English Original
It has been bitterly cold here in Pennsylvania. I can't remember a winter being as cold as this. Even though daylight hours are growing longer, it's easy to find an excuse not to go out unless you absolutely must.
People I speak to have been in nasty moods, saying they're "under the weather." Yesterday, as I stood outside with my two dogs, it was so cold my nose and face felt crisp and my ears were stinging. Of course, that doesn't matter to Ricky and Lucy. They have a routine to find the right spot, no matter the weather. So I wait.
But this time was different. As cold as it was, I suddenly felt invigorated, thinking about how wonderful this extreme cold really was. Then the sun broke through the clouds, and memories of summer's scorching hot days flashed through my mind. I remembered standing in the afternoon heat, sweat pouring down my brow. I had reminded myself then that in winter's cold, I would wish for this heat.
I was right.
Two extremes in my life that I normally find uncomfortable and dread. But today I was grateful for them. Without extremes, I would never appreciate the days when things are just right. Life would be boring.
It's being pushed to an extreme that makes us appreciate the middle. Health challenges remind us to pay attention to how we live. Financial extremes remind us to save during times of excess for leaner times.
So bring on the cold so I appreciate the heat more. Make me sweat on a hot summer's day so I wish for a handful of snow.
I've concluded that I too often find a reason not to be happy with my present moment—whether it's hot or cold, in good health or bad, in money or out of it. I always wanted it to be different.
But no more. I want to start finding a reason to be happy right where I am. Even if it's simply that I'm alive.
I'm tired of being "Under the Weather!"
中文翻译
宾夕法尼亚州的天气一直严寒刺骨。我不记得有哪个冬天像今年这么冷。尽管白昼正一分一秒地变长，除非万不得已，人们总能轻易找到不出门的借口。
和我交谈的人都情绪不佳，说他们感觉"不舒服"。昨天，我和我的两只狗站在户外，天冷得我的鼻子和脸都冻僵了，耳朵刺痛。当然，这对里基和露西来说无关紧要。无论天气如何，它们都有自己必须完成的例行程序，以找到合适的地点。所以我等着。
但这次不同。尽管天气如此寒冷，想到这极寒天气的美妙之处，我突然感到精神振奋。接着，阳光冲破云层，夏日酷热的记忆闪过我的脑海。我记得站在午后的热浪中，汗水顺着眉毛流下。我当时就提醒自己，在冬天的严寒里，我会渴望这份炎热。
我是对的。
我生命中的两种极端，大多数时候让我感到不适，我通常畏惧它们并一路抱怨。但今天，我对它们心存感激。没有极端，我就永远不会珍惜恰到好处的日子。生活会变得乏味。
正是被推向极端，才让我们更懂得欣赏中庸。健康问题提醒我们需要更关注生活方式。财务的极端提醒我们，富足时应未雨绸缪，为拮据之时做准备。
所以，让寒冷来吧，这样我会更感激炎热。让我在炎夏大汗淋漓，这样我才会渴望捧一把雪擦脸。
我得出了一个结论：我太经常为自己当下的处境寻找不快乐的理由了——无论是冷是热，健康与否，富裕或拮据。我总希望情况有所不同。
但不再这样了。我想开始寻找理由，就在此时此刻此地感到快乐。哪怕仅仅是因为我还活着。
我厌倦了总是感觉"不舒服"！