英語閱讀:It’s Never Too Late
Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about, regretted, or incomplete about. The next week he invited participants to read their lists aloud. This seemed like a very private process, but there's always some brave soul in the crowd who will volunteer. As people read their lists, mine grew longer. After three weeks, I had 101 items on my list. The instructor then suggested that we find ways to make amends, apologize to people, or take some action to right any wrongdoing. I was seriously wondering how this could ever improve my communications, having visions of alienating just about everyone from my life.
The next week, the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story:
"While making my list, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town in Iowa. There was a sheriff in town that none of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a trick on Sheriff Brown. After drinking a few beers, we found a can of red paint, climbed the tall water tank in the middle of town, and wrote, on the tank, in bright red letters: Sheriff Brown is an s.o.b. The next day, the town arose to see our glorious sign. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had my two pals and me in his office. My friends confessed and I lied, denying the truth. No one ever found out.
"Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown's name appears on my list. I didn't even know if he was still alive. Last weekend, I dialed information in my hometown back in Iowa. Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed. I dialed his number. After a few rings, I heard: `Hello?' I said: `Sheriff Brown?’ Pause. `Yup.’ `Well, this is Jimmy Calkins. And I want you to know that I did it.’ Pause. `I knew it!’ he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a lively discussion. His closing words were: `Jimmy, I always felt badly for you because your buddies got it off their chest, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years. I want to thank you for calling your sake.’"
Jimmy inspired me to clear up all 101 items on my list. It took me almost two years, but became the springboard and true inspiration for my career as a conflict mediator. No matter how difficult the conflict, crisis or situation, I always remember that it's never too late to clear up the past and begin resolution.
相關文章
-
英語閱讀:It’s Never Too Late大綱
Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about, regretted, -
英語新聞閱讀:For the love of Earth, stop traveling
An illustration of plane pollution. (The WorldPost)According to former U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres, we have only three years left in which to bend the emissions curve downward and forestall -
英語作文It’s Never Too Late
Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about, regretted, -
英語閱讀:VIT declines to acquire Ang Mo Kio property
The managers of Viva Industrial Trust (VIT) announced on Oct 9 that they have declined an offer to purchase an Ang Mo Kio property at $300 million from Ho Lee Group.Located along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, -
六級英語寫作範文:The Celebration of Western Festivals
Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Celebration of Weste Festivals. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 現在國 -
九年級年級英語課文複習 Unit 1. Try not to translate every word
1. try(not) to do sth.盡力(不)做某事:Try to lea English well. 儘量學好英語。Try not to translate every word. 儘量不要翻譯每個單詞。2. write down寫下,記下:Please write down your mistakes in your notebooks. -
英語閱讀範文參考:LovePeopleInAllKindsOfWeather
LovePeopleInAllKindsOfWeatherMake sure your love is unconditional. Make sure you love people in all kinds of "weather". Or else what is the use if we love a person only when he is good or she is nice? -
英語作文閱讀解析:Following in hero’s footsteps
英語閱讀核心素養,就是運用合適的`閱讀策略,解讀文本內容,發展思維能力,提升語言水平的素養,設計內容思維,語言和策略四個方面。從閱讀內容到閱讀素養的,自我問詢過程中,教師應樹立綜合閱讀教學觀,即學生通過對文本的學習,精讀 -
Covering the ears to steal the bell高中英語作文
once upon a time there was a stupid man. his neighbor bought a nice bell. the stupid man liked it very much and wanted to steal it. one silent night, he went to his neighbor’s house. he tried to get -
英語閱讀:African Union Leaders Talk Mali, Chinese Investmen
African leaders met in Ethiopia during the weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their continental alliance and discuss issues such as Chinese investment on the continent as well as the fight a