英語勵志美文欣賞：兩顆橡樹

If you want to understand adversity, take two identical acorns from the same oak tree and plant them in two different locations. Plant the first in the middle of a dense forest, and the other on a hill by itself.

如果你想理解什么是逆境，就去拿兩顆從同一棵樹上摘下來年齡相同的橡樹果，并且把它們種到不同的地方。第一顆種在濃密的樹林當中，而另外一顆則單獨種在一座山上。

Here’s what will happen. The oak standing on a hillside is exposed to every storm and gale. As a result its roots plunge deep into the earth and spread in every direction, even wrapping themselves around giant boulders. At times it may seem the tree isn’t growing fast enough—but the growth is happening underground. It’s as if the roots know they must ported the tree from the threatening elements.

事情的結果便是這樣。那顆長在山上的橡樹經歷了大風大雨，結果它的根深深地扎進了泥土中間，并不斷向四周擴張，甚至把自己置身于巨大的石塊當中。有時它可能看起來長的不是很快，但這時它卻在地下悄悄生長著，好像它的根知道自己必須快速生長來保護樹木免受自然危害的影響。

What about the acorn planted in the forest? It becomes a weak, frail sapling. And since it is protected by its neighbors, the little oak doesn’t sense the need to spread its roots for support.

而種在樹叢中的橡樹果是什么樣子的呢?它變成了一棵虛弱的小樹苗。因為有周圍樹叢的保護，所以這棵小樹苗便不知道要把自己的根扎得更深。

Don’t be afraid of adversity! Welcome it! That’s your surefire route to ultimate success.

不要害怕困難!要歡迎它!困難是你最終成功的必經之路。