论文部分内容阅读
Like so many other girls, my self-confidence growing up was almost non-existent. I doubted my abilities, had little faith in my potential and questioned my personal worth. If I achieved good grades, I believed that I was just lucky. And when things went well, I thought I was just in the right place at the right time.
While in my teens, I attracted a man with the same low self-esteem［1］. In spite of his violent［2］ temper and an extremely rocky［3］ dating relationship, I decided to marry him. I still remember my dad whispering to me before walking me down the aisle［4］, "It’s not too late, Sue. You can change your mind." My family knew what a terrible mistake I was making. Within weeks, I knew it, too.
The physical abuse［5］ lasted for several years, I survived serious injuries［6］, was covered with bruises much of the time and had to be hospitalized on numerous occasions［7］. Life became a blur of police sirens, doctors’ reports and family court appearances［8］. Yet I continued to go back to the relationship, hoping that things would somehow improve.
Then something gave me the courage to change. Through work, I was able to attend a series of professional development seminars［9］. In one, a presenter talked about turning dreams into realities. That was hard for me even to dream about a better future. But something in the message made me listen.
She asked us to consider two powerful questions: "If you could be, do, or have anything in the world[]and you knew it would be impossible to fail, what would you choose［10］?And you could create your ideal life, what would you dare to dream?” In that moment, my life began to change. I began to dream.
I imaged having the courage to move the children into an apartment of our own and start over. I pictured a better life for the girls and me. I dreamed about being an international motivational［11］ speaker so that I could inspire people the way the seminar leader inspired me.
And soon the changes began. I moved with the children to a small apartment. On only $ 98 a week［12］, we ate a lot of peanut butter and drove an old jalopy［13］. But for the first time, we felt free and safe. I worked hard at my sales career, all the time focusing on my "impossible dream."
Then one day I answered the phone, and the voice on the other end asked me to speak at the company’s upcoming annual［14］ conference. I accepted, and my speech was a success. This led to a series of promotions, eventually to national sales trainer.［15］
I believe that all success begins with spreading your wingsbelieving in your worth, trusting your insight［16］, nurturing yourself, having a goal and devising a personal strategy. And then, even impossible dreams become real.
注释：
［1］self- esteem: 自信心
［2］violent: 暴躁的
［3］rocky: 不稳固的
［4］我仍记得在父亲挽着我的手把我交给新郎之前，他曾低声对我说．在西方婚礼上, 通常由新娘父亲把女儿亲手交给新郎．
［5］physical abuse: 身体上的虐待
［6］bruise: 瘀青
［7］on numerous occasions: 在很多情况下
［8］我的生活变得模糊不清，警笛声，医生的报告单，家人对簿公堂，这一切笼罩着我的生活．
［9］我参加了一系列的培养职业技能的研讨班．
［10］如果你可以成为任何你想成为的人，如果你无所不能，如果你可以拥有一切
［11］motivational: 激发人的
［12］租金每周仅９８美元．注意此处介词on的用法，后接价格．
［13］jalopy: 破旧的车．此处可以看出，作者刚刚开始新的生活时，过得很拮据．
［14］annual: 每年一次的
［15］这给我带来的了一连串的升职的机会，最后我被提升为全国销售培训员．promote to…意思是被提升为……
［16］insight: 洞察力
（王立新单位为中国石油大学外国语学院）
While in my teens, I attracted a man with the same low self-esteem［1］. In spite of his violent［2］ temper and an extremely rocky［3］ dating relationship, I decided to marry him. I still remember my dad whispering to me before walking me down the aisle［4］, "It’s not too late, Sue. You can change your mind." My family knew what a terrible mistake I was making. Within weeks, I knew it, too.
The physical abuse［5］ lasted for several years, I survived serious injuries［6］, was covered with bruises much of the time and had to be hospitalized on numerous occasions［7］. Life became a blur of police sirens, doctors’ reports and family court appearances［8］. Yet I continued to go back to the relationship, hoping that things would somehow improve.
Then something gave me the courage to change. Through work, I was able to attend a series of professional development seminars［9］. In one, a presenter talked about turning dreams into realities. That was hard for me even to dream about a better future. But something in the message made me listen.
She asked us to consider two powerful questions: "If you could be, do, or have anything in the world[]and you knew it would be impossible to fail, what would you choose［10］?And you could create your ideal life, what would you dare to dream?” In that moment, my life began to change. I began to dream.
I imaged having the courage to move the children into an apartment of our own and start over. I pictured a better life for the girls and me. I dreamed about being an international motivational［11］ speaker so that I could inspire people the way the seminar leader inspired me.
And soon the changes began. I moved with the children to a small apartment. On only $ 98 a week［12］, we ate a lot of peanut butter and drove an old jalopy［13］. But for the first time, we felt free and safe. I worked hard at my sales career, all the time focusing on my "impossible dream."
Then one day I answered the phone, and the voice on the other end asked me to speak at the company’s upcoming annual［14］ conference. I accepted, and my speech was a success. This led to a series of promotions, eventually to national sales trainer.［15］
I believe that all success begins with spreading your wingsbelieving in your worth, trusting your insight［16］, nurturing yourself, having a goal and devising a personal strategy. And then, even impossible dreams become real.
注释：
［1］self- esteem: 自信心
［2］violent: 暴躁的
［3］rocky: 不稳固的
［4］我仍记得在父亲挽着我的手把我交给新郎之前，他曾低声对我说．在西方婚礼上, 通常由新娘父亲把女儿亲手交给新郎．
［5］physical abuse: 身体上的虐待
［6］bruise: 瘀青
［7］on numerous occasions: 在很多情况下
［8］我的生活变得模糊不清，警笛声，医生的报告单，家人对簿公堂，这一切笼罩着我的生活．
［9］我参加了一系列的培养职业技能的研讨班．
［10］如果你可以成为任何你想成为的人，如果你无所不能，如果你可以拥有一切
［11］motivational: 激发人的
［12］租金每周仅９８美元．注意此处介词on的用法，后接价格．
［13］jalopy: 破旧的车．此处可以看出，作者刚刚开始新的生活时，过得很拮据．
［14］annual: 每年一次的
［15］这给我带来的了一连串的升职的机会，最后我被提升为全国销售培训员．promote to…意思是被提升为……
［16］insight: 洞察力
（王立新单位为中国石油大学外国语学院）