IF and WHEN were friends. Every week they met and had lunch. Their conversation usually centered on all the things they were going to achieve. They both had many dreams and they loved to talk about them.“如果”和“到那時”是一對好朋友。他們每星期相約吃一頓午餐。會面時，他們談論的話題通常圍繞在他們即將要做的事情上面。兩個人都有著許多夢想，并且他們熱衷于這種交談。This particular Saturday when they met, WHEN sensed that IF was not in a great mood. As usual they sat at the table reserved for them and ordered their lunch. Once they placed their order, WHEN questioned IF. “IF what is wrong with you? You don’t seem your usual cheery self?”這個星期六他們見面時，“到那時”覺察到“如果”的心情不是很好。像往常一 樣，他們坐在特意預留給他們的餐桌上點餐。剛一點完，“到那時”就問道如果，你怎么了？你看起來好像不太高興。”IF looked at WHEN and replied, Tm not sure, I just don’t feel like I am making any progress. This last week I saw a course I wanted to take if only I had the time to take it.”“如果”看了看“到那時”，答道：“我也不知道怎么了，只是覺得自己沒什么進步。上個星期我發現一個很好的課程,如果有時間的話，我就去學。”WHEN knew exactly how IF felt. “Yeah,” replied WHEN, “I too saw a course and I am going to register when I get enough money together, WHEN then said, “well what about that new job you were going to apply for. You were so excited about it last week, did you apply?”“到那時”非常理解“如果”的感受。他答道：“是啊,我也看到一項課程，等到錢充足的時候,我就去報名。對了,你打算申請的新工作怎么樣了?上星期見你說得那么情緒激昂，申請了嗎？ ”IF responded, “if my computer didn’t break down last week, I would have applied. But, my computer is not working, so I could not type my resume,”“如果”回答道如果不是上周我的電腦壞了，我會申請的。但是它壞了,我無法打印簡歷,所以只能放棄了。”“Don’t worry about it IF, when you are ready another job will come through. I have been thinking about looking for another job also, but I will wait and when the weather gets nicer I will look then.” WHEN then went on to tell IF about his week, hoping that it would cheer him up a bit.“別著急，等到你準備好時，另一個工作就出現了。我也一直考慮著換個工作， 但是我想等到天氣看起來好一些時再行動。”然后，“到那時”繼續跟“如果”談論著他的星期計劃,希望這樣能使他的朋友高興起來。The man at the next table couldn’t help overhear WHEN and IF. They both were talking about when this and if that, finally he couldn’t take it anymore. “Excuse me gentlemen，，，the man said. IF and WHEN both looked at the man and wondered what he wanted. The man continued, Tm sorry, but I couldn’t help hearing your conversation. I think I know how you could solve your problems.”鄰桌的一個男人無意中聽到他們的談話。他聽見兩個人一直在說著“等什么什么時候' “如果這樣那樣”的話，他再也無法忍受了。于是,男人說道:“打擾一下，先生們。”“如果”和“到那時”吃驚地看著他，不知道他要做什么。男人繼續道：很抱歉，我無意中聽到你們的交談。我想我知道如何解決你們的問題。”IF smiled and thought，how could a complete stranger know how to solve all of their problems. If only he knew. When he realized the challenges they faced there was no way he could solve their problems! Curious, IF asked the gentleman, “How do you think you can solve our problems?”“如果”笑了笑，心想,一個完全陌生的人怎么會知道如何解決他們兩個人生活 中的問題呢。如果讓他認識到他們所面對的困難,恐怕他再也不會那樣說了。出于好奇，“如果”還是問道:“你認為應該如何解決我們的問題呢？ ”The gentleman smiled and said, “You only need listen to yourselves. It reminds me of an old proverb:‘ If and When were planted, and Nothing grew.’”男人笑著答道:“你們說的話讓我想起一句古老的諺語:‘只想不做，就會沒有收獲。’”IF and WHEN looked puzzled. The gentleman smiled and said, “Start counting how many times you use the words ‘if’ and ‘when’. Rather than thinking ‘if and when’，start doing, take action, stop talking about ‘if and when’.”“如果”和“到那時”疑惑地看著他。男人繼續說從現在開始，數一下你們用了多少次‘如果’和‘到那時’這兩個詞語。你們不要總是思考‘如果怎樣怎樣’、‘到那時怎樣怎樣’，而是應該著手去做，采取行動，請不要再談論‘如果和到那時’。”IF and WHEN both looked surprised, and suddenly realized that what the gentleman had said was so true. Both of them were guilty of thinking, acting and living their life for the “ifs and whens”. The gentleman left and IF and WHEN’S conversation changed. They made a pact that when they met for lunch next week, there would be no “ifs and whens”； they would only talk about what they accomplished!“如果”和“到那時”感到十分驚訝，他們突然意識到這個男人說得很正確。兩個人都為自己把思想、行為、生活的希望放在“如果和到那時”上感到慚愧。男人離開后，他們談話的內容有了改變。他們約定下個星期一起吃午餐時，再也沒有“如果” 和“到那時”；他們只會談論已經完成的事情。