论文部分内容阅读
I’ve always known that I’m very quick with my hands. If someone throws something， I catch it almost before I’m aware it has been thrown. It probably helps that I spent years at baseball stadiums as a child—my dad was manager of the New York Yankees. We didn’t practise together， but I guess my reflexes[下意识反应] must have naturally developed. When I was young， I had no idea how useful this skill would become.
Two summers ago， in Bay Ridge， Brooklyn， babies were on my mind. I was going to visit a friend with her newborn and was on my way to a toy store to buy a gift. I’d once lived in the neighborhood and on a whim[一时兴起] I decided to head back to my old haunt[栖息地]， a cupcake shop， for a coffee. Sitting alone at a table outside with my drink， I was approached[靠近] by a typical Brooklyn older man， who in a calm and very matter-of-fact way told me to call 911， because there was a baby on a fire escape[防火梯].
I jumped up to see where the baby was. I was so surprised to see it， wearing a little onesie[连体衫] and lying on the fire escape railings between the second and third storeys[楼层]. He was lying like a cat， with his tummy[肚子] on the hand rail[栏杆]， arms and legs tucked in[紧缩]. He was resting there， looking around nonchalantly[若无其事地]. I was nervous， but the baby boy became my only priority[优先考虑的事].
As I was on the phone with emergency services注1， I made eye contact with the child， keeping him calm， telling him to stay there. Some people were going up the stairs to find the parents， who were apparently[显然地] sleeping through the whole drama.
I just wanted the child， who I later found out was called Dillon， to feel safe—and he didn’t seem upset. He was comfortable up there， just looking down at me for nearly ten minutes. I hoped he’d stay there until somebody could rescue[营救] him.
Apparently he had slipped[滑倒] through pieces of cardboard placed next to an airconditioning unit in the window， and without bars to protect him he’d crawled out and up the fire escape towards the next storey. He was clearly a physically capable[有能力的] child， but he was only 16 months old. For him to even climb up and balance in that position was incredible[难以置信的].
Then he slipped. Instinctively[本能地]， he grabbed on as he fell， so he was gripping[握紧] the railing， hanging by his arms. I knew he couldn’t hold on， 25 feet above the street， for long. I sensed people had gathered behind， but my attention was purely focused on my intention to catch the baby. I made sure I was positioned to save him. I told 911 he was falling and within a minute Dillon had. As he tumbled[摔倒]， he hit a protruding[突出的] plastic sign for a yoga[瑜伽] shop. There were shocked gasps as everyone heard his face knock the sign and he started to cry.
I didn’t move to catch him； I was in exactly the right spot. He just fell into my outstretched[伸出的] arms. He felt weightless. It was effortless. It felt like a basic and simple human response. Somehow I even managed to keep hold of my phone. I was in shock， and before I knew it a man stepped forward and took him from me； he worked at the local hardware store[五金店]. There was blood on Dillon’s face， but it turned out it was only his lip that had been cut. He stopped crying pretty quickly—he seemed very resilient[适应性强的]. I think he should take all the credit.
The moments after he fell were overwhelming[压倒性的]. People were being very kind and hugging me， telling me I was an angel. Dillon’s parents had been woken by the commotion[骚动] and his mother came down and thanked me， and his dad hugged me. I had been holding everything together， but when I caught the subway I finally let go and burst into tears. I was then able to think about my own feelings that I’d put aside and considered what would have happened if I hadn’t caught him. That is when I really felt scared.
The reality of saving someone’s life is intense. I’ve played it over in my head so many times， I think it has changed me. I am calm and more at ease with things. I study mindfulness注2， and I see now that if we let intuition[直觉] lead us， we can deal with anything. I think I was meant to be there.
我向来知道自己的手脚反应很快。假若有人扔出什么东西，我在自己意识到之前几乎就能将它接住。这大概是因为我的童年是在棒球馆里度过的——我的爸爸是纽约洋基队的经理。我没试过和他们一起训练，不过我猜自己一定是自然而然地发展出这种反应能力来了。小时候，我并不知道它会变成一项多么有用的技能。
两年前的一个夏天，我在布鲁克林湾脊区闲逛，脑子里都是小宝宝的事儿。我准备去探望一个刚生完宝宝的朋友，正要去玩具店买份礼物。我以前就住在这一带，一时兴起，我决定回去当年经常光顾的纸杯蛋糕店喝杯咖啡。我独自坐在室外的桌子边喝东西时，一个典型的布鲁克林大叔来到我跟前，用一种就事论事的淡定口吻让我打911报警，因为防火梯上有个小宝宝。
我马上蹦起来看看那孩子在哪里。他穿着小小的连体衫，趴在二、三楼防火梯之间的栏杆上，让我目瞪口呆。他的肚子搁在扶手上面，手脚蜷成一团，就像只猫咪一样。他歇在那里，若无其事地四处张望。我紧张极了，但那小宝宝成了我唯一关心的事情。
我一边与应急服务那边通着电话，一边和那孩子进行目光交流，让他保持镇定，告诉他待在那儿别动。有人跑上楼去找宝宝的父母，发生这么惊险的一幕时，他们俩显然还在睡觉。
我想给那个孩子（后来我才知道他名叫狄龙）一点安全感，他似乎也不怎么害怕。他舒舒服服地趴在那上面，和我对视了将近10分钟。我真希望他能在救援人员赶来之前一直待着不动。
窗户边的空调机组旁搁着些硬纸板，他显然是从那里滑出来的；由于没有护栏，他爬到了外面，一路爬到往上一层的防火梯上。这确实是个体能不错的小宝宝，但他只有16个月大，能够爬上那个地方并保持平衡实在太了不起了。
然后他滑了一下，在掉落时本能地伸手一把抓住了栏杆，靠双臂吊着身子。我知道他在这个离街道25英尺（7.62米）的高度支撑不了多久。我能感觉到自己身后聚集了一群人，但我的注意力已经完全集中在一个地方——我想接住那个宝宝。我得确保自己站在救援的最佳位置。
我告诉911他快要掉下来了——不到一分钟，狄龙真的掉了下来。他在空中打着转，一下子撞到了一家瑜伽馆伸出来的塑料招牌。他的脸磕在招牌上，开始嚎啕大哭起来，众人吓得倒吸了一口凉气。
我并没有冲上前去接他——我待在最合适的那一点上，伸出双臂，他就这样落入我的手中。我几乎感觉不到他的重量，简直不费吹灰之力，就像是一种简单的人类本能反应。不知怎的，甚至连手机都还在我手里。我惊呆了，还没反应过来，一个男人过来将他抱走——那个人在附近的五金店工作。狄龙的脸上有血，不过我们发现他只是割破了嘴唇。他的适应力似乎挺不错，很快就不哭了。我想，狄龙能平安无事全是他自己的功劳。
宝宝掉下来那一会儿实在太震撼了。大家都很友好地上前拥抱我，夸我是个天使。狄龙的父母被这场骚动吵醒了，他的妈妈赶下楼来感谢我，爸爸则给了我一个大大的拥抱。我一直表现得相当镇定，但是当我赶上地铁，紧绷的心情终于放松下来，我不禁放声大哭。直到那时，我才能好好整理先前搁在一边的各种情绪；一想到假如我没接住狄龙会发生的事情，我才觉得后怕。
救人一命的经历是相当浓墨重彩的一笔，这个情景后来在我的脑海中反复重播，彻底改变了我。我从此淡定不惊，遇事也越发泰然自若。我如今以正念为研究方向，我明白到假如能遵循直觉的引导，世上任何事情都难不倒我们。我想，冥冥之中注定我会在那一刻出现在那里。
注1： 即Emergency Management Services，紧急事故处理服务。
注2：正念，以一种特定的方式来觉察，即有意识地觉察（On Purpose）、活在当下（In the Present Moment）及不做判断（Nonjudgementally）。
Two summers ago， in Bay Ridge， Brooklyn， babies were on my mind. I was going to visit a friend with her newborn and was on my way to a toy store to buy a gift. I’d once lived in the neighborhood and on a whim[一时兴起] I decided to head back to my old haunt[栖息地]， a cupcake shop， for a coffee. Sitting alone at a table outside with my drink， I was approached[靠近] by a typical Brooklyn older man， who in a calm and very matter-of-fact way told me to call 911， because there was a baby on a fire escape[防火梯].
I jumped up to see where the baby was. I was so surprised to see it， wearing a little onesie[连体衫] and lying on the fire escape railings between the second and third storeys[楼层]. He was lying like a cat， with his tummy[肚子] on the hand rail[栏杆]， arms and legs tucked in[紧缩]. He was resting there， looking around nonchalantly[若无其事地]. I was nervous， but the baby boy became my only priority[优先考虑的事].
As I was on the phone with emergency services注1， I made eye contact with the child， keeping him calm， telling him to stay there. Some people were going up the stairs to find the parents， who were apparently[显然地] sleeping through the whole drama.
I just wanted the child， who I later found out was called Dillon， to feel safe—and he didn’t seem upset. He was comfortable up there， just looking down at me for nearly ten minutes. I hoped he’d stay there until somebody could rescue[营救] him.
Apparently he had slipped[滑倒] through pieces of cardboard placed next to an airconditioning unit in the window， and without bars to protect him he’d crawled out and up the fire escape towards the next storey. He was clearly a physically capable[有能力的] child， but he was only 16 months old. For him to even climb up and balance in that position was incredible[难以置信的].
Then he slipped. Instinctively[本能地]， he grabbed on as he fell， so he was gripping[握紧] the railing， hanging by his arms. I knew he couldn’t hold on， 25 feet above the street， for long. I sensed people had gathered behind， but my attention was purely focused on my intention to catch the baby. I made sure I was positioned to save him. I told 911 he was falling and within a minute Dillon had. As he tumbled[摔倒]， he hit a protruding[突出的] plastic sign for a yoga[瑜伽] shop. There were shocked gasps as everyone heard his face knock the sign and he started to cry.
I didn’t move to catch him； I was in exactly the right spot. He just fell into my outstretched[伸出的] arms. He felt weightless. It was effortless. It felt like a basic and simple human response. Somehow I even managed to keep hold of my phone. I was in shock， and before I knew it a man stepped forward and took him from me； he worked at the local hardware store[五金店]. There was blood on Dillon’s face， but it turned out it was only his lip that had been cut. He stopped crying pretty quickly—he seemed very resilient[适应性强的]. I think he should take all the credit.
The moments after he fell were overwhelming[压倒性的]. People were being very kind and hugging me， telling me I was an angel. Dillon’s parents had been woken by the commotion[骚动] and his mother came down and thanked me， and his dad hugged me. I had been holding everything together， but when I caught the subway I finally let go and burst into tears. I was then able to think about my own feelings that I’d put aside and considered what would have happened if I hadn’t caught him. That is when I really felt scared.
The reality of saving someone’s life is intense. I’ve played it over in my head so many times， I think it has changed me. I am calm and more at ease with things. I study mindfulness注2， and I see now that if we let intuition[直觉] lead us， we can deal with anything. I think I was meant to be there.
我向来知道自己的手脚反应很快。假若有人扔出什么东西，我在自己意识到之前几乎就能将它接住。这大概是因为我的童年是在棒球馆里度过的——我的爸爸是纽约洋基队的经理。我没试过和他们一起训练，不过我猜自己一定是自然而然地发展出这种反应能力来了。小时候，我并不知道它会变成一项多么有用的技能。
两年前的一个夏天，我在布鲁克林湾脊区闲逛，脑子里都是小宝宝的事儿。我准备去探望一个刚生完宝宝的朋友，正要去玩具店买份礼物。我以前就住在这一带，一时兴起，我决定回去当年经常光顾的纸杯蛋糕店喝杯咖啡。我独自坐在室外的桌子边喝东西时，一个典型的布鲁克林大叔来到我跟前，用一种就事论事的淡定口吻让我打911报警，因为防火梯上有个小宝宝。
我马上蹦起来看看那孩子在哪里。他穿着小小的连体衫，趴在二、三楼防火梯之间的栏杆上，让我目瞪口呆。他的肚子搁在扶手上面，手脚蜷成一团，就像只猫咪一样。他歇在那里，若无其事地四处张望。我紧张极了，但那小宝宝成了我唯一关心的事情。
我一边与应急服务那边通着电话，一边和那孩子进行目光交流，让他保持镇定，告诉他待在那儿别动。有人跑上楼去找宝宝的父母，发生这么惊险的一幕时，他们俩显然还在睡觉。
我想给那个孩子（后来我才知道他名叫狄龙）一点安全感，他似乎也不怎么害怕。他舒舒服服地趴在那上面，和我对视了将近10分钟。我真希望他能在救援人员赶来之前一直待着不动。
窗户边的空调机组旁搁着些硬纸板，他显然是从那里滑出来的；由于没有护栏，他爬到了外面，一路爬到往上一层的防火梯上。这确实是个体能不错的小宝宝，但他只有16个月大，能够爬上那个地方并保持平衡实在太了不起了。
然后他滑了一下，在掉落时本能地伸手一把抓住了栏杆，靠双臂吊着身子。我知道他在这个离街道25英尺（7.62米）的高度支撑不了多久。我能感觉到自己身后聚集了一群人，但我的注意力已经完全集中在一个地方——我想接住那个宝宝。我得确保自己站在救援的最佳位置。
我告诉911他快要掉下来了——不到一分钟，狄龙真的掉了下来。他在空中打着转，一下子撞到了一家瑜伽馆伸出来的塑料招牌。他的脸磕在招牌上，开始嚎啕大哭起来，众人吓得倒吸了一口凉气。
我并没有冲上前去接他——我待在最合适的那一点上，伸出双臂，他就这样落入我的手中。我几乎感觉不到他的重量，简直不费吹灰之力，就像是一种简单的人类本能反应。不知怎的，甚至连手机都还在我手里。我惊呆了，还没反应过来，一个男人过来将他抱走——那个人在附近的五金店工作。狄龙的脸上有血，不过我们发现他只是割破了嘴唇。他的适应力似乎挺不错，很快就不哭了。我想，狄龙能平安无事全是他自己的功劳。
宝宝掉下来那一会儿实在太震撼了。大家都很友好地上前拥抱我，夸我是个天使。狄龙的父母被这场骚动吵醒了，他的妈妈赶下楼来感谢我，爸爸则给了我一个大大的拥抱。我一直表现得相当镇定，但是当我赶上地铁，紧绷的心情终于放松下来，我不禁放声大哭。直到那时，我才能好好整理先前搁在一边的各种情绪；一想到假如我没接住狄龙会发生的事情，我才觉得后怕。
救人一命的经历是相当浓墨重彩的一笔，这个情景后来在我的脑海中反复重播，彻底改变了我。我从此淡定不惊，遇事也越发泰然自若。我如今以正念为研究方向，我明白到假如能遵循直觉的引导，世上任何事情都难不倒我们。我想，冥冥之中注定我会在那一刻出现在那里。
注1： 即Emergency Management Services，紧急事故处理服务。
注2：正念，以一种特定的方式来觉察，即有意识地觉察（On Purpose）、活在当下（In the Present Moment）及不做判断（Nonjudgementally）。