1-6 生活中之两极（在线收听）

Under The Whether¹

It has been so bitterly cold here in Pennsylvania.

I can't remember a winter being as cold as this, but I'm sure there were colder days.

Even though the daylight hours are growing longer minute by minute, it's easy to find an excuse not to go out unless you absolutely must, but then again I often have to push myself to accomplish things.

People I speak to have been in all kinds of nasty² moods. They say they're “under the weather,” not feeling good about this time of year.

As I stood outside with my two dogs yesterday, it was so cold that my nose and face felt crisp and my ears were stinging.

Of course, that doesn't matter to Ricky and Lucy. They have a routine they must go through to find just the right spot no matter how cold or hot it is.

So I wait.

But this time it was different. As cold as it was, I suddenly was invigorated³ thinking about how wonderful this extreme cold really was.

Then the sun broke through the clouds and memories of summer's scorching⁴ hot days flashed through my mind. I could remember standing in the heat of the afternoon, sweat pouring down my brow and the hot, burning sun against my face. I reminded myself then and there that in the cold of the winter I would wish I had this heat.

I was right.

Two extremes in my life that most of the time I find uncomfortable. I normally dread them and gripe about it all the way through.

But today I was grateful for them. Without the extremes in my life, I would never appreciate the days when things were just right. Without the extremes life would be boring.

It's being pushed to one of the extremes that makes us appreciate the middle more. Health challenges reminds us that we need to pay more attention to how we live. Financial extremes remind us that when things are in excess it's time to tuck away⁵ for when the times are lean⁶.

So bring on the cold so I appreciate the heat more.

Make me sweat on a hot summer's day so I wish I had a handful of snow to rub my face in.

I've come to the conclusion that all too often I find a reason not to be happy with where I am at that moment.

Whether it's hot or cold, good health or bad, in the money or out of it, I always wanted it to be different.

But no more. I want to start finding a reason to be happy right where I am. Even if it's simply the fact that I'm alive.

I'm tired of being “Under the Whether!”

注释：

1.whether [5(h)weTE] adj. (两个中的)任何一个，意指文内谈及的生活中的两个极端，故权且借此译作本文标题。

2.nasty [5nAsti] adj. 使人难受的；(天气等)非常恶劣的

3.invigorate [in5vi^Ereit] vt. 使生气勃勃；使精力充沛

4.scorching [5skC:tFiN] adj. 灼热的

5.tuck away储存，收藏

6.lean [li:n] adj. 贫乏的；收益少的；缺少营养的

生活中之两极

宾夕法尼亚州严寒刺骨的天气已经持续好一段时间了。

　　我不记得还有哪个冬天是这般寒冷，但我敢肯定有过比这更恶劣的天气。

　　尽管日照的时间每天都长几分钟了，但还是容易找个借口不出门，除非是万不得已非出门不可。但我还是经常不得不逼着自己出门去做完某些事情。

　　我能不时见面说说话的人都情绪不佳，虽然性质和程度各不相同。他们说他们“不舒服”，每年的这段时间都感觉不好。

　　昨天我带着我的两只狗在外面时，那叫冷，我的鼻子和面部被冻得脆生生的，耳朵刺痛得难受。

　　当然，里基和露西对此毫不在意。它们习惯每天都得出去找个合适的地方跳跳跑跑，不管有多冷，还是多热。

　　所以我就等着它们。

　　但是今天的心情有些不同。虽然很冷，可我一想到这刺骨的寒冷实际有多么美好时，我顿感精神抖擞。

　　这时太阳破云而出，我脑中闪现出夏日烈日炎炎的情景。我想起下午站在高温下，汗水不断从我的脑门淌下，炽热的火烧火燎般的太阳直射在我脸上。彼时彼地我提醒自己，要是在寒冬里，我多么希望能享有那高温。

　　我没有错。

　　在大多数时候，我对生活中的两个极端都不感到舒服。我总是惧怕它们，并且一直在抱怨。

　　但是今天，我对生活中的两极油然而生感激之情。没有生活中的两个极端，我永远不会对诸事顺遂的日子心存感激。没有极端，生活会是枯燥无味的。

　　正是被推到两极之一时，我们才体会到居中的美好。健康出了问题，提醒我们应该更注意调整生活起居。家庭财政的极端情况提醒我们在家财兴旺时，应未雨绸缪，为紧迫的日子做储备。

　　所以就让寒冷来吧，这样我更能欣赏酷热。

　　让我在烈日炎炎的夏天大汗淋漓吧，这样我就会乞求能有一捧雪可以在脸上搓揉。

　　我得出结论：任何时候对自己的处境我总会找个理由感到不快。

　　过去，不管是热是冷，身体是好是坏，是有钱还是没钱，我心里想要的总是与我当时的处境有所不同。

　　现在，我不再这样了。当下，我要开始找一个理由高兴起来，哪怕就是由于这么一个简单的事实——我活着。

　　对于“生活中之两极”，我已经厌倦了。