“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein
I ran a 22-miler this morning in preparation for my second marathon later this month, and at about mile 18, the heavens opened up and poured water on me by the truckload. It was a Biblical rainfall, and I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
That’s not as dangerous as it sounds, running as I was on a deserted side road on a tropical island in the wee morning hours. I ran on, glad of the cool and amazed at how much water can come down on a person at once.
Then the rain stopped as suddenly as it started, and the clouds parted, admitting into the sky a God-like light that lit up the heavens.
I suddenly, without thought, shouted at the top of my lungs, “I’M LOVING LIFE!!”
The outburst startled even me, and I started laughing to myself. Where did that lunatic eruption come from?
It was this glorious lit-up sky, following the torrential rain, that made me realize what a miracle this life is. My legs were dead tired and aching after 18 miles of running, but it was a seriously beautiful run. I was full of love for this wonder we call life.
I then did something I like to do every now and then, which is count my blessings. Forgive the air of bragging that follows, but I thought you might be interested in my list of blessings:
I am alive.
I am healthier than ever before.
I am strong enough to run a marathon.
I am married to the most beautiful and loving woman I’ve ever met.
I am loved by six of the most wonderful children I could ever have hoped for.
I have an incredible family, with supportive and good-hearted parents, sisters and brothers, grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles.
I am able to pursue my passion, and live my dream of being a full-time blogger — without a boss.
I have eliminated my debt, and have a decent emergency fund saved up.
I live on a luxurious tropical island in a house with a gorgeous view of the ocean and sunset each day.
I have a successful blog with the most encouraging, generous, supportive readership imaginable.
I have a book deal!
I live a relatively simple life.
I have great friends, both online and off.
I am alive!
That’s not a complete list of course, but it’s some of the highlights. It’s hard to be thorough when you feel like lying down on the road, curling up and going to sleep.
Why are you glad to be alive? Count your blessings — your list won’t be the same as mine, but there will always be things to be grateful for, and you should never compare your list with others. Just be glad of what you do have.
Today is a gift, for each of us. What are you going to do with it? How will you make the most of this life?
“Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive” - Elbert Hubbard
译文:
让今天成为生命之奇迹
人有两种生活方式：一种是认为根本没有奇迹；一种是认为事事皆奇迹。——艾伯特·爱因斯坦
今天早晨我跑了22
英里的路程，为后半个月的第二场马拉松赛作准备。大约跑到18
公里的时候，天上下起倾盆大雨，我淋得像落汤鸡一样。那简直就是圣经中的大雨，我眼前一片模糊，甚至看不清自己的手。
实际情况并没有听上去那么危险。因为那个时候才凌晨一、二点，并且我是在一个热带岛屿的一条偏僻小路上跑的。我继续跑着，一边觉着凉快舒服，一边惊叹雨怎么能把一个人淋得这么彻底。
接着雨就停了，来得快，去的也快。乌云散开，仿佛有金光从天堂射出，照亮天空。
突然间，我不假思索，扯开嗓子大喊：“我热爱生活！”
瞬间的爆发甚至把我自己也吓了一跳，我一边笑自己一边想，是什么让我刚才像疯子一样发泄呢？
正是大雨如注后光彩夺目的天空让我意识到生命是如此神奇。跑了十八公里路以后，我的腿又累又疼，但这实在是次美丽的经历。我对这个叫做“生命”的奇迹热爱万分。
我于是又像平常一样，悉数感恩之事。请原谅字里行间的吹嘘之意，我觉得也许你会对我的感恩表感兴趣。
我活着。
我比以往都更健康。
我体魄强健，能跑下马拉松。
我娶到了我见过的最美、最有爱心的女子。
我的六个可爱出色的孩子都深深地爱我。
我有一个无与伦比的大家庭，无论是爸妈、兄弟姐妹还是外祖父、表兄弟和舅父舅母都心地善良，常常帮助、鼓励我。
我能追求自己的爱好，实现成为一个独立、全职博客的梦想。
我还清了债务，并且攒了一个小金库以备不时之需。 我住在一个美丽富饶的热带岛屿上，从我的小屋每天都能饱览广袤的大海和绚丽的日出。
我的博客开的很成功，有一大群慷慨的读者鼓励并支持我。
我马上就能出版一本书！我过着相对简单的生活。
网络和现实中我都有真挚的朋友。
我依然活着！
表当然还没列完，这些只是精要。当你很想躺到地上、蜷曲着睡去的时候，你很难把所有的事都想全。
为什么你觉得活着很快乐呢？想想让你感恩的事吧——你列的表和我的会不一样，但总有值得你感激的事，永远都不要和别人比较。为你所拥有的而高兴就可以了。
对每个人而言，今天都是件礼物。你会怎么利用它呢？怎样将生活发挥到极致呢？
别把生活看的太重，那样你将永远无法活着从中摆脱出来。——艾尔博特·哈巴德