Beating the Rat Race 活出惬意与自我
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2003年5月27日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2011年5月28日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：387
课文朗读
课文讲解
As we run the rate race in pursuit of fortune, we sometimes forget that contentment can’t be bought. Indeed, happiness, serenity and peace need not be sought out, they can be found instead in life’s simpler pleasures. And the best part? They’re all free (or, at least, inexpensive)!
当我们盲目地追求财富时，我们有时会忘记满足感是没有办法买到的。真的，快乐、平静与平和无需去寻求，在生活比较简单的快乐当中就可以找到它们。最棒的部分呢？他们是不花一毛钱就可以得到的（或至少不贵）！
The next time you are stressed-out by your rate race, spend a day doing absolutely nothing. Make a day of staying in your pajamas, ordering pizza and renting movies. A day like this will leave you refreshed. Or, if you feel like you are in a rut, try something new. Take a difference route home, try a new restaurant, or even change your look. Varying your route will give you that little boost needed to get you out of your comfort zone and initiate change.
下次你被盲目竞争的压力整得喘不过气时，空出一天时间，完全地不要做什么。花一整天穿着睡衣，叫披萨吃和租影片看。像这样子过一天会让你焕然一新。或者，如果你觉得生活一成不变，试一些别的新事物。走不同的路回家，试试没有去过的馆子，或甚至改变一下仪容。变化你的例行公事，会给你所需要的小小动力，让自己脱离安逸的环境，而开始有所改变。
One of life’s greatest joys is making a loved one smile. Surprise someone with a gift, a phone call, or even a surprise party. If you’ve lost touch with someone, write a letter to him out of the blue. In the digital age, writing an old fashioned snail mail letter to a friend will surely make his day. It is these small, simple gestures that can bring contentment into our lives, thereby beating the rat race.
生活中最大的快乐就是让所爱的人开心。出其不意地送个礼物、打通电话、或甚至办一个惊喜派对让对方惊讶。如果你跟某人已经久不联络，出其不意地写一封信给他。在数字化的年代，写一封老式的平信给朋友，绝对可以让他高兴一整天。就是这些小而简单的表达方式，可以为我们的生活带来满足，也因此跳脱盲目竞争的生活。
Vocabulary
单词发音
rat race【俚】（商界）日常紧张的竞争活动；无意义的竞争
contentment [kənˋtɛntmənt] n. 满足，知足；满意
seek out 找出[找到]〔某人或某物〕to search hard for a specific person or thing and find
stressed-out [st'rɛst'aʊt] adj. （用作表语）紧张的，感到有压力的 tired, nervous, or depressed as a result of overwork, mental pressure, etc
pajama [pəˋdʒæməs] n.（宽大的）睡衣裤
refreshed [rɪˋfrɛʃt] adj. 恢复精神的
boost [bust] n. 激励﹐ 鼓舞; 增加﹐ 改进
initiate [ɪˋnɪʃɪɪt] v.【正式】开始实施〔重要的事﹐如官方程序或新计划〕; 发起
out of the blue 意外(的); 未事先告知 at a completely unexpected time
snail mail【幽默】蜗牛邮件﹐普通邮件〔尤为使用电子邮件者用语〕
make one’s day 让.. 高兴一整天 to give one great pleasure
gesture [ˋdʒɛstʃɚ] n. 举止，动作
Sentence of the Day
The best things in life are free.
生命中最宝贵的事物都不是花钱的。
课文讲解
Michelle sees Jeremy running by in a department store: 米雪儿看见杰若米跑过一家百货公司：
M: Whoa – Slow down! What’s the hurry?
哇…慢一点！你在赶什么？
J: Time is money. I’ve got to get back to the office.
时间就是金钱。我得回去办公室去。
M: But it’s 9:00 p.m. Why don’t you call it a day?
现在是晚上九点。为什么你今天不就此打住？
J: Can’t afford to. I’m working towards a new Benz.
没办法。我在打拼赚一辆奔驰车。
M: But once you have your Benz, you’ll probably want a garage and a big house to go with it. The pursuit will never end. How will you ever be satisfied?
可是，一旦你有了奔驰车之后，你或许会想要一座车库还有一间大房子来搭配。这样的追求是没完没了的。你到底怎么样才会满足？
J: You’re saying I can’t buy happiness.
你是说，我没法子买到快乐。
M: Right. But it can be found in simple everyday things.
是的。但，快乐是可以在简单的日常事物中发现的。
J: Like what? The flowers in your hand?
例如像什么？在妳手中的花？
M: Yes, I’m sending my sister flowers anonymously. She’ll be tickled pink!
是的，我正想以匿名的方式送我姊姊一些花。她会乐不可支的。
J: That gives me an idea. My best friend is in Mexico; I’ll surprise her with a phone call.
那倒给了我一些灵感。我最要好的朋友在墨西哥；我会打通电话让他惊讶一下。
M: Now you’ve got the spirit. I’m on my way to video store.
现在你抓到诀窍了。我正要到录像带店。
J: Oh? So I can’t buy satisfaction but you can rent happiness?
噢？那我没法买到快乐，而你却可以租到快乐？
M: No! But I can rent some favorite movies and watch them with my best friends. Why don’t you join us?
才不是呢，不过我可以租一些最喜欢的电影，跟最要好的朋友一起看。你何不加入我们？
J: I guess I could take one night off to relax. But you’ll have to give me a lift.
我想我可以空出一个晚上好好放轻松。但你得载我一程。
M: Of course! Anything to help you slow down.
当然！只要是能让你放慢脚步的都行。
－by Howie Phung
Vocabulary
单词发音
call it a day 结束一天的工作 to quit work and go home; to say that a day's work has been completed
pursuit [pɚˋsut] n. 追求，寻求
anonymously [əˋnɑnəməslɪ] adv. 不具名地；化名地
be tickled pink【口】感到非常满足或高兴 very pleased; delighted
spirit [ˋspɪrɪt] n.（法律等的）精神，本意
lift [lɪft] n. 顺便搭载
Sentence of the Day
Time for a little r'n'r.
该是休息的时候了。
r'n'r. : military abbreviation for rest and recuperation
recuperation [rɪ͵kjupəˋreʃən] n. 恢复；挽回