Michael is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone asked him how he was doing,he would reply,“If I were any better,I’dbetwins!”He was a natural motivator.
邁克爾總是狀態(tài)良好、樂觀積極。如果有人問他近況如何,他會說:“如果還能再好,我就成雙胞胎了!”他是個(gè)天生的樂天派。
If an employee was having a bad day,Michael would tell him how to look on the positive side of the situation.The style really made me curious,so one day I went up to Michael and asked him,“I don't get it.You can't be positive all the time.Howdo you do it?”
如果哪位同事有天過得很糟糕,邁克爾會告訴他如何看待事情積極的一面。他的這種方式著實(shí)讓我好奇。有天我找到邁克爾問:“我真弄不明白。你怎么能總是那樣積極樂觀?你是如何做到這一點(diǎn)的?”
Michael replied,“Each morning I wake up and say to myself,'Mike,you have two choices today.You can choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.'Ichoose to be in a good mood.Each time something bad happens,I can choose to be a victim or learn from it.I choose to learn from it.Every time someone comes to me complaining,I can choose to accept their complaining or point out the positive side of life.I choose the positive side of life.”
邁克爾回答說:“每天早晨醒來時(shí),我會對自己說:‘邁克,今天你有兩種選擇。你可以選擇心情愉快,你也可以選擇心情惡劣。’我選擇心情愉快。每有不愉快的事情發(fā)生,我可以選擇成為一個(gè)犧牲品,也可以選擇從中吸取教訓(xùn)。我選擇從中吸取教訓(xùn)。每有什么人找我來抱怨,我可以選擇接受他們的抱怨,也可以選擇向他們指出生活的積極面。我選擇指出生活的積極面。”
“Yeah,right. But it isn't that easy.”I protested.
“是的,不錯(cuò)?刹⒉荒敲慈菀籽健”我表示異議。
“Yes it is,”Michael said.“Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk,every situation is a choice.You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.The bottom line is:It'syourchoice how you live life.”I reflected on what Michael said.
“其實(shí)很容易。”邁克爾說,“生活就是選擇。每件事物剔除一切枝節(jié)后剩下的都是一種選擇。你選擇如何應(yīng)付生活中的各種情形;你選擇他人會怎樣影響你的情緒;你選擇心情愉快還是心情惡劣。說到底,如何生活是你自己的選擇。”我琢磨著邁克爾的這席話。
Soon thereafter,I left the big enterprise that I had worked in for years to start my own business.We lost touch,but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.Several years later,I heard Michael was involved in a serious accident,falling off 60feetfrom a communications tower.
那以后不久,我離開了工作數(shù)年的大企業(yè)去創(chuàng)建自己的公司。我們失去了聯(lián)系,但當(dāng)我對生活做出一種選擇而非對它做出反應(yīng)時(shí),我時(shí)常想起邁克爾。幾年之后,我聽說邁克爾遭遇一場惡性事故,從一座通訊大樓的60英尺高處掉了下來。
After l8 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care,Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.I saw Michael about six months after the accident.When I asked him how he was,he replied,“If I were any better,I’d bet wins.Do you want to see my scars?”I declined to see his wounds,but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
經(jīng)歷了18個(gè)小時(shí)的手術(shù)和數(shù)周的精心護(hù)理,邁克爾出院了,背部裝有金屬桿。大約事故半年之后,我見到了邁克爾。我問他怎么樣,他回答:“如果還能再好,我就成雙胞胎了。想看看我的傷疤嗎?”我拒絕看他的傷疤,但問他事故發(fā)生時(shí)他是怎么想的。
“The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-toborn daughter,”Michael replied.“Then,laying on the ground,I remembered I had two choices:Icould choose to live or to die.I chose to live.”
“我首先想到的是我那即將出世的女兒的幸福生活。”邁克爾答道,“當(dāng)時(shí)我躺在地上,我記起我有兩種選擇:我可以選擇活著,也可以選擇死。我選擇了活。”
Aftera while,Michael continued,“The paramedics were great.They kept telling me I was going to be fine.But when they wheeled me into the operation room,I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses,I got really scared.In their eyes,l read 'He'sdead'.I knew I needed to take action.There was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me.She asked me if I was allergic to anything.'Yes,'Isaid.The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply.I took a deep breath and yelled,”Gravity.“Over their laughter,I told them,'I'mchoosing to live.Operate on me as if I am alive,not dead'.”
過了一會兒,邁克爾接著說:“那些護(hù)理人員棒極了。他們不停地告訴我我會好的。但當(dāng)他們把我推進(jìn)手術(shù)室,我看到醫(yī)生和護(hù)士臉上的表情時(shí),我真是嚇壞了。在他們眼里,我讀出了‘他是個(gè)死人’。我知道我應(yīng)該采取行動。一個(gè)人高馬大的護(hù)士大聲沖我問問題,她問我是否對什么過敏。‘是的。’我說。醫(yī)生和護(hù)士都停下手中的活兒等我回答。我深吸一口氣,大聲說:‘萬有引力。’他們的笑聲未了,我告訴他們:‘我選擇活著。把我當(dāng)活人而不是死人來做手術(shù)。’”
Michael lived,thanks to the skill of his doctors,but also his amazing attitude.I learned from him that every day we have a choice to live fully.Attitude is everything.
邁克爾活了下來,這要感謝他那些醫(yī)生的高明醫(yī)術(shù),但也要?dú)w功于他那令人贊嘆的態(tài)度。我從他那里學(xué)到了:我們每天都有機(jī)會充實(shí)地活著,關(guān)鍵是態(tài)度。