A very special teacher in a high school had a husband who died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her thoughts with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight shined through the classroom windows, and when the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on her desk and sat down there.
With a gentle look on her face, she paused and said,"Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves...and none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is a sign that we must make the most out of every single day."
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on,"So I would like you all to make me a promise...from now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see---it could be a scent---perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these things, and remember them.
"For, although it may sound silly to some people, these things are the 'stuff' of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time...it can all be taken away."
The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot . Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone . For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.
译文
一个很特别的高中老师，其丈夫死于突发性心脏病。在他死后大约一周，她便把她的一些所思所想讲给全班学生。下午的阳光透过教室的窗户照射进来，快要放学了，她把一些东西放在讲桌上，坐了下来。
她脸上带着温柔的表情，稍稍停顿了一下，便开始讲话：“在放学前，我想跟你们分享一种我认为很重要的想法。我们每个人都生活在地球上，学习、分享、爱护别人、欣赏和付出自我，却没有一个人知道这种美好的体验什么时候就会结束了。它随时都可能被带走。也许这预示着我们必须最大限度地利用每一个日子。”
她的眼睛开始湿润了，她接着说：“因此我想让你们每个人答应我：从今以后，在你上学或者放学的路上，要发现一些美丽的事物。它不一定是你看到的某个东西----它可能是一种香味----也许是新鲜烤面包的味道从某一座房里飘出来，也许是微风轻拂树叶的声音，或者是晨光照射在轻轻飘落的秋叶上的方式。请你们寻找这些东西并且记住它们吧。”
“因为，尽管听起来有些傻气，这些东西却就是生活的内容，是我们活在世上要欣赏的一些小东西。这些东西我们经常认为是理所当然的。我们必须注意它们，这很重要，因为说不定在什么时候，它就被带走了。”
整个教室里非常安静。我们都收拾起课本，整理好，一个个默默地走出教室。那天下午，在放学回家的路上我注意到很多事物，比我以前整个学期发现的事物还要多。不时地，我会想到那位老师，回忆起她给我们留下的深刻印象，我便会尽力去欣赏有时我们都忽略的东西。
今天中午吃饭的时候专注一下你所看到的特别事物。光着脚丫散散步。或在日落时分在沙滩上漫步。今晚在回家的路上，要驻足仔细品味一下冰淇淋蛋卷。因为随着我们年龄的增长，并不是做过的`事情值得我们后悔，而是那些没有去做的事情。
1.appreciate 赏识，鉴赏，感激
2.give of 奉献，贡献
3.fantastic 美好的，幻想的，奇异的
4. waft吹送，飘荡
5.rustle 发出沙沙声
6.file out 鱼贯而出
7.barefoot 赤脚的
8.stop off 中途停留
9.cone 圆锥体，锥形物
Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
享受生命中的小事情，因为有一天你回首往事，也许会发现它们其实是很重要的事情。
If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.
如果看见蓝天会使你快乐，如果从地里拱出的小草会给你以感动，如果你能明白自然中简单的事物所传达的信息，那么你就该欢欣喜悦，因为你的灵魂还活着。
Learn to appreciate: A song that takes you away, for there are those who cannot hear. The beauty of a sunset, for there are those who cannot see. The warmth and safety of your home, for there are those who are homeless. Time spent with good friends for there are those who are lonely. The little things are what life is all about.
学会欣赏一首使你着迷的歌，因为还有人听不到；学会欣赏日落的美景，因为还有人看不到；学会享受家庭的温暖与安全，因为还有人无家可归；学会享受与朋友***度的时光，因为还有人感到孤独。这些点点滴滴的小事其实就是生活的全部。