几年以前，我收到了来自怀俄明杰克森霍尔的一位朋友寄来的一张明信片, 他写道"我正在尽情地滑雪！" 我想他的意思是，他正在娴熟地、愉快地、平静地且自信地滑雪。但我滑雪时却总是胆战心惊。虽然我从不幻想自己能那样滑雪, 我的确向往尽情的生活。我相信多少世代以来，那些生活成功的人们都掌握了尽情生活的这五个秘诀。
Several years ago I received a post card from a friend in
1.Have a self you respect. This means having a deep sense of responsibility for your thoughts and actions. It means keeping your word, and being faithful to self, family and work. It means believing in what you do and working hard. It means setting your own internal standards, and not comparing yourself to others. It's not a question of being better than someone else; respect and integrity demand that you be better than you thought you could be.
Winston Churchill exemplified integrity an respect in the face of opposition. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. "That's Winston Churchill." "They say he is getting senile." "They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men." When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, "Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!"
Churchill knew that one secret to a self you can respect is to choose a course of action based on what is right, not expedient, and not waver from it when criticized.
2.Commit yourself to others. Believe in others, and take time to nurture their dreams. A wise man said, "If you want one year's prosperity, grow grain. But if you want ten years' prosperity, grow men and women."
You can build into the lives of your family, friends and colleagues by providing nutrients of gratitude and encouragement, and by investing your time and energy in their aspirations. If a tree is given minimal nourishment, it will live, but it will not grow. But if nourishment is given over and beyond what is needed for life, the tree will live and grow upward, producing fruit.
3.Turn disappointments into strengths. Individuals who live with abandon have discovered that personal trials make them more sensitive and loving, while building endurance and character. They have learned that achievements worth remembering are stained with the blood of diligence and etched with the scars of disappointment.
The pages of history are filled with the heroic stories of undaunted men and women who triumphed over disabilities and adversities to demonstrate victorious spirits. Raise him in abject poverty, and you have an Abraham Lincoln. Make her blind and deaf, and you have a Helen Keller.
4.Enjoy life's process, not just life's rewards. We live in a goal-oriented society that wants problems resolved now. We want three-minute oatmeal, one-hour dry cleaning, and instant success. But to live with abandon, we must live one day at a time, savoring the little victories, realizing that life is an endless journey in self-discovery and personal fullfillment. It means taking time to hug your kids, kiss your spouse and let the other fellow ahead of you on the freeway.
5.Become involved in something bigger than yourself. I do not believe you will live happily if you set out to live life for yourself alone. Choose a cause bigger than you are and work at it in a spirit of excellence. It will become a part of you as you see your goals through to the end. Measure success not by what you've done, but what you could do.
Let yourself go! 尽情生活
Try to become a quitter
我属于不擅长说"不"的那类人，一次揽太多活儿，花太多时间做自己原本不想做的事情。我常对自己说："好吧，既然已经在这些事情上花费了太多时间，那就一直做下去。"而有一天，我的一位朋友对我说："在我读一本书读到第500页时发现不喜欢它，我没有接着读完，而是把它扔在一边，这时我才发现自己真正成熟了。"……
I'm one of those people who's terrible at saying no. I take on too many projects at once, and spend too much of my time doing things I'd rather not be. I get stuff done, but it's not always the best I can do, or the best way I can spend my time.
That's why my newest goal, both as a professional and a person, is to be a quitter.
Being a quitter isn't being someone who gives up, who doesn't see important things through to the end. I aspire to be the opposite of those things, and think we all should. The quitter I want to be is someone who gets out when there's no value to be added, or when that value comes at the expense of something more important.
I want to quit doing things that I'm asked to do, for no other reason than I'm asked to do it. I want to be able to quit something in mid-stream, because I realize there's nothing good coming from it.
A friend of mine once told me that "I knew I was an adult when I could stop reading a book, even after getting 500 pages into it." Odd though it sounds, we all tend to do this. We get involved in something, realize we don't want to be a part of it, but keep trucking through. We say "well, I've already invested so much time in this, I might as well stick it out."
I propose the opposite: quit as often as possible, regardless of project status or time invested. If you're reading a book, and don't like it, stop reading. Cut your losses, realize that the smartest thing to do is stop before your losses grow even more, and quit. If you're working on a project at work that isn't going anywhere, but you've already invested tons of time on it, quit. Take the time gained by quitting the pointless project, and put it toward something of value. Instead of reading an entire book you hate, read 1/2 a bad one and 1/2 a good one. Isn't that a better use of your time?
If you're stuck doing something, and don't really want to do it anymore, step back for a second. Ask if you really have to do this, and what value is being produced from your doing it. Don't think about the time you've put into it, or how much it's taken over your life. If you don't want to do it, and don't have to do it, don't do it.
By quitting these things, you'll free up time to do things that actually do create value, for yourself and for others. You'll have time to read all the great books out there, or at least a couple more. You'll be able to begin to put your time and effort into the things you'd actually like to do.
Let's try it together: what are the things you're doing, that you're only doing because you've been doing them for so long? Quit. Don't let time spent dictate time you will spend. Let's learn how to say "no" at the beginning, or in the middle, and free up more of our time to do the things we'd like to be doing, and the things actually worth doing.
Saying no is hard, and admitting a mistaken yes is even harder. But if we do both, we'll start to make sure that we're spending our time creating value, rather than aggravating our losses. Let's be quitters together.
What do you think? What in your life can you quit?
Everyday Sentence-0914
When the bank teller counted the money in her drawer, she came up ten dollars short. 当银行出纳数她抽屉里的钱的时候，她发现少了十美元。
come up 发生
I expect something to come up soon.
我预料很快就要出事的。
teller.(银行）出纳员
short;adj,短少的
The company president has a local tailor make all her suits to order.
这位公司的总裁有一位当地的裁缝专门为她做套装。
have sb do sth是省略了to的动词不定式，固定搭配，就像let sb (to) do sth.这样。
make sth to order 专门生产、定做
---讲解者：cjxd01t wenong 查看更多详解》》》
The automobile company decided to bring its new models out a month earlier than usual.
这家汽车公司决定比平时提前一个月推出新型号。
decided to 决定做...
I decided to visit my friend in the next week.
bring out 取出，生产，推广，
The author has brought out another new book.
adj的比较�+than,比...更...
In the game,she played much better than her brother.
If we don't leave on the double, we'll miss the start of the soccer game.
如果我们不马上出发，我们会错过球赛开场。
on the double: 赶紧, 跑步走, 迅速地
You have to walk on the double, or you may miss the train.
我们必须快点走，否则就赶不上火车了．
Thanks to the firemen, the fire was put out on the double.
多亏了消防队员们, 失火被迅速地扑灭了．
If you walk at a snail's pace, we'll never get there on time.
如果你这么慢吞吞的走，我们肯定不能按时到那儿。
词组:
1 at a snail's pace: 非常缓慢地, 慢的象蜗牛
do sth at a snail's pace: 以极慢的速度做某事
He does anything at at a snail's pace.He is really a slowcoach.
他做什么事情都慢吞吞地. 真是个名副其实的慢性子.
2 on time: 及时, 按时
Any diseases must be treated on time,or they wil become worse.
任何疾病都必须得到及时的治疗, 否则就加重．
We have to take taxi in order to be at airport on time.
为了及时赶到机场，我们必须乘出租车．
The hikers sat tight in a mountaintop cave while a strong storm swept through the area. 当暴风雪扫过这个地区的时候，远足者们在山顶的一个山洞中静观其变。
语法：
复合句(主句+从句)
The hikers sat tight in a mountaintop cave(主句)
while a strong storm swept through the area.(时间状语从句)
词组:
1.sit tight: 不动, 耐心等待, 静待事态的发展
Mr. Zhang is going to study in
张先生将去美国留学．一切都准备好了。但签证批准以前, 他必须耐心等待．
Due to the tsunami in 2006, lots of foreigners sat tight at airports in Tailand for sevral days.
由于海啸, 很多外国人不得不在泰国各机场耽搁几天, 耐心等待安排。
2 sweep through: 横扫, 席卷, 传遍
The hurricane often sweeps through
飓风经常席卷加利福尼亚．
Hundreds of people became homeless as flood swept through．
因为洪水遍流，几百人变得无家可归。
You should think carefully before you speak. Your constant questions are trying my patience.
你说话之前应该仔细想想。你那些连续不断的问题正在考验我的耐心。
constant: 不停的, 接连不断的,持续的；固定的, 不变的, 忠诚的, 忠贞不渝的
It is one of the luckiest things in the world to have a constant friend for ever.
能有一个一生都忠实于你的朋友是世间最幸运的事情之一．
There have been constant quarrels between the couple.
一直以来这对夫妻总是争吵不断．
try: 试图, 努力, 尝试, 试行, 试验, 试用
be trying: (现在进行时) 正在考验(试图, 努力, 尝试, 试行)
He is trying his best to pass the exam.
为了通过考试，他正全力以赴(地学习).
Try to give up smoking! It is harmful to your health.
努力戒烟吧! 吸烟有害健康!
Be Still With God
All day long I had been very busy; picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing floors. My grown children were coming home for the weekend. I went grocery shopping and prepared for a barbecue supper, complete with ribs and chicken. I wanted everything to be perfect.
Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was dog-tired. I simply couldn't work as long as I could when I was younger. "I've got to rest for a minute," I told my husband,
A scripture from Psalm 46 popped into my mind. "Be still, and know that I am God." I realized that I hadn't spent much time in prayer that day. Was I too busy to even utter a simple word of thanks to God? Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there, I thought. I longed for a few minutes alone with God.
Roy and I had invested a great deal of time and work in the patio that spring. The flowers and hanging baskets were breathtaking. It was definitely a heavenly place of rest and tranquility. If I can't be still with God in that environment, I can't be still with Him anywhere, I thought. While
A bird flew by me, chirping and singing. It interrupted my thoughts. It landed on the bird feeder and began eating dinner as I watched. After a few minutes it flew away, singing another song.
I closed my eyes again. A gust of wind blew, which caused my wind chimes to dance. They made a joyful sound, but again I lost my concentration on God. I squirmed and wiggled in my chair. I looked up toward the blue sky and saw the clouds moving slowly toward the horizon. The wind died down. My wind chimes finally became quiet.
Again, I bowed in prayer. "Honk, honk," I heard. I almost jumped out of my skin. A neighbor was driving down the street. He waved at me and smiled. I waved back, happy that he cared. I quickly tried once again to settle down, repeating the familiar verse in my mind. Be still and know that I am God.
"I'm trying God. I really am," I whispered. "But you've got to help me here."
The backdoor opened. My husband walked outside. "I love you," he said. "I was wondering where you were." I chuckled, as he came over and kissed me, then turned around and went back inside.
"Where's the quiet time?" I asked God. My heart fluttered. There was no pain, only a beat that interrupted me yet again. This is impossible, I thought. There's no time to be still and to know that God is with me. There's too much going on in the world and entirely too much activity all around me.
Then it suddenly dawned on me. God was speaking to me the entire time I was attempting to be still. I remembered the music playing as I'd begun my quiet time. He sent a sparrow to lighten my life with song. He sent a gentle breeze. He sent a neighbor to let me know that I had a friend. He sent my sweetheart to offer sincere sentiments of love. He caused my heart to flutter to remind me of life. While I was trying to count my blessings, God was busy multiplying them.
I laughed to realize that the "interruptions" of my quiet time with God were special blessings He'd sent to show me He was with me the entire time.
A girl's smile
大约十年前，我还在上大学，当时我在学校自然历史博物馆里实习。有一天，当我在赠品店的收银机那里忙活时，看到一对年迈的夫妇，推着一辆轮椅走了进来，轮椅上坐了个小女孩。
About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college, I was working as an intern at my University's Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair.
As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots.
As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink. As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the cutest, largest smile I have ever seen.
All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles, love and warmth.
That was ten years ago. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me.
You'll never regret it
我想向朋友形容自己看到孩子学会击球时的喜悦之情。我想让她留意宝宝第一次触摸狗的绒毛时的捧腹大笑。朋友的表情让我意识到自己已经是热泪盈眶。"你永远不会后悔，"我最后说，然后紧紧地握住朋友的手，为她、为自己、也为每一位母亲献上自己的祈祷……
Time is running out for my friend. While we are sitting at lunch she casually mentions she and her husband are thinking of starting a family. "We're taking a survey,"she says, half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"
"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know,"she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous holidays..."
But that's not what I mean at all. I look at my friend, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will be vulnerable forever.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without thinking: "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die. I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.
I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for child care, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting, and she will think her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her child is all right.
I want my friend to know that every decision will no longer be routine. That a five-year-old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at a restaurant will become a major dilemma. The issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in the lavatory. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.
Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the added weight of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her own life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. She would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years―not to accomplish her own dreams―but to watch her children accomplish theirs.
I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to hit a ball. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it hurts.
My friend's look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I say finally. Then, squeezing my friend's hand, I offer a prayer for her and me and all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this holiest of callings.
Everyday Sentence-0913
The excited children got ready for the trip to the zoo in no time.
这些激动的孩子非常迅速的做好了去动物园玩的准备。
get ready for sth: 做好....的准备
They got ready for going abroad next month.
他们已作好下个月出国的准备．
Tom and Susan got ready for their marrige ceremoni.
汤姆和苏珊已为他们的婚礼作好了准备．
in no time: 马上, 立即, 很快, 迅速
The match will start in no time.
这场比赛将马上开始．
It is going to rain in no time.
马上就要下雨了．
....get ready for... in no time: ...为马上...作好准备(很有用的句型)
The doctors should get ready for the treatment of acute patients in no time.医生们应该作好迅速地处置急诊病人的准备。
Even though angry demonstrators shouted during his speech, the politician didn't miss a beat.
尽管生气的示威者在他的演讲中大声嚷嚷，这位政治家还是没有停下来。
This sentence isn't from an oral talk but a formal article. In general, this kind of sentence is not commonly used in daily life.
miss a beat 停止
even though :尽管，常用在表示某种行为或者状态不会受外界影响
---讲解者：shiningboy20 艳zi0627_ 查看更多详解》》》
I'm going to the store to buy a couple of items and I'll be back right away. 我要去商店买点东西，马上就回来。
a couple of : (固定搭配, 修饰可数名词) 两三个, 几个
right away: 马上, 立刻
例：It takes a couple of hours from Beijing to Qianhuandao by train.
从北京到秦皇岛乘火车需要两三个小时．
If you work hard and do your best, in the long run you will succeed. 如果你努力工作并且尽自己最大努力，最后一定会成功的。
do one's best 尽最大努力
you must do your best on your job.
in the long run 从长远观点看, 最后
In the long run prices are bound to rise.
从长远看, 物价肯定要涨。
if，条件从句
If you don't work hard ,you'll lost your job.
Mohammed never explained why he quit his job, and to this day we still don't know why. 穆罕默德没有解释过他为什么辞职，至今我们也不清楚原因。
to this day 至今；直到今天
I haven't told him the whole story to this day.我至今都没有把实情全部告诉他。
quit 动词 离开 辞职 停止
If I don't get a pay rise I'll quit.
如果不加薪，我就辞职
My father has quit smoking.
我父亲已戒烟了。
---讲解者：beata13103 查看更多详解》》》
For a millionaire, the cost of a luxury car is a drop in the bucket. 对一位百万富翁来说，买一辆豪华车的花费只是九牛一毛。
drop:水滴
a drop in the bucket ：直译为"一桶水中的一滴水"，意义为"九牛一毛"
Two million dollars is only a drop in the bucket for him.
对于他来说，2，000，000美元仅仅是小事一桩（九牛一毛）。
Billy shared some of his candy with his friends, but kept the lion's share for himself. 比利和朋友们分享了一些糖果，但是自己留下了一大半儿。
lion's share 的意思是：最大的一份，最好的一份。
Everyday Sentence-0912
I don't want to spend any more minutes in here than necessary.
我不想在这再浪费时间了。
want to do sth. 想做什么，
any more 更，在，大多用在否定句中
例：She doesn't live here any more.
她已不在这里住了.
I don't want to associate myself with them any more.
我不愿再和他们交往了。
That at this stage, every second is critical. 眼下每一秒都至关重要。
短语：
at this stage,眼前，当下
The scheme does not permit of any changes at this stage.
critical;�定性的，关键性的;
We are at a critical time.
我们正处在危急时刻。
Our final hope has failed us.
最后一线希望也破灭了。
fail: 使失望, 舍弃, 失败(在该句中是及物动词)
Our final hope has failed us.
最后一线希望也破灭了。
失望时用语。
A little incentive and I want it in writing. 以防万一，我要书面承诺。
A little incentive 做目的状语，表示为了尽量少的刺激、风险，意译过来就是以防万一。
in writing：书面的
A little incentive and I want it in writing.以防万一，我要书面承诺
常在说话人对某事不确信，为确信其真实性时用到
It serves you right. 这是你应得的。
It serves you right. 这是你应得的; 你活该．
是消极的意义的用语．
用于对罪人, 不善的人或因不听劝告而犯错误
的人得到报应时．
Is this table free, waiter? 这张桌子有人吗
free: 自由的; 免费的; 大方的
You will be free this afternoon.
今天下午你们就没事了。
We got the free tickets for the concert.
我们弄到几张免费音乐会的票。
餐饮店用语
Jane was driving on the highway when all of a sudden her engine quit.
引擎突然失效的时候，简正把车开在高速公路上。
quit = stop working: 失效
all of a sudden = on a (the) sudden:
突然地; 出乎意料地; 冷不防地
The factory blew up all of a sudden this morning.
那个工厂今天上午突然爆炸了．
Psychotics usually laughs and cries all of a sudden.
精神病患通常会突然地又哭又笑．
陈述类似的一个客观事情时用．
Life together 一生相随
就在这对70多岁的老夫妇离婚的当晚，丈夫手握没有拨通给她的电话永远离开了她。尽管很悲伤，老夫人仍不得不亲自动手清理他的遗物。当老夫人认真细致地翻着一个抽屉时，她发现了一张保险单。保险日期从他们结婚之日起算起，毫无疑问，保险受益人是她。在这个文件夹里，还有一份她丈夫亲手写的遗嘱，里面写道……
One fine day, an old couple around the age of 70, walks into a lawyer's office. Apparently, they are there to file a divorce. Lawyer was very puzzled, after having a chat with them, he got their story.
This couple had been quarreling all their 40 over years of marriage nothing ever seems to go right.
They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, all they wanted is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce.
Lawyer was having a hard time trying to get the papers done, because he felt that after 40 years of marriage at the age of 70, he couldn't understand why the old couple would still wants a divorce.
While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband. "I really love you, but I really can't carry on anymore, I'm sorry."
"It's OK, I understand." said the husband. Looking at this, the lawyer suggested a dinner together, just three of them, wife thought, why not, since they are still going be friends.
At the dining table, there was a silence of awkwardness.
The first dish was roasted chicken, immediately, the old man took the drumstick for the old lady. "Take this, it's your favorite."
Looking at this, the lawyer thought maybe there's still a chance, but the wife was frowning when she answer. "This is always the problem, you always think so highly of yourself, never thought about how I feel, don't you know that I hate drumsticks?"
Little did she know that, over the years, the husband have been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks was the husband's favorite.
Little did he know that she never thought he understand her at all, little did he know that she hates drumsticks even though all he wants is the best for her.
That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss and turn, toss and turn. After hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he can't carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wanted to tell her, "I love you."
He picks up the phone, started dialing her number. Ringing never stops. He never stop dialing.
On the other side, she was sad, she couldn't understand how come after all these years, he still doesn't understand her at all, she loves him a lot, but she just can't take it any- more. Phone's ringing, she refuses to answer knowing that it's him. "What's the point of talking now that it's over. I have asked for it and now. I want to keep it this way, if not I will lose face. "She thought. Phone still ringing. She has decided to pull out the cord.
Little did she remember, he had heart problems.
The next day, she received news that he had passed away. She rushed down to his apartment, saw his body, lying on the couch still holding on to the phone. He had a heart attack when he was still trying to get thru her phone line.
As sad as she could be. She will have to clear his belongings. When she was looking thru the drawers, she saw this insurance policy, dated from the day they got married, beneficiary is her. Together in that file there's this note.
"To my dearest wife, by the time you are reading this, I'm sure I'm no longer around, I bought this policy for you, though the amount is only $100k, I hope it will be able to help me continue my promise that I have made when we got married, I might not be around anymore, I want this amount of money to continue taking care of you, just like the way I will if I could have live longer. I want you to know I will always be around, by your side. I love you."
Tears flowed like river.
Life is about choices
迈克尔是个天生的乐天派，他总是能保持良好的情绪，总是能说出很多积极的话来。他也让我懂得了一个道理，那就是人生中的每一天我们都可以选择充实地生活，态度决定一切。
Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I'd be twins!" He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this 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. How do you do it?"
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 you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right. It isn't that easy." I protested.
"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's your choice how you live life. " I reflected on what Michael said.
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 though 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 60 feet from a communications tower.
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 be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-to-born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. 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 and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, l read 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action." "What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me" said Michael. "She asked me if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I said. 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'm choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'."
Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.
I learned from him that every day we have a choice to live fully. Attitude is everything.
