找到生活的意义，生活就会改变

湖南岳阳市华容县第二中学 张明波

难词探意

1.ponder/'pɒndə(r)/v.考虑；琢磨

2.philosophically/,fɪlə'sɒfɪkli/adv.哲学地；达观地；沉着地

3.cumulatively/'kjuːmjələtɪvli/adv.渐增地；累积地

Every January for the past 20 years,I have taken a few moments to ponder the answer to the big question,“What is the meaning of life?”

It's one of those enormous questions that are so important—philosophically and practically in terms of how we live our lives—and yet we never stop to really think about the answer.If you might be able to get your response in less than a minute,the wisdom-to-effort ratio for this exercise could not be more advantageous.I tend to ponder such things as the creator of the Wisdom Project,a collection of writings about the wisdom in everyday life experiences.

The reason why I ask this question year after year is that my answer changes over time,which I find interesting and meaningful.There is no only correct answer,I believe—only answers that are right for you at any given time.

My favorite answer,though,is the Zen-like circular reasoning attributed to writer Robert Byrne,who put it,“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”Some people have concluded that life's meaning is subjective.“There is not one big universal meaning for all,” author Anaïs Nin wrote in her diary.“There is only the meaning we each give to our life,an individual meaning,an individual plot,like an individual novel,a book for each person.”

Taking a few moments to record your response to the question “What is the meaning of life?”is the kind of simple exercise that effectively adds meaning to your life.And then I suggest answering it every year.Looking back on how your thinking has evolved and been influenced by experience tells you something more about yourself.Cumulatively,it gets you closer to a deeper self-understanding.

Whatever small step you take toward finding the meaning of life is a step toward a more meaningful and longer life.

Reading Check

1.Why does the author ask the question every year?

A.To get the response in less than a minute.

B.To get the correct answer to the meaning of life.

C.To find different answers interesting and meaningful.

D.To learn the wisdom in everyday life experiences by himself.

2.What have the examples of Robert Byrne and Anaïs Nin proved?

A.Our life should be a life of purpose.

B.The two persons have found the best answer.

C.Everyone has his or her own answer at any given time.

D.Life's meaning is philosophically and practically important.

3.What does the author suggest people doing about adding meaning to their life?

A.Trying asking others about what their opinions are.

B.Understanding themselves more by answering the question every year.

C.Looking back on their life to influence their meaning of life.

D.Writing down their responses to the question and doing more exercise.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

The reason why I ask this question year after year is that my answer changes over time,which I find interesting and meaningful.

【信息提取】名词reason后的定语从句由why引导；that引导表语从句，不能使用because。注意：如果reason在定语从句中充当主语、表语或者宾语，定语从句用that引导。

【句式仿写】我迟到的原因是没赶上公共汽车。