If I Had The Chance
选自《The Old And The Rose》

It seems we are all so busy these days. There are so many details, so many calls to make and so many things to look after that we barely have time for sincere and genuine interest in others.

We are inundated by warnings from great thinkers in our society encouraging us to 'stop and smell the roses'. But I'm afraid it has taken me decades to really appreciate the wisdom of these words.

If I ever have the opportunity to speak to a young person today, I do my best to convey this message. But unfortunately, young people are too busy to heed good advice. Much like I was so many years ago. Youth indeed is so often wasted on the young.

If I had the chance, I would tell young people to stop what they are doing and look around. I would tell them to try as hard as they could to fully understand what is right in their line of sight, what is in the range of their hearing at the moment, what is in their immediate reach and grasp.

I would like so much to tell people, especially young people, that if you are thoughtless and indifferent to others on your road in life, then you are missing life itself. Do not be intrusive or tactless, for heaven’s sake, but take a moment and ask someone, how did you come here or how did you get into this business?

No matter what that person tells you, their answer will make you richer. You can grow emotionally, you can excel as a person and you can be wealthy by every measure if you just appreciate the gifts that people and life all around you are ready to give right at this moment just by their simple presence.

We should appreciate that great symphonies were written from only seven simple notes that God gave the entire universe. We should know that great works of art are measured by the emotions they evoke, not just how they look next to the plant stand.

We should never forget that heartache cannot be cured but can be eased by someone willing to give genuine sympathy. The true greatness of joy can only be known when it is shared with others.

如果有机会

选自《老人与玫瑰》

如今我们大家似乎都太忙了。我们自己就有那么多的小事要烦心，那么多的电话要打，那么多的事情要料理，几乎没有时间再对他人产生真挚的关心。

我们经常得到社会上大思想家们的告诫，他们敦促我们“停下来去闻闻玫瑰花的香味”。但是，我恐怕是花了几十年的时间才真正认识到这句话中所包含的智慧。

现在，我一有机会和年轻人说话就会尽力传达这个意思。然而，遗憾的是，年轻人都太忙了，无暇留意良言相劝，这颇似多年以前的我。的确，青春往往就是在年轻人身上被白白浪费掉的。

如果有机会，我会告诉年轻人放下手中的活儿，往四周看看。我会告诉他们尽可能努力地去弄明白，他们视线所及看到的究竟是什么，那一刻在他们听觉范围内传入耳朵的又是什么，他们眼下够得着抓得住的是什么。

我非常想告诉人们，特别是年轻人，如果你在人生路上对他人毫不关心、冷漠相待，那么你就在与生活本身擦肩而过。看在老天的份上，不要去干涉别人的私事或说不得体的话，但你可以花上片刻工夫问问某个人，他是怎么来到这里的或者他是怎么干上这一行的？

无论那个人告诉你什么，他们的回答将会使你更加富有。只要你能重视你周围的人们和生活此时此刻仅凭他们的在场所要给予你的礼物，你就会在情感上得到成长，你就会成为一个优秀的人，你就会各方面都很富有。

我们应该明白，伟大的交响乐是用上帝给予全世界的七个简单的音符谱写成的。我们应该懂得，伟大的艺术品是由它们自身所唤起的情感来衡量的，而不只是由他们在园艺架旁的外观所决定。

我们千万不要忘记，心痛无法治愈，但会因为某个人自愿给予真心的同情而得以减轻。当欢乐与他人同享时，我们才能体会到快乐真的有多大。