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生命的价值不依赖我们的所作所为，也不仰仗我们结交的人物，而是取决于我们本身！我们是独特的——永远不要忘记这一点！

You are special

A well-know speaker started on his seminar by holding up a $20 bill in the room of 200.

He asked,who would like this $20 bill.Hands started going up.He said,I'm going to give this $20 to one of you,but first,let me do this.He proceeded to crumple the $20 note up.

He then asked,who still wants it? Still the hands were up in the air. Well,he replied,what if I do this? He dropped it on the ground,and started to ground into the floor with his shoe.He picked it up,now,crumpled and dirty.

Now,who still wants it?Still the hands went into the air.

My friends,you have all learned a very valuable lesson,no matter what I did to the money,you still want it.Because it did not decrease in value.It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives,we are dropped,crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make,and circumstances that come away. We feel as though we are worthless.But no matter what happened,or what will happen,you will never lose your value.Dirty or clean,crumpled or finally creased,you are still priceless to those who love you.The worth of your lives comes not in what we do ,or who we know,but by who we are.You are special.Don't ever forget it.

参考译文

在一次讨论会上，一位著名的演说家没讲一句开场白，手里却高举着一张20美元的钞票。

面对会议室里的200个人，他问：“谁要这20美元？”一只只手举了起来。他接着说：“我打算把这20美元送给你们中的一位，但在这之前，请准许我做一件事。”他说着将钞票揉成一团，然后问：“谁还要？”仍有人举起手来。

他又说：“那么，假如我这样做又会怎么样呢？”他把钞票扔到地上，又踏上一只脚，并且用脚碾它。尔后他拾起钞票，钞票已变得又脏又皱。现在谁还要？”还是有人举起手来。

朋友们，你们已经上了一堂很有意义的课。无论我如何对待那张钞票，你们还是想要它，因为它并没贬值，它依旧值20美元。

人生路上，我们会无数次被自己的决定或碰到的逆境击倒、欺凌甚至碾得粉身碎骨。我们觉得自己似乎一文不值。但无论发生什么，或将要发生什么，在上帝的眼中，你们永远不会丧失价值。在他看来，肮脏或洁净，衣着齐整或不齐整，你们依然是无价之宝。”生命的价值不依赖我们的所作所为，也不仰仗我们结交的人物，而是取决于我们本身！我们是独特的——永远不要忘记这一点！

词汇释义

1.seminar n. 研究班, 专题讨论会

例句：

The seminar will be adjourned to next Wednesday.
讨论会暂停，下星期三继续举行。

2.crumple v.弄皱, 折皱；挤压, 扭弯

例句：

He crumpled the letter into a ball.
他把信揉成一个团。

3.decrease vi.减少, 缩短, 变小

例句：

His interest in this subject gradually decreases.
他对这个科目的兴趣逐渐在减退。