Jerry and his cousin Matt are walking on the campus at Matt's school.
Matt: What's up? Why are you so tense? What's bugging you?
Jerry: I have a singing contest coming up tomorrow, but I don't want to go. That experience in the seventh grade has haunted me ever since. I don't think I can make it.
Matt: Just relax. Don't let your mind fill with negative thoughts. I wrote a report about Tommy Chen in school recently. I learned from him that our biggest enemy in life is ourselves.
Jerry: Who is he?
Matt: He's an ultimate runner.
Jerry: Oh? What's that?
Matt: That means he runs ultramarathons.
Matt: Runners are sometimes isolated in extreme environments and must face their fear and doubt. He says that courage means keeping on even though you know you are afraid. The only way to overcome your fear is to face it.
Jerry: He really is an inspiring guy. But what if I embarrass myself again?
Matt: You won't. Have faith in yourself. Unless you can get past your limits, your dreams will be unrealized.
Jerry: OK... I'll do my best. Hopefully I can defeat my stage fright and my mind won't go blank.
Matt: Don't worry. Keep practicing and you will be okay.
Jerry: I feel more confident now. Thanks for encouraging me. I hope I can get a good night's sleep tonight.
傑瑞和他的表哥麥特一起走在麥特的學校校園裡。
麥特:怎麼了?你為什麼看起來這麼緊張?你在煩惱甚麼?
傑瑞:明天有一場歌唱比賽,但我不想參加。我一直擺脫不掉七年級的一次經驗。我覺得我辦不到。
麥特:放輕鬆。別總是想著負面想法。我最近在學校寫了一份關於陳彥博的報告。我從他身上學到,人生中最大的敵人就是我們自己。
傑瑞:他是誰?
麥特:他是一位極限跑者。
傑瑞:哦?那是什麼?
麥特:意思是他跑超級馬拉松。
麥特:跑者有時候會在極端環境中處於孤立的狀態,而必須面對自己的恐懼和懷疑。他說勇氣意謂著即使你知道自己很害怕,仍要不斷堅持下去。克服恐懼的唯一辦法就是面對它。
傑瑞:他真的很會鼓勵人。但如果我又害自己出糗了怎麼辦?
麥特:你不會的。要對自己有信心。除非你超越自己的極限,否則無法完成你的夢想。
傑瑞:好吧... 我會盡我所能。希望我能戰勝舞台恐懼,還有我的腦中不會突然一片空白。
麥特:別擔心。持續練習,你沒問題的。
傑瑞:我現在覺得有點自信了。謝謝鼓勵。我希望今晚能夠睡個好覺。
- tense [tɛns] adj.
緊張的 - bug [bʌg] v.
煩擾 - haunt [hɔnt] v.
使不斷苦惱 - ultimate [ˋʌltəmɪt] adj. / n.
極限的 / 極限 - ultramarathon [ˋʌltrəˋmærə͵θɑn] n.
超級馬拉松(簡稱超馬) - What's up? 怎麼了?
embarrass [ɪmˋbærəs] v.
使尷尬,使難堪 - limit [ˋlɪmɪt] n.
極限 - defeat [dɪˋfit] v.
打敗 - stage fright n.
舞台恐懼症,怯場 - blank [blæŋk] adj.
空白的 - I'll do my best.
我會盡我所能。 - My mind goes blank.
我腦中一片空白。