watched the river rolling out of sight
I can't define this home of mine
This home,I'm waiting for the sign
Will I be lessed to find you
Somewhere down in Budapest
I'm lost in memories down in Budapest
I'm lost in memories down in Budapest
......
夜漫漫，时间无休止地流逝
黎明在我眼降临
这一天我又会彷徨，不知道
沿着自己的生命轨道，我将找到什么
该做些什么，我希望我知道
我一直在独自想念你
蓝色的多瑙河
阳光把我灵魂的颜色照进你心里
布达佩斯……
这一天开始了，轻柔的风
和寂寞的小提琴一样美好
如此清澈明亮
我看见河流奔腾出视野之外
我无法给我的这个家下定义
这个家，我在等待着一个信号
上苍会不会保佑我找到你
在布达佩斯街道的某个地方
沿着布达佩斯的街道游走，我迷失在记忆里
沿着布达佩斯的街道游走，我迷失在记忆里
沿着布达佩斯的街道游走，我迷失在记忆里
经典优美英语文章
妙“想”生花 Getting behind the Creative Mind
The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
——Henry David Thoreau
世界对富有想象力的人来说只是一块帆布。——亨利·大卫·梭罗
Creativity is not,as some would have us believed,something to be taken lightly.More than painting pictures or composing original music—creativity could rightly be considered a healing force for societies overwhelmed by the ongoing utilitarian struggles of humanity.Call it a cure for depression,an escape from working—class drudgery,catharsis for the stress and worry that accumulates within us all.Or just call it a fun and productive way to wile away an afternoon.
创造力并不像人们让我们相信的那样，是不以为然的东西。这不像绘画或者原创音乐那样，创造力可以看做是治愈被持续的社会功利斗争所压迫人性的力量.我们称之为治疗抑郁的良药，逃避工薪阶层的苦差事，积压在我们内心所有压力和忧虑的宣泄。或者只是一个消磨一个下午的有趣高效的方法。
But the spark of creativity is not always easily lit.As children,our creative zeal is generally encouraged and allowed to thrive,but as we move into adulthood that zeal tends to atrophy from neglect.Other things take over our lives,such as hectic career schedules and increased social pressure to achieve "status".According to Elisabeth Keating inPieces of Beauty,this is an unhealthy trend spawned from an overly materialistic culture.She gose on to detail the spiritual benefits of a more creative life.
但创造力的火花并不容易点燃。作为孩子，我们的创作热情容易受到鼓励和发展，但随着我们进入成年期，热情往往容易减退。其它事情占据了我们的生活，如简单忙碌的职业计划和为了获得地位产生的社会压力。根据伊丽莎白.基庭的《美丽碎片》，这是由过度的物质文化产生的一种不健康趋势。她继续深究更有创造性的生活的精神上的益处。
Tongue in cheek,Melvin Durai exposes creativity from a more "everyday" and practical angle in his humorous piece,Let the Beer Come to You.Not only have great minds invented personal computers and cell phone technology,they might also bless us with beertossing refrigerators and couches that spit out lost remote controls.
Melvin Durai在用他的诙谐作品《让啤酒来到你的身边》开玩笑似的从日常和实践的角度剖析创造性。
Clearly,the expression of artistic creativity throughout history has been just a instrumental in improving the human condition as any business venture or economic boom.Without it there would be no great works of art to enjoy and puzzle over,no songs to sing badly in the shower,no ho new fashion trends,no novels to read.I ask you,is that the sort of world you want to live in?
显然，纵观历史，艺术创作的表达一直只是一个改善人类生存条件成为一切商业风险和经济繁荣的工具。没有创造力就不会有伟大的艺术作品供欣赏和思索，就没有糟糕的洗澡歌，就没有潮流趋势，就没有小说可以读。我问你们，那是你们想要生活的那种世界吗?
经典英语美文
毕业，继续前进 Graduation and Moving On
At least once a year, there are a lot of graduations.It’s a time when a lot of people move on,from where they were, to another school or another class,or out into a real world.To graduate means to take a step forward, to move onward.I can remember my high school graduation,my graduation from university,and even my graduation from graduated school.Each of those graduations was nice.I took pictures, I got flowers, I hug my parents.I had the motions to moving on, I want to stay and have more fun.But I also want to move on.When we hear the word graduation, we naturally think of graduating from school.But I think it’s possible to graduate from different places, or stages in life.I worked in a company in New York for about three years.In one point I felt I couldn’t learn anything else from the company,where the people I was working with.Then I had hit a ceiling, I felt that was time to move on.The way that I describe that moving on is a graduation.Some times we are thrown out into the world or to the next level,whether we are ready or not.Other times we get the truth when we want to move on.I have experienced both.I preferred the second one, where I have a choice,I like the truth when and how, but we don’t always get what we want,since we can learn from every experience that we have,each experience can be a stepping stone for us to be better people.I know that I take lessons with me every time I graduated,but some times I can be a slow learner.I wonder when my next graduation is going to be.
至少每年一次,会有很多的毕业典礼。这是一个很多人继续前行的时刻，他们从现在的地方到另一个学校或者另一个班级，或者走出学校真正步入社会。毕业就以为这向前迈一步，继续前行。我还记得我高中，大学，甚至是研究生的毕业典礼。每一次毕业典礼都很棒。我拍了照片，收到了花，拥抱了父母。我曾有想继续下去的动力，我希望留下并获得更多的乐趣。但我也想继续前行。当我们听到毕业一词的时候，我们会自然而然的想到学校的毕业典礼。但是我认为我们有可能从人生的不同地方不同阶段毕业。我在纽约一家公司工作了快三年。在某种程度上,我觉得我无法从公司和同事身上学到东西。然后我已经达到了一种上限,我觉得是时候继续前行了。我所描述的继续前行的方式是毕业。有时我们被带入世界或进入下一个阶段，不管我们是否为此做好了准备。其他时候，我们得知当我们想继续前进的事实。我已经都经历过了。我更喜欢第二个，我可以选择，我喜欢这个何时以及如何的事实，但我们不能总是得到我们想要的东西，因为我们可以从我们每次的经历中学到东西，每次经历都可以成为我们成为更好的人的一块垫脚石。我知道每次毕业我都要学习一些东西，但有时候我可以是一名缓慢的学习者。我想知道我的下一次毕业是何时。
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