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31. The Fine Art of Giving
給予的藝術(shù)
Ralph is all excited.
雷夫興奮極了。
When his poor wife Lisa comes home after a hard day's work in the office, he enters the living room beaming.
他可憐的妻子莉薩在公司辛苦了一天回到家時，雷夫就臉上帶著微笑走進(jìn)了客廳。
"Happy birthday, darling!" he exclaims while thrusting the neatly packed gift at her.
他忙不迭地把包得漂漂亮亮的禮物遞給愛妻，同時高亢地說道：“親愛的，祝妳生日快樂！”
Momentarily delighted as she quickly unwraps the package, Lisa murmurs,
她匆匆拆開禮物，剎那間高興起來，喃喃地說道：
"Oh, Ralph, I thought you'd forget my birthday again this year. Gee, thanks, sweet...."
“哦，雷夫，我還以為今年你又會把我的生日給忘了呢。哦，謝謝你親……”
Her voice trails off as she lifts the cover of the box to disclose its contents: steak knives.
她把盒蓋打開來看看到底里面裝得是什么禮物：居然是一組切牛排的刀子，這時她的話也靜止了下來。
Ralph, still beaming, then pulls the trigger of the rifle aimed at his own foot:
雷夫臉上仍然帶著微笑，自討沒趣的說道：
"I bought some steaks, so you can use your new birthday gift to get us dinner ready!"
“我買了一些牛排，所以你可以用你這次新的生日禮物為我們準(zhǔn)備一頓晚餐。”
Most women, of course, would use the new knives on Ralph, not the steaks.
當(dāng)然，大多數(shù)女人會把刀子用在雷夫身上而不是用在切牛排上。
What did poor Ralph do wrong? He certainly meant well.
可憐的雷夫到底做錯了什么呢？他原本當(dāng)然是好意的。
He noted his wife's birthday carefully, sacrificed time and money to buy a gift on time, and even had the box gift-wrapped.
他小心地記住了太太的生日，花費(fèi)時間和金錢準(zhǔn)時買了禮物，甚至還把刀組盒包成禮品。
Where did he go wrong?
他哪里出了差錯呢？
Long before Ralph bought the knives, he should have paid more attention to those things Lisa expressed or showed an interest in.
早在雷夫買下這組牛排刀前，就應(yīng)多留意一下莉薩曾表示過中意的東西。
While walking or shopping, many people notice things that obviously interest them;
許多人逛街購物時，會注意到自己明顯感興趣的東西；
this is the time to make a mental note of what those items are for future purchase.
也就是在這個時候，我們心中就要記下這些東西，將來再買下來。
While talking, too, many people reveal "wish list" items they dream of having.
同樣地，很多人在談話時也會透露自己夢寐以求的東西。
Noting these items and turning them into gifts at a later time, whether for Christmas, birthday, anniversary, graduation, or any other important occasion,
把這些東西記下來，以后在圣誕節(jié)、生日、結(jié)婚周年紀(jì)念、畢業(yè)典禮，或者是其它重要場合買下來當(dāng)禮物送給對方，
distinguishes just another item on a shelf in a department store or in a catalogue from "the perfect gift."
這樣的作法將使原本只不過是百貨公司貨架上或目錄上的一件商品變成“完美的禮物”。
Gifts do not have to be objects.
禮物不一定要是對象。
Doing house chores for parents or spouses which normally are "theirs,"
幫父母或配偶做通常是屬于“他們的”家事、
taking someone out on the town or wheeling an invalid around the block,
帶某人上街、幫殘疾者推輪椅到街區(qū)繞一繞，
or taking the time and effort to create one's own personalized handicraft can bring smiles as wide as those aroused by the giving of expensive presents.
或者是花點(diǎn)時間和心思做一些具有個人特色的手工藝品送人也可以帶給對方歡笑，這種歡笑跟對方收到名貴禮物時所發(fā)出的歡笑是一樣燦爛的。
Many a child would prefer to have an afternoon at the cinema and an evening in their favorite restaurant with Dad than another of his expensive gifts,
不少小孩寧可在下午跟爸爸看場電影或是在晚上跟爸爸在餐廳用餐而不愿接到一份他送的貴重禮物，
some with the price tag still on them!
有些禮物甚至還有價(jià)目條在上面呢！
Many parents would rather happily settle for a full day with their children at home or on a picnic than with a mailed check or "Happy Birthday" greeting on their answering machine.
很多父母寧可整天與孩子在家歡聚一天或者出外野餐也不愿收到兒女寄來的支票或是電話錄音機(jī)上的一句“生日快樂”的問候話。
Perhaps the expression "Time is money" really is true:
或許“時間就是金錢”這句話是千真萬確的：
time spent with those whom we do not often see is indeed precious.
花點(diǎn)時間陪陪我們難得見面的親友，確實(shí)是每一刻都很珍貴。
Sacrificing time from one's busy schedule to give to another is often more meaningful than a pricy gift from an upscale department store.
從繁忙的日程表中犧牲一些時間來陪陪別人要比在高級的百貨公司中買貴重禮物送人有意義多了。
Of course, there is nothing wrong with buying gifts.
當(dāng)然，買禮物并沒錯。
Everyone has needs, including material needs.
每個人都有需求，包括物質(zhì)上的需求。
Close friends or family members often know what their loved ones need even before they do!
好友與家人要比他們摯愛的人更清楚了解他們的所需！
Few compliments can make us happier than "You always know what to give me."
所有的贊美言詞沒有幾句話要比這句更令我們開心了：“你總是知道要送什么東西給我?！?/div>
For those who never seem to know what to prepare for others but who would like to learn, observing the successful giving of gifts to others is as good a place to start as any.
對那些似乎永遠(yuǎn)不知道該準(zhǔn)備什么禮物給別人但是卻愿意學(xué)習(xí)的人來說，觀察別人如何成功的送禮給對方是最好的學(xué)習(xí)起點(diǎn)。
In any class, family, or crowd, someone always seems to know the right gift to give at the right time.
在任何班級、家庭或者群體中，似乎總有人懂得在適當(dāng)?shù)臅r機(jī)送適當(dāng)?shù)亩Y物。
Making mental notes of these occasions and then writing them down in a special notebook can make the difference between a future present well-received and one politely accepted.
心中暗記這些場合并用特別的筆記本記下來，這關(guān)系著你未來送禮時，對方是否會很樂意接受或只是禮貌性的收下來而已。
Still, only a social incompetent would criticize or refuse a gift from another.
當(dāng)然，只有不懂社交的人才會批評或拒絕對方的禮物。
Being gracious even in disappointment is a sign of good manners.
在失望中仍流露出落落大方的風(fēng)范是有風(fēng)度的表現(xiàn)。
Besides, a gift is an expression of thoughtfulness and a token of love.
何況，禮物是一種體貼和愛的象征。
We should never question the judgment of the donor;
我們千萬不可質(zhì)疑送禮者的判斷力；
instead, as we say in English, "It's the thought that counts."
相反地，誠如英文的一句話：“心意才是最重要的?！?/div>
Learning to appreciate whatever little surprises life prepares for us is a sure sign of maturity and poise.
學(xué)會感激生活所帶給我們的小驚奇是一種成熟和穩(wěn)健的表現(xiàn)。
When the giving of symbols of our appreciation and love to others becomes an art form to the giver, these profound words can be understood:
我們?nèi)粼笇⒛切┐砦覀兊母屑ぜ皭鄣臇|西贈與對方，而這種贈與也成了施舍者的一種藝術(shù)時，就能深深體會到這句深奧的話：
"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
“給予比收受更有福?！?/p>
| 重點(diǎn)單詞 | 查看全部解釋 | |||
| incompetent | [in'kɔmpitənt] |
想一想再看 adj. 無能力的，不稱職的，不能勝任的 n. 沒有能力 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| disappointment | [.disə'pɔintmənt] |
想一想再看 n. 失望，令人失望的人或事 |
||
| criticize | ['kritisaiz] |
想一想再看 vt. 批評，吹毛求疵，非難 |
||
| reveal | [ri'vi:l] |
想一想再看 vt. 顯示，透露 |
||
| check | [tʃek] |
想一想再看 n. 檢查，支票，賬單，制止，阻止物，檢驗(yàn)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，方格圖案 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| settle | ['setl] |
想一想再看 v. 安頓，解決，定居 |
||
| mental | ['mentl] |
想一想再看 adj. 精神的，腦力的，精神錯亂的 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| disclose | [dis'kləuz] |
想一想再看 vt. 揭露 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| purchase | ['pə:tʃəs] |
想一想再看 vt. 買，購買 |
||
| appreciation | [ə.pri:ʃi'eiʃən] |
想一想再看 n. 欣賞，感激，鑒識，評價(jià)，增值 |
