Your Life Is like a River
生命如河
罗伯特•泰勒
罗伯特•泰勒（1911—1969）美国著名电影明星，主要出演影视作品有《茶花女》（1937），《魂断蓝桥》（1940），《豪华的荡妇》（1936），《幸运之夜》（1939），《新婚浩劫》（1946）等。其中以其主演的《魂断蓝桥》最受世人认可与热爱。在泰勒短暂的艺术人生当中，他精彩演绎百态人生，于戏中诠释爱情，于现实中展示真我，是美国影坛一颗不朽的巨星。1969年因肺癌不幸逝世，享年58岁。本文《生命如河》，是泰勒一篇精美的散文，文笔质朴，但感情真挚，于平淡中透出对于生命的激情。

Your life begins small, something like the drops of rain which become small streams andeventually great rivers which flow into the ocean.
Like these streams and rivers, we encounter① obstacles and challenges. The streams and rivers overcome these obstacles by wearing them down or finding a path around or through them.
At times there are massive floods, huge waterfalls, and raging② rapids③. Then there are the periods of smooth and peaceful flow. The thing to note is that the flow never stops. It continues until the ocean is reached.
The river never passes the same point twice and is only at that point for the precise moment it is there. It flows immediately to the next point in its journey. It does not normally back track. Those few times it does, it becomes stagnant④ and brackish⑤ .
 The river does not struggle and strain, it simply flows on until it reaches its destination.
The river will at times change direction because of obstacles encountered, but will continue the journey to its goal. When one path is blocked it seeks another path.
The river is patient, for it knows it will eventually reach its destination. It is also consistent and persistent.
There are many parallels between the river and our lives. As babies and children many small items of input form our outlook on life and influence the way our lives flow. Meager⑥ input equals meager flow, whereas greater input gives our lives greater flow.How many parallels can you find between a river and your life?
 
翻译（反白可见）
      生命之初，微微的，小小的，宛若雨水，点点滴滴，汇聚成溪，再渐渐化作一条大河，奔流入海。
      如溪水，如河流，我们会遇到坎坷和挫折。溪水与河流克服重重阻碍，靠的或是渐渐磨平它的棱角，或是绕过它去，另辟蹊径。
     诚然，会发洪水，会有飞瀑，亦会有激流。然而，总会有那么一个时刻，河水静静流淌，平静而安详。重点是，河水从不曾停息，不到最终汇入大海的那一刻，永不停止奔流。
对于河水而言，走过的路再无法退回去重新来过，同一处地点，也从不多停留一秒。河流的生命，在于一刻不停地向下一站进发，从不回头。但凡有一刻的停留，就会化为一潭死水，淤滞不前。河水无所谓挣扎，无所谓追逐，它就这么流淌着，直到抵达终点。
      河水时而会绕道而行，因为遇到不可逾越的障碍。但尽管如此，河水依旧向着目标而前进。一条路不通，换另一条也要向前。
河水充满耐性，因为它深知自己必将抵达终点。因而它坚韧而持久。
      河流与生命，有许多相同之处。就如孩提时代一点一滴小小的投入，渐渐成就我们未来的希望，并影响着生命之流如何向前。小投入换来的只会是细细一注，只有大的投入才能成就广博的大好河川。
      那么，河流与君自己的生命轨迹又有多少相同，您能找得到吗？