Five Balls of Life

生命中的五個球

In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises, spoke of the relation of work to one’s other commitments:

幾年前，在一所大學的開幕典禮中,可口可樂的首席執行官布賴恩•戴森講到工作與其他義務的關系：

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

想象生命是一場不停丟擲五個球于空中的游戲。這五個球分別為工作、家庭、健康、朋友和心靈，而且你很努力地擲著這五個球，不讓它們落地。很快地你會了解工作是一個橡皮球。如果你不幸失手落下它，它還是會彈回來。

But the other four balls family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

但是家庭、健康、朋友和心靈這四個球是用玻璃做成的。一旦你失手落下，它們可能會少了一角，留下無法挽回的記號、刻痕、損壞甚至碎落一地。它們將永遠不會跟以前一樣。你必須了解這個道理，并且為平衡你的生命而努力。但要怎么才做得到呢?

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

別拿自己和他人比較，這只會降低了你原有的價值。因為我們都是獨一無二的，因為我們每一個人都很特別。

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

別人認為重要的事不一定是你的目標。只有你才知道什么最適合你。

Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as they would be your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

不要將貼近你的心的人、事物視為理所當然的存在。你必須將他們視為你的生命一般好好地抓牢他們。沒有他們，生命將失去意義。

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

別讓你的生命總在依戀過去種種或是寄望未來中逝去。如果你活在每個當下，你就活出了生命中的每一天。

Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

當你還能給予的時候別輕言放棄。只要你不放棄，就有無限延伸的可能。

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.

別害怕承認你并非完美。正因如此，我們才得以藉由這脆弱的細絲緊密地串綁在一起。

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

別害怕遇到危險。正因如此，我們才得以藉由這些機會學習勇敢。