坚持梦想永不放弃英语美文
坚持梦想 永不放弃
The adolescent girl from Tennessee is standing on the stage of a drama summer camp in upstate New York. It's a beautiful day. But the girl doesn't feel beautiful. She's not the leggy, glamorous Hollywood type. In fact, she describes herself as dorky.一名少女由田纳西州来到纽约北部，她站在戏剧夏令营的舞台上，虽然天气是那么好，她的心情却一点也不好。因为她不是那种身材颀长、丰腴美艳的好莱坞式美女，实际上她形容自己是“土里土气，还有点傻”。
Since she was six years old, Reese Witherspoon has wanted to be a country singer. And Dolly Parton is her idol. But this flat-chested wisp of a girl is no Dolly Parton. Nevertheless, all of this summer she's been acting, dancing and singing---giving it her best.从六岁开始，里斯威瑟斯庞就梦想着成为一名乡村歌手，多莉帕顿是她心中的偶像。但她可一点都不像多莉帕顿，她胸部扁平，身材纤细。然而，整个夏天她都在尽全力地表演，跳舞和唱歌.
Play to your strengths. If you're going to make it in this business, it's not going to be on sexy—that's not who you are. Better focus on what you're good at. Celebrate yourself.发挥长处。如果想在这一行发展，不要走自己不擅长的性感路线。更好地专注于自己的特长，为自己喝彩。
Despite three years of lessons, at the end of camp her coaches tell her to forget about singing. They suggest she think about another career. If Reese did have talent, it was hiding under her skinny, mousy frame and her Coke-bottle glasses.她已经上了三年的声乐课程，但夏令营结束时，老师们还是告诉她应该忘掉唱歌这件事儿，另谋出路。如果里斯确实有天分的话，那也是给她纤细的身材和厚如可乐瓶底儿的眼镜遮盖住了。
Still, she takes their words to heart. After all, why shouldn't she believe the professionals?虽然心有不甘，可她还是听从了建议，毕竟，她有什么理由怀疑专业人士呢？
But back at home in Nashville, her mother — a funny, happy, upbeat person — wouldn't let her mope. Her father, a physician, encouraged her to achieve in school. So she worked hard at everything and was accepted at Stanford University.但回到位于纳什维尔的家里，她的妈妈——一名风趣、快乐、乐观的儿科护士——可不会让里斯感到丝毫的沮丧。她的爸爸是一名医生，他鼓励女儿在学业上有所成就。于是，她凡事努力，终于被斯坦福大学录取。
And at age 19, she got a part in a low-budget movie called Freeway. That led to a substantial role in the movie Pleasantville. But her big break came with Legally Blonde.19岁那年，她出演了一部低成本电影《极速惊魂》。这为她后来在《欢乐谷》中争取到真正重要的角色奠定了基础。而她真正的破冰之作是影片《律政俏佳人》。
Well, she decided, "if you can't sing and you aren't glamorous, play to your strengths. If you're going to make it in this business, it's not going to be on sexy — that's not who you are. Better focus on what you've good at. Celebrate yourself." And then came the offer that took her back to her Nashville roots — playing the wife of tormented country star Johnny Cash. A singing role.她暗下决心：“既然自己没有歌唱天分，又不是光彩照人，那就尽力演出。要想在这行做下去，就不要在性感上做文章了——自己不是那种类型的。最好在自己擅长的方面下功夫。要展示自己。”这时，她接到片约，邀她出演约翰尼卡什——一个饱受折磨的乡村歌手——的妻子，这是个需要演员有唱功的角色，该片约又把她带回到纳什维尔的家乡。
All of a sudden the old fears were back. She was so nervous on the set, a reporter wrote, she "kept a sick bucket" nearby and admitted she "would go backstage after a singing scene and shake." But she didn't give up on the movie or herself.突然，旧时所有的恐惧感又回来了，一名记者报道说，她在台上实在是太紧张了，甚至在一边“准备了呕吐时要用的痰盂”，她自己也承认“每唱完一幕回到后台，自己都在发抖”。但她没放弃那部电影，也没放弃自己。
The humor and drive she learned at home overcame the self-doubt learned on that summer stage. She spent 6 months taking singing lessons again. She learned to play the Autoharp. And the hard work built up her confidence.她在家学到的幽默和动力克服了在夏季舞台上产生的自我怀疑。她用六个月的时间重新开始学习声乐。她还学会了演奏竖琴。不懈的努力让她重拾信心。
Last March, Reese Witherspoon walked up on another stage, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and accepted the Oscar as Best Actress for her heartbreaking, heartwarming singing role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.2006年3月，里斯威瑟斯庞走上了另一个舞台——好莱坞的柯达剧院。凭借在影片《一往无前》里饰演的琼卡特卡什这一歌唱角色，她获得了奥斯卡最佳女演员奖，她在片中饰演的角色令人心碎，但也让人心暖。
Finally, as you read these accounts of Reese Witherspoon, consider the obstacles she met. The lesson of the story, I suppose, is that instead of making dozen excuses why you can not realize your dreams, think about this story, just hold to your dream and never give up.最后，当你读瑞茜威瑟彭斯的故事时，想想她遇到的挫折。我认为，这个故事告诉我们，与其找借口解释梦想为什么不能实现，不如想想这个故事，坚持你的梦想，永不放弃。
坚持梦想 ，是唯一的选择
if you can dream it, you can do it.
梦想还是要有的，万一实现了呢。
I don’t know what that dream is that you have. I don’t care how disappointing it might be as you’re working toward that dream. But that dream that you’re holding in your mind – it’s possible. Some of you already know that it’s hard. It’s not easy. It’s hard changing your life. In the process of chasing your dreams, you are going to incur a lot of disappointment, a lot of failure, a lot of pain.
我不知道你有什么样的梦。我也不在乎你在逐梦之时它曾令你有多沮丧。但我要告诉你，你心中所坚持的那个梦，它是有可能实现的。你们中有的人应该也已经知道要实现它很难。的确并不容易。要改变你的人生，这很难。在逐梦的过程中，你们会遇到各种各样的困难，沮丧，失败，痛苦。
There will be moments when you are going to doubt yourself. You’ll say, “Why? Why is this happening to me? I’m just trying to take care of my children, and my mother. I’m not trying to steal or rob from anybody. How did this have to happen to me?” For those of you who have experienced some hardships – don’t give up on your dream. The rough times are gonna come, but they will not stay, they will come to pass.
有时候你会怀疑你自己。你会问：“为什么?为什么这事会发生在我身上?我只是想照顾我的孩子，我的母亲。我并没想过要去偷和抢。为什么这事一定要发生在我身上?”遭遇过困难的你们，请别放弃你们的梦。糟糕的日子总会来，但不会停留太长，并终究会过去。
Many of you fail to seek your purpose in life and you should. You dream and then follow it up with a list of all the reasons why the dream is unachievable. You fill your life with excuses and "I can't." Many great companies were conceived from a dream, nurtured in a garage or basement and grew to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Why not you? Why not your dream? The only true limits you experience in life are those you create or those you allow others to impose upon you. If you can dream it, you can do it!
你们许多人在一生中或许会有找不到人生目标的时候，这很正常。你追求自己的梦，跟着出现一大堆告诉你这梦不可能实现的理由。你开始为自己的人生找各种借口，告诉自己“我不行。” 很多大公司都是由一个梦演变而来，从车库或地下室里发展成为纽约交易所的上市公司。为什么不是你?为什么不是你的梦?你在人生路上所遇到的那些障碍都是你自己设置的，要么就是你让他人施加在你身上的。梦想还是要有的，万一实现了呢!
Dreaming is the easy part. Acting on the dream is harder. Recognize that a dream is a journey. On the simplest level, it takes commitment, time, desire, and courage. But rarely is something great easily realized. Dreaming is recognizing and embracing the potential for greatness and seeking it in all areas of your life. Believe in your dreams and your ability to accomplish them. Keep your dreams in front of you. I'm here to challenge you to reach for your dream. Do not be afraid to dream. Never forget, if you can dream it, you can do it!
有梦想很容易，为梦而行才难。要知道，一个梦就是一段旅程。最简单地说，这梦需要你做出承诺，付出时间，坚定渴望，以及拥有勇气。道理很简单，却很少有人懂。梦就是要你意识到并拥抱生活中所有可能的美好。相信你的梦，相信自己能实现它。让它带领你。不要忘记，梦想还是要有的，万一实现了呢!
加油，为了心中的梦想
God puts dreams in our hearts. So, we must dream. We lose our sorrows and heartaches in dreams. And we live our fantasies in dreams. Some dreams are aborted while some come true.
上帝在我们的心中播种梦想。所以我们必须有梦。我们在梦想中丢弃悲伤与心痛，活在梦想的奇异世界里。一些梦想可能会夭折然而一些则会实现。
Most mornings, I'd sit by the Lake in my neighborhood just to witness the awesomeness of God; to be marveled at what Mother Nature is about to unfold... to shower us with her magnificence. The squirrels too gather by the edge of the Lake. The birds float effortlessly, circling the Lake in a beautiful ballet. The gators stand in awe. Yes, the gators! The leaves on the trees would suddenly stop their slow dance. Just like me, they are patiently awaiting for the grand entrance of the sun. The moon must go. Yes, the moon must go... to make room for the sun to rise. The sound of the gentle breeze is soothing, almost musical. I am filled with joy. I cannot describe the feeling of this awesomeness. You'd have to experience it to understand the feeling and joy of it. I know I am about to witness an amazing grace. So... I am silent. My spirit is at peace. The stage has been set. Behind those clouds, the sun awaits... waiting for the heavenly command. The ritual is in full bloom. Then I see a slice of sunlight, wafting through the clouds. Suddenly, the entire horizon is brightened, and the sun finally takes the center stage. Right there, I am still... humbled... to listen to God speak into my soul. When He's done, then, I share with Him all that my heart desires.
早晨我经常会静坐在家附近的湖畔，只为见证上帝的神奇之力;惊叹大自然母亲将展现的事物。。。震撼我们以其雄伟壮丽之景。松鼠也在湖边聚集起来。鸟儿轻快的浮在湖面上，绕着湖转着圈，好似在跳优美的芭蕾。鳄鱼肃立着。没错，是鳄鱼!树上的叶子会突然地停下她们的曼舞，耐心地等待着太阳宏大的入场礼，就像我一样。月亮必须要离开啊。是啊，月亮必须要离开啊，得给太阳腾地方啊。徐徐微风，温婉静谧，如同和乐一般。喜悦之情，溢于言表。然此景之震撼实则无法用言语表达。人们须亲身经历才能明白这种感觉和其中的喜悦。知道即将亲眼见证这一奇妙的恩典，我没有出声。我心静如水，没有一丝涟漪。舞台已准备就绪。重重云雾背后，太阳静待，等着上天的召唤。礼教已经进入它的全盛时代。然后我看到了穿过云层透出来的`一缕阳光。突然，整个地平线变得透亮，太阳最终站到了中心舞台上。然，就在那，我一动不动，谦卑地聆听着上帝对我灵魂的教导。待其结束，与上帝诉说着我的心愿。
Now, here's my personal dream story:
现在，为您呈上我关于梦的故事：
Eight years ago, a young couple very dear to my heart had a miscarriage after being attacked by armed robbers in their home. They were newly weds. They share the kind of love that makes one want to give love a second chance. Why? They truly love each other and, they take God on board with them in all that they do.
八年前，持械抢劫犯入室抢劫了一对跟我很亲近的年轻夫妻，他们因此而失掉了一个还未出生的孩子。他们刚结婚不久，之间有着使人想给爱第二次机会的那种爱。为什么呢?他们真心相爱，而且他们一切都与上帝同行。
I am your typical all-year-round-positive-kinda-girl. But, it doesn't mean I do not have my down moments. I stay positive and thankful because I know there's a reason for every season. Since the couple had that miscarriage, they felt empty. For awhile, they wondered if God had abandoned them. They fasted and prayed. They cried. They isolated themselves from family and friends. Basically, they were existing, and not living. They travelled far and wide, spending all their resources, seeing different OBGYNs. Nothing worked.
我是那种典型的一年到头都很乐天派女生，但这并不意味着我没有低落的时候。我乐观开朗，常怀感恩，是因为我知道每个季节都有存在的理由。自从那对夫妻遭遇那场不幸之后，就觉得很空虚。有那么一段时间，他们在想上帝是不是把他们抛弃了。他们禁食，祈祷，哭泣。离开家庭和朋友把自己孤立起来。基本上，他们只是单纯地存在着而不是生活着。他们倾尽所能，跋山涉水四处寻医问药，找各种妇产科医生。但毫无效果。
One day, I called them to say hello. The wife sounded like someone had died. When I asked, she said, "I am fine. Nobody died. Just tired." When I spoke with her husband, he shared with me that she had just seen her period, menstrual period, that is. I asked him if I could speak with her again. I believe till this day that it was the grace of God that led me to make that phone call. It was time to share my one dream with her.
有一天，我打电话过去问候他们。这位妻子的声音听起来就像谁去世了一样很是悲伤。当我问道她就说“我很好，没有谁去世。我只是累了.”当我跟她丈夫谈起时，他告诉我说她刚刚进入经期，仅此而已。我问道是否可以再跟他妻子聊会。我相信直到这一天是上帝恩惠让我拨打这个电话。是时候和她分享我的一个梦了。
"For eight years, I always had same dream, You were in it. You were always nursing a child while rocking him/her in a rocking chair. In the dream, there was always a celebration happening...like a Christening, and you were in it, with your husband by your side." She was silent. I had to share some life lessons with her. I also had to remind her that she must never allow her faith to be shaken, instead, it should be renewed with each sunrise because God is Hope.
“八年以来，我一直在做着同样的梦，你就在梦里面。而你总是在摇着摇椅照看一个孩子。在梦里，总是有那么一场庆祝活动在举办着，像是一场洗礼，而你在那里，你的丈夫站在你旁边。”她没出声。我必须说一些生活的经验给她听。同时我也必须要提醒她一定不能动摇信念，反之，信念应当在每次太阳升起的时候得到新生，因为上帝就是希望。
I read somewhere that when Life breaks us, "We are only broken to be made whole." Therefore, we must strive not to fall apart.
当生命将我们分开的时候我就会念到，“我们只有在要组成整体的时候才会被分离开来。”因此，我们必须努力不破裂。
I shared this dream with my mother. And each time, we got excited together and submitted this dream of mine to God in prayers and in songs of praise, after all, God is just a prayer away. And God sure loves to be praised.
我跟我母亲讲了这个梦境。每次我们都会变得很兴奋，并在祷文中和赞歌中与上帝分享我这个梦，毕竟，上帝是远方的一个祷告者。再者，上帝肯定也喜欢被称赞。
Many moons ago, I remember waking up in the middle of the night, covered in sweat. I was woken up by a sharp pain in my stomach. I had a dream. This time, I was the one pregnant. I went down on my knees in total submission to the Will of God...asking Him for my one dream to come true. And no, I did not wish to be pregnant (Laughs).
数月以前，我记得自己披着一件毛衣，在午夜醒来。我被腹部的一阵刺痛而惊醒，我做了一个梦。这回，怀孕的那个人是我。完全服从上帝的旨意，我跪了下来，请求上帝能实现我的一个梦--不，我不想怀孕。(此处有笑声)
I do know one thing for sure: Dreams really do come true when you believe in your dreams, when you give God something to work with (doing your part), and when you believe in and trust God.
有一件事我可以肯定：当你相信梦想，当你做出一些努力从而能让上帝能对你有所帮助，当你相信自己并信任上帝，梦想就一定会成真。
God finally granted me the dream of my heart. This winter, this man and wife are expecting their first child.
上帝终于恩赐了我心中的梦想。今年冬天，那个男人和他的妻子正期盼着他们第一个孩子的到来。
When I received this great news, I was not surprised. The awesomeness of God is immeasurable. I am always in total submission to His Will. I believed this dream was going to come true at God's own time. And, this is God's time. For this, I am most thankful and humbled by this amazing grace.
听到这个好消息的时候我并没有感到很惊讶。上帝的奇妙是无法估量的。我一直都服从着上帝的旨意。相信等时机到了，这个梦想就会成真。而现在就是那个时机。因为这个，我非常感谢并膜拜这奇妙的恩典。
