第1章 人皆有天赋，信则梦成真

Everyone Has Something Special

Johnnie Martin is a young Canadian boy. He was the son of a carpenter[1]. His parents lived frugal[2] lives, saving their money for the day when they could send their son to college. Johnnie had reached the second year in high school when the blow fell. A psychologist of the school called the young man, just reached sixteen, into his office and this is what he said.

"Johnnie, I've been studying your marks and I've gone over your physical examinations. I've made a very careful study of you and your achievements. And I feel sorry to have to tell you …"

"I've been trying hard," put in[3] Johnnie.

"That's just the trouble," said the psychologist. "You have worked very hard indeed, but it has not helped. You just don't seem able to get ahead in your studies. You're just not cut out for[4] it, and for you to remain in high school would, in my opinion, be a waste of time."

The boy buried his face in his hands. "This will be hard on my mother and father," he said. "Their one idea is for me to be a college man."

The psychologist laid his hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "People have different kinds of talents, Johnnie. There are painters who were never able to learn the multiplication table[5], and engineers who can't sing on key[6]. But every one of us has something special—and you are no exception. Some day you will find what your special gift is and when you do, you will make your parents very proud of you."

Johnnie never went back to school. Jobs were scarce in town, but he managed to keep busy mowing the lawns of the householders and puttering[7] in their flower-beds. And then a curious thing happened. Before long his customers began to notice that Johnnie had what they called a "green thumb." The plants he tended grew and blossomed, and the rose trees blossomed. He fell into the habit of making suggestions for rearranging the tiny front-yard landscapes. He had an eye for color and could make surprising combinations[8] that pleased the eye.

One day while he was downtown, he happened to notice a stretch[9] of unused land behind the city hall. Chance or fate or whatever you may like to call it brought one of the town's alderman[10] round the corner just at that moment. Impetuously[11] the boy said, "I can make a garden out of this dump, if you'll let me."

"The town's got no money for frills[12]," said the alderman.

"I don't want any money for it," said the boy, "I just want to do it."

The alderman was astounded[13] to find someone who did not want money. He took Johnnie into an office, and when the young man came out he had the authority to clean up the public eyesore[14]. That very afternoon, he borrowed extra tools and seeds and soil. Someone gave him a few young trees to plant. When others heard of it, they offered rose-bushes and even a hedge. Then the town's leading manufacturer heard of it, and volunteered to supply some benches.

Before long the dreary old dump had become a little park. There were grassy lawns and little curving walks and restful seats and little house for birds. All the towns people were talking about what a lovely improvement the young man had made.

But it was also a kind of show window for Johnnie. People saw the result of his skill and knew him for a natural landscape gardener.

That was twenty five years ago. Today Johnnie is the head of a prosperous business in landscape gardening. His customers extend into neighboring provinces.

Johnnie still cannot speak French or translate Latin, and trigonometry[15] is unknown to him. But color and light and lovely prospects are his bread and butter[16]. His aging parents are proud of Johnnie, for he is not only a success, but he has also made his part of the world a lovelier place to live in. Wherever he and his men go, they spread beauty before the eyes of people.

(From agiftofinspiration.com.au)

人皆有天赋，信则梦成真

加拿大小男孩约翰尼·马丁是一个木匠的儿子。他的父母节衣缩食，为他以后上大学攒学费。就在约翰尼高二那年，一个沉重的打击袭来。学校的心理医生把刚满16岁的年轻男孩约翰尼叫到了他的办公室，对他说了下面这段话：

“约翰尼，我一直在研究你的学习成绩和体检情况。我已经对你和你的成绩做了十分仔细的研究。但很抱歉，我必须告诉你……”

“我一直都在努力。”约翰尼插话说。

“问题就在这里，”心理医生说，“你的确已经非常努力了，可一点效果也没有。你的学习好像就是无法再取得任何进步。你天生不是这块料，如果你继续上高中，依我看，也只是浪费时间。”

约翰尼用双手捂住了脸。“这会让妈妈、爸爸非常难过的，”他说，“他们唯一的想法就是让我上大学。”

心理医生把手放在男孩的肩膀上，说：“约翰尼，人都有不同的天赋。有的画家一辈子也学不会乘法表，有的工程师唱歌就是找不着调。然而，我们每个人都有自己独特的才能——你也不例外。总有一天，你会发现自己独特的天赋，到那时，你会让父母为你感到十分骄傲的。”

约翰尼再也没有回学校。镇上工作很难找，但他还是设法找到了一些给人修剪草坪、摆弄花坛的活儿。这时，一件奇怪的事情发生了。他的顾客很快发现，约翰尼其实是一个园艺高手。由他侍弄的植物生长开花了，玫瑰也繁花似锦。他渐渐养成了建议别人重新布置小型前院景观的习惯。他对色彩很有鉴赏力，搭配的颜色常常出人意料，让人看了赏心悦目。

一天，他去城里的时候，偶然在市政厅的后面发现了一块闲置的空地。或许是机缘巧合，或许是命中注定，无论怎么说，此时正有一位市政委员走过市政厅的拐角。男孩冲动地说：“如果您允许的话，我可以把这片垃圾场变成一个花园。”

“市里可没有钱来搞什么美化。”市政委员说。

“我一分钱都不要，”男孩说，“我只是想试试。”

竟然有人干活不要钱，这让市政委员感到很惊讶。他把约翰尼领进了一间办公室，当这个年轻人出来的时候，已经得到授权来清除这块公认的“眼中钉”。就在当天下午，约翰尼借来了工具、种子和土壤。有人给了他一些幼苗让他去栽种。其他人听说此事后，纷纷提供玫瑰花，甚至还有树篱。市里的一家大工厂听说了此事，免费提供了一些长椅。

没多久，那块单调荒凉的老垃圾场就变成了一个小小的花园。有绿油油的草地，有蜿蜒曲折的花径，还有供人休憩的座椅和为小鸟搭建的窝巢。镇上所有的人都在谈论，这个年轻人把这块地方变得多么可爱。

不过，这也是约翰尼展示才艺的一个窗口。人们见识到了他的手艺，知道他是一个天才的园艺设计师。

这已是25年前的事情了。现在的约翰尼是一家生意兴隆的园艺设计公司的负责人。他的客户已经扩展到临近的其他省份。

约翰尼到现在还是不会讲法语，也不会翻译拉丁语，对三角代数更是一窍不通。然而，色彩、光线和怡人的景观设计却成了他的职业。他年迈的父母为他感到骄傲，不仅仅因为他是一位成功人士，还因为他把自己生存的那部分世界变得更为美好，适宜居住。无论他和他的同事走到哪里，他们都会把美呈现在人们的眼前。

（译/半文盐）

You're Special

The Wemmicks were small wooden people. Every Wemmick was different. Some had big noses; others had large eyes. Some were tall and others were short. Some wore hats; others wore coats. But all were made by the woodcarver Eli and all lived in the village. And all day, every day, the Wemmicks did the same thing: they gave each other stickers[17].

The pretty ones, those with smooth wood and fine paint, always got stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped[18], the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars, too. Some could lift big sticks high above their heads or jump over tall boxes. Still others knew big words or could sing very pretty songs. Everyone gave them stars. Some Wemmicks had stars all over them! Every time they got a star it made them feel so good that they did something else and got another star. Others, though, could do little. They got dots.

Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump high like the others, but he always fell. And when he fell, the others would gather around and give him dots. Sometimes when he fell, it would scar[19] his wood, so the people would give him more dots. He would try to explain why he fell and say something silly, and the Wemmicks would give him more dots. After a while he had so many dots that he didn't want to go outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb[20] such as forget his hat or step in the water, and then people would give him another dot. In fact, he had so many gray dots that some people would come up and give him one without reason.

"He deserves lots of dots," the wooden people would agree with one another. "He's not a good wooden person."

After a while Punchinello believed them. "I'm not a good Wemmick," he would say.

The few times he went outside, he hung around with other Wemmicks who had a lot of dots. He felt better around them.

One day he met a Wemmick who was unlike any he'd ever met. She had no dots or stars. She was just wooden. Her name was Lulia.

It wasn't that people didn't try to give her stickers; it's just that the stickers didn't stick. Some admired Lulia for having no dots, so they would run up and give her a star. But it would fall off. Some would look down on her for having no stars, so they would give her a dot. But it wouldn't stay either.

"That's the way I want to be," thought Punchinello. "I don't want anyone's marks." So he asked the stickerless Wemmick how she did it.

"It's easy," Lulia replied. "Every day I go see Eli."

"Eli?"

"Yes, Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in the workshop with him."

"Why?"

"Why don't you find out for yourself? Go up the hill. He's there." And with that the Wemmick with no marks turned and skipped away.

"But he won't want to see me!" Punchinello cried out. Lulia didn't hear.

So Punchinello went home. He sat near a window and watched the wooden people as they scurried[21] around giving each other stars and dots.

"It's not right," he muttered[22] to himself. And he resolved[23] to go see Eli.

He walked up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped into the big shop. His wooden eyes widened at the size of everything. The stool was as tall as he was. He had to stretch on his tiptoes to see the top of the workbench. A hammer was as long as his arm. Punchinello swallowed hard. "I'm not staying here!" And he turned to leave. Then he heard his name.

"Punchinello?" The voice was deep and strong. Punchinello stopped. "Punchinello! How good to see you! Come and let me have a look at you." Punchinello turned slowly and looked at the large bearded craftsman. "You know my name?" the little Wemmick asked.

"Of course I do. I made you." Eli stooped[24] down and picked him up and set him on the bench. "Hmm," the maker spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray circles. "Looks like you've been given some bad marks."

"I didn't mean to, Eli. I really tried hard. I came because I met someone who had no marks."

"I know. She told me about you."

"Why don't the stickers stay on her?"

"The stickers only stick if you let them."

"What?"

"The stickers only stick if they matter to you."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"You will, but it will take time. You've got a lot of marks."

Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground. "Remember," Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door, "you are special."

Punchinello didn't stop, but in his heart he thought, "I think he really means it." And when he did, a dot fell to the ground.

(By Max Lucado[25])

你很特别

微美克人是一群小木头人，长得各不相同。有的长着大鼻子，有的长着大眼睛。有的高大，有的矮小。有的戴着帽子，有的穿着外套。但是，他们都是木匠伊莱雕刻出来的，都住在一个村庄。微美克人整天都做着同样的事情，就是给彼此贴贴纸，而且天天如此。

那些木质光滑、油漆精美的漂亮木头人总能得到星星贴纸。而如果是木质粗糙或油漆脱落的木头人，微美克人就会给他们贴上圆点贴纸。当然那些有才能的木头人也能得到星星贴纸。有些人能将粗大的木棒高高举过头顶，或是跳过高高的箱子。还有一些人懂得一些高深的词语，或是会唱一些动听的歌曲。大家会给他们贴上星星贴纸。有的微美克人浑身贴满了星星贴纸！每得到一个星星贴纸，他们都会开心得不得了，就会做别的事情来再得到一个星星贴纸。而其余的人能做的事却很少，只能得到圆点贴纸。

怕丑哥就是其中之一。他试图像其他人一样跳很高，但却总是摔下来。而当他摔下来的时候，其他人就会围过来，给他贴圆点贴纸。有时他摔下来后，木质身体会留疤，于是大伙又会给他贴更多的圆点贴纸。他想试着解释为什么会摔下来，然而说出来的却尽是一些蠢话，结果大家又会给他贴上更多的圆点贴纸。不久以后，他身上的圆点贴纸多得他都不想出门了。他担心自己会做蠢事，诸如忘记戴帽子或是踩到水里，那样的话人家就会给他再多贴一张圆点贴纸。实际上，他身上灰色的圆点贴纸太多了，结果有些人走过来，毫无理由地就给他贴一张圆点贴纸。

“他就该被贴上很多圆点贴纸，”木头人们会相互认同彼此的看法，“他不是一个好木头人。”

不久以后，怕丑哥也相信了大家的话。“我不是一个好微美克人啊。”他会说。

他出门的次数不多，每次他总是和别的也被贴满了圆点贴纸的微美克人一起溜达。和他们在一起，他才觉得舒服点。

有一天，他遇到一个微美克人，这个人和他以前见过的微美克人都不一样。她身上既没有圆点贴纸也没有星星贴纸，就只是木头而已。她的名字叫露丽亚。

她这样并不是因为大家不给她贴贴纸，而是因为那些贴纸根本贴不住。有人羡慕露丽亚身上没有圆点贴纸，于是他们便跑上前去给她贴张星星贴纸。但是贴纸却会掉下来。还有人因为她没有星星贴纸而瞧不起她，于是他们会给她贴张圆点贴纸。但是圆点贴纸也贴不住。

“这就是我想要的啊，”怕丑哥心想，“我不想要任何人在我身上做记号。”于是他就问这个没有任何贴纸的微美克人是怎样做到的。

“这很容易呀，”露丽亚答道，“每天我都去见伊莱。”

“伊莱？”

“对啊，伊莱。那个木匠。我会去作坊里和他坐坐。”

“为什么呢？”

“你为什么不自己去看看呢？上一趟山吧。他就在那儿。”说完这些，这个身上没有贴纸的微美克人转身蹦蹦跳跳地走了。

“但是他不会想见我的！”怕丑哥大声喊道，可是露丽亚没有听到。

于是怕丑哥回家了。他坐在窗户旁，注视着来来往往的木头人们，他们还在忙忙碌碌地给彼此贴着星星贴纸和圆点贴纸。

“这样下去不行。”他喃喃自语道。于是他决定去见伊莱。

他沿着狭窄的小道，一直爬到山顶，走进那间大作坊。看到作坊里大大小小的所有东西，他的木头眼睛瞪得老大。那个凳子居然和他一样高，他得踮着脚尖才能看到工作台的台面。有把铁锤和他的胳膊一样长。怕丑哥使劲咽了咽口水。“我可不能待在这儿！”他转身就要离开。这时他听到有人在叫他。

“怕丑哥吗？”嗓音深沉而有力。怕丑哥停了下来。“怕丑哥！真高兴见到你！过来让我看看你。”怕丑哥慢慢转过身看着这个身材高大、满脸胡子的木匠。“你知道我的名字？”这个小微美克人问道。

“我当然知道，你是我刻的。”伊莱弯下腰把他抱起来放到了工作台上。“嗯，”这个雕刻者打量着怕丑哥身上灰色的圆点贴纸，若有所思地说道，“看来大伙给你贴了一些不好的贴纸啊。”

“我也不想这样，伊莱。我真的很努力了。我来是因为我见过一个没贴任何贴纸的人。”

“我知道，她已经告诉我你的事情了。”

“为什么贴纸在她身上贴不住呢？”

“只有你让贴纸贴住的时候，它们才能贴得住。”

“什么？”

“只有你在意那些贴纸，它们才能贴得住。”

“我不太懂。”

“你会懂的，但是要花些时间。你的贴纸太多了。”

伊莱把怕丑哥抱下来放在地上。“记住，”当这个微美克人走出门外的时候，伊莱说，“你很特别。”

怕丑哥没有停下来，但是他在心里想：“我想他是说真的。”当他这样想的时候，一张圆点贴纸从他身上掉了下来。

（译/韩丽芳）

Oliver's Twist

Deep down in the ocean, Oliver flopped[26] onto the sandy floor and sighed. He watched little fish dart in and out of spiky[27] rocks, laughing and having fun. "Why am I so different?" he whispered.

"You're an octopus, Oliver. That's special." Cherub's cheerful voice always made Oliver feel better. He looked up at the beautiful angelfish and smiled.

"Tag[28]!" said Cherub. She poked Oliver and darted away to the caves.

Oliver grinned. "Here I come!" he shouted.

Oliver and Cherub played tag and hide-and-seek. They were having so much fun that they didn't realize how far from home they had drifted.

Suddenly Oliver recognized the great shadow swimming above them. It was Big White … the biggest, meanest shark in the ocean.

Oliver knew what to do. He used his secret weapon—his black ink jet—and sprayed a cloud of dark ink into the water.

"What now?" cried Cherub. "Big White is so fast!"

"Not as fast as my super-twist!" said Oliver. He twisted himself around and around like a spring, then blew a super strong surge of water out of his spout[29]. Clutching Cherub against him, he shot through the water like a bullet and didn't slow down until they were safe.

"Are you OK?" asked Oliver.

Cherub giggled. "That was the most fun ride EVER! You saved us, Oliver. I am lucky to have you as my friend!"

Oliver blushed. "I guess being different can be pretty cool sometimes," he said bashfully[30].

"That's what I tried to tell you," Cherub said smiling.

(By Laura Thomas)

奥利弗的胜利大扭转

在大海的深处，奥利弗猛地扑到海底的沙滩上，叹了口气。他看着小鱼们在尖耸的石头中间来回穿梭，开心嬉戏。“为什么我如此与众不同呢？”他小声嘟囔道。

“你是只章鱼，奥利弗。那很特别呀。”切尔碧开朗的声音总是能让奥利弗感到宽慰。他抬起头看着这只美丽的神仙鱼（译注：一种热带观赏鱼），笑了笑。

“捉到你啦！”切尔碧说。她戳了下奥利弗，然后迅速钻进了洞里。

奥利弗咧嘴笑了。“换我来捉你啦！”他叫道。

奥利弗和切尔碧相互追逐嬉戏，还玩起了捉迷藏。他们玩得太开心了，都没有意识到他们已经游到了离家很远的地方。

突然，奥利弗认出了那个在他们上方游动的庞大的身影。那是大白——海里最大、最凶残的鲨鱼。

奥利弗知道该怎么做。他拿出他的秘密武器——黑墨水喷嘴——朝水中喷射出一团黑色的墨水。

“现在怎么办呢？”切尔碧喊道，“大白游得太快了！”

“快不过我的超级扭转！”奥利弗说。他将自己的身体像弹簧发条一样一圈圈旋紧，然后从嘴中喷出了一股超强的水柱。奥利弗抱紧切尔碧，像枚子弹一样在水中疾驰，直到他们安全了才放慢了速度。

“你没事吧？”奥利弗说。

切尔碧咯咯地笑了。“这可是我有史以来最有意思的一次搭车了！你救了咱们俩，奥利弗，有你这样的朋友我真是太幸运了！”

奥利弗的脸一下子红了。“我猜，与众不同有时候也挺酷的。”他羞涩地说。

“这正是我想告诉你的呀！”切尔碧微笑着说。

（译/李佳凝）

I'm Special

In the entire world there's nobody like me. Since the beginning of time, there has never been another person Iike me. Nobody has my smile. Nobody has my eyes, my nose, my hair, my hands or my voice.

I'm special.

No one can be found who has my handwriting. Nobody anywhere has my tastes—for food or music or art. No one sees things just as I do. In all of time there's been no one who laughs like me, no one who cries like me. And what makes me laugh and cry will never provoke[31] identical laughters and tears from anybody else, ever. No one reacts to any situation just as I would react.

I'm special.

I'm the only one in all of creation[32] who has my set of abilities. Oh, there will always be somebody who is better at one of the things I'm good at, but no one in the universe can reach the quality of my combination[33] of talents, ideas, abilities and feelings. Like a room full of musical instruments[34], some may excel[35] alone, but none can match the symphony[36] sound when all are played together. I'm a symphony.

Through all of eternity no one will ever look, talk, walk, think or do like me.

I'm special.

I'm rare.

And, in all rarity[37] there is great value. Because of my great rare value, I need not attempt to imitate[38] others. I will accept—yes, indeed, celebrate[39]—my differences. I'm special.

And I'm beginning to realize it's no accident that I'm special. I'm beginning to see that I have been made for a very special purpose. There is a job for me that no one else can do as well as I. Out of all the billions of job applicants[40], only one is qualified, only one has the right combination of what it takes. That one is me. Because … I'm special.

(Author Unknown)

我就是我

大千世界，芸芸众生，没人与我相同。自创世伊始，从未有过像我一样的人。没人拥有和我一样的笑容；没人拥有和我一样的眼睛、鼻子、头发、双手或声音。

我就是我。

我的笔迹独一无二。我的品味与众不同—不管是对于食物、音乐还是艺术。对于世间万物，我拥有独特的视角。无论何时，都没有人欢笑如我，哭泣如我。让我开心和流泪的事物不会引起他人相同的反应，绝对不会。面对各种处境，我也有自己独特的应对方式。

我就是我。

在天地万物中，我的能力组合独具一格。哦，我所擅长之处，必有人技高一筹。但是，世界上没有人能像我一样，将天赋、思想、能力和感情如此独特地结合在一起。好比一间放满乐器的房间，某件乐器可能会一鸣惊人，但所有乐器共同奏出的交响乐将无与伦比。我就是一曲交响乐。

亘古恒远，没有人会与我观察、交谈、行走、思考或行事的方式一样。

我就是我。

绝无仅有。

而且，独特中蕴含着巨大的价值。因为这独特而又巨大的价值，我不需要去模仿他人。我会欣然接受—更确切地说是赞美—我的与众不同。我就是我。

我渐渐理解，我之所以独特并非机缘巧合。我开始明白，造物主为我创设了一个特定的目标。有一份工作是为我量身定制的，他人无法胜任。在数以亿计的求职者中，只有一个人是合格的，只有一个人恰好具备这份工作所需的条件。那个人就是我。因为……我就是我。

（译 /朱敏琦）

What It Takes

My name is Shaun Alexander, and I'm the running back[41] for the Seattle Seahawks football team. It's how most people define[42] me. But I'm also a husband and father, and a man of faith. Ever since college, I've been a mentor[43] for young men from broken homes—young men, who, given the chance, can achieve their potential wherever their talent leads. Here's what I tell them and anyone who's looking for guidance. It's my playbook[44] for success.

Be Yourself

When I was in sixth grade, I had a science teacher named Mrs. Walton. She'd had my older brother, Durran, in her class the year before. Durran is very smart and is the kind of student that every teacher loved. I idolized him. One day she gave us a test. I'd studied as hard as I could, but got a mediocre[45] grade—no—where near what Durran had probably scored. My eyes filled with tears. Mrs. Walton came up to me. "You'll do better next time," she said.

I shook my head. "I'll never be like Durran," I said.

She shook her head, and then said softly, "No, you don't have to be like Durran. You just have to be the best Shaun the world's ever seen." Those words clicked in my head. That's been my goal ever since.

Don't Judge People Till You've Walked in Their Shoes

When I was growing up and first getting noticed for my athletic skills, my half-brother Tony would say, "Shaun, Dad put you in your shoes[46]." I didn't like hearing that. My dad and mom had split up when I was young, and he never spent much time with me. Seems the only time he came around was to watch me play ball in high school. Like that's all I was. Man[47], I resented him for that.

I didn't realize how deep my bitterness ran. I couldn't get him—or our damaged relationship out of my mind. I hadn't seen or heard from Dad in a long time. Then one day, during my first pro[48] season, I got up the courage to call him.

"Hello?" he said. Before he could say anything more, the words poured out[49] of me. I told him how deeply he'd hurt me.

My words shocked him. "I've always felt like you're the only one who's going to be there for me," he said.

Now I was shocked. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

Then Dad reminded me about the death of his mother—my grandmother. For a lot of reasons, I was the only one of his five sons who could accompany him to the funeral. While we sat there at the service, Dad cried a lot. I was young, and I had no way of knowing what he was thinking. I just knew somehow that he needed me.

Now, as we talked on the phone, Dad told me that that funeral changed how he looked at his life and mine.

"My relationships with your brothers were strained[50]," he said. "I vowed[51] I wouldn't let that happen with you. That's why, out of nowhere, I started attending[52] your games."

Wow, I thought. Maybe showing up at my games was the only way he knew how to show his love.

Not long after, I wrote in my journal, "Never judge a person because of how they treat you until you learn what they are going through."

Give

Sometimes I think of all those who've helped me through life. There are so many: my mom, dad, brothers and half-brothers; Mrs. Walton, my sixth-grade teacher; my friends; my coaches. All of them and so many more—they were so generous with me. They gave me their time, love and dedication[53], never once asking for anything in return. What would I be today without any one of them? A lesser person, I know.

Each of us, over the course of a lifetime, accumulates[54] a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. We've taken so much. There comes a point in each person's life when it's time to give back. When I started my scholarship fund, I didn't have money, just a mission to help. I started making speeches, trying to raise money for kids in Alabama's achingly[55] poor Choctaw County. Now we've helped dozens of deserving young men from all over who are attending college. I didn't think I'd be able to do so much. But when you give—not just from your wallet, but from your heart and of yourself—you find you can do more than you dreamed possible.

(By Shaun Alexander[56])

成功需要什么

我叫肖恩·亚历山大，是西雅图海鹰橄榄球队的跑卫。这是大多数人对我的“定义”，而我还是一个丈夫、父亲，一个心存信念的人。上大学以来，我一直在为来自破裂家庭的年轻人提供指导—如果能给予这些年轻人一次机会，他们就能在任何一个他们具有天赋的领域发挥潜能。下面就是我给他们以及所有想寻求指导的人的一些建议。这也是我的成功秘籍。

做你自己

在我上六年级时，沃尔顿太太是我的科学课老师。她在一年前曾教过我的哥哥达兰。达兰非常聪明，是每个老师都喜欢的那种学生。我很崇拜他。一天，沃尔顿太太给我们进行了一次测验。在此之前，我竭尽全力用功准备，但最后依然成绩平平—和达兰之前可能得过的分数相差甚远。我的眼里噙满了泪水。沃尔顿太太走到我身旁。“下次你会做得更好。”她说。

我摇摇头，回答说：“我永远都没法像达兰那样。”

她摇了摇头，然后温柔地对我说：“不，你根本不必像达兰那样。你只要做世界上最棒的肖恩就行。”这些话萦绕在我脑海中，从此以后，成了我的人生目标。

未知他人处境，切莫妄下结论

随着我渐渐长大，我的运动天赋逐渐被人发现。和我同父异母的兄弟托尼说：“肖恩，爸爸很为你着想。”我可不爱听这话。在我很小的时候，爸爸和妈妈就离婚了，爸爸从没花过太长时间和我待在一起。好像唯一一次他来看我还是在我读高中的时候，他来看我打球。似乎我除了是个球员什么都不是。嘿，我曾因此而恨他。

我一直没有意识到自己的痛苦已经渗透得那么深。我无法将他—或是将我们受损的关系抛到脑后。我曾经很久没有见过爸爸或是听到他的消息。直到有一天，在我第一次职业赛季期间，我终于鼓起勇气给他打了个电话。

“喂？”他应答。他还没来得及说什么，我就滔滔不绝地把心里的苦水全倒了出来。我告诉他，他已伤我伤得有多深。

我的话让他大吃一惊。“我一直觉得，你是唯一一个能在我需要的时候给予我支持的人。”他说。

现在轮到我感到震惊了。“你在说什么？”我问。

爸爸让我忆起了他的母亲—我的奶奶—去世的事情。出于种种原因，在他的五个儿子里，我是唯一一个能陪他去参加葬礼的。葬礼仪式上，我们坐在那里，爸爸哭得很伤心。我当时还小，无法明白他在想什么。但不知怎么地，我就是知道他需要我。

现在，当我们在电话里交谈时，爸爸告诉我那次葬礼是如何改变了他看待自己的生活以及我的生活的态度。

“我和你兄弟们的关系很紧张，”他说，“我发誓不会让同样的情况出现在你我之间。这就是我为什么莫名其妙地开始来看你比赛的原因。”

噢，我想，也许来看比赛是他知道的能表达爱意的唯一方式。

不久之后，我在日记中写道：“在不了解别人所经历的事情前，永远不要因他们对待你的方式而妄下结论。”

给予

有时，我会想起在生活中曾帮助过我的所有人。那么多人帮过我：我的妈妈、爸爸、兄弟以及同父异母的兄弟；我六年级的老师沃尔顿太太；我的朋友们；我的教练们。所有这些人之外还有其他许多人—他们对我如此慷慨。他们在我身上花时间，给予我关爱，倾其所有，却从不要求任何回报。若没有他们中的任何一位，今天的我会是什么样子呢？我知道，一定不如现在的我。

在人生道路上，我们每个人都积累了许多宝贵的智慧与知识。我们已索取了那么多，在每个人的生活中都会有回报他人的时刻。当我着手筹建我的奖学金基金时，我并没有钱，只肩负着帮助别人的使命。于是我开始做演讲，努力为亚拉巴马州赤贫的查克托县的孩子们筹资。现在我们已经帮助了各地许多值得扶助的年轻人，让他们能够上大学。此前我并不认为自己可以做这么多事。但当你给予他人时—不只是掏钱包资助，而且要真心自愿地给予—你会发现，你可以超越自己的梦想。

（译/咏希）

My First Job

Both my parents came from towns in Mexico. I was born in El Paso, Texas, and when I was four, my family moved to a housing project in East Los Angeles.

Even though we struggled to make ends meet, my parents stressed[57] to me and my four brothers and sisters how fortunate we were to live in a great country with limitless opportunities. They imbued[58] in us the concepts of family, faith and patriotism.

I got my first real job when I was ten. My dad, Benjamin, injured his back working in a cardboard-box factory and was retrained as a hairstylist. He rented space in a little mall and gave his shop the fancy name of Mr. Ben's Coiffure[59].

The owner of the shopping center gave Dad a discount on his rent for cleaning the parking lot three nights a week, which meant getting up at 3 am. To pick up trash, Dad used a little machine that looked like a lawn mower. Mom and I emptied garbage cans and picked up litter[60] by hand. It took two to three hours to clean the lot. I'd sleep in the car on the way home.

I did this for two years, but the lessons I learned have lasted a lifetime. I acquired[61] discipline and a strong work ethic[62], and learned at an early age the importance of balancing life's competing interests[63]—in my case[64], school, homework and a job. This really helped during my senior year of high school, when I worked 40 hours a week flipping[65] burgers at a fast-food joint[66] while taking a full load of precollege courses.

The hard work paid off[67]. I attended[68] the U.S. Military Academy and went on to receive graduate degrees in law and business from Harvard. Later, I joined a big Los Angeles law firm and was elected to the California state assembly. In these jobs and in everything else I've done, I have never forgotten those days in the parking lot. The experience taught me that there is dignity[69] in all work and that if people are working to provide for themselves and their families that is something we should honor.

(By Louis Caldera)

我的第一份工作

我的父母都来自墨西哥的小镇。我出生于得克萨斯州的埃尔帕索城。我四岁时，全家搬到了东洛杉矶的一处低收入住宅区。

尽管我们当时要做到收支平衡都很困难，但父母仍对我和四个兄弟姐妹强调说，能在这样一个充满无限机遇的国家里落户，我们是多么幸运啊！他们给我们灌输了家庭、信仰以及爱国主义的观念。

十岁的时候，我得到了人生中第一份真正的工作。我的爸爸本杰明在纸箱厂工作时背部受了伤。经过再培训，他成了一名发型师。他在一个规模不大的商业区租下了一个摊位，并给他的店取了个奇妙的名字：“本先生造型”。

商业中心的老板在租金上给爸爸打了个折扣，但条件是每周有三个晚上要去打扫停车场，这意味着凌晨三点就要起床干活。爸爸用一个看起来像除草机的小机器收捡垃圾，而我和妈妈则要清空垃圾桶并用手捡散落的垃圾。打扫这个停车场要用两到三个小时。我总是在回家的路上就在车里睡着了。

这份工作我干了两年，但从中学到的东西却让我受用终身。我学会了自律并建立了很强的职业道德观。从小我就懂得了平衡生活中各种利益冲突的重要性—对我而言，就是上学、作业和工作的平衡。这在我高二那年真是很有用处。那时，我在一家快餐连锁店制作汉堡包，每周工作40个小时，同时还肩负着沉重的大学预科课程的学习任务。

辛勤的工作终见回报。我考入了美国军事学院，接着又获得了哈佛大学的法律和商业硕士学位。后来，我进入洛杉矶一家著名的律师事务所并被选为加州议会参议员。在做这些工作和其他所有事情的过程中，我从未忘记过在停车场辛勤工作的那些日子。那段经历使我懂得工作无贵贱，靠自食其力来供养自己和家人就值得人们敬佩。

（译 /栾薇）

Luck Favors Those Who Help Themselves

I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it…

——Thomas Jefferson[70]

A flood was threatening[71] a small town and everyone was leaving for safety except one man who said, "God will save me. I have faith."

As the water level rose, a jeep came to rescue him. The man refused, saying "God will save me. I have faith."

As the water level rose further, he went up to the second storey, and a boat came to help him. Again he refused to go, saying "God will save me. I have faith."

The water kept rising and the man finally climbed on to the roof. This time a helicopter came to rescue him, but he said, "God will save me. I have faith."

Well, finally he drowned[72]. When he reached his maker he angrily questioned, "I have complete faith in you. Why did you ignore my prayers and let me drown?" The Lord replied, "Who do you think sent you the jeep, the boat, and the helicopter?"

Luck can help you, but cannot do everything for you. Luck only favors[73] those who are willing to help themselves.

(By Liddell Sharen)

自助者天助

我是极其信奉运气的人，我发现我工作得越努力，我的运气就越好。

——托马斯·杰斐逊

一场洪水正威胁着一个小镇，镇上每一个人都将离开这儿，前往安全的地方，只有一人除外。他说：“上帝会拯救我，我有信仰。”

水位渐渐升高了，一辆吉普车前来援救他，那人拒绝了，他说：“上帝会拯救我，我有信仰。”

水位再一次上升了，他爬到了二楼，一只小船前来援助他。他又一次拒绝了，说：“上帝会拯救我，我有信仰。”

水位不断地往上涨，那人最终爬上了楼顶。这次一架直升机前来援助他，但他还是说：“上帝会拯救我，我有信仰。”

就这样，他最终淹死了。当他到达上帝那儿时，他愤怒地问：“我完全信仰你，你为什么忽视了我的祈祷而让我淹死呢？”上帝答道：“那么你认为是谁为你派去吉普车、小船和直升机的呢？”

运气可以帮助你，但却不能帮你包办一切。运气只偏爱那些肯自助的人。

（译/朱葵）

A Motivational Story of "Frogs"—Believe in Yourself

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants[74].

The race began. Honestly, no one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as "Oh, way[75] too difficult!" "They will never make it to the top." "Not a chance[76] that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one … Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up. But one continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn't give up! At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower, except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

Then all of other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it. A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal.

It turned out that the winner was deaf!

Therefore, always be positive and, above all, be deaf when people tell you that you cannot fulfill your dreams! Always think "I can do this"!

(Author Unknown)

“青蛙”的励志故事——相信自己

从前，有一群小青蛙组织了一场跑步比赛。目标是登上一座非常高的塔的塔顶。一大群青蛙聚在塔边观看比赛，为选手们加油。

比赛开始了。老实说，那一群观众中没有谁真的相信小青蛙们能够登上塔顶。你能听到这样的议论：“哦，这太难了！”“它们肯定到不了塔顶。”“它们不可能成功的。塔太高了！”

小青蛙们开始纷纷倒下了。一个接着一个……但仍有一些青蛙踏着轻快的步伐，越爬越高。旁观的青蛙还在嚷嚷着：“这太困难了，没谁能成功的！”

更多的小青蛙爬得筋疲力尽，而后就放弃了。但是有一只却继续爬着，越爬越高。它不肯放弃！最后，其他青蛙都放弃了登塔。只有这一只小青蛙，在尽了很大一番努力后，成为唯一一只胜利登顶的青蛙！

其他所有小青蛙自然都想知道，这只小青蛙是如何做到的呢？一位选手问这只小青蛙怎么会有成功登顶的力量。

原来，冠军的耳朵是聋的！

所以，请一直保持积极的心态。最重要的是，当别人告诉你，你不可能实现梦想时，要学会充耳不闻！总是相信“我一定能做到”！

（译/Summer）

A Late Bloomer

A cactus[77] stood all alone in the desert, wondering why it was stuck in the middle of nowhere.

"I do nothing but stand here all day," it sighed. "What use am I? I'm the ugliest plant in the desert. My spines[78] are thick and prickly[79], and my skin is thick and bumpy. I can't offer shade or juicy fruit to any passing traveler. I don't see that I'm any use at all."

All it did was stand in the sun day after day, growing taller and fatter. Its spines grew longer and its skin tougher and it grew here and there until it was lumpy[80] and unbalanced all over. It truly was strange-looking.

"I wish I could do something useful," it sighed.

By day hawks[81] circled high overhead.

"What can I do with my life?" The cactus called. Whether they heard or not, the hawks sailed away.

At night the moon floated into the sky and cast its pale glow on the desert floor.

"What good can I do with my life?" the cactus called. The moon only stared coldly as it mounted its course.

A lizard[82] crawled by, leaving a little trail in the sand with its tail.

"What worthy deed can I do?" the cactus called.

"You?" the lizard laughed, pausing a moment. "Worthy deed? Why, you can't do anything! The hawks circle overhead, tracing delicate patterns for us all to admire. The moon hangs high like a lantern at night, so we can see our ways home to our loved ones. Even I, the lowly lizard, have something to do. I decorate the sands with these beautiful brushstrokes[83] as I pull my tail along. But you? You do nothing but get uglier every day."

And so it went on, year after year. At last the cactus grew old, and it knew its time was short.

"Oh," it cried out, "I've wondered so long, and I've tried so hard. Forgive me if I've failed to find something worthy to do. I fear that now it's too late."

But just then the cactus felt a strange motion and unfolding, and it knew a flow of joy that erased all despair. At its very tip, like a sudden crown, a glorious flower suddenly opened in bloom.

Never had the desert known such a blossom. Its fragrance[84] perfumed the air far and wide and brought happiness to all passing by. The butterflies paused to admire its beauty, and that night even the moon smiled when it rose to find such a treasure.

In the desert, a voice was sounding:

"You have waited long, and the heart that seeks to do good will always bring something worthwhile to the world, something in which all can rejoice—even if for only a moment."

(Author Unknown)

迟来的花香

一株仙人掌孤独地站在沙漠里，对于自己为什么被困在蛮荒之地困惑不已。

“我整天站在这里无所事事，”它叹息道，“我有什么用呢？我是沙漠中最丑陋的植物。我的刺又粗又多，我的皮又厚又糙。我不能为任何过路的旅行者提供荫凉或者多汁的果实。我看不出自己到底有什么用。”

仙人掌所做的只是日复一日地站在太阳底下，长得更高更胖。它的刺长得越来越长，而它的表皮则更加坚韧，它向四处疯长，直至变得粗笨结实、倒向一边。它确实长得很奇怪。

“我希望我能够做点有用的事。”它叹息道。

白天，有几只鹰在它头顶的高空盘旋。

“我能做些什么呢？”仙人掌大声说道。那几只鹰也不知道听见没有，但都飞走了。

晚上，月亮浮现在天空中，将苍白的月光投射在沙漠上。

“我能做点什么有益的事呢？”仙人掌大声喊道。月亮只冷冷地看了仙人掌一眼，就踏上了行程。

一只蜥蜴从旁边爬过，它的尾巴在沙地上留下一道淡淡的痕迹。

“我能做些什么有价值的事呢？”仙人掌大声喊道。

“就你？”蜥蜴驻足片刻，笑道，“有价值的事？哎呀，你什么也做不了！鹰在上空盘旋，描绘出精巧的图案供我们大家仰慕。月亮高高地挂在天上，就像夜间的一盏灯，所以我们才能看清回家的路，与我们所爱的人团聚。即便是我—地位这么低下的蜥蜴，也有事可做。我拖着尾巴走路时留下了这些美丽的线条，装点了沙地。而你呢？你除了每天变得更丑之外什么也没做。”

日子就这样年复一年地过下去。最后，仙人掌变老了，它知道自己的时间不多了。

“哦，”它大声呼喊，“我已经困惑了很久，而且我一直如此努力。如果我没有找到值得去做的事，那就原谅我吧。恐怕现在已经太迟了。”

但是就在此时，仙人掌感觉到身上一阵奇怪的变化和舒展，它意识到一股消除了所有沮丧的喜悦到来。在它的顶端，一朵灿烂的鲜花霎时绽放，就像一顶突然出现的王冠。

沙漠里还从不知道有这样的一朵花。它芬芳的香气向四处飘散，并且给路过的一切带来了快乐。蝴蝶们停下来夸赞它的美丽，而就在那天晚上，月亮升起，发现了这一珍宝时，也绽放出了笑容。

沙漠里回响着一个声音：

“你已经等了很久，试图做好事的心总会给世界带来一些有价值的东西、一些让所有人都欣喜的东西——哪怕只存在一瞬间。”

（译/含秋）