感悟：美妙人生如蝴蝶

 　　A few years ago, my husband Dawn and I were in Key West for a long weekend with our three- and four-year-old daughters. As we went back and forth¹ about what to do next, our girls jumped right in and told us exactly what they wanted to do. "We want to go to a museum of butterflies," said Ariela and Eliana.

　　几年前，我和丈夫道恩带着我们三岁和四岁大的两孩子去西锁岛度小长假。当我们还在犹豫接下来该玩什么时，孩子们直接表达了她们的意见。艾瑞尔拉和埃利安娜说：“我们想去蝴蝶博物馆！”

　　注：西锁岛是美国佛罗里达州的一小岛，它属于佛罗里达州南部一串岛链中最南部和最西部的小岛。

　　Having never been to a museum of butterflies, Dawn and I looked at the map, and sure enough there it was: a museum of butterflies. We looked at each other and said, "Let's go."

　　道恩和我都没去过蝴蝶博物馆，我和道恩查看地图：的确有一家蝴蝶博物馆。我们相视一眼后，说：“咱们出发吧。”

　　As soon as we walked into the main area we were immediately surrounded by thousands and thousands of beautiful butterflies, all flapping² their multicolored wings.

　　一走进博物馆的主展示区，我们便发现自己被成千上万只美丽的蝴蝶围绕，它们扇动着色彩斑驳的翅膀。

　　感悟：美妙人生如蝴蝶

　　I looked down at our girls. They were jumping up and down and clapping their hands. I knew we had made the right decision to come to the museum. They were having so much fun.

　　我低头看看孩子们，她们蹦哒着，开心地拍手。我便知道来博物馆的这个决定没错。她们玩得很开心。

　　I turned to our museum tour guide--just because I was curious--and asked, "How long do butterflies live?"

　　只因好奇心使然，我转过身问博物馆导游：“蝴蝶能存活多久？”

　　She said, "About ten days."

　　她回答说：“十天左右。”

　　I thought to myself, "Ten days. What can you do in ten days?" So I asked her, "What do butterflies do in ten days?"

　　我对自己说：“十天，十天能做什么？”于是我又问她：“蝴蝶这十天里会做什么？”

　　The guide stopped, looked at me, and said, "They make the world a more beautiful place."

　　导游停了下来，看着我说：“它们让这个世界变得更美丽。”

　　"Wow," I said, "I never thought about butterflies like that. Thank you."

　　“哇！我从没有把蝴蝶想象成这样，谢谢你！”我对她说。

　　After we said goodbye, I couldn't stop thinking about what the guide had said. She was right: We all have something to offer the world with the time we have. When we focus our natural gifts on taking care of each other every day, we Make a Difference.

　　我们道别后，不禁想着导游说过的话：她说的没错。我们都能用自己的时间为这个世界做点事。当我们每天发自内心、自然而然地关爱彼此，我们便能让世界有所改变。

　　Appreciate the impact³ you have on your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Like a butterfly, you have your own way of making the world a little better for everyone. Embrace⁴ the opportunity to contribute to others. Your life matters. Make it a point in coming days to demonstrate⁵ the impact you have on others by offering a hand to people in need.

　　享受你对亲朋好友，同事与邻居产生的影响吧。像蝴蝶般，你能用自己的方式使世界更美好。热情把握造福他人的机会。你的人生是有意义的，从今以后，请给需要帮助的人伸出援手，展现你对他人的影响力吧。

1 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 flapping   

（使）上下左右移动( flap的现在分词 )； 轻拍； 焦急，焦虑； 振（翅）

参考例句：

• The flag was flapping around in the light wind. 那面旗子在微风中飘动。
• Do stop flapping around, we'll get the job done in time. 大可不必担心，我们会按时完成这项工作的。

3 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

4 embrace   

vt.拥抱；包括；包围，环绕；n.拥抱，怀抱

参考例句：

• He held her to him in a warm embrace.他热列地拥抱她。
• The hills embrace the village.山丘环绕着村庄。

5 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？