從逆境到成功

From hard times to victory

Andy was born with a disability. The two sides of his brain were not joined normally to each other. The right side of his body could not communicate with the left. At age three, it was difficult for him to walk, speak or play. He could only repeat a few words and walk slowly while someone held each of his hands.

Then came the struggle. He attended an all-day health center where he was enrolled for every type of treatment imaginable. He struggled, sometimes in tears, to get stronger. Andy hated it when his parents would leave him there in the mornings. However, they believed that he would grow up to live a normal and healthy life. They believed it for themselves and for Andy.

It paid off. Today Andy is a successful 13-year-old high school student. His progress has been nothing short of extraordinary. He receives special help with a few things, but joins his friends in all the activities he loves. Andy has overcome enormous difficulties to move from adversity to victory.

Ask yourself, “What are the seeds of strength hidden in my struggles today? If I get up when I fall, what will that make possible tomorrow?”

“Overnight success” is the result of years of determination and continued learning. Victory is possible for those who decide it is their purpose. They’ll find the path to their dream. They will accept hard times as the adversity that will foster their strength, growth and skills to attract the victory they seek.

【助讀詞匯】

◇enroll v. (使)加入，注冊，登記

◇nothing short of可以說是，無異于

◇adversity n. 困境；逆境

◇foster v. 促進，助長，培養，鼓勵

【參考譯文】

從逆境到成功

安迪天生有缺陷。他的左右腦連接不正常。右腦不能與左腦交流。3歲的時候，他走路、說話、玩耍都有困難。他只能重復幾個詞，在有人扶著的情況下緩慢地行走。

接下來是痛苦的努力。他上的是全天候的保健中心，在那接受各種治療。他努力變得強壯，有時候帶著淚水。他討厭每天早上父母把他送到那。盡管如此他們還是相信他長大后可以過正常健康的生活。他們堅信著，為了自己，也為了安迪。

付出都有了回報。現在安迪13歲，是一個優秀的高中生。他的進步堪稱是奇跡。他只在幾個方面需要幫助，只要是他熱愛的活動他都和朋友一起參加。安迪克服了巨大的困難，才從逆境邁向了成功。

問問你自己：“我現在努力的力量之源是什么？如果跌倒后再爬起來，明天我又能干成什么事？”

“一夜成功”是數年堅定不移和堅持不懈學習的結果。那些把成功當作是自己目標的人才有成功的希望。他們會找到通向夢想道路。他們會欣然接受逆境，因為逆境能讓他們更強大，促進他們的成長，提高他們的能力，讓他們朝自己尋覓的勝利靠近。

【人生啟迪】

翻閱偉人的過去，很少看到一帆風順的。他們有過深陷逆境的遭遇，有些苦難還是常人難以想象的。還是那句老話：“天將降大任于斯人也，必苦其心志，勞其體膚，行拂亂其所為，增益其所不能也。”