英语沙龙：未来大有可为

Room For The Future

At the age of forty－five，my usually well－ordered life became fraught¹ with changes．

After twenty－two years of working for a major financial institution，a downsizing initiative and a major bank merger² resulted in the elimination³ of over one hundred jobs，mine being one of them．

My once secure future became a fallacy．However，I was one of the lucky ones．I was not a single parent，nor dependent solely⁴ on my income，but just like the other ex－bankers，I had become a disposable employee，and a statistician．

My mantra has always been，“change is good，change is progress，”but when it affected⁵ my livelihood，I had to revise it to，“accept change and make the most of it．”From the beginning，I chose to look at this occurrence not as a misfortune，but as a welcome opportunity．I refused to become depressed⁶ or bitter；instead，I eagerly anticipated doing something new and different．

Having a positive attitude made all the difference in the way I perceived the future．First，I decided⁷ to return to college and graduate，several decades later than I should have．Doing this at my age took more than a little courage．Not being a graduate had never held me back in my career with the bank，but now it was a personal goal I longed to achieve．With a little trepidation⁸ and a lot of determination，I registered for evening classes，and became an adult student．

Oral presentations were often required for one class．I remember thinking that if I had known this beforehand，I would have taken something else to achieve my required accreditation⁹．By nature，I am a rather reticent¹⁰ individual，and speaking in front of people terrified me．As I stood in front of the other adults with whom I shared a common goal，my knees were visibly knocking，and my heartbeat almost audible．Somehow，I found my voice and squeaked¹¹ out my presentation．The next time it was easier，and soon，I was starting to enjoy it a little．Later in the year，I even voluntarily interviewed a local reporter for an English assignment，much to the amazement¹² of my teacher．My confidence level soared．Suddenly I felt like I could accomplish anything．

During this time，I realized that no matter what life throws our way，personal growth never stops．It comes from within，and needs only to be challenged in order to surface．It is entirely¹³ possible to step out of one's comfort zone to learn something new. My experience of going back to school ended up being far more valuable than just acquiring a diploma．

The second thing I did to improve my inner self was to reevaluate my life．It used to be filled with endless，and sometimes meaningless，events．Now，instead of working towards materialistic¹⁴ things and personal glorification，my heart and life are firmly entwined around people I care for．

Yes，having a fulfilling career is important，but it is no longer my reason for being．When I rejoin the “rat race”，it will be on my terms，as nurturing¹⁵ my soul is my first priority．Having simplified my life，I am enjoying living now，instead of just existing to make a living．

Is there life after banking¹⁶？You bet there is．

The loss of my job was responsible for some positive changes in my life．Revisiting the past made room for the future．As I contemplate¹⁷ the meaning of my mantra，“change is good，change is progress”，I realize that I have accepted the change，and am making the most of it．

And，I have only just begun．The best is yet to come．

未来大有可为

在45岁时，我一向有条不紊的生活风云骤起，充满变数。

供职于一家重要的金融机构22年后，我突然失去了工作。原因是一次裁员和一次重大的银行并购导致100多名员工被裁，其中便有我。

一夜之间，我对未来曾抱有的安全感被证明是毫无根据的。然而，我还是幸运的。我不是单亲，工薪也不是我的惟一收入来源，但是正像其他前银行职员一样，我成了一名可有可无的雇员，一名统计人员。

我的祷文一向是，“变是好事，变是进步”，但当它真的影响到我的生活时，我不得不将之改为“接受变并善加利用”。我一开始就愿把这一生活变化视为一个很好的机会，而不是一种不幸。我拒绝抑郁、愤懑，而是热切地期望尝试新的、不同以往的事情。

这种积极的态度使我对未来的看法完全变了。首先，我决定重返大学，拿下毕业文凭，虽然已晚了几十年。这般年龄采取如此行动是需要拿出些勇气的。没有大学文凭并没有影响我在银行的职业生涯，但获得学位确是我的平生夙愿。我有些忐忑不安，但决心很大，我在夜校班报了名，成为一名成人学生。有一门课程常常要求学生进行口头陈述。记得我曾想过，如果我事先知道这一要求，我会选择别的课程来挣够学分。我天性少言寡语，在众人面前说话令我十分畏惧。当我站在其他和我有着共同目标的成人面前时，我的双膝直打颤，心都快跳到嗓子眼儿了。但我终于开了口，勉勉强强把陈述做了下来。第二次就容易多了。不久，我开始有点喜欢上这种课堂活动了。那年，我竟主动为一项英语作业采访了一位当地记者，让我的老师惊叹不已。我的自信大增。忽然我感觉没有我做不成的事情。

在这期间，我意识到，不管我们在人生的旅途中有何种遭遇，个人的成长是永无止境的，它是内在的需要，只有迎接挑战，才能超越自我。跳出自己的“舒适圈”去学些新的东西是完全可能的。重返学校，我收获良多，远远超过一张学位证书。

我完善自我的第二件事是重新审视我的生活道路。我过去的生活尽是些没完没了的事情，有时毫无意义，总之是逃不脱名利二字。现在，我的身心与我所关心的人紧紧地连在一起。

是的，事业有成是重要的，但它已不再是我生活的目标。如果我重返“激烈的竞争”，那必须是按照我的条件，因为我把滋养灵魂视为第一重要。简化了生活之后，我是真正在享受生活，而不是为生计而生存。

银行生涯之后还有生活吗？当然有。

丢了工作促成了我生活中一些积极的改变。重访过去为未来打开了空间。当我细细琢磨我的祷文“变是好事，变是进步”时，我意识到我已接受了变，并在充分利用它。

新生活刚刚开始。精彩的还在后头。

1 fraught   

adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的

参考例句：

• The coming months will be fraught with fateful decisions.未来数月将充满重大的决定。
• There's no need to look so fraught!用不着那么愁眉苦脸的！

2 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

3 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

4 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 trepidation   

n.惊恐，惶恐

参考例句：

• The men set off in fear and trepidation.这群人惊慌失措地出发了。
• The threat of an epidemic caused great alarm and trepidation.流行病猖獗因而人心惶惶。

9 accreditation   

n.委派，信赖，鉴定合格

参考例句：

• a letter of accreditation 一份合格证明书
• This paper gives an overview of the Verification, Validation and Accreditation (VV&A) in High Level Architecture(HLA). 对基于高层体系结构(High Level Architecture,简称HLA)的仿真系统的校核、验证与确认(Verification, Validation and Accreditation,简称VV&A)问题进行了详细的介绍及分析。 来自互联网

10 reticent   

adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的

参考例句：

• He was reticent about his opinion.他有保留意见。
• He was extremely reticent about his personal life.他对自己的个人生活讳莫如深。

11 squeaked   

v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者

参考例句：

• The radio squeaked five. 收音机里嘟嘟地发出五点钟报时讯号。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Amy's shoes squeaked on the tiles as she walked down the corridor. 埃米走过走廊时，鞋子踩在地砖上嘎吱作响。 来自辞典例句

12 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

13 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

14 materialistic   

a.唯物主义的，物质享乐主义的

参考例句：

• She made him both soft and materialistic. 她把他变成女性化而又实际化。
• Materialistic dialectics is an important part of constituting Marxism. 唯物辩证法是马克思主义的重要组成部分。

15 nurturing   

养育( nurture的现在分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长

参考例句：

• These delicate plants need careful nurturing. 这些幼嫩的植物需要精心培育。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants. 这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

16 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

17 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。