有一种旅行叫做人生
Life comes in a package. This package includes happiness andsorrow, failure and success , hope and despair. Life is a learningprocess. Experiences in life teach us new lessons an d make us abetter person. With each passing day we learn to handle varioussituations. 人生好似一个包裹，这个包裹里藏着快乐与悲伤、成功与失败，希望与绝望。人生也是一个学习的过程。那些经历给我们上了全新的课，让我们变得更好。随着每一天的过去，我们学会了处理各种各样的问题。
FailureandSuccess
Failure is the path to success. It helps us to touch the sky, teaches us to survive and shows us aspec ific way. Success brings in money, fame, pride and self-respect. Here it becomes veryimportant to keep our head on out shoulder. The only way to show our gratitude to God forbestowing success o n us is by being humble, modest, courteous and respectful to the lessfortunate ones.
失败是成功之母。它让我们触及蓝天，它教会我们如何生存，它给予我们一条特殊的路。成功给予我们金钱、名誉、骄傲和自尊。这里，保持头脑清醒便显得尤为重要。唯一能让我们感激上帝给予的成功便是始终卑微、谦虚、礼貌并且尊重没有我们幸运的人们。
美文:我们心中的"如果""到那时"
IF and WHEN were friends. Every week they met and had lunch.Their conversation usu ally centered on all the things they weregoing to achieve. They both had many dreams a nd they lovedto talk about them.
"如果"和"到那时"是一对好朋友。他们每星期相约吃一顿午餐。会面时，他们谈论的话题通常围绕在他们即将要做的事情上面。两个人都有着许多梦想，并且他们热衷于这种交谈。
This particular Saturday when they met, WHEN sensed that IF was not in a great mood . As usualthey sat at the table reserved for them and ordered their lunch. Once they plac ed their order,WHEN questioned IF.
"IF what is wrong with you? You don't seem your usual cheery self?"
这个星期六他们见面时"到那时"觉察到"如果"的心情不是很好。像往常一样，他们坐在特意预留给他们的餐桌上点餐。刚一点完"到那时"就问道:如果，你怎么了?你看起来好像不太高兴。"
IF looked at WHEN and replied,
"I'm not sure, I just don't feel like I am making any progress. Thislast week I saw a cour se I wanted to take if only I had the time to take it."
"如果"看了看"到那时"答道"我也不知道怎么了，只是觉得自己没什么进步。上个星期我发现一个很好的课程，如果有时间的话，我就去学。"
WHEN knew exactly how IF felt. "Yeah," replied WHEN,
"I too saw a course and I am going toregister when I get enough money together." WHE N then said,
"well what about that new job youwere going to apply for. You were so excited about it l ast week, did you apply?"
"到那时"非常理解"如果"的感受。他答道是啊，我也看到一项课程，等到钱充足的时候，我就去报名。对了，你打算申请的新工作怎么样了?上星期见你说得那么情绪激昂，申请了吗? "
IF responded,
"If my computer didn't break down last week, I would have applied. But, mycomputer is not working, so I could not type my resume."
"如果"回答道"如果不是上周我的电脑坏了，我会申请的。但是它坏了，我无法打印简历，所以只能放弃了。"
"Don 't worry about it IF, when you are ready another job will come through. I have bee n thinkingabout looking for another job also, but I will wait and when the weather gets ni cer I will look then."WHEN then went on to tell IF about his week, hoping that it would c heer him up a bit.
"别着急，等到你准备好时，另-个工作就出现了。我也一直考虑着换个工作，但是我想等到天气看起来好一些时再行动。"然后，"到那时"继续跟"如果"谈论着他的星期计划，希望这样能使他的朋友高兴起来。
The man at the next table couldn't help overhear WHEN and IF. They both were talking aboutwhen this and if that, finally he couldn't take it anymore.
"Excuse me gentlemen," the man said. IFand WHEN both looked at the man and wonder ed what he wanted. The man continued,
"I'msorry, but I couldn't help hearing your conversation. I think I know how you could solve yourproblems."
邻桌的一个男人无意中听到他们的谈话。他昕见两个人一直在说着"等什么什么时候如果这样那样"的话，他再也无法忍受了。于是，男人说道"打扰一下，先生们。""如果"和"到那时"吃惊地看着他，不知道他要做什么。男人继续道很抱歉，我无意中听到你们的交谈。我想我知道如何解决你们的问题。"
IF smiled and thought, how could a complete stranger know how to solve all of their pro blems. Ifonly he knew. When he realized the challenges they faced there was no way he could solve theirproblems! Curious, IF asked the gentleman,
"How do you think you can solve our problems?"
"如果"笑了笑，心想，一个完全陌生的人怎么会知道如何解决他们两个人生活中的问题呢。如果让他认识到他们所面对的困难，恐怕他再也不会那样说了。出于好奇"如果"还是问道你认为应该如何解决我们的问题呢? "
The gentleman smiled and said ,
"You only need listen to yourselves. It reminds me of an oldproverb:
"If and When were planted , and Nothing grew."
男人笑着答道"你们说的话让我想起一句古老的谚语:'只想不做，就会没有收获。"
IF and WHEN looked puzzled. The gentleman smiled and said,
"Start counting how many timesyou use the words 'if' and 'when'. Rather than thinking 'if and when', start doing, take action, stoptalking about 'if and when'."
"如果"和"到那时"疑惑地看着他。男人继续说从现在开始，数一下你们用了多少次…如果'和…到那时'这两个词语。你们不要总是思考…如果怎样怎样到那时怎样怎样而是应该着手去做，采取行动，请不要再谈论…如果和到那时'。"
IF and WHEN both looked surprised, and suddenly realized that what the gentleman had said wasso true. Both of them were guilty of thinking,acting and living their life for the "if s and whens', Thegentleman left and IF and WHEN's conversation changed. They mad e a pact that when they metfor lunch next week, there would be no "ifs and whens"; the y would only talk about what theyaccomplished!
"如果"和"到那时"感到十分惊讶，他们突然意识到这个男人说得很正确。两个人都为自己把思想、行为、生活的希望放在"如果和到那时"上感到惭愧。男人离开后，他们谈话的内容有
了改变。他们约定下个星期一起吃午餐时，再也没有"如果"和"到那时他们只会谈论已经完成的事情。
Two Roads
两条路
【英语散文赏析】
It was New Year's night .An aged man was standing at awindow. He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky,where the stars were floating like white lilies on the surfa ce of aclear calm lake. When he cast them on the earth where fewmore hopeless people than himself now moved towards theircertain goal-the tomb. He had already passed sixty of the stagesleading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and r emorse. Now his healthwas poor, his mind vacant, his heart sorrowful, and his old age sh ort of comforts.
这是新年的夜晚一位老人站在窗边，忧伤的眼睛眺望着深蓝的天空空中的繁星，犹如漂浮在清澈如镜的湖面上的朵朵百合。他慢慢将目光投向地面。此刻，没有什么人比他还绝望。他即将迈向他最终的归宿——坟墓。他已走过通向坟墓的六十级台阶，除了错误和悔恨，他一无所获。现在他体弱多病，精神空虚，心哀神伤，人到晚年却无所慰藉。
The days of his youth appeared like dream before him, and he recalled the serious mome nt whenhis father placed him at the entrances of the two roads One leading to a peacefu l, sunny placecovered with flowers, fruits and resounding with soft, sweet songs; the oth er leading to a deepdark cave which was endless, where poison flowed instead of water and where devils and poisonsnakes hissed and crawled.
年轻岁月，如梦般展现在他面前，老人想起父亲把他带到岔路口的那个庄严时刻。一条路通向安宁、快乐的世界，鲜花遇布，果实丰硕，甜美轻柔的歌声在空中回荡；另一条路则通向幽深黑暗，没有尽头的洞，洞内流淌着的不是水而是毒液，群魔乱舞，毒蛇嘶嘶爬动。
He looked towards the sky and cried painfully,"0h youth, return! Oh, my father, place me oncemore at the entrance to life and I'II chose the better way!
"But both his father and the days of hisyouth had passed away.
他仰望星空，痛苦地大喊：“啊，青春，回来吧！啊，父亲，再一次带我到人生的岔路口吧，我会选一条更好的道路。”但是，他的父亲和他的青春岁月都已一去不复返了。
He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness, and these were the days of his wasted lif e; he saw astar fall from the sky and disappeared, and this was the symbol of himself .Hi s remorse which waslike a sharp arrow struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembere d his friends in his childhood,which entered life together with him. But they had made th eir way to success and were nowhonored and happy on this New Year's night.
他看到灯光在黑暗中流逝，就像他挥霍掉的往昔；他看到一颗流星自天边坠落，消失不见，就像是他的化身。无尽的悔恨，像一支利箭，深刺心间。他又记起和自己一同迈入人生之途的儿时玩伴，j但他们已功成名就，在这个新年之夜，倍受尊崇，幸福快乐。
The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parent s' earlylove for him. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good. But he chose t he wrong waywith shame and grief he dared no longer to look towards the heaven wher e his father lived. Hisdarkened eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing effort. He b urst out a cry:"Come back, myearly days! Come back! "
高高的教堂钟楼传来钟声，这声音使他记起父母早年对他的疼爱：他们教育他，为他祈祷。然而，他却选择了错误的道路：羞愧和悲哀使他再也没有勇气仰望父亲所在的天堂：黯淡的双眼溢满了泪水，他绝望地嘶声大呼：“回来吧，我的往昔！回来吧！”
And his youth did return for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year's night. He was stillyoung though his faults were real. He had not yet entered the deep dark cave , and he was still freeto walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land.
他的青春真的回来了，所有这些只是一个梦，一个他在新年之夜所做的梦，他仍然年轻，虽然他犯的错误是真实的；他尚未走入那幽深黑暗的洞穴，还有自由选择通向安宁、快乐的道路：
Those who still linger on the entrance of life hesitating to choose the bright road rememb er thatwhen years are passed and your feet stumble on the dark mountains. You will cry bitterly, but invain."0h youth return! Oh give me back my early days! "
仍在人生路口徘徊，仍在为是否应当选择光明坦途而犹豫不决的人们啊，请记住：当青春不再，当你在黑暗的山岭间跌倒时，你会痛苦地呼喊：“啊，青春，回来吧！啊，还给我往昔吧！”此时，一切已是徒劳。
散文:青春常在
No young man believes he will ever die. It was a saying of mybrother's, and a fine one. 年轻人不相信自己会死。这是我哥哥的话，可算得一句妙语。
There is a feeling of Eternity in youth, which makes us amendfor everything.
青春有一种永生之感——它能弥补一切。
To be young is to be as one of the Immortal Gods. One half of time indeed is flown — th e otherhalf remains in store for us with all its countless treasures, for there is no line dra wn, and we see nolimit to our hopes and wishes. We make the coming age our own —人在青年时代好像一尊永生的神明。诚然，生命的一半已经消逝，但蕴藏着不尽财富的另一半还有所保留，我们对它也抱着无穷的希望和幻想。未来的时代完全属于我们——
The vast, the unbounded prospect lies before us.
无限辽阔的远景在我们面前展现。
Death, old age, are words without a meaning that pass by us like the idea air which we r egard not.
死亡，老年，不过是空话，毫无意义;我们听了，只当耳边风，全不放在心上。
Others may have undergone, or may still be liable to them — we “bear a charmed life”, whichlaughs to scorn all such sickly fancies.
这些事，别人也许经历过，或者可能要承受——但我们自己“冥冥中有神保佑”，对于诸如此类脆弱的念头，统统付之轻蔑的一笑。
As in setting out on delightful journey, we strain our eager gaze forward —
像是刚刚走上愉快的旅程，极目远眺——
Bidding the lovely scenes at distance hail!
向远方的美景欢呼!
And see no end to the landscape, new objects presenting themselves as we advance. ——此时，但觉好风光应接不暇，而且，前程更有美不胜收的新鲜景致。
So, in the commencement of life, we set no bounds to our inclinations, nor to the unre strictedopportunities of gratifying them.
在这生活的开端，我们听任自己的志趣驰骋，放手给它们一切满足的机会。
We have as yet found no obstacle, no disposition to flag; and it seems that we can go on soforever.
到此为止，我们还没有碰上过什么障碍，也没有感觉到什么疲惫，因此觉得还可以一直这样向前走去，直到永远。
We look round in a new world, full of life, and motion, and ceaseless progress; and feel inourselves all the vigor and spirit to keep pace with it, and do not foresee from any pres entsymptoms how we shall be left behind in the natural course of things, decline into old age, anddrop into the grave.
我们看到四周一派新天地——生机盎然，变动不居，日新月异;我们觉得自己活力充盈，精神饱满，可与宇宙并驾齐驱。而且，眼前也无任何迹象可以证明，在大自然的发展过程中，我们自己也会落伍，衰老，进入坟墓。
It is the simplicity, and as it were abstractedness of our feelings in youth, that (so to spe ak)identifies us with nature, and (our experience being slight and our passions strong) de ludes us intoa belief of being immortal like it.
由于年轻人天真单纯，可以说是茫然无知，因而将自己跟大自然划上等号;并且，由于经验少而感情盛，误以为自己也能和大自然一样永世长存。
Our short-lives connexion with existence we fondly flatter ourselves is an indissoluble an d lastingunion — a honeymoon that knows neither coldness, jar, nor separation.
我们一厢情愿，痴心妄想，竟把自己在世上的暂时栖身，当作千古不变、万事长存的结合，好像没有冷淡、争执、离别的蜜月。
As infants smile and sleep, we are rocked in the cradle of our wayward fancies, and lulle d intosecurity by the roar of the universe around us — we quaff the cup of life with eager haste withoutdraining it, instead of which it only overflows the more — objects press aro und us, filling the mindwith their magnitude and with the strong of desires that wait up on them, so that we have noroom for the thoughts of death.
像婴儿带着微笑入睡，我们躺在用自己编织成的摇篮里，让大千世界的万籁之声催哄我们安然入梦;我们急切切、兴冲冲地畅饮生命之杯，怎么也不会饮干，反而好像永远是满满欲溢;森罗万象纷至沓来，各种欲望随之而生，使我们腾不出工夫想死亡。
美文:拥抱生活
We often close ourselves off when traumatic events happen inour lives; instead of lettin g the world soften us, we let it drive usdeeper into ourselves. We try to deflect the hurt a nd pain bypretending it doesn?t exist, but although we can try this all wewant, in the end , we can?t hide from ourselves. We need tolearn to open our hearts to the potentials of lif e and let the worldsoften us.
生活发生不幸时，我们常常会关上心门;世界不仅没能慰藉我们，反倒使我们更加消沉。我们假装一切仿佛都不曾发生，以此试图忘却伤痛，可就算隐藏得再好，最终也还是骗不了自己。既然如此，何不尝试打开心门，拥抱生活中的各种可能，让世界感化我们呢?
Whenever we start to let our fears and seriousness get the best of us, we should take a stepback and re-evaluate our behavior. The items listed below are six ways you can op en your heartmore fully and completely.
当恐惧与焦虑来袭时，我们应该退后一步，重新反思自己的言行。下面六个方法有助于你更完满透彻地敞开心扉。
1. Breathe into pain
直面痛苦
Whenever a painful situation arises in your life, try to embrace it instead of running away or tryingto mask the hurt. When the sadness strikes, take a deep breath and lean into it. When we runaway from sadness that?s unfolding in our lives, it gets stronger and more r eal. We take anemotion that?s fleeting and make it a solid event, instead of something th at passes through us.
当生活中出现痛苦的事情时，别再逃跑或隐藏痛苦，试着拥抱它吧;当悲伤来袭时，试着深呼吸，然后直面它。如果我们一味逃避生活中的悲伤，悲伤只会变得更强烈更真实——悲伤原本只是稍纵即逝的情绪，我们却固执地耿耿于怀。
By utilizing our breath we soften our experiences. If we dam them up, our lives will stagn ate, butwhen we keep them flowing, we allow more newness and greater experiences to blossom.
深呼吸能减缓我们的感受。屏住呼吸，生活停滞;呼出呼吸，更多新奇与经历又将拉开序幕。
2. Embrace the uncomfortable
We all know what that twinge of anxiety feels like. We know how fear feels in our bodies : thetension in our necks, the tightness in our stomachs, etc. We can practice leaning int o these feelingsof discomfort and let them show us where we need to go.
我们都经历过焦灼的煎熬感，也都感受过恐惧造成的生理反应：脖子僵硬、胃酸翻腾。其实，我们有能力面对这些痛苦的感受，从中领悟到出路。
The initial impulse is to run away — to try and suppress these feelings by not acknowled ging them.When we do this, we close ourselves off to the parts of our lives that we need to experience most.The next time you have this feeling of being truly uncomfortable, do yourself a favor and lean intothe feeling. Act in spite of the fear.
我们的第一反应总是逃避——以为否认不安情绪的存在就能万事大吉，可这也恰好妨碍了我们经历最需要的生活体验。下次感到不安时，不管有多害怕，也请试着勇敢面对吧。
3. Ask your heart what it wants
倾听内心
We?re often confused at the next step to take, making pros and cons lists until our eyes b leed andour brains are sore. Instead of always taking this approach, what if we engaged a new part ofourselves that isn?t usually involved in the decision making process?
我们常对未来犹疑不定，反复考虑利弊直到身心俱疲。与其一味顾虑重重，不如从局外人的角度看待决策之事。
I know we?ve all felt decisions or actions that we had to take simply due to our “gut” imp ulses:when asked, we can?t explain the reasons behind doing so — just a deep knowing t hat it had toget done. This instinct is the part of ourselves we?re approaching for answers. 其实很多决定或行动都是我们一念之间的结果：要是追问原因的话，恐怕我们自己也道不清说不明，只是感到直觉如此罢了。而这种直觉恰好是我们探索结果的潜在自我。
To start this process, take few deep breaths then ask,
“Heart, what decision should I make here?What action feels the most right?”
开始前先做几次深呼吸，问自己：“内心认为该做什么样的决定呢?觉得采取哪个方案最恰当?”
See what comes up, then engage and evaluate the outcome.
看看自己的内心反应如何，然后全力以赴、静待结果吧。
4. Engage your shadow
Many of us who are on the personal development path get caught up in embracing chara cteristicswe want to have, like happiness, compassion, love, and passion. In this pursuit we end up losingparts of ourselves that make us whole, such as suppressing our negativ e qualities instead ofengaging them. Try asking yourself a few questions:
很多人在成长过程中都或多或少养成期望的性格，比如快乐、同情、爱心以及激情等等;与此同时，我们也会陷入消极压抑的品性。这时，你就要问问自己：
What parts of myself could I do without?
我有哪些可以完全抛弃的性格?
How do I get in my own way?
有哪些品性会妨碍我的成长?
Is there anything I?m hiding from myself?
我对自己是不是足够诚实坦白?
Don?t be afraid of what comes out; you might want to run from the answers, but instead, acknowledge them and be with them as much as possible. Once you?re a little clearer ab out whatexactly you?ve been hiding, from it gets easier to shine your light on it.
别害怕最终得出的结果，也别逃避，相反，你应该面对并尽量接受现实。如果你能确切了解自己的阴暗面，也就更容易去改正。
5. Spend time alone
享受独处
For most of our lives we?re surrounded by people: our friends, colleagues, peers, family
members,loved ones, and strangers. How often do we really spend time alone?
大部分人身边总不缺陪伴：朋友、同事、同伴、亲人、爱侣，还有陌生人。那么，怎样才能真正独处呢?
When you spend time in solitude, you?re free from the influences of other people, and ca n trulyopen yourself and explore whatever you?d like. See where your thoughts take you. The goldenticket here is to not let yourself become distracted; just see what it?s like to b e alone.
独处使人免受他人干扰，能让我们真正敞开心怀去探究所喜所恶，让自己跟着思绪游走——一定要保持专心，用心体会独处的曼妙。
It might be painful or even scary at first, but by opening yourself up to these new feeling s, you?lladd a whole new layer of depth, experience, and understanding into your life.
一开始可能会感到痛苦甚至惶恐，可一旦敞开心胸面对这些感受，你便能达到更高一层境界，收获别样的经验，也更理解自己的生活。
6. Get outside of yourself
走出自我
This may seem a little contradictory to the last tip, but in reality, they actually work ha nd-in-hand.After you?ve explored the depths of yourself, you come away with a new und erstanding.
这和前一个建议貌似有点矛盾，但其实两者却是相辅相成的。独处之后，你对自己获得了全新了解。
Now, i t?s time to share that — not through telling others, but through being with others. 然后，你应该把它分享出来——当然，这不是要你直接把它告知与人，而是要求你通过与人交往进行分享。
When you?re in a group of people, try to give them your full energy and attention so you canunderstand them just as you did yourself. Appreciate their uniqueness, as if they are an extensionof you. Lose yourself in the beauty of others; see what they can teach you a bout yourself.
当你与人交往时，请试着用心去了解他们，就好比你用心了解自己一样。感同身受地欣赏他们的个性、观察他们的优点，看看自己能从中学到什么。
Remember, there?s no need to do every one of these at the same time. Take each one a day at atime, determine which work best for you, and see what you can discover.
请记住：以上建议并不要求你一气呵成，你可以每天尝试一个，选择最适合自己的建议，看看自己能从中收获什么。
美文:2015如何做崭新的自己?
THE annual ritual of the New Year?s resolution —I?ll lose 10pounds, get my finances in o rder, be more patient with myfamily, feel more grateful — misses the point. We try to ste el ourwills to do what we already know we should be doing. Kick-in-the-pants reminders, however stern, are missed opportunitiesfor genuine self-renewal.
(Not to mention that the shelf life ofany motivational juice we generate in January tend s to expirein February.)
制定新年规划这个一年一度的常规动作——我要减重10磅，要解决财务问题，要更耐心地对待家人，要更知道感恩——总是放错重点。我们竭力强化意志，去做已经意识到自己该做的那些事情。但好似“催命符”的备忘录不管多严苛，都无法激励人们进行真正的自我更新。（更别提1月份才成形的这些宏图大志是多么容易过期，2月份一到，它们往往就宣告破产。）
The turning over of a new year is an opportunity to create ourselves anew. How? The ke y, Isuggest, is in shifting our understanding of the choices we make. For many people, th e mostimportant choices in life are sources of agony, dread, paralysis — even depression or suicide. Itdoesn?t have to be like this.
新年来临之际是重新塑造自我的良机。如何塑造呢？我认为，关键在于换个角度来理解我们所做的选择。对很多人而言，生命中最重要的一些选择是痛苦、恐惧、无力的根源，甚至会让人产生抑郁和自杀倾向。但事情并不一定非是如此不可。
A hypothetical example: Eve works as a textbook editor at a Boston publishing house and wasapproached by a small but prestigious imprint on the West Coast that was looking fo r a fictioneditor. The job would be a big promotion, with a significant raise, and Eve ha d always wanted towork in fiction.
比方说，伊芙是波士顿某出版社的教科书编辑，西海岸一家正在寻找小说编辑的出版公司找到了她。该公司规模虽小，但却久负盛名。接受这份工作，伊芙的职位会大大提升，薪水会大幅提高，而且她一直都想在小说领域发展。
But Eve is in crisis. Should she move her husband and young daughter from their cozy lif e inBoston, her home of 15 years, to the wilds of California? If she stays, will she be fors aking theopportunity of a lifetime? If she moves, will her new boss turn out to be a jerk?
Will her child bebullied at school? What if her husband can?t find a good job? Will the fam ily quarrel, the marriage dissolve, her boss fire her for being incompetent, and she and h er child end up on food stamps ina homeless shelter?
但伊芙却面临着艰难的抉择。她已经在波士顿生活了15年，该让丈夫和年幼的女儿抛开这里的惬意生活，与她一起搬走吗？如果选择留在波士顿，她能够割舍一生中难得的机遇吗？如果选择搬去西海岸，要是发现新老板是个混球可怎么办？要是她的孩子在学校挨欺负可怎么办？要是她丈夫找不到好工作可怎么办？家里是否会争吵不断，婚姻是否会解体，老板是否会因为她无法胜任工作而炒她鱿鱼，她和孩子是否会落得在收容所靠食品券度日的田地？
Many people are like Eve and see their choices as, in essence, problems of computation. Butchoosing between jobs is not like computing the distance between Memphis and Mum bai. The viewof choice as a matter of calculating maximal value is assumed in cost-benefi t analysis, governmentpolicy making and much of economic theory. It?s even embedded i n the apps you can downloadthat purport to help you decide whether to buy a new car, get married or change jobs.
许多人都和伊芙差不多，他们其实把选择看成了计算利害得失的问题。但在不同工作之间做出选择，跟测量从孟菲斯到孟买的距离可不是一回事。把选择看作对价值最大化的计算，是内化于成本收益分析、政府决策过程以及许多经济理论之中的一种观念。它甚至潜藏在可以从网上下载的某些旨在帮助你决定是否要买新车、是否要结婚、是否要换工作的应用程序之中。
At the heart of this model is a simple assumption: that what you should choose is alwa ysdetermined by facts in the world about which option has more value — facts that, if on ly you weresmart enough to discover, would make decision-making relatively easy.
该模型的核心假设非常简单：你的选择总是取决于世界上的某些与哪个选项会带来更大价值有关的事实——你只要聪明到足以发现这些事实，就能够相对容易地做出决策。
But the assumption is false. When we compute distances, there are only three possibilit ies: onedistance is more than, less than or equal to another. Similarly, when we compute value, there areonly three possibilities: one thing is better than, worse than or just as go od as another. But weshouldn?t assume that goodness is like distance. Values don?t have the same structure as facts.
但这个假设是错误的。我们测算距离的时候，所面对的可能性只有三种：一段距离比另一段长，比另一段短，或者跟另一段相等。同样，我们计算价值的时候，所面对的可能性也只有三种：一个事物比另一个好，比另一个糟，或者跟另一个差不多。但我们不该把事物的好坏和距离的长短等同起来。价值的体系和事实的体系是截然不同的。
Options can be “on a par”
— different in value while being in the same overall neighborhood. Ifyour alternatives are on a par, you can?t make a mistake of reason in choosing one instead of theother. Since one isn?t better than the other, you can?t choose wrongly. But nor are they equallygood. When alternatives are on a par, when the world doesn?t determine a single right thing to do,that doesn?t mean that value writ large has been exhausted. Instead of looking outwa rd to find thevalue that determines what you should do, you can look inward to what yo u can stand behind,commit to, resolve to throw yourself behind. By committing to an opti on, you can confer value onit.
各种选项可能会“平分秋色”——虽然价值不完全相同，但也相差无几。如果你有一些平分秋色的选项，你无论选择哪个，都不会犯判断上的错误。因为两种选择没有优劣之分，你不可能做出错误的选择。不过，它们也并非一样好。当选项平分秋色时，当世界上并非只有唯一正确的答案时，那并不意味着真正的价值已经枯竭。与其从外部寻找价值来判断自己应该做些什么，你可以向内心来询问自己能够支持、承诺，以及决心投身于什么。只要笃定于一个选项，你就为它赋予了价值。
Of course, this isn?t to say that you should commit to being a first-class jerk, pedophile or murderer. That?s because being a jerk is not on a par with being a good person.
当然了，这并不是说你应该笃定于成为一个头号混蛋、恋童癖，或者杀人犯。这是因为，做一个混蛋和做一个好人可不是平分秋色的选项。
When we choose between options that are on a par, we make ourselves the authors of o ur ownlives. Instead of being led by the nose by what we imagine to be facts of the worl d, we shouldinstead recognize that sometimes the world is silent about what we should d o. In those cases, wecan create value for ourselves by committing to an option. By doing so, we not only create valuefor ourselves but we also (re)create ourselves. Eve might re solve to make her life in Boston.Someone else, in her shoes, might resolve to start a new life in California. There is no error here,only different resolutions that create different sor ts of people.
当我们在平分秋色的选项中做选择时，我们就成了自己人生的创造者。我们不应该被我们想象中的世界现实牵着鼻子走，而是应该认识到，有时，这个世界不会告诉我们应该做什么。在这种情况下，我们应该笃定一种选项，创造我们自己的价值。这样做的话，我们不仅为自己创造了的价值，我们也（重新）创造了自己。伊芙可能决心在波士顿生活。而面临同样的境遇，另一个人可能会决定在加州开始新的生活。这无所谓对错，只是不同的解决方案造就不同类型的人罢了。
So Eve, faced with her choice, should reflect on what kind of person she can be. Can she besomeone who abandons a contented life for a new adventure? A choice between alter natives thatare on a par is a precious opportunity to create the sort of person she can co mmit to being, bycommitting to being that sort of person.
因此，伊芙在做出选择时，应该考虑的是，她能成为什么样的人。她能为了新的冒险而放弃舒适的生活吗？在平分秋色的选项中做决定是一个宝贵的机会，可以创造出一个自己能够决心成为的人，方法就是下决心成为那种类型的人。
经典英语美文欣赏80篇（适用于成人） 英语美文欣赏80篇 01-The Love of Beauty 英语美文欣赏80篇 02-The Happy Door 英语美文欣赏80篇 03-Born to Win 英语美文欣赏80篇 04-Work and Pleasure 英语美文欣赏80篇 05-Mirror,Mirror-What do I See 英语美文欣赏80篇 06-On Motes and Beams 英语美文欣赏80篇 07-An October Sunrise 英语美文欣赏80篇 08-To be or not to be 英语美文欣赏80篇 09-Gettysburg address 英语美文欣赏80篇10-First Inaugural Address
英语美文欣赏80篇11-American black bears 英语美文欣赏80篇 12-Coal-fired power plants 英语美文欣赏80篇 13-Statistics 英语美文欣赏80篇 14-Obtaining Fresh water from icebergs 英语美文欣赏80篇 15-The source of Energy 英语美文欣赏80篇 16-Vision 英语美文欣赏80篇 17-Folk Cultures 英语美文欣赏80篇 18-Bacteria 英语美文欣赏80篇 19-Sleep 英语美文欣赏80篇 20-Cells and Temperature 英语美文欣赏80篇21-Youth 英语美文欣赏80篇 22-Three Days to See 英语美文欣赏80篇 23-Companionship of Books 英语美文欣赏80篇24-If I Rest,I Rust 英语美文欣赏80篇 25-Ambition 英语美文欣赏80篇 26-What I have Lived for 英语美文欣赏80篇 27-When Love Beckons You 英语美文欣赏80篇 28-The Road to Success
[励志短篇经典英文诗歌美文阅读]英文诗歌短篇经典 各位读友大家好，此文档由网络收集而来，欢迎您下载，谢谢 一粒灰尘，改变不了大海的明净;一颗石子，阻挡不了江河的前进;一丝乌云，遮挡不了太阳的光辉;一次灾难，破坏不了勇者的励志。小编整理了经典短篇励志英文诗歌，欢迎阅读! 经典短篇励志英文诗歌篇一 thou blessed dream 你受祝福的梦中英双语对照 swami vivekananda if things go ill or well- if joy rebounding spreads the face, or sea of sorrows swells- it is a dream, a play. 无论事情变糟还是变好，
不管欢乐重现脸颊或者， 悲伤的海洋漫溢， 那只是一场游戏，一场梦幻。 a play- we each have a part each one to weep or laugh as may; each one his dress to don- alternate shine or rain. 我们都是戏中的角色， 人人都尽情地欢笑啼哭， 每个人都轮换穿着， 晴日或雨天的衣裳. thou dream, o blessed dream! spread far and near thy veil of haze, tone down the lines so sharp, make smooth what roughness seems. 你的梦，受祝福的梦， 到处掩盖着薄雾似的面纱， 将尖锐的线条变得柔和， 让粗糙的外表变得平滑 no magic but in thee!
一、来自你身体的一封信 Hi! It's your body here! Allow me to reintroduce myself. 嗨，我是你的身体! 允许我再自我介绍一下。 I'm the home that you've always lived in. Surely you remember. We grew up together! 我是你一直住着的“家”。 你肯定记得我， 我们一起长大的。 And I'm writing in this letter cause, I feel neglected in this relationship, very disappointed in what I've been seeing. 我写这封信是因为， 我感觉我在这段关系里被忽视了。 我对我所看到的很失望。 With your ambition to make money you sacrificed my well being, which makes no sense in the least because when I get sick you sacrificed that same money
to recuperate ME. 你有想挣钱的雄心， 却为此牺牲我的健康。 这完全不合理， 因为如果我病了， 你赚的那些钱都要用来给我治病! And what's even more ironic is with all your interest in profit you can't even see the truth that I'm worth over A BILLION DOLLARS. 更讽刺的是， 你利欲熏心， 甚至看不清这个事实： 我才是最宝贵的啊! Don't believe me? Okay I'll prove it. 你不相信? 好吧，我证明给你看。 If someone came to you with a check for One Million and said “Here. All I want in return is your eyesight.”
经典英语美文短篇：爱母亲甚于爱自己 说明和注解：丁克威 这是一篇动情之作，读完后掩卷而思：母亲的胸怀是博大的，母亲的心灵是至纯的，母亲的爱是无私的。然而我们对于母亲的报答又有多少？ 文章语言朴素简单，相信作为中学生的你能轻松地读下来。读到佳句妙语处，真希望你能把它记下来、背下来。 Those Childhood Days When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. ?hold somebody in one’s arms: 把某人抱在怀中 You thanked her by weeping your eyes out. ?weep one’s eyes out: 痛 哭；大哭 When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. ?注意bathe在此处用作及物动词，意为“给……洗澡”。 You thanked her by crying all night long. ?all night long：整夜；如 说“整天”则是all day long。 When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. ?可说teach somebody to do something（教某人做 某事） You thanked her by running away when she called. When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. ?do something with love: 带着爱意/心做某事。 You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor. ?toss: 抛投。When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons. ? crayon: 蜡笔。 You thanked her by coloring the dining room table. ?color在此句中用作动 词，表示“着色”。When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. ? dress: 给……穿衣。 You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud. ?plop: 扑通一声地掉下去。 When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school. ?注意walk在此处用作及物动词，意为“陪……一起走”。
关于经典英语美文摘抄 【篇一】关于经典英语美文：美国革命的历史意义 The Historical Significance of American Revolution The ways of history are so intricate and the motivations of human actions so complex that it is always hazardous to attempt to represent events covering a number of years, a multiplicity of persons, and distant localities as the expression of one intellectual or social movement; yet the historical process which culminated in the ascent of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency can be regarded as the outstanding example not only of the birth of a new way of life but of nationalism as a new way of life. The American Revolution represents the link between the seventeenth century, in which modern England became conscious of itself, and the awakening of modern Europe at the end of the eighteenth century. It may seem strange that the march of history should have had to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but only in the North American colonies could a struggle for civic liberty lead also to the foundation of a new nation. Here, in the popular rising against a "tyrannical" government, the fruits were more than the securing of a freer constitution. They included the growth of a nation born in liberty by the will of the people, not from the roots of common descent, a geographic entity, or the ambitions of king or dynasty. With the American nation, for the first time, a nation was born, not in the dim past of history but before the eyes of the whole world. 美国革命的历史意义
超级经典的英语短文美文赏析 一、 Everyone has that period in which they find those who are close to them start to seem annoying . 每个人都会经历这样的时期：发现身边那些亲近的人开始变得有点烦了。 You suddenly realized that they've always been talking and talking. 你会突然意识到，长久以来他们就一直不停地在说啊说。 They never stopped. 他们从来就没有停过。 Some of us get angry with them, thinking they are trying too hard to intervene in our lives. 我们中的有些人，会开始变得愤怒，觉得他们对我们的生活介入太多。 But don't. 但是，请不要愤怒。 Only those who really care about you will bother saying so much to you. 只有那些真正关心我们的人才会费劲对我们说这么多。 It's just that maybe they don't know the right way to put it. 只是，他们可能并不知道正确的相处办法。 Some of them push too hard because they care too much. 他们中有些人逼得太紧，那是因为他们太在乎。 Some of them speak too much because they worry about you too much. 他们中的有些人说得太多，那是因为他们太担心你。 They do this because they love you. 他们这么做，都是因为爱你。 So don't push them away. 所以，不要将他们拒于千里之外。 Just find a way to let them know what you truly want. 去找一个办法告诉他们你真的想要的是什么吧。 And let them grow with you. 并且去让他们和你一起成长。 That will make both of you happy.
Sun smile 阳光般的微笑 The sun shone brightly on the ground in front of her feet as she pondered the reality of light. 太阳光芒四射地照耀这她脚前这片大地。她在沉思，思考着阳光是怎么一回事: How did light get here? Who made it and why? 它是怎么来到这儿的?谁让它来的?来做什么? She instinctively stepped into the sun spot and instantly felt warmer, brighter, and fuller of life and energy. 她下意识地踏进阳光里，整个人立刻觉得暖和，清醒起来，浑身充满了生机和活力。 The sun wrapped her in comfort and stability for, if nothing else,she could always count on the sun waking her up most mornings. 阳光笼罩着她，她感到很舒服很踏实，如果没有其他事情，大多数早晨，她都会让阳光叫她起床。
Its predictable radiance felt like the mother she never had as her childhood was characterized more so by pain and heartache than comfort and love. 太阳那如期而至的光芒就像妈妈一样，虽然她从来就没有感受过母爱，她的童年记忆里满是痛苦和伤心，而不是关怀和爱。 She stepped out of the sunlight and felt that all-too-familiar anxious pang in the pit of her stomach as she remembered how horrible it was to live in her childhood home. 她从阳光里走出来，一阵再熟悉不过的恼人的悲痛袭击了她的胸口，让她回忆起童年时的可怕生活。 Memories flooded her mind as she unsuccessfully tried to block them out by thinking good thoughts. 她努力朝好的方面想，希望能抵挡住如洪水般泛滥的痛苦回忆，但是无济于事。 Oh how she wished she could curl up in the middle of the sun and allow its love to encase her for all eternity. 她是多么希望可以蜷缩在温暖的阳光里，让太阳的爱包裹着她直到永远。 But, no, she was stuck here on earth with those who didn't feel the sun's rays the same way she did,who didn't feel deeply connected to this amazing source of life. 然而，这是不可能的。她只能在这儿，和其他人一起。其他人不像她一样渴望阳光，也不曾觉得自己与这神奇的生命之源有什么紧密联系。 All she could do was stand in the sun on occasion and shut out the rest of the world for a little while. 她唯一能做的就是偶尔站在阳光里，和阳光以外的世界短暂地隔离。 Maybe if she stood here long enough they would cease to exist. 她想也许只要一直站在阳光里，外面的世界也就不复存在了。
关于经典英语美文摘抄 【导语】在英语教学中,开展经典美文教学不仅能提高学生的文学水平,而且能提高学生的语文素养,对培养学生的语言素养和人文素养具有极大益处,更能丰富学生的精神世界,磨炼学生的意志。本文是由小编整理的关于经典英语美文，希望对大家有帮助! 【篇一】关于经典英语美文：美国革命的历史意义 The Historical Significance of American Revolution The ways of history are so intricate and the motivations of human actions so complex that it is always hazardous to attempt to represent events covering a number of years, a multiplicity of persons, and distant localities as the expression of one intellectual or social movement; yet the historical process which culminated in the ascent of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency can be regarded as the outstanding example not only of the birth of a new way of life but of nationalism as a new way of life. The American Revolution represents the link between the seventeenth century, in which modern England became conscious of itself, and the awakening of modern Europe at the end of the eighteenth century. It may seem strange that the march of history should have had to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but only in the North American colonies could a struggle for civic liberty lead also to the foundation of a new nation. Here, in the popular rising against a "tyrannical" government, the fruits were more than the securing of a freer constitution. They included the growth of a nation born in liberty by the will of the people, not from the roots of common descent, a geographic entity, or the ambitions of king or dynasty. With the American nation, for the first time, a nation was born, not in the dim past of history but before the eyes of the whole world.
英语美文欣赏 第一篇：A Grain of Sand 一粒沙子William Blake/威廉.布莱克To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild fllower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour. 从一粒沙子看到一个世界，从一朵野花看到一个天堂，把握在你手心里的就是无限，永恒也就消融于一个时辰。 第二篇：Love Your Life 热爱生活Henry David Thoreau/享利.大卫.梭罗However mean your life is,meet it and live it ;do not shun it and call it hard names.It is not so bad as you are.It looks poorest when you are richest.The fault-finder will find faults in paradise.Love your life,poor as it is.You may perhaps have some pleasant,thrilling,glorious hourss,even in a poor-house.The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode;the snow melts before its door as early in the spring.I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there,and have as cheering thoughts,as in a palace.The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any.May be they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving.Most think that they are above being supported by the town;but it often happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means.which should be more disreputable.Cultivate poverty like a garden herb,like sage.Do not trouble yourself much to get new things,whether clothes or friends,Turn the old,return to them.Things do not change;we change.Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. 不论你的生活如何卑贱，你要面对它生活，不要躲避它，更别用恶言咒骂它。它不像你那样坏。你最富有的时候，倒是看似最穷。爱找缺点的人就是到天堂里也能找到缺点。你要爱你的生活，尽管它贫穷。甚至在一个济贫院里，你也还有愉快、高兴、光荣的时候。夕阳反射在济贫院的窗上，像身在富户人家窗上一样光亮；在那门前，积雪同在早春融化。我只看到，一个从容的人，在哪里也像在皇宫中一样，生活得心满意足而富有愉快的思想。城镇中的穷人，我看，倒往往是过着最独立不羁的生活。也许因为他们很伟大，所以受之无愧。大多数人以为他们是超然的，不
优秀的经典英语美文欣赏 我们可以多多看看一些英语的文章来提升我们的英语作文，今天就给大家分享一下英语美文欣赏，欢迎参考 一位母亲写给女儿的信 dear girls, 我亲爱的孩子们， you're so young right now, but i hope these letters will be helpful to you one day when you're older. there is so much i wish i could ask my mother now that i am a grown woman. there is so much we never got to talk about. i'm planning on being around for you well into your lives and adulthood, but even so, i think having these letters will be useful in some way. who knows how things might change down the road, and at least you'll have your 34-year-old mother's thoughts down on paper. 你们现在如此稚嫩，但我希望将来某一天等你们长大了，这封信将会对你们有帮助。作为一个成年女人，我也有很多想问我妈妈的问题，有很多我和她从未谈及过的事情。在你们的成长中，我会在你们身边帮你们过好生活长大成人，但即使这样，我认为这封信也能通过
经典英语美文欣赏50篇关于爱家的英语美文欣赏 不要太注意家庭的外观及形式，最主要的，是要注重家庭里特有的，充满了爱、温暖与明朗的气氛。了关于爱家的英语美文，欢迎阅读! Home is a warm noun, because it means a place full filled with love and support. Home is not just a place where we live in, but a place where families support each other and show their love to others. When we have something happy, we first want to bring them home and share the happinesswith families. On the contrast, if we get into trouble, home is the first place where we look for support and fort. In short, home is not just a house we live in; moreover, it's our home of spirit. I was panic a while absolute being, stand Be frightenning into inaction simultaneously, stare greatly eyes to looking at father and mother, the in the mind worries very much they will blame me.Just at I daze of time, father said a words:"Unimportant of, ground(from year to year) and peaceful!"
英语经典短篇美文欣赏 【篇一：英语经典短篇美文欣赏】 一生必读的英文经典美文48篇一生必读的英文经典美文48篇新概念英语晨读系列：一生必读的48 篇英文经典美文上册，是英语听力频道英语美文栏目下的内容，48篇英语美文，mp3和文本。思想结 晶改变人生命运，经典美文提高生活品位。 【篇二：英语经典短篇美文欣赏】 目录： ??第一篇：youth 青春 ??第二篇：three days to see(excerpts)假如给我三天光明（节选）??第三篇：companionship of books 以书为伴（节选） ??第四篇：if i rest, i rust 如果我休息，我就会生锈 ??第五篇：ambition 抱负 ??第六篇：what i have lived for 我为何而生 ??第七篇：when love beckons you 爱的召唤 ??第八篇：the road to success 成功之道 ??第九篇：on meeting the celebrated 论见名人 ??第十篇：the 50-percent theory of life 生活理论半对半 ??第十一篇：what is your recovery rate? 你的恢复速率是多少？??第十二篇：clear your mental space 清理心灵的空间 ??第十三篇：be happy 快乐 ??第十四篇：the goodness of life 生命的美好 ??第十五篇：facing the enemies within 直面内在的敌人 ??第十六篇：abundance is a life style 富足的生活方式 ??第十七篇：human life a poem 人生如诗 ??第十八篇：solitude 独处 ??第十九篇：giving life meaning 给生命以意义 ??第二十篇：relish the moment 品位现在 ??第二十一篇：the love of beauty 爱美 ??第二十二篇：the happy door 快乐之门 ??第二十三篇：born to win 生而为赢 ??第二十四篇：work and pleasure 工作和娱乐 ??第二十五篇：mirror, mirror--what do i see镜子,镜子,告诉我 ??第二十六篇：on motes and beams 微尘与栋梁 ??第二十七篇：an october sunrise 十月的日出
Friends or 'Enemies?' When I was younger, my Dad used to tell me: "Boys don't want to be your friend." He then left the rest to my imagination. At the time, I didn't agree. I thought: I can crack a good joke, I know how to shoot a hoop, and I'm a cheerful person (but not in an annoying way). What kind of boy wouldn't want to be around that kind of girl? Turns out, my Dad was right. Not to be all "Samantha Brick" about it, but in my experience, single, heterosexual men aren't actively looking for an exclusively platonic relationship with a woman they find sexually attractive. This of course is not a revolutionary concept. In fact, it seems pretty natural to me. Now, I will be the first to say that it is really and truly the most wonderful thing in the world if the attraction is mutual. But the Powers That Be seem to like to play these complicated little mating games with humans where the guy we want to re-enact scenes from 9? Weeks with sees our attractiveness level as akin to that of a discarded dishcloth, and the most physical we could see ourselves being with the guy who actually likes us is a game of ping pong over an especially long table. All of which means that someone usually ends up getting rejected. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I have struggled with the scenario where I am not interested in a man romantically, but I want to keep him as a friend because he is funny and I enjoy his company, or he has shown himself to be that rare specimen known as "a nice, genuine person, " or he simply doesn't mention his therapist in every other sentence. Rather than string him along and give him hope, I feel compelled to somehow communicate to him sooner rather than later that we'll just be staying friends, nothing more. Otherwise, I think I am being unfair to him. Why should he waste his romantic stamina on me when there are loads of other single women out there who might fall instantly in love with him? The thing is, it can sometimes be tricky to reject a man and keep him as a friend. If the operation is not executed carefully, you may end up creating a "menemy." It requires a certain amount of skill to be able to turn down a man's sexual advances or romantic gestures and then get him to agree to meet you for blueberry pancakes the following weekend and chat about the latest Woody Allen film. Some men aren't satisfied with just that. I'm not clear why. What's so bad about friendship? Everyone needs buddies. But I've seen men react poorly or simply fall off the face of the earth. I get it -- their feelings are hurt. None of us likes getting rejected. But in my experience, some men find it especially soul-crushing. I am only bringing all of this up because I recently had to go through this scenario again. I had spent some time cultivating a friendship with a man who, in my defense, I thought was gay. So I didn't see the harm in him buying me the occasional falafel, or accepting an invitation to see a film with him. Isn't that what friends are for? But a mutual friend shed light on his sexual orientation (straight) and suggested that his intentions -- and attentions -- weren't platonic. He had never "made the moves" but now it was all crystal clear -- that explains the way he had looked at me that time the tahini sauce dribbled down my chin! Since he had clearly been too timid to express his feelings, I thought I would be clever this time and subtly mention the dates I had been going on, focusing on the one guy I was kind of keen on, so that he would know that I was "unavailable" for heavy petting and those sorts of activities, but that I was available for things like roller skating, falafel-eating and shooting the breeze. Doesn't that sound nice? That way, he would known not to try to lean in for a kiss, and I wouldn't have to pull the Stevie Wonder dance and dodge him went he went for it. It was like pre-rejection, yet I was sparing his feelings because he didn't even have to put himself out there! I really thought I was being brilliant. It backfired, of course. Said man ended up sending me an email rant accusing me of being insensitive by talking about other men when he had "feelings for me." As if I am psychic, by the way, just because I am a woman! How was I supposed to know that? I think in his mind we were dating. In my mind, he was my new gay BFF. In the end, I got mad at him for getting mad at me, and now the friendship has ended. And I have created yet another "menemy." Look, I have also tried the direct thing: "I really like you, but only as a friend, " but you can only do that when the guy has made his intentions clear, and in my experience, they either cope okay (though rarely do I feel much enthusiasm for friendship after that), or they really don't cope well. I also tried the thing where you make them think they are rejecting you, but it gets quite confusing and only works if the guy isn't very sharp, and why would I -- or you -- be hanging out with someone not that sharp in the first place? As we all remember, Billy Crystal's character says men and women can't be friends in When Harry Met Sally because the sex stuff gets in the way. I do have single, male, heterosexual friends with whom I have an easy, non-romantic rapport, but I honestly don't know if they would walk away if I was sprawled naked on a bed calling out to them. I may not be everybody's cup of tea, but sometimes, I wonder if they wonder. And they may wonder if I wonder. If so, I hope they'll keep it to