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 Jackson Hole, Wyo., who wrote, " I am skiing with abandon!" I wondered what he meant, for when I ski it is always with trepidation. I believe he meant he was skiing skillfully, joyfully, peacefully and confidently. Although I have no hopes of ever skiing that way, I do dream of living with abandon. I believe that men and women through the ages who have led successful lives have captured these five secrets of living life to the fullest.
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.
相关单词：trepidation
trepidation解释：n.惊恐，惶恐
trepidation例句：
The men set off in fear and trepidation.这群人惊慌失措地出发了。
The threat of an epidemic caused great alarm and trepidation.流行病猖獗因而人心惶惶。
相关单词：joyfully
joyfully解释：adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地
joyfully例句：
She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。
相关单词：opposition
opposition解释：n.反对，敌对
opposition例句：
The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
相关单词：expedient
expedient解释：adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计
expedient例句：
The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little.政府发现略微放宽审查是可取的。
Every kind of expedient was devised by our friends.我们的朋友想出了各种各样的应急办法。
相关单词：nurture
nurture解释：n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持
nurture例句：
The tree grows well in his nurture.在他的培育下这棵树长得很好。
The two sisters had received very different nurture.这俩个姊妹接受过极不同的教育。
相关单词：nutrients
nutrients解释：n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )
nutrients例句：
a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：gratitude
gratitude解释：adj.感激，感谢
gratitude例句：
I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
相关单词：aspirations
aspirations解释：强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音
aspirations例句：
I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。
相关单词：minimal
minimal解释：adj.尽可能少的，最小的
minimal例句：
They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。
相关单词：nourishment
nourishment解释：n.食物，营养品；营养情况
nourishment例句：
Lack of proper nourishment reduces their power to resist disease.营养不良降低了他们抵抗疾病的能力。
He ventured that plants draw part of their nourishment from the air.他大胆提出植物从空气中吸收部分养分的观点。
相关单词：victorious
victorious解释：adj.胜利的，得胜的
victorious例句：
We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。
相关单词：abject
abject解释：adj.极可怜的，卑屈的
abject例句：
This policy has turned out to be an abject failure.这一政策最后以惨败而告终。
He had been obliged to offer an abject apology to Mr.Alleyne for his impertinence.他不得不低声下气，为他的无礼举动向艾莱恩先生请罪。
相关单词：savoring
savoring解释：v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的现在分词 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝
savoring例句：
Cooking was fine but it was the savoring that he enjoyed most. 烹饪当然很好，但他最享受的是闻到的各种味道。 来自互联网
She sat there for a moment, savoring the smell of the food. 她在那儿坐了一会儿，品尝这些食物的香味。 来自互联网
相关单词：spouse
spouse解释：n.配偶(指夫或妻)
spouse例句：
Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？
相关单词：excellence
excellence解释：n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德
excellence例句：
His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。
