Alvin: Hey Jenny! I’ve gotta ask you, how do you do it?
Jenny: Do what? Use the copier? First you make sure it’s on, then you—
Alvin: No, I know how to do that all too well. I mean, how do you maintain the same level of enthusiasm after working here for all these years? Don’t you ever feel 1)drained and 2)unmotivated?
Jenny: That’s a good question. ①I guess I just have a 3)knack for looking on the brighter side of things. ②You know, clouds having silver linings and all that jazz.
Alvin: But that seems so 4)clichéd, like it came out of a self-help book. I need something I can apply to real life issues.
Jenny: Well then, spill it. What’s been happening lately that’s got you so worn out?
Alvin: I don’t know…I guess it sometimes feels like I’ve given this company my blood, sweat and tears for the better part of a decade. And what do I have to show for it? ③I’ll tell you what I’ve got; the same wages, same office, same assignments, same clients, just the same old story again and again, with no light at the end of the tunnel. I’m tired of the 5)monotony, and I’m just plain tired.
Jenny: Woah! I had no idea that the daily 6)grind here had you so exhausted.
Alvin: Yeah! After a hard day’s work and an hour and a half 7)commute, by the time I cross the 8)threshold into my 9)humble 10)abode, I’m so 11)pooped that I just 12)collapse on the sofa.
Jenny: Have you had a lot of pressure, or any added responsibilities piled on your shoulders lately?
Alvin: ④Come to think of it, the bosses have really been on me lately about getting my writing assignments in earlier. And I’ve been getting criticized left and right for reusing the same topics and ideas.
Jenny: So maybe that added pressure and criticism has led to your lack of energy.
Alvin: Perhaps. I mean, I don’t know what they expect of me.
Jenny: You’d think they expect no more or no less of you than any other employee.
A l v i n : B u t I’v e w a s t e d all of my best ideas and 13)innovative 14)concepts over the years on people who simply don’t appreciate the hard work that goes into it. ⑤It’s like I’m a classic car that used to be all the rage, but they’ve systematically 15)stripped me for parts and 16)syphoned out all my gas, so now I’m running on empty.
Jenny: I’m so sorry Alvin. I wish there was something I could do to help…
Alvin: Honestly, just talking to you about it is lighting a bit of fire under me. ⑥Maybe getting all riled up about things is just what I need to 17)invigorate me.
Jenny: Or it could be that you have a colleague who’s got your back no matter what, and having that 18)assurance gives you a better outlook on things.
Alvin: Are you trying to take credit for my sudden 19)epiphany? Jenny: Call it what you will, but since you seem so energized, how about getting back to work?
Alvin: Ha ha. Thanks Jenny.
Jenny: Anytime.
阿爾文:嘿,珍妮!我必須問你,你是怎么做到的?
珍妮:做到什么?怎么用復印機嗎?首先你得確保它是開著的,然后你……
阿爾文:不是,我很清楚怎么去操作它。我的意思是,在這里工作了好幾年后,你是怎么保持當初的那份熱情的?你從未感覺到筋疲力盡和毫無動力嗎?珍妮:這是個好問題。我想我只是有看到事情好的一面的本領。你懂的,還有一線希望之類的。
阿爾文:這聽起來太老生常談了,像是出自于一本心靈雞湯之類的書里。我需要的是能適用于現實生活的東西。
珍妮:好吧,那么告訴我吧,最近發生了什么事讓你那么疲憊不堪?
阿爾文:我不知道……有時候我會感覺到近十年來,我已經為公司付出了心血、汗水與淚水。為什么我要說這些呢?我告訴你我得到了什么:一樣的薪水,一樣的辦公環境,一樣的任務,一樣的客戶,相同的事重復再重復,根本看不到希望。我厭倦了這樣單一化的工作,我只是筋疲力盡了。
珍妮:哇!我不知道這里日常的工作會讓你那么疲憊。
阿爾文:嗯!結束了一天辛苦的工作以及1個半小時的下班路程后,當我跨過門檻回到我的蝸居時,累得倒在了沙發上。
珍妮:你最近工作壓力大,還是擔負著更多的責任呢?
阿爾文:想想看,最近老板們真的是一直在催促我提前完成寫作任務。我總是因為重復使用相同的話題和想法而處處受到批評。
珍妮:所以也許是壓力的加重和責備讓你沒了動力。
阿爾文:也許吧,我的意思是,我不知道他們對我的期待是什么。
珍妮:你應該認為他們對你的期望跟其他員工是一樣的。
阿爾文:但是我這些年已經在這些人身上浪費了所有最好的想法和創意理念,而他們卻沒有對我的辛苦工作表示感激。就像我曾經是一臺紅極一時的經典轎車,他們系統地拆散了我的零件、放走了我的汽油,所以現在我跑不動了。
珍妮:我很抱歉,阿爾文。我希望能幫你做點什么……
阿爾文:老實說,只是跟你聊聊這件事就能給我一點鼓勵了。也許發發脾氣是我需要鼓勵自己的一種方式。
珍妮:也許是因為你有一個無論發生什么事都支持你的同事,確保讓你看到事物好的一面。
阿爾文:你是想把我的頓悟歸功于你嗎?
珍妮:你怎么說都行,但是既然你看起來那么有精力,不如回到工作中去?
阿爾文:哈哈,謝謝你,珍妮。
珍妮:隨時為你效勞。
Smart Sentences
① I guess I just have a knack for looking on the brighter side of things. 我想我只是有看到事情好的一面的本領。
have a knack for sth.: possess a specific talent for sth., especially one difficult to explain or teach(具備對某事,尤其是難以解釋或教導的特殊才能)。例如:
Stanley doesn’t have a knack for reading people, so this job is probably not for him.
史丹利不善于看人,所以這工作也許不適合他。
② You know, clouds having silver linings and all that jazz. 你懂的,還有一線希望之類的。
silver lining: a comforting or hopeful aspect of an otherwise desperate or unhappy situation(失望或不幸中的一線希望,一點慰藉)。例如:
Optimistic people can always find a silver lining in every unpleasant situation.
樂觀的人總是能在各種不愉快的情況下找到一線希望。
and all that jazz: and other similar things(諸如此類)。例如:
They sell plates, spoons, knives, forks and all that jazz.
他們賣的是盤子、勺子、刀叉那一類的東西。
③ I’ll tell you what I’ve got; the same wages, same office, same assignments, same clients, just the same old story again and again, with no light at the end of the tunnel. 我告訴你我得到了什么:一樣的薪水,一樣的辦公環境,一樣的任務,一樣的客戶,相同的事重復再重復,根本看不到希望。
with no light at the end of the tunnel: sth. is completely hopeless in a difficult or unpleasant situation(在困境中看不到任何希望)。例如:
For students nowadays, life is about classes, homework, and tutoring, with no light at the end of the tunnel.
對于現在的學生來說,生活就是上課、做作業和補課,看不到解脫的希望。
④ Come to think of it, the bosses have really been on me lately about getting my writing assignments in earlier. 想想看,最近老板們真的是一直在催促我提前完成寫作任務。
come to think of it: suddenly realized sth. which is often obvious(想起來,的確)。例如:
Come to think of it, Sue is the best candidate for the job.
現在想來,蘇是最適合做這份工作的。
⑤ It’s like I’m a classic car that used to be all the rage. 就像我曾經是一臺紅極一時的經典轎車。
all the rage: very popular or fashionable(風靡一時)。例如:
Apple’s iPhone used to be all the rage, but has since subsided quite a bit.
蘋果公司的iPhone曾經風靡一時,但風潮已經有所減退。
⑥ Maybe getting all riled up about things is just what I need to invigorate me. 也許發發脾氣是我需要鼓勵自己的一種方式。
rile up: get angry(生氣,惱火)。例如:
Geez, he can really rile up everyone he talks to.好家伙,他真的跟誰說話都能把對方惹火。