One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly1 on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water rush downstream and listen to the chirps2 of birds and the rustling3 of leaves in the trees. I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return gracefully to their original position after the wind had died down.
When I think about the bamboo tree’s ability to bounce back4 or return to its original position, the word “resilience5” comes to mind. When used in reference to a person this word means the ability to readily recover from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits of a person’s emotions.
Have you ever felt like you are about to snap6? Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.
During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions that threatened your health. You felt emotionally drained, mentally exhausted and you most likely endured unpleasant physical symptoms7.
Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking point, bend, but don't break. Try your best not to let the situation get the best of8 you.
A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant ordeal9. With hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be. The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with if the end result is worth having.
If the going10 gets tough and you are at your breaking point, show resilience. Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don’t break!
孩提时，我最美好的记忆是沿着河流散步，悠闲地坐在岸边。在那里，我可以享受安宁和恬静：看着河水奔流而下，听着啾啾的鸟鸣和沙沙的树叶声。还可以看到竹林在大风中弯下腰来，又看着它们在风停后，优雅地归回原位。
想到竹子恢复过来，或说回到原位，我脑海里闪现出“韧性”一词。当用这个词形容某人时，意味着他能从打击、消沉或其它折磨人的情绪中恢复常态。
你是否曾感觉自己快撑不下去了？你曾否感觉自己即将崩溃？谢天谢地，你经受住了这种磨难，能站在这儿跟我们聊这些。
在经历磨难的过程中，你可能体验了有损你健康的千情万绪；你会心灰意冷、筋疲力尽；同时，你的身体也可能出现让你无法忍受的糟糕症状。
生活总是好坏掺半，有欢乐时光，也有痛心时刻。下次，当你经受令你几近崩溃的磨难或痛苦时，弯下腰来，但别折断。尽最大努力别让逆境将你压倒。
适当的希望会让你经受住严酷的考验。明天会更好，情形会好转，带着这些希望，也许，事情就不会像看上去那么糟糕。如果，最终的结果值得期待，那么，痛苦的经历也许就能轻松度过。
如果处境变得艰难，而你又处在崩溃的边缘，那么，像竹子一样，表现出“韧性”，适时弯下腰来吧，但别断裂！
1. idly adj. 空闲的
2. chirp n. 喳喳声；唧唧声
3. rustling n. 沙沙声
4. bounce back 卷土重来；恢复过来
5. resilience n. 韧性
6. snap v. 突然折断。此处形容无法承受压力即将崩溃。
7. symptom n. 征状
8. get the best of 战胜；占优势
9. ordeal n. 折磨；考验
10. going n. 情况