From August 1st to August 15th I fasted from complaining. Yes, that's right. No more "I'm tired" grumbles at 3 p.m. at the office. No more yelling at cars that cut me off on 440. No more snapping at people for not listening. The highlight of the two week period? I validated that I'm not a terrible, negative person, AND optimistic people tend to live longer according to some studies. And I'm optimistic enough to believe these studies are the correct studies.
从8月1日那天起直到8月15日，我停止了对生活一切的抱怨。是的，没错。下午三点的办公室，再也不会听见我哀叹着：“我好累”。在440地区被抢了车道，我不会再大喊大叫。有人无视我的话，我也不会勃然大怒。这两周来最重要的发现是什么？我证明了自己不是个糟糕的、充满负能量的人。有研究表明乐观的人一般更长寿，而且我足够乐观，相信这些研究是正确的。
So here you go: The top five things that occurred when I stopped complaining, both the good and the bad.
那么接下来，我想谈谈自己停止抱怨生活之后的五个变化，其中有正面的，也有负面的。
1. I realized that I don't sleep enough. The biggest complaint that I had to bite my tongue on?
1、我意识到自己睡眠不足，这是最不该挂在嘴边的抱怨吗？
"I'm tired." Or a variation of "I'm exhausted." American culture leaves us seeking to thrive off of no sleep and Starbucks. And is it really worth it to feel that negativity quite literally every day? I found myself almost getting annoyed with myself for being so tired. On the same note, I annoyed myself when I felt like uttering the complaint, "I'm starving." No, Alexii. You don't actually know what it really means to be hungry (so maybe you aren't THAT tired either).
“我好累”，或者，“我要累死了”。美国文化迫使我们在不足的睡眠和一杯杯咖啡中度日。每天生活在这样的负面环境中真的值得吗？连我自己都很烦恼，为什么要把自己折腾得这么累。同样，当我想要喊出“我要饿死了”的时候，也十分烦恼。不，Alexii，你并不知道什么叫真正的饿吧（所以也许你也并没有自己说得这么累）。
2. I argued less.
2、我吵架的频率变少了。
I'm not exactly one to pick a fight, but I noticed how many stupid arguments I can have in a week. If my fiancé Alex said something I disagreed with, I couldn't immediately react. This helped me not snap -- and more importantly it made me think before anything came out of my mouth. I'm pretty sure we've been told since kindergarten, "Think before you speak" but I noted how often I neglect this simplest piece of advice.
我不是那种喜欢挑事的人，但我还是会发现一周里自己有过多少次愚蠢的争吵。如果我的未婚夫艾利克斯说了一些我反对的话，我不会马上回应他。这样我就不会大声吼他，更重要的是，这样我就有时间在说话前多思考思考了。我确信从幼儿园开始，大人们就告诉我们“三思而后言”，但我觉得我还是很容易忽视这个最简单的建议。
3. Angst builds up.
3、焦虑感增加了
Here's the deal: this experience was overall a positive experience for me. It truly made me reflect on my reactions to situations. That being said, sometimes people just need to vent. There was one day that I came home completely exhausted and slightly emotionally distraught. Instead of engaging in conversation with my friend that was at my house or my fiancé, I straight up shut down. It's almost as if I didn't know how to be positive in that moment. It was strange. And I went to bed early that night. But on a lighter note...
是这样的：这种体验对我来说是有好处的，它真的使我反省自己在特定处境下的行为。话虽如此，有时人们只是需要释放情绪而已。记得有一天我回到家，身心俱疲，心烦意乱。我没有找当时在我家中的朋友或是未婚夫聊天，而是直接陷入沉默。仿佛那时我根本不知道怎样让自己乐观起来，太奇怪了。那晚我很早就睡了，但反而感觉轻松了很多……
4. Negativity is a state of mind.
4、负能量是一种心境
When you stop yourself from uttering negative speech, you begin to notice how negative your thought process tends to be. Sure I didn't verbally complain when I was tired or annoyed -- but I still continued thinking them. And as much as negative speech can wear you down, negative thoughts are just as dangerous.
当你不再说出那些消极的话语，你会发现自己还是会有那些消极的想法。诚然，我言语上没有抱怨疲劳或是烦躁，但我依然有着这样的想法。和消极的话语一样，消极的想法一样会消磨你的意志。
5. I prayed more.
5、我尝试更多的祈祷
If I was forced to turn the negative into the positive, I turned to God. Perhaps its from prior experience--but for whatever reason, it happened. And my spirit felt nourished.
如果我一定要把负能量转为正能量，我会向上帝求助。也许是从前的经验吧，不管怎样，我感受到了精神上的洗礼。
And at the end of the day? Shit happens. After my fast from complaining, I had what may have been one of the worst days I had experienced. Imagine tough conversations that were draining but necessary (and even worse after the conversation, nothing was resolved) compiled with other people's negativity. Then add a few "first world" problems as I like to call them -- a poor night's sleep, a shattered phone, and a stalling car. What did I do? I complained. Where did it get me? Not too far. I noted a day later that things really aren't that bad. People have good days and people have bad days -- but the truth is? It's all about your outlook.
最后怎样了呢？糟糕的事情还是发生了，在我拒绝抱怨之后，我经历了非常糟的一天。想象一下：艰难的谈话使你心力交瘁（更可恶的是谈完之后什么都没有解决），你不得不承受着别人的负能量。接着还有那些我称之为“第一世界”的麻烦困扰着你——睡眠不足，手机被摔坏，车子抛锚。我是怎么应对的？我抱怨了。持续了多久呢？没有多久，因为后来我明白其实事情也没有想象的那样不堪。世事无常嘛，关键在于你怎样看待这个世界。
There was once a guy who suffered from cancer, a cancer that can't be cured. He was 18 years old and he could die anytime. All his life, he was stuck in his house being taken cared by his mother. He never went outside but he was sick of staying home and wanted to go out for once. So he asked his mother and she gave him permission.
曾有一男孩，患了不治之癌。他才18岁，但生命随时会结束。一直以来，男孩都被困在屋子里，由他的母亲照料。男孩从未出去过，但他厌倦了一直窝在家里，想出去走一走。男孩因此询问他的母亲，并得到了母亲的同意。
He walked down his block and found a lot of stores. He passed a CD store and looked through the front door for a second as he walked. He stopped and went back to look into the store. He saw a beautiful girl about his age and he knew it was love at first sight. He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her. He walked closer and closer until he was finally at the front desk where she sat.
男孩出了门，路过了许多家店。经过一家卖CD的音像店时他看了眼前门。男孩停了下来，并走回去又往店里看了看。他看见一个漂亮的女孩，年龄大约和他一般大。男孩意识到他一眼就爱上了这女孩。他打开了这家店的门，走了进去，什么也不看，就只看着她。男孩越走越近，直到来到这女孩坐着的前台。
She looked up and asked, "Can I help you?"
女孩抬起头来问道：“有什么需要帮忙的吗？”
She smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he has ever seen before and wanted to kiss her right there.
女孩笑了笑，男孩认为这是他见过的最美丽的笑容，他甚至想当场就亲吻这女孩。
He said, "Uh... Yeah... Umm... I would like to buy a CD."
他说道：“呃…是的…嗯…我想买张CD。”
He picked one out and gave her money for it.
男孩随便挑了一张出来并把钱递给女孩。
"Would you like me to wrap it for you?" she asked, smiling her cute smile again.“
需要我帮你把它包起来吗？”女孩问，脸上又露出可爱的微笑。
He nodded and she went to the back. She came back with the wrapped CD and gave it to him. He took it and walked out of the store.
男孩点了点头，女孩走到前台的后面。回来的时候女孩拿着包装好了的CD，交给了男孩。他拿了过来，然后走出了这家店。
He went home and from then on, he went to that store every day and bought a CD, and she wrapped it for him. He took the CD home and put it in his closet. He was still too shy to ask her out and he really wanted to but he couldn't. His mother found out about this and told him to just ask her. So the next day, he took all his courage and went to the store as usual. He bought a CD like he did every day and once again she went to the back of the store and came back with it wrapped. He took it and when she wasn't looking, he left his phone number on the desk and ran out...
男孩回到了家。从那以后，他每天都会来这家店，买一张CD，然后女孩就给他包装起来。男孩把CD带回家，放进他的衣橱里。他还是很害羞，不敢把她约出来。他真的很想，但是他做不到。男孩的母亲知道了此事后，就告诉他，只管把她约出来就好了。于是第二天，男孩鼓起了全部的勇气，像往常一样来到了店里。像过去那样，他还是买了一张CD，而女孩也还是走到后面，回来的时候再把包装好的CD交给他。男孩接了过来，趁女孩不注意，他把他的电话号码留在了桌子上，然后跑了出去…
RRRRRING!!!
“铃铃铃铃铃铃…”
One day the phone rang, and the mother picked it up and said, "Hello?"
一天，电话响了起来。男孩的.母亲接起电话说道，“你好？”
It was the girl!!! The mother started to cry and said, "You don’t know? He passed away yesterday..."
是那个女孩！！！男孩的母亲开始哭了起来，说道：“你不知道吗？他昨天就去世了…”
The line was quiet except for the cries of the boy's mother. Later in the day, the mother went into the boy's room because she wanted to remember him. She thought she would start by looking at his clothes. So she opened the closet.
电话里安静了下来，只听到男孩母亲啜泣的声音。之后，男孩的母亲来到了他的房间，缅怀她的儿子。男孩的母亲想先看一看男孩的衣物。于是她打开了男孩的衣柜。
She was face to face with piles and piles and piles of unopened CDs. She was surprised to find all these CDs and she picked one up and sat down on the bed and she started to open one. Inside, there was a CD and as she took it out of the wrapper, out fell a piece of paper. The mother picked it up and started to read it. It said: Hi... I think U R really cute. Do u wanna go out with me? Love, Jocelyn.
在她的面前，是一摞又一摞的CD。看到这么多的CD，男孩的母亲感到很惊讶。她随手拿出一张，坐在了男孩床上。她拆开了包装，把CD拿了出来。一张纸条掉了出来。男孩的母亲捡起了纸条，开始读起来。上面写着：你好…我觉得你真的很可爱。你想和我出去约会吗？爱你的，乔瑟琳。
The mother was deeply moved and opened another CD...
男孩的母亲被深深打动了，拆开了另一张CD…
Again there was a piece of paper. It said: Hi... I think U R really cute. Do u wanna go out with me? Love, Jocelyn.
又发现了另一张纸条。上面写着：你好…我觉得你真的很可爱。你想和我出去约会吗？爱你的，乔瑟琳。
Love is... when you've had a huge fight but then decide to put aside your egos, hold hands and say, "I Love You."
爱就是…当你万般挣扎过后，把自我放到一边，握住对方的手，说：“我爱你。”
I don’t know what that dream is that you have. I don’t care how disappointing it might be as you’re working toward that dream. But that dream that you’re holding in your mind – it’s possible. Some of you already know that it’s hard. It’s not easy. It’s hard changing your life. In the process of chasing your dreams, you are going to incur a lot of disappointment, a lot of failure, a lot of pain.
我不知道你有什么样的梦。我也不在乎你在逐梦之时它曾令你有多沮丧。但我要告诉你，你心中所坚持的那个梦，它是有可能实现的。你们中有的人应该也已经知道要实现它很难。的确并不容易。要改变你的人生，这很难。在逐梦的过程中，你们会遇到各种各样的困难，沮丧，失败，痛苦。
There will be moments when you are going to doubt yourself. You’ll say, “Why? Why is this happening to me? I’m just trying to take care of my children, and my mother. I’m not trying to steal or rob from anybody. How did this have to happen to me?” For those of you who have experienced some hardships – don’t give up on your dream. The rough times are gonna come, but they will not stay, they will come to pass.
有时候你会怀疑你自己。你会问：“为什么？为什么这事会发生在我身上？我只是想照顾我的孩子，我的母亲。我并没想过要去偷和抢。为什么这事一定要发生在我身上？”遭遇过困难的你们，请别放弃你们的梦。糟糕的日子总会来，但不会停留太长，并终究会过去。
Many of you fail to seek your purpose in life and you should. You dream and then follow it up with a list of all the reasons why the dream is unachievable. You fill your life with excuses and "I can't." Many great companies were conceived from a dream, nurtured in a garage or basement and grew to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Why not you? Why not your dream? The only true limits you experience in life are those you create or those you allow others to impose upon you. If you can dream it, you can do it!
你们许多人在一生中或许会有找不到人生目标的时候，这很正常。你追求自己的梦，跟着出现一大堆告诉你这梦不可能实现的理由。你开始为自己的人生找各种借口，告诉自己“我不行。” 很多大公司都是由一个梦演变而来，从车库或地下室里发展成为纽约交易所的上市公司。为什么不是你？为什么不是你的梦？你在人生路上所遇到的那些障碍都是你自己设置的，要么就是你让他人施加在你身上的。梦想还是要有的，万一实现了呢！
Dreaming is the easy part. Acting on the dream is harder. Recognize that a dream is a journey. On the simplest level, it takes commitment, time, desire, and courage. But rarely is something great easily realized. Dreaming is recognizing and embracing the potential for greatness and seeking it in all areas of your life. Believe in your dreams and your ability to accomplish them. Keep your dreams in front of you. I'm here to challenge you to reach for your dream. Do not be afraid to dream. Never forget, if you can dream it, you can do it!
有梦想很容易，为梦而行才难。要知道，一个梦就是一段旅程。最简单地说，这梦需要你做出承诺，付出时间，坚定渴望，以及拥有勇气。道理很简单，却很少有人懂。梦就是要你意识到并拥抱生活中所有可能的美好。相信你的梦，相信自己能实现它。让它带领你。不要忘记，梦想还是要有的，万一实现了呢！
While walking across an open, grassy field, I became excited as my hand swooped toward the ground like an eagle attacking its prey.
我走在一片开阔的草地上，就像老鹰捕食一样，我兴奋地将手朝草地里抓去。
I picked up half of a $5 bill. I continued to walk around looking for the other half but thought to myself it would be impossible to find it on such a windy day.
我捡到了半张5美金，我继续向前寻找另外半张，但是在这样一个大风天，我感觉到应该是找不到了。
As I lifted my head, I spotted the other half of the bill tangled in crabgrass.
我抬头时发现，另外一半缠在一片杂草中。
Somehow, finding two halves of a ripped $5 bill felt better than working for a twenty.
捡全一张撕破的5美金比挣到20美金，在某种程度上还要让我开心~