B3U4T1 The Hidden Side of Happiness
文本细读
商务英语综合教程
Pleasure only gets you so far. A rich, rewarding life often requires a messy battle with adversity.
- hidden side:隐藏的一面、不为人知的一面
- so far: up to a particular point or degree 到达某个点或某种程度,经常与get sb或take sb连用。例如:You can only get so far on good looks alone. 仅凭长得好看,你也就只能走到这一步了(到这个份儿上了/就只能帮到你这里了)。(比如,某人因为长得好看,得到了一个还不错的职位,这是容貌帮他的,但是自己能力不足,所以在这个职位之后,也不见得能有什么发展了) | When it comes to reaching your goals in a life, having a college degree only takes you so far. 说到实现人生目标,有大学学历也只能帮你到这儿了。(其他的要靠你大学学历以外的素质去争取了。)
- rich:这里应该不是指“富有的”,而是having great worth or value 丰富的、丰盛的、充满价值的 例如:a rich harvest of grain
- rewarding:An experience or action that is rewarding gives you satisfaction or brings you benefits. 让人感到满意并且有回报的、有收获的
- messy:describes a situation that is confused and unpleasant 例句:*A war will be a long and messy business. *They had a bitter, messy divorce.
- adversity:unfavourable conditions; trouble 逆境; 不幸; 厄运: remain cheerful in adversity 处於逆境而仍乐观 * face adversity with courage 有勇气面对厄运.
Hurricanes, house fires, cancer, white-water rafting accidents, plane crashes, vicious attacks in dark alleyways. Nobody asks for any of it. But to their surprise, many people find that enduring such a harrowing ordeal ultimately changes them for the better. Their refrain might go something like this: "I wish it hadn't happened, but I'm a better person for it."
Hurricanes, house fires, cancer, white-water rafting accidents, plane crashes, vicious attacks in dark alleyways.
- white-water:of, relating to, intended for, or taking place on white water, especially in river rapids 一般水流如果比较湍急的画,浪花呈现白色
- white water rafting: 激流勇进、激流漂流
- plane crash:飞机失事、空难
- vicious:acting or done with evil intentions; spiteful 有恶意的; 恶毒的: Vicious thugs attacked an elderly man. 歹徒们袭击了一个老大爷. * a vicious kick, look, remark 恶狠狠的一踢、样子、言语
- alleyway:a narrow passage between buildings
- 飓风、家中失火、癌症、激流泛舟时发生的事故、飞机失事、小巷中的恶意袭击
Nobody asks for any of it.
- ask for: to bring (sth unpleasant) on oneself, esp. in the phrases "ask for it / ask for trouble 招惹(不愉快的事)、自讨苦吃、自找麻烦 | She's asking for trouble and she'll get it before long. 她是在自找麻烦,而且她很快就会吃到苦头。
But to their surprise, many people find that enduring such a harrowing ordeal ultimately changes them for the better.
- to one's surprise: 让某人吃惊的是 to their surprise 这里的their指的是many people's,这个many people就是指本句中充当主语的many people
- endure:动词:suffer or undergo (sth painful or uncomfortable) patiently 忍受; 忍耐: endure toothache 忍受牙痛 * He endured three years in prison for his religious beliefs. 他因其宗教信仰而忍受系狱三年之苦.
- harrowing:extraordinarily painful or distressing 痛苦的、悲惨的
- ordeal:difficult or painful experience (esp one that tests a person's character or powers of endurance) 苦难经历; (尤指对品格﹑ 耐力的)严峻考验: the ordeal of divorce 离婚的痛苦 * The hostages went through a dreadful ordeal. 个个人质都经历了可怕的折磨.
- change ... for the better 使……变得更好 | for the better: 好转,向好的方向发展 *The present situation is taking a turn for the better.
Their refrain might go something like this: "I wish it hadn't happened, but I'm a better person for it."
- refrain:这里不是动词,是名词,原意是歌曲的副歌部分,引申意为a phrase that is often repeated 总是重复说的话 *Our proposal met with the constant refrain that the company could not afford it.
- go:(of a piece of music or writing) have a certain tune or wording (指一篇乐曲或文字)有某种基调或措辞: How does that song go? 那首歌是怎麽唱的? * I forget how the next line goes. 我忘记下一行是什麽了. * The story goes that she poisoned her husband/She poisoned her husband, or so the story goes. 故事说她把丈夫毒死了.
- I wish it hadn't happened 虚拟语气,我希望它没发生过 but I'm a better person for it. it与前面wish it中的it是同一个,指的是那件不希望发生的事情。但是我因为这件事而变得更好了。
We love to hear the stories of people who have been transformed by their tribulations, perhaps because they testify to a bona fide psychological truth, one that sometimes gets lost amid endless reports of disaster: There is a built-in human capacity to flourish under the most difficult circumstances. Positive reactions to profoundly disturbing experiences are not limited to the toughest or the bravest. In fact, roughly half the people who struggle with adversity say that their lives have in some ways improved.
We love to hear the stories of people who have been transformed by their tribulations, perhaps because they testify to a bona fide psychological truth, one that sometimes gets lost amid endless reports of disaster
- transform:completely change the appearance or character of sth/sb 完全改变某事物[某人]的外观或特性: A fresh coat of paint can transform a room. 房间重新粉刷一遍可大为改观. * She used to be terribly shy, but a year abroad has completely transformed her, ie so that she is no longer shy. 她过去十分腼腆, 但在国外呆了一年以後完全变了.
- tribulation: (sad event, accident, illness, etc that causes) great trouble or suffering 忧患; 苦难; 带来极大困难或痛苦的伤心事﹑ 事故﹑ 病痛等: He bore his tribulations bravely. 他勇敢地忍受着困苦. * a time of great tribulation 极苦难的时期.
- testify:~ (to) sth (fml 文) be evidence of sth 作为某事的证据; 证明: tears that testified (to) her grief 可见她悲伤的眼泪.
- bona fide:genuine(ly); without fraud or deception; legal(ly) 真实(的); 真诚(的); 合法(的): a bona fide agreement/contract/deal 真诚的协议[合约/交易]. | 因为他们证明了一个真实存在的心理事实
- one that sometimes gets lost amid endless reports of disaster: 其中的one指的是前面的psychological truth;get lost:这里的get lost并不是指迷路了或者感到困惑了,而是指“遗失了,没有被得到、没有被抓住”。|在无数的灾难报道中,这个[心理事实]有时候会被人们忽略/会让人们意识不到
There is a built-in human capacity to flourish under the most difficult circumstances.
- 冒号之后的There is ... 这一句就是psychological truth的内容
- built-in:forming a part of something that cannot be separated from it 内置的、固有的、无法分割的
- capacity:能力
- flourish:grow healthily; be well and active 健康成长; 茂盛; 健壮而活跃。在文中,flourish并非指人们的身体仍然很健康,但是指人们仍以积极的态度去生活
Positive reactions to profoundly disturbing experiences are not limited to the toughest or the bravest.
- profoundly: deeply, to a great extent psychologically (用来形容程度很深、影响很大)非常、异常、深深地
- disturbing:troubling to the mind or emotions
- 面对巨大的不幸经历,能做出积极反应的并非仅限于那些最坚强或最勇敢的人。
In fact, roughly half the people who struggle with adversity say that their lives have in some ways improved.
- roughly:nearly, approximately 大约、接近
- in some ways: to a certain extent but not entirely 在某种程度上: The changes are an improvement in one way. 这些变从某种意义上说是一种进步.
In a dark room in Queens, New York, 31-year-old fashion designer Tracy Cyr believed she was dying. A few months before, she had stopped taking the powerful immune-suppressing drugs that kept her arthritis in check. She never anticipated what would happen: a withdrawal reaction that eventually left her in total body agony and neurological meltdown. The slightest movement – trying to swallow, for example – was excruciating. Even the pressure of her cheek on the pillow was almost unbearable.
In a dark room in Queens, New York, 31-year-old fashion designer Tracy Cyr believed she was dying.
- Queens, New York:纽约的皇后区
- fashion designer:时尚设计师、时装设计师、服装设计师
A few months before, she had stopped taking the powerful immune-suppressing drugs that kept her arthritis in check.
- take drugs 服用药物
- powerful:having a strong effect 很有效力的; 作用大的: a powerful image, remedy, speech 清晰的影像、特效的药品、有力的讲话
- immune-suppressing:抑制免疫的 (关于抑制免疫类药物的简介可以看这里)
- hold/keep sth in check: prevent sth from advancing or increasing; control sth 抑止; 约束; 制止: keep one's temper in check 控制自己不发脾气 * The epidemic was held in check by widespread vaccination. 这种传染病靠广泛的预防注射已受到控制. | check 本身作为名词有“制止、停止、减慢”的意思
- arthritis:关节炎 (有关关节炎的介绍可以看这里)
She never anticipated what would happen: a withdrawal reaction that eventually left her in total body agony and neurological meltdown.
- anticipate:预料
- withdrawal reaction:停药反应
- eventually:happening or existing at a later time or at the end, especially after a lot of effort, problems, etc:
- leave sb in agony ... 让某人陷入痛苦/饱尝痛苦 (注意与agony搭配的in:The wounded man was in agony. 那受伤的人痛苦已极.)|body agony:身体上的病痛
- neurological:神经上的、神经病学的
- meltdown:a sudden and complete failure of a company, organization, or system 公司、组织或系统的突然完全崩溃 | neurological meltdown:神经系统的完全崩溃
The slightest movement – trying to swallow, for example – was excruciating.
- slightest movement:最轻微的运动
- swallow:吞咽
- excruciating:extraordinarily painful or distressing *He has excruciating backache. 他的背疼得很厉害. * excruciating misery 极大的苦难
Even the pressure of her cheek on the pillow was almost unbearable.
Cyr is no wimp – diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the age of two, she'd endured the symptoms and the treatments (drugs, surgery) her whole life. But this time, she was way past her limits, and nothing her doctors did seemed to help. Either the disease was going to kill her or, pretty soon, she'd have to kill herself.
Cyr is no wimp – diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the age of two, she'd endured the symptoms and the treatments (drugs, surgery) her whole life.
- wimp:(infml derog 口, 贬) weak and timid person, esp a man 懦弱的人(尤指男的): Don't be such a wimp! 别那麽窝囊! | Cyr is no wimp:Cyr可不是窝囊废
- diagnose:find out the nature of (esp an illness) by observing its symptoms 判断; (尤指)诊断(疾病): The doctor diagnosed measles. 医生诊断出麻疹.
- juvenile:of, characteristic of or suitable for young people who are not yet adults 未成年的; 少年的; 少年特有的; 适於少年的: juvenile crime 少年犯罪 * juvenile offenders 少年犯 * juvenile books 少年读物.
- rheumatoid arthritis:类风湿性关节炎 (介绍看这里)| juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:幼年型类风湿关节炎
- endure:忍受
- symptom:change in the body that indicates an illness 症状: the rash that is a symptom of measles 麻疹症状呈现的疹子.
- treatment:可数名词 治疗手段、治疗方法
But this time, she was way past her limits, and nothing her doctors did seemed to help.
- way:very far 很远: She finished the race way ahead of the other runners. 她第一个跑到终点, 远远领先於其他选手. * The shot was way off target. 这次射得远离目标. * The price is way above what we can afford.价格高得我们绝对付不起.
- past:beyond the limits of (sth/doing sth) 超过(某事物[做某事物])的限度: The man is past working, ie too old, weak, etc to work. 那男子已不能工作了(因年老、体弱等). | way past her limits 大大超出了他的极限
Either the disease was going to kill her or, pretty soon, she'd have to kill herself.
- either ... or ... 要么……要么……。
- pretty soon:很快 | pretty:fairly or moderately 相当; 颇: The situation seems pretty hopeless. 这情况似乎没有多大希望了. * She seemed pretty satisfied with the result. 她对那结果似乎相当满意.
As her sleepless nights wore on, though, her suicidal thoughts began to be interrupted by new feelings of gratitude. She was still in agony, but a new consciousness grew stronger each night: an awesome sense of liberation, combined with an all-encompassing feeling of sympathy and compassion. "I felt stripped of everything I'd ever identified myself with," she said six months later. "Everything I thought I'd known or believed in was useless – time, money, self-image, perceptions. Recognizing that was so freeing."
As her sleepless nights wore on, though, her suicidal thoughts began to be interrupted by new feelings of gratitude.
- sleepless night:不眠之夜
- wear on:If a period of time wears on, it seems to pass very slowly: * She felt less confident about completing the course as the week wore on.
- suicidal thought:想自杀的念头/思绪
- be interrupted by:被……打断了、终止了、打岔了
- gratitude:being grateful; thankfulness 感激; 感谢: She felt eternal gratitude to him for saving her life. 她终生感激他的救命之恩. * I owe you a debt of gratitude for what you've done. 对你所做的事, 我欠你一份人情债.
She was still in agony, but a new consciousness grew stronger each night: an awesome sense of liberation, combined with an all-encompassing feeling of sympathy and compassion.
- consciousness:这里的consciousness是可数名词,指的是a belief, an opinion or a feeling
- grew stronger each night:每一夜都变得越来越强烈,一夜比一夜强烈
- sense of liberation 解脱的感觉、解放的感觉、自由的感觉
- all-encompassing:包罗万象的、无所不包的,包含一切的 | an all-encompassing feeling of sympathy and compassion 一种包罗一切的同情与怜悯的感觉;一种对一切事物都抱有的同情与怜悯之感
- sympathy、compassion:同情。根据Mirriam-Webster的Dictionary of Synonyms,两者之间的差异如下:Sympathy is the most general term, ranging in meaning from friendly interest or agreement in taste or opinion to emotional identification, often accompanied by deep tenderness. Compassion, which originally meant fellowship in suffering between equals, has come to denote imaginative or emotional sharing of the distress or misfortune of another or others who are considered or treated as equals; it implies tenderness and understanding as well as an urgent desire to aid and spare.
"I felt stripped of everything I'd ever identified myself with," she said six months later.
- strip:~ sb of sth take away (property, honours, etc) from sb 剥夺某人的(财产﹑ 荣誉等): He was stripped of all his possessions. 剥夺了他的全部财产. * The general was stripped of his rank. 这位将军被免去了军阶.
- identify: identify (oneself) with sb/sth:give support to sb/sth; be associated with sb/sth 支持某人[某事物]; 与某人[某事物]有关联: He refused to identify himself/become identified with the new political party. 他拒绝与那个新政党来往.
- 六个月后她说:“我感觉被剥夺了所有与我有关/支持我的东西。
Everything I thought I'd known or believed in was useless – time, money, self-image, perceptions.
- 任何我以为我之前了解或相信的东西都是无用的——时间、金钱、自我形象、看问题的方式。
- perception:可数名词 way of seeing or understanding sth 看法; 理解: My perception of the matter is that... 我对此事的看法是... * his perception that conditions had not changed 他认为情况无变化.
Within a few months, she began to be able to move more freely, thanks to a cocktail of steroids and other drugs. But as her physical strength came back, she did not return to her old way of being as a feisty, demanding, "Sex-in-the-City, three-inch- stilettos-and-fishnets" girl. Now quieter and more tolerant, she makes a point of being in a submissive turn-the-other-cheek kind of way. Cyr still takes a pharmacopoeia of drugs every day, but she says there's no question that her life is better now. "I felt I had been shown the secret of life and why we're here: to be happy and to nurture other life. It's that simple."
Within a few months, she began to be able to move more freely, thanks to a cocktail of steroids and other drugs.
- thanks to:多亏了
- cocktail:最常见的意思是鸡尾酒,但是cocktail也有拼盘、什锦的意思,例如fruit cocktail 什锦水果丁,此处引申为any mixture of substances 任何混合物: * a lethal cocktail of drugs 致命的混合药物.
- steroid:甾族化合物; 类固醇: He's being treated with steroids for leukaemia. 他因患白血病正在接受类固醇治疗.
But as her physical strength came back, she did not return to her old way of being as a feisty, demanding, "Sex-in-the-City, three-inch- stilettos-and-fishnets" girl.
- physical strength:体力
- being:名词:living creature 生物: human beings 人 * a strange being from another planet 来自其他星球的奇异生物.
- feisty:(approv 褒) spirited; energetic; forceful 精神饱满的; 精力充沛的; 强有力的;(derog 贬) irritable; quarrelsome 脾气坏的; 好争吵的: a feisty old man 脾气很坏的人. 看这个句子的上下文,感觉取贬义更合理一些
- demanding:(of a person) making others work hard, meet high standards, etc (指人)对他人要求高的, 苛求的: a demanding boss, father, etc 苛求的老板﹑ 父亲等 * Children are so demanding: they need constant attention. 孩子们总有所求, 需要时刻照顾他们.
- Sex in the City: 美剧《欲望都市》| 这部美剧我个人没有看过,不过作者将原来的自己形容成 Sex-in-the-City girl 大概也是指自己是在大城市中打拼,崇尚物质,受到很多大城市的诱惑,买买买这样的姑娘吧
- stilettos:细高跟女鞋
- fishnets:渔网袜
Now quieter and more tolerant, she makes a point of being in a submissive turn-the-other-cheek kind of way.
- make a point of doing sth: do sth because one considers it important or necessary 认为做某事重要或有必要: I always make a point of checking that all the windows are shut before I go out. 我出门前总是要检查所有的窗户, 看是否都关好了.
- submissive: willing to yield to the authority of others; obedient 服从的; 顺从的:a humble and submissive servant 恭顺的仆人
- turn-the-other-cheek: ([别人打了你一耳光],你把另一侧脸也转过去[让对方打])to not do anything to hurt someone who has hurt you (这个短语出自圣经,可以参考这里)
Cyr still takes a pharmacopoeia of drugs every day, but she says there's no question that her life is better now.
- pharmacopoeia:药典,一批[药] a pharmacopoeia of drugs形容她每天还是要吃非常多的药
- there's no question that ... 毫无疑问,确实
I felt I had been shown the secret of life and why we're here: to be happy and to nurture other life.
- why we're here: why we come to this world as a human being
- nurture: 原意表示抚养[孩子],这里可以笼统地理解为:care for and support
It's that simple.
- that: to that degree; so 达到那样的程度; 如此; 这般: I can't walk that far, ie as far as that. 我可走不了那麽远. | 就是那么简单。
Her mind-blowing experience came as a total surprise. But that feeling of transformation is in some ways typical, says Rich Tedeschi, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte who coined the term "post-traumatic growth." His studies of people who have endured extreme events like combat, violent crime or sudden serious illness show that most feel dazed and anxious in the immediate aftermath. They are preoccupied with the idea that their lives have been shattered. A few are haunted long afterward by memory problems, sleep trouble and similar symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. But Tedeschi and others have found that for many people – perhaps even the majority – life ultimately becomes richer and more gratifying.
Her mind-blowing experience came as a total surprise.
- mind-blowing:extremely impressive or surprising: * The special effects in this film are pretty mind-blowing.
- come:这里并不是表示到来,而表示 happen to be, become, prove to be ...
But that feeling of transformation is in some ways typical, says Rich Tedeschi, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte who coined the term "post-traumatic growth."
- transformation:a complete change in sb. or sth.: the feeling of transformation 可以译为脱胎换骨的感觉或者焕然一新的感觉?
- in some ways: to some extent, in some respect 在某种程度上,从某种方面上
- typical:representing a particular type of person or thing 典型地; 有代表性地: typically American hospitality 美国人特有的殷勤好客
- University of North Carolina: 北卡罗来纳大学(是十六所公立四年制北卡罗来纳州大学组成的大学系统,其中一个校区位于Charlotte夏洛特,介绍请看这里。)
- coin:原意是制造硬币,引申为 invent (a new word or phrase) 创造(新词语): coin words for new products 为新产品创造新词
- term:word or phrase used as the name or symbol of sth (用作某事物名称或象徵的)词或词组, 术语, 说法 * technical, legal, scientific, etc terms 技术、法律、科学等的术语
- post-traumatic:创伤后的 trauma:n 不幸、痛苦、创伤
His studies of people who have endured extreme events like combat, violent crime or sudden serious illness show that most feel dazed and anxious in the immediate aftermath.
- that后面的most指的是most of the people 他研究中的大多数人
- dazed:very confused and unable to think clearly because you are shocked or have hit your head: * You're looking rather dazed -- is anything wrong?
- immediate:[attrib 作定语] nearest in time, space or relationship (在时空上﹑ 关系上)最接近的, 紧接的: What are your plans for the immediate future? 你最近有什麽计画? * There's no post office in the immediateneighbourhood. 附近没有邮局. * his immediate predecessor他的前任 * one's immediate family, ie parents, children, brothers and sisters 直系亲属(父母﹑ 子女﹑ 兄弟﹑ 姐妹)
- aftermath:(usu sing 通常作单数) circumstances that follow and are a consequence of an event, etc (esp an unpleasant one) (尤指不幸的)事件的余波, 余殃, 後果: the rebuilding which took place in the aftermath of the war 在战後余殃中的重建.
They are preoccupied with the idea that their lives have been shattered.
- preoccupied:adj inattentive because one is thinking of or worrying about sth else 心不在焉的; 心事重重的: She seemed preoccupied all the time I was talking to her. 我跟她讲话时她始终显得心事重重. * He answered me in a rather preoccupied manner. 他心不在焉地回答我.
- shatter:destroy completely
A few are haunted long afterward by memory problems, sleep trouble and similar symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
- haunt:return repeatedly to the mind of (sb) 经常浮现於(某人)脑际: a haunting melody 萦绕心头的曲调 * a wrongdoer haunted by fear of discovery 经常提心吊胆怕被人发现的作恶者 * The memory still haunts me. 那回忆仍然萦回在我的脑际.
- stress disorder:应激障碍、压力症候群
But Tedeschi and others have found that for many people – perhaps even the majority – life ultimately becomes richer and more gratifying.
- gratifying:making you feel pleased and satisfied 令人感到愉快、满足的
Something similar happens to many people who experience a terrifying physical threat. In that moment, our sense of invulnerability is pierced, and the self-protective mental armor that normally stands between us and our perceptions of the world is torn away. Our everyday life scripts – our habits, self-perceptions and assumptions – go out the window, and we're left with a raw experience of the world.
Something similar happens to many people who experience a terrifying physical threat.
- terrifying:very frightening
- physical threat:人身威胁
In that moment, our sense of invulnerability is pierced, and the self-protective mental armor that normally stands between us and our perceptions of the world is torn away.
- invulnerability:the property of being incapable of being hurt (physically or emotionally) | sense of invulnerability: 认为[自己]不会受到伤害的感觉、感觉自己不会受到伤害
- pierce:move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply: *The cold pierced her bones * Her words pierced the students
- self-protective: 自我保护的
- mental armor:精神武器、精神护甲
- perceptions of the world 对这个世界的看法、了解、感性认识
- tear away:to pull or wrench away 拉走、夺走 * We tore a letter away from his hand and urged him to play basketball with us. 我们从他手上拿走信,让他和我们一起打篮球。* The lid was torn away, a brillant present was at sight. 盖子拿走后,一件光彩夺目的礼物映入眼帘。
- 那时候,我们认为自己不会受到伤害的感觉被摧毁了,我们的精神护甲,通常会立于我们与我们对这个世界的认识之间,[此刻也]被夺走了。
Our everyday life scripts – our habits, self-perceptions and assumptions – go out the window, and we're left with a raw experience of the world.
- script:text of a play, film, broadcast, talk, etc (戏剧﹑ 电影﹑ 广播﹑ 讲话等的)剧本, 脚本, 讲稿: That line isn't in the script. 脚本上没有那一段词 | everyday life script这里指的就是每日生活的剧本,指的也就是你的日常生活,因为每日生活太过相像,就好像是有剧本一样
- self-perception:自我认知、自我感觉
- assumption:假设、设想
- go out the window: to go out of effect, be abandoned 变得无效、被废弃:During the war, the school dress code went out the window. 战争期间,穿校服的法规被废弃了
- raw experience:Feelings or qualities that are raw are those which are natural and which you do not or cannot control: * We were struck by the raw energy/power of the dancers' performances. * Her emotions are still a bit raw after her painful divorce.
Still, actually implementing these changes, as well as fully coming to terms with the new reality, usually takes conscious effort. Being willing and able to take on this process is one of the major differences between those who grow through adversity and those who are destroyed by it.
Still, actually implementing these changes, as well as fully coming to terms with the new reality, usually takes conscious effort.
- still: in spite of that; nevertheless; even so 尽管那样; 然而; 不过; 虽然如此: He's treated you badly: still, he's your brother and you should help him. 他待你很不好; 但他终归是你的兄弟, 你应该帮助他.
- 这句话的主语是两个动名词结构actually implementing these changes, as well as [也就是and] fully coming to terms with the new reality
- implement: to put into practical effect; carry out 履行、实施
- come to terms with: to become adjusted especially emotionally or intellectually ― usually used with with: *come to terms with modern life
- take conscious effort: take effort consciously 有意识地付出努力
- 然而,实际执行这些改变,以及完全适应新的现实,通常都需要有意识地付出努力。
Being willing and able to take on this process is one of the major differences between those who grow through adversity and those who are destroyed by it.
- 主语是Being willing and able to take on this process
- take on: to begin to perform or deal with, undertake 开始执行、开始处理、承担:He cannot take on any new jobs at this time. He already has more than he can do.
- through: from the beginning to the end of (sth) 从(某事)的开始至结束; 自始至终; 从头到尾: * He will not live through the night, ie He will die before morning. 他活不过今天夜里了. * The children are too young to sit through a long concert. 这些孩子太小, 音乐会时间长他们就坐不住了. * She nursed me through my long illness. 我病了很长时间, 她都一直护理着我. | grow through adversity: 经历了磨难并从中成长
- 有意愿并能够扛过这一过程是那些从磨难中成长的人与被磨难摧毁的人之间最大的区别之一。
Eventually, they may find themselves freed in ways they never imagined. Survivors often say they become more tolerant and forgiving of others, capable of bringing peace to formerly troubled relationships. They say that material ambitions suddenly seem silly and the pleasures of friends and family paramount – and that the crisis allowed them to reorganize life in line with the new priorities.
They say that material ambitions suddenly seem silly and the pleasures of friends and family paramount – and that the crisis allowed them to reorganize life in line with the new priorities.
- the pleasures of friends and family paramount: 这里在paramount前面省略了seem,因为与前半句的结构是一样的,所以此处省略了
- paramount: having the greatest importance or significance; supreme最重要的; 最重大的; 至上的: This matter is of paramountimportance. 此事至关重大.
- 破折号后面的and that其实是and [they say] that,这个that是跟在句子一开始的They way后面的
- in line with ... : similar to sth; in accordance with sth 与某事物类似或一致: in line with the others/with the latest research 与其他的一致[根据最新的研究成果].
- the new priorities: 新的优先考虑的事情,这里指的就是pleasures of friends and family
People who have grown from adversity often feel much less fear, despite the frightening things they've been through. They are surprised by their own strength, confident that they can handle whatever else life throws at them. "People don't say that what they went through was wonderful," says Tedeschi. "They weren't meaning to grow from it. They were just trying to survive. But in retrospect, what they gained was more than they ever anticipated."
People who have grown from adversity often feel much less fear, despite the frightening things they've been through.
They are surprised by their own strength, confident that they can handle whatever else life throws at them.
- confident that ... 是跟在句首的They are后面的
- handle: deal with, manage or control (people, a situation, a machine, etc) 对付﹑ 管理或控制(人﹑ 情况﹑ 机器等): * I was impressed by her handling of the affair. 我觉得她对此事的处理很了不起.
- 他们惊讶于自己的力量,对于生活扔给他们的任何事情,他们都有自信能够好好处理。这里的whatever else life throws at them 用了throw at,体现了生活会碰到各种措手不及、突发、始料不及的事情。
They weren't meaning to grow from it.
- mean to do sth. 故意,这里用了mean的过去进行式,强调这些人在过去经历痛苦并成长的时候,并不是故意要去经历这些
But in retrospect, what they gained was more than they ever anticipated.
- in retrospect: looking back on a past event or situation 回顾; 追溯: In retrospect, it's easy to see why we were wrong. 回顾过去就很容易明白我们的错处了.
In his recent book Satisfaction, Emory University psychiatrist Gregory Berns points to extreme endurance athletes who push themselves to their physical limits for days at a time. They cycle through the same sequence of sensations as do trauma survivors: self-loss, confusion and, finally, a new sense of mastery. For ultramarathoners, who regularly run 100-mile races that last more than 24 hours, vomiting and hallucinating are normal. After a day and night of running without stopping or sleeping, competitors sometimes forget who they are and what they're doing.
In his recent book Satisfaction, Emory University psychiatrist Gregory Berns points to extreme endurance athletes who push themselves to their physical limits for days at a time.
- Emory University: 埃默里大学 (简介看这里)
- psychiatrist:精神病学家、精神病医生
- point to: 原意“指向”,这里可以理解为,将注意力引向……
- endurance athlete:耐力运动员 endurance swimmer: 耐力游泳运动员
- push themselves to their physical limits: 将自己推到/逼到他们身体的极限
- for days:连续好几天、连日
They cycle through the same sequence of sensations as do trauma survivors: self-loss, confusion and, finally, a new sense of mastery.
- cycle:循环
- sequence:序列、顺序、有顺序的事情
- sensation:feeling in one's body resulting from sth that happens or is done to it 感觉; 感受
- 他们一遍又一遍地经历着与经历创痛的幸存者相同的一连串感受 | as do trauma survivors: as trauma survivos do 倒装
- self-loss: 迷失自我
- mastery:gain control of (sth); overcome (sth) 控制, 制服(某事物)| a new sense of mastery 新的征服的感觉
For ultramarathoners, who regularly run 100-mile races that last more than 24 hours, vomiting and hallucinating are normal.
- ultramarathon: 超长距离马拉松赛跑 ultramarathoner: 跑这种马拉松的人
- vomit:呕吐;hallucinate:出现幻觉、产生幻觉
But the feeling of mastering extraordinary difficulty makes up for it, reports Honolulu businessman Randy Havre. Havre, 51, found this feeling near the summit of Mauna Kea nearly 10 years ago. He was nearing the end of a 44-mile race that took him from sea level to the top of the volcano – a vertical ascent of 13,766 feet. He was on his way to setting the unofficial world record for that climb, but the high elevation was starting to get to him.
But the feeling of mastering extraordinary difficulty makes up for it, reports Honolulu businessman Randy Havre.
- the feeling of mastering extraordinary difficulty: 克服的极端困难的感觉
- make up for:弥补、补偿 | make up for it中的it指的是前面降到的vomiting and hallucinating这些受的罪
- reports Honolulu businessman Randy Havre:倒装 Honolulu businessman Randy Havre reports,注意这种结构,还是非常常见的 | Honolulu:火奴鲁鲁(即“檀香山”,美国夏威夷州的首府和港市,简介看这里)
Havre, 51, found this feeling near the summit of Mauna Kea nearly 10 years ago.
- summit:highest point; top, esp of a mountain 最高点; 顶点; (尤指)山顶: climb to the summit 登上山顶 * (fig 比喻) the summit of her career, ambition, etc 她事业的颠峰﹑ 最大的抱负等
- Mauna Kea:莫纳克亚山(夏威夷岛的死火山)
He was nearing the end of a 44-mile race that took him from sea level to the top of the volcano – a vertical ascent of 13,766 feet.
- near: v. come close to, draw near to
- mile: 1 mile = 1.609344 km | 44 mile = 70.8 km
- feet: 1 feet = 0.3048 m | 13,766 feet = 4195 m
- ascent: 上升、升高
He was on his way to setting the unofficial world record for that climb, but the high elevation was starting to get to him.
- on one's way to ... 在……的路上
- set the unofficial world record 创下非官方的世界纪录
- elevation:height (of a place), esp above sea-level (某地方的)高度(尤指海拔): The city is at an elevation of 2000 metres. 这座城市海拔2000米.
- get to: to have an effect on: * His sad story really got to me, and I was moved to help him.
"When you get to about 10,000 feet, things tend to get a little weird because of the swelling and pressure on your brain," he says. "Above that, it gets exponentially weirder. I remember busting out crying at 12,000 feet. But if you can finish these things, you know: Hey, I can get through this stuff. You were able to hang in there, and you're stronger for that."
"When you get to about 10,000 feet, things tend to get a little weird because of the swelling and pressure on your brain," he says.
- weird:怪异的、奇怪的、古怪的
- swelling:condition of being swollen 膨胀; 肿胀; 凸出; 鼓起
Above that, it gets exponentially weirder.
- above that中的that指的是10,000 feet
- 超过了那个高度之后,事情变得越来越古怪(或者可以理解为:每升高一英尺,事情就变得更加古怪几分)。
- exponentially:describes a rate of increase which becomes quicker and quicker as the thing that increases becomes larger: * We are looking for exponential growth in our investment. * There has been an exponential increase in the world population this century. 原意是“指数的”,引申为速度或变化很快、越来越快或越来越大等
I remember busting out crying at 12,000 feet.
- burst out doing: suddenly begin (doing sth) 突然开始(做某事): burst out crying/laughing/singing 突然哭起来[笑起来/唱起来].
Hey, I can get through this stuff.
- get through: 度过,熬过(困难时期等)
You were able to hang in there, and you're stronger for that.
- hang in: \ to persevere; not give up 坚持不懈 * Hang in there! It'll soon be over! 坚持下去!很快就会结束!
The emotional reward can compensate for the pain and difficulty of adversity. This perspective does not cancel out what happened, but it puts it all in a different context: that it's possible to live an extraordinarily rewarding life even within the constraints and struggles we face. In some form or other, says King, we all must go through this realization. "You're not going to be the person you thought you were, but here's who you are going to be instead – and that turns out to be a pretty great life."
The emotional reward can compensate for the pain and difficulty of adversity.
- compensate for:make up for
This perspective does not cancel out what happened, but it puts it all in a different context: that it's possible to live an extraordinarily rewarding life even within the constraints and struggles we face.
- perspective:视角、观点
- cancel out:(phr v) cancel (sth) out be equal (to sth) in force and effect; counterbalance (sth) 抵销; 对销: * These arguments cancel (each other) out. 不同的争论(彼此)势均力敌. * Her kindness and generosity cancel out her occasional flashes of temper. 她为人厚道﹑ 慷慨大方, 倒也弥补了她偶尔发点儿脾气.
- it puts it 中后面那个it指代的是前面提到的 what happened 发生过的事情
- put sth in a different context: 把……放到不同的上下文/环境/背景中
- 冒号后面的that从句是context的同位语,即冒号后面的这一部分内容就是这个不同的context
- extraordinarily rewarding life:非常有收获的人生
- constraint:thing that limits or restricts 限制性或约束性的事物
- 这一视角并不能抵消所发生的事情,但是却将其置于一个不同的背景之中,那就是,即使我们面对着这些限制与挣扎,仍有可能活出一段极有收获的人生。
In some form or other, says King, we all must go through this realization.
- In some form or other:以一种形式或另一种形式
- realization:领悟
"You're not going to be the person you thought you were, but here's who you are going to be instead – and that turns out to be a pretty great life."
- turn out to:to be known or discovered finally and surprisingly: * [+ to infinitive] The truth turned out to be stranger than we had expected.
- 你不会成为你原本想象的那么一个人,而是会变成这个样子——而且[你会发现]这也是个段相当了不起的人生。