TED演讲:一段无人了解的经历(6)（在线收听）

In myself, I had a ready audience, and I believed that by expressing my thoughts and wishes, others would listen, too.

在我身体里有一个现成的观众，我相信只要表达思想和愿望，其他人也可以听到。

But as I began to communicate more, I realized that it was in fact only just the beginning of creating a new voice for myself.

但随着交流的增多，我意识到这其实只是创造一个新的表达方式的开始。

I was thrust into a world I didn't quite know how to function in. I stopped going to the care home and managed to get my first job making photocopies.

我被推到了一个我不知道如何运作的世界里，我结束了在护理中心的生活，并找到了第一份复印的工作。

As simple as this may sound, it was amazing. My new world was really exciting but often quite overwhelming and frightening.

虽然听起来很简单，但是着实令人惊叹，我的新世界使我兴奋，但经常繁重不堪，让人恐惧。

I was like a man-child, and as liberating as it often was, I struggled.

我就像一个男孩，如此自由，我为自己的新世界不断努力。

I also learned that many of those who had known me for a long time found it impossible to abandon the idea of Martin they had in their heads.

我发现认识我很久的人，发现他们无法忽视我的想法。

While those I had only just met struggled to look past the image of a silent man in a wheelchair.

虽然我刚认识的人在努力想象这个沉默地坐在轮椅上的人，他的过去是什么样子的。

I realized that some people would only listen to me if what I said was in line with what they expected.

我意识到有些人可以听进去我的意见，如果我说的正中他们下怀。

Otherwise, it was disregarded and they did what they felt was best.

然而，我说的话会被无视，他们自行其是。

I discovered that true communication is about more than merely physically conveying a message. It is about getting the message heard and respected.

我发现真正的交流不只是传递信息，而是让信息被听取和尊重。

Still, things were going well. My body was slowly getting stronger.

然而，我的恢复情况很好，我的身体慢慢强壮起来。

I had a job in computing that I loved, and had even got Kojak, the dog I had been dreaming about for years.

我有了一份我喜欢的计算工作，还养了一只我梦寐以求的小狗Kijak。