<p class="ql-block">据说，有些人之所以成功，是因为他们有天赋。</p><p class="ql-block">It's said that some people owe their success to their inborn talents. </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p> <p class="ql-block">读师范学校时，我的“文选”老师对我说“你有写作天赋！”。可这么多年过去了，我也没成为一名作家…… 😄😄 读初中时，我是个沉默寡言的“闷坛子”，除非万不得已，或者是别人主动。然而，多年的教书生涯却练就我一口流利缜密的“雄辩”……</p><p class="ql-block">When I was studying in the normal school, I was reminded by my teacher of chinese that I was blessed with a gift of writing. Nevertheless, after so many years, I did not become a writer as expected . In junior high school, I was labeled as quiet. I would rather keep silent unless necessary or spoken to, especially among strangers. However, over years of being a teacher , I have developed a fluency of persuasive eloquence. </p> <p class="ql-block">我从来没想过我能游泳，更别提开车了。直到有一天，胖得衣服穿不下了，心想：换衣服的码数不如换身材，而游泳是最佳方式。经过一周的扑腾，终于克服了对水的恐惧……</p><p class="ql-block">Never in my life had I imagined that I could swim, let alone drive a car. Until one day, I found myself outgrow my favorite clothes. Assuming that it was better to reshape my figure than change the size of my clothes and swimming may be the best approach , I finally made up my mind to have a try . After a long week of clumsy kicking and beating in water , I finally overcame my fear of water and made it. </p> <p class="ql-block">至于开车，“下辈子吧”，我想，“坐车多舒服啊，干嘛学开车？”哈哈</p><p class="ql-block">As for driving a car , "Not this life . I prefer taking a taxi to driving a car.", I thought. </p> <p class="ql-block">直到有一天，我被闺蜜说服了。她的理由如下：首先，开车是现代社会的一项必备技能，缺少它就等同于残次品；其次，技多不压身；最后，我能学会，你也能的……</p><p class="ql-block">Until one day I was persuaded by my close friend. Her arguments are as follows: First and foremost, driving is a basic skill in modern society , without which you are equal to being disabled in a sense. Secondly , it's worthwhile to be equipped with more practical skills. Finally , if I can make it , so can you. </p> <p class="ql-block">为了防止自己打退堂鼓，我“破釜沉舟”，第一天便付了全款。果不其然，第二天练车时，但凡有车开过来，总感觉要撞上去，手脚好像在抽筋，我不由自主地尖叫起来…… 教练耐心安慰说：“别紧张，我这边有刹车呢！”就这样，风里来雨里去，终于一把考过科目二。</p><p class="ql-block">To prevent myself from changing my mind , I "burned my boat" by giving full payment on the first day. Sure enough , while practising the next day , I would scream with my hands and legs shaking whenever there was a car coming my way because I thought there would be a clash. "Take it easy ! I am here for you. "reminded the coach patiently. So I continued , rain or shine , until I managed to pass Subject 2 the first time. </p> <p class="ql-block">这里有一段趣事： 考试时，由于过道有点长，看到前面有条横线，我开始倒车入库(考试的第一个项目)，可倒了半天，却怎么也找不到车库！心想“糟了”，脑子突然一片空白……，然而， 过了好像好大一会，也没听到安全员来叫我“滚”下车。相反，他在不远处礼貌地问我“学员，有什么需要帮忙吗？”。“没有,谢谢 ”，我回应道。“请继续”，他说 。我定了定神，改变方向，硬着头皮向前开。这时听到语音提示：“现在进入考试区域 ”。我去，原来是虚惊一场啊……😄😄</p><p class="ql-block">Here's an anecdote: At the beginning of the test , after a long drive , I saw a line and began to back the car to the garage. ( the first item of the test) But somehow , the garage was nowhere to be found. "Bad luck ", I thought. My mind went blank. However , after what seemed a long time , there was still no "get off" from the examiner as expected. Instead , there came a polite question from behind not far away , " Can I help you ? " "No，thanks . " was my response. "Then please go ahead." I calmed myself down , changed the direction and drove forward. Anyway,I had to tough it out .All of a sudden , there came a voice prompt:" Now is the test ". My God. What a false alarm !</p> <p class="ql-block">然而，真正的考验在科目三，我考了两次才通过。由于半夜练车，失眠得头痛欲裂 ，脑中闪过放弃的念头，心想“我前世是造了什么孽啊，没事学什么车啊”。这晕头转向的，连红绿灯也不会看，教练说“红灯亮了，怎么不停车啊？” 我应声踩下刹车，乖乖，车停在路中，进也不是，退也不是，两边大卡车呼啸而过，教练哭笑不得…… 还好，第二次顺利通过。当停下车拉开车门的那一刻，我激动得捏了自己一把，还好不是在做梦！我激动得又叫又跳的，完全忘了自己的年龄。至于科目一和科目四嘛，小菜一碟 …… 😄😄</p><p class="ql-block">Nevertheless , the real pain lies in Subject 3 which I passed the second time. As we had to practise at midnight , I suffered from sleeplessness and thus a terrible headache. The thought of giving up flashed in my mind. " Why the hell should I learn to drive a car? " Consequently , I got confused and disoriented and could not even make sense of the traffic lights. " The red light is on. Why didn't you stop ?" the coach snapped. Hearing this, I stepped on the brake and stopped the car abruptly. As you can imagine , we got stuck on the road with heavy trucks roaring past , leaving the coach speechless. Thank Goodness. I passed it smoothly the second time. The moment I stopped the car and opened the door , I was so excited that I pinched myself to make sure that it was not a dream. Then so overwhelmed with excitement was I that I jumped and screamed , totally forgetting that I had already outgrown that kind of behavior .😄😄 And Subject 1 and Subject 4 were a piece of cake. </p> <p class="ql-block">也许我们不缺少天赋，我们缺少的是动机 ，或者说，是把我们推出舒服区域的推动力。如果说，兴趣是最好的老师，那么动机就是我们人生的罗盘。</p><p class="ql-block">Maybe , we are not short of talents. What we are really short of is a motivation，or rather, a push out of our comfort zone. If it is true that interest is the best teacher , then it is also true that motivation is the compass in our life. </p>