My third story is about death.
我的第三个故事是关于死亡的。
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."
当我十七岁的时候, 我读到了一句话:“如果你把每一天都当作生命中最后一天去生活的话,那么有一天你会发现你是正确的。”
It made an impression on me,
这句话给我留下了深刻的印象
and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning
从那时开始,过了33年,我在每天早晨都会对着镜子
and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?"
问自己:“如果今天是我生命中的最后一天, 你会不会完成你今天想做的事情呢?”
And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
当答案连续很多次被给予“不是”的时候, 我知道自己需要改变某些事情了。
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.
“记住你即将死去”是我一生中遇到的最重要箴言,它帮我指明了生命中重要的选择。
Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
因为几乎所有的事情, 包括所有的荣誉、所有的骄傲、所有对难堪和失败的恐惧,这些在死亡面前都会消失,我看到的是留下的真正重要的东西。
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.
你有时候会思考你将会失去某些东西,“记住你即将死去”是我知道的避免这些想法的最好办法。
You are already naked.
你已经赤身裸体了。
There is no reason not to follow your heart.
你没有理由不去跟随自己的心一起跳动。
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer.
大概一年以前, 我被诊断出癌症。
I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas.
我在早晨七点半做了一个检查, 检查清楚的显示在我的胰腺有一个肿瘤。
I didn't even know what a pancreas was.
我当时都不知道胰腺是什么东西。
The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable,
医生告诉我那很可能是一种无法治愈的癌症,
and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months.
我还有三到六个月的时间活在这个世界上。
My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die.
我的医生叫我回家, 然后整理好我的一切, 那就是医生准备死亡的程序。
It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months.
那意味着你将要把未来十年对你小孩说的话在几个月里面说完.;
It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family.
那意味着把每件事情都搞定, 让你的家人会尽可能轻松的生活;
It means to say your goodbyes.
那意味着你要说“再见了”。