"What is the meaning of life?" This is a question that we all ask ourselves at one point or another of our existence here. It is a question that I have asked myself many times over the years.
“生活的意义是什么?”这个问题我们都在某个生命节点问过自己,或者我们为什么存在。这个问题,在过去这些年中,我问过自己无数次。

The best answer that I ever came across was written by the great psychologist, Viktor Frankl who had survived the Nazi Concentration camps in World War II. Frankl wrote that "The meaning of life is to give life meaning.
"我认为最好的答案是来自维克多•弗兰克,他是一个伟大的心理学家,他在二战纳粹集中营里面存活下来。他说,“生命的意义在于赋予它意义。”

When I was a young boy I gave my life meaning by simply playing, running, jumping, swimming, laughing, and riding my bike.
我还是小男孩的时候,我对于生活的理解就是单纯的玩耍、追逐、蹦蹦跳跳、游泳、没心没肺地大笑,还有骑自行车。

When I went to school I gave my life meaning by learning, studying hard, getting good grades and trying to make my Mom and Dad proud.
大一点去学校了以后,生活就是,学习,还有努力学习,得到好成绩为父母争光。

When I was a teenage boy I found meaning in playing sports, hanging out with my friends, and trying to impress girls.
当我成了小伙儿,生命的意义在于玩转各类运动、和朋友们出去玩、吸引女孩儿注意。

In college I found my meaning by deciding what I wanted to study and what career I wanted to prepare for.
大学的时候,生命的意义在于找到自己热衷学习的课程,以及为今后的就业做准备。

When I was working as a teacher I found meaning in helping to open young minds to new ideas and old wisdom.
当我成为一名老师的时候,生命的意义变成帮助孩子们激发新点子、传授老经验。

When I married and had children I found meaning in protecting, providing for, and watching over those I loved.
当我结婚为人父,生命的意义对我来说就是保护、倾其所有地陪伴所爱之人的成长。

When I found out both of my sons were mentally handicapped I found meaning in loving them, caring for them, and learning so much from them about life, love, compassion, patience, faith, and joy.
当我发现儿子们都有智力上面的缺陷,生命的意义在于,爱他们、照顾他们、从他们身上领会到生命的真谛、爱、热情、耐心、信仰,和快乐。

As I got older too I began to realize that meaning isn’t something that comes and goes.
再年长一点时候,我体会到,生命不只是一些东西的拥有和失去。

We can give meaning to every moment of our lives here. We can bring meaning to the thoughts we think.
我们可以赋予生命每一刻以意义。让我们的思考有价值。

We can bring meaning to the things we do. We can bring meaning to the hearts we touch.
让我们的所作所为有意义。让那些我们可以碰触到的心灵变得有意义。

All we have to do is love. It is love that gives life meaning. It is love that makes life worth living.
我们所有的这些都叫爱。爱让生命变得充实,爱让生命的存在有价值,不枉此生。

 

(翻译:林浔鸥)