英語文摘《珍惜現時》
我們有時候會被現實生活迷住了雙眼，看不清要珍惜的當下。但是，時光不止，一切都不會晚，當你睜開眼的時候，記得珍惜現時，擁抱美好。
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This", he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He threw away the tissue and handed me the slip.
It was exquisite, silk, handmade and decorated with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with a big figure on it was still attached.
"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion.
Well, I guess this is the occasion.
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed, his hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me, "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you' re alive is a special occasion."
I'm still thinking about his words and spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savour, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moment now and cherish them.
I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first rose blossom… I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can pay $28. 49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party going friends.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would've done had she know that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted.
I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize, and mend fences for past quarrels. She would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing.
I'm trying very hard not to put off , hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath truly, is... a gift from God.
妹夫打開了妹妹衣櫃最底層抽屜，拿出一個用紙包裝的包裹。“這個，”他説，“不是件普通內衣，而是一件豪華內衣。”他把薄紙撕開，遞給了我那件內衣。
它的確精緻無比，絲質、全手工縫製，周圍還有一圈網狀蕾絲花邊。價籤都尚未拆去，上面的數字高得驚人。
“這是我們第一次去紐約時簡買的'，至少已是八年、九年前的事了。她從沒有穿過它。她想等一個特殊的日子再穿它。”
唉，我想現在便是那特殊的日子了。
妹夫從我手中拿過內衣放在牀上,他的手在那柔軟織物上徘徊了一會兒，隨即砰然關上抽屜，轉身對我説：“永遠不要把任何東西留給什麼特殊日子。你活着的每一天就是一個特殊的日子。”
我至今還在想着妹夫説的話，我花了更多的時間與家人朋友在一起，而少花些時間在那些工作會議上。無論何時，生活應當是一種“品味”而非一種“忍受”。我在學習欣賞每一刻，並珍惜每一刻。
我不再去“珍藏”任何東西;只要有一點好事，我們就不吝嗇使用精美的瓷器和水晶製品，比如説當體重減了一磅時，當廚房水槽堵塞通了時，當第一朵玫瑰花綻放時……如果我想穿，我就穿上我名牌衣服去市場購物。我的理論是：如果我看上去還富足的話，我可以毫不心疼地為一小袋雜貨付出28.49美元。我不再為特殊的派對而珍藏我上好的香水;五金店售貨員和銀行出納員們的嗅覺，不會比派對上朋友們來得差。
“有朝一日”和“終有一天”這樣的詞正從我的常用詞彙中淡出。如果值得去看、去聽或去做，我當即就要去看、去聽或去做。人們總是理所當然的以為自己必然有明天，不知假如妹妹知道她將沒有明日，她會做些什麼。
我想她會給家人和幾位密友打電話。她可能還會給幾位昔日朋友打電話主動道歉，摒棄前嫌。我想她可能會外出吃頓她喜歡的中餐。我只是猜想而已。
我正努力不再拖延、保留或珍藏那些能給我們生活帶來歡笑和光彩的東西。每天清晨當我睜開雙眼，我便告訴自己每一天、每一分鐘、每一瞬間都真是……上帝賜予的禮物。
