By choosing to let go of the past, we sweep out all the ashes that weigh us down and affect every aspect of our health, and our peace of mind.
My friend Jean was divorced after a thirty-year marriage that produced three daughters, one son and eight grandchildren. Because she actually raised them single-handedly, Jean was hurt and angry that the children didn't take her part after the divorce. For months she refused to attend any family celebration to which her former husband Jim was invited. When I reasoned that her children’s understanding of the relationship with and between the parents was probably altogether different from hers, she stuck to the belief that she was right.
One day Jean called in tears. “Saturday is my granddaughter
's birthday, and I want to be with her, but I can’t bring myself to face my former husband.” “Jim isn't the problem,” I said gently, “it's false pride. Instead of holding on to the painful past, which is over and done, let the feelings go and get on with your life. You're
depriving yourself of the joy of sharing in these important occasions, while Jim feels free to experience them. Tell me, would you rather be right, or be happy?”
That must have done the trick because when Saturday arrived, Jean appeared at her daughter's home carrying her famous chocolate-chip cookies and a beautiful birthday
cake.
How great it feels to let go! And the more we practice the art of letting go of all negativity, the better able we become to devote our thoughts, our time, and our energy to living joyfully in the present, what ever age we happen to be.
小题1: It can be inferred that ____.
| A．Jim did very little to bring up the children during their marriage. |
| B．The writer thought Jean and Jim shouldn't have divorced. |
| C．The children were on their father's side and didn't invite Jean to any family celebration. |
| D．Jean had been too tough on Jim before they divorced. |
小题2:The underlined phrase “depriving yourself of” is closest in meaning to ____ .
| A．persuading yourself to get | B．taking away from yourself |
| C．taking false pride of yourself | D．talking yourself into showing |
小题3:In the writer's opinion, ____.
| A．Jean and Jim should be remarried |
| B．a broken family could live together in peace |
| C．to be happy is more meaningful than to be right |
| D．everyone should look into the future |