标题: It's Never Too Late 亡羊补牢，尤未迟也 [打印本页] 作者: celiahe 时间: 2008-3-27 09:39 标题: It's Never Too Late 亡羊补牢，尤未迟也 Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I experienced a most unusual process. Theinstructorasked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about, regretted, or incomplete about. The next week he invited participants to read their lists aloud. This seemed like a very private process, but there's always some brave soul in the crowd who will volunteer. As people read their lists, mine grew longer. After three weeks, I had 101 items on my list. The instructor then suggested that we find ways to make amends, apologize to people, or take some action to right anywrongdoing. I was seriously wondering how this could ever improve my communications, having visions ofalienatingjust about everyone from my life.
instructor n. 教师 wrongdoing n. 坏事、不道德行为 alienate v. 疏远
The next week, the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story:
"While making my list, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town in Iowa. There was asheriffin town that none of us kids liked. One night, my twobuddiesand I decided to play a trick on Sheriff Brown. After drinking a few beers, we found a can of red paint, climbed the tall water tank in the middle of town, and wrote, on the tank, in bright red letters: Sheriff Brown is ans.o.b.The next day, the town arose to see our glorious sign. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had my two pals and me in his office. My friends confessed and I lied, denying the truth. No one ever found out.
sheriff n. 治安官 buddy n. 密友、伙伴 s.o.b. （缩写）畜生、狗娘养的
"Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown's name appears on my list. I didn't even know if he was still alive. Last weekend, I dialed information in my hometown back in Iowa. Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed. I dialed his number. After a few rings, I heard: 'Hello?' I said: 'Sheriff Brown?' Pause. 'Yup.' 'Well, this is Jimmy Calkins. And I want you to know that I did it.' Pause. 'I knew it!' heyelledback. We had a good laugh and a lively discussion. His closing words were: 'Jimmy, I always felt badly for you because your buddies got it off their chest, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for yoursake.' "
yell v. 大叫、忍不住笑 sake n. 缘故、理由
Jimmy inspired me to clear up all 101 items on my list. It took me almost two years, but became thespringboardand true inspiration for my career as a conflictmediator. No matter how difficult the conflict, crisis or situation, I always remember that it's never too late to clear up the past and begin resolution.