7 Life Is Too Short to Be Little

Orison Swett Marden

We men are imperfect beings, so conflicts among us are unavoidable. Inevitably, we sometimes feel injured, insulted, or slighted . Perhaps we put our faith in another, and were disappointed; perhaps we felt we deserved one's gratitude, and were denied; perhaps we wished to join our offers to those of a group, and were rejected.

Such experiences are painful indeed, but is it not foolish to let them occupy our thoughts and precious time? For what does it profit us to dwell on trivial matters. The priceless days must be spent meaningfully, joyfully. How thoughtless to waste the irreplaceable hours reviewing insignificant incidents, bearing a grudge or pitying oneself! Far better to embrace with gratitude the gift of each day to make the most of every moment by filling it with purpose or appreciation.

Consider this thought when next you feel tempted to nurse a grievance: that life is too short to be little!

难词释义

slight [slaɪt] v. 冷落；轻视

dwell on 老是想着

grudge [ɡrʌdʒ] n. 积怨；怨恨

人生苦短休计较

奥里森·斯威特·马登

我们人类皆不是完美的造物，所以彼此之间难免会有矛盾。无可避免地，我们有时候会觉得受到伤害、侮辱或轻视。也许我们曾信任某人却失望了，也许我们曾觉得应该被某人感激却遭到拒绝，也许我们曾希望共为某个集体奋斗，却被摒除于外。

这样的经历的确很痛苦，但任由它们占据我们的思想与宝贵的时间岂不是太愚蠢了吗？因为执迷于琐碎的小事于我们有何益处呢？宝贵的时光必须过得有意义且快乐。把一去不回的时间浪费在回顾不重要的事、怀恨或自怜之上，这样的做法是多么的欠思虑啊！不如带着感恩的心去拥抱上天赐予的每一天，心存感激地充分利用每一分每一秒。

下次你心生怨言时，这样想一想：“人生苦短休计较！”