Take a Moment to 'Count Your Blessings'

2023-11-27 17:01:08来源：网络

Take a Moment to 'Count Your Blessings'

花一点时间“数一数你的幸运”

【原文听力】

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　　By Anna Matteo

　　25 November 2023

　　Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.

　　There are certain times of the year when we stop and think about all the things that make us happy or bring us joy. Some people even make a list of these things. In English, we have a saying for this: to count your blessings.

　　When we count our blessings, we note all the wonderful things in our lives. This helps us to appreciate how good life is.

　　Thanksgiving is a time when many Americans count their blessings. The United States observes this holiday on the fourth Thursday in November.

　　Counting your blessings is important. It shows that you are grateful. Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or thanks. When people count their blessings, they can say it like this: "I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for my health."

　　It is better to be grateful for our blessings than to take them for granted. When we take something for granted, we do not appreciate it. Sometimes we are not appreciative of our good fortune and blessings until they are gone.

　　But now, let's take a step back. What exactly is a blessing?

　　In English, the word "blessing" has at least two meanings. As we said, a blessing is something that brings you happiness or helps you. To religious people, a blessing is approval and help from a higher source -- God.

　　A blessing can also be a sign of approval. It gives you permission to do something. For example, a traditional marriage custom involves a blessing. If a young man wants to marry a young woman, he may want to first get her family's blessing.

　　Give thanks for small blessings

　　Now, when we want to show our recognition of all the little things that prove helpful, we sometimes say "give thanks for small blessings." We often say this expression in the middle of a troubling or difficult time.

　　So, let's say a friend of yours is angry about a flat tire on his car. But then he stops and thinks for a minute and says, "Well, at least I have a car. I should count myself lucky and give thanks for small blessings."

　　Now, not all blessings are simple and easy to recognize. Some are more complex than others. That brings us to the expression "mixed blessing."

　　Mixed blessing

　　A mixed blessing is something that is both good and bad. For example, being really beautiful can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, you look great and may be treated really well by some people. On the other hand, you look great and may be treated badly by other people. So, when we use this expression, we often use the terms "on one hand" and "on the other hand."

　　Blessing in disguise

　　Here is another blessing expression. It is a little more complicated: a blessing in disguise.

　　First of all, a disguise hides something that you do not want seen or noticed. For example, a secret agent might wear a disguise to hide her identity. Or a bottle of perfume might disguise an unpleasant smell.

　　So, a blessing in disguise is a bad event or situation. But the outcome or result is actually good.

　　Here's how to use the expression blessing in disguise.

　　So how was your high school reunion? Oh, I got sick and couldn't go. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Actually, it was a blessing in disguise. It turns out my two best friends from high school couldn't go either. So, we're going to take another trip together next month. That sounds like even more fun. It will be! They are the only people I wanted to see anyway. Hey, how's everything going? I haven't seen you in a while.

　　Things are great! For starters, I got fired last month.

　　Oh. Sorry. So, why are things great? Getting fired is terrible.

　　Well, yes. But this time it was truly a blessing in disguise. You see, after I was fired I found a new job -- a better job that I really love. And it pays more.

　　Good for you! I'm glad you're able to count your blessings!

　　And that's all the time we have this week for Words and Their Stories.

　　Now it's time for you to "count your blessings." What are you thankful for? You can tell us in the Comments Section.

　　Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.

　　When I am worried and I can't sleep

　　I count my blessings instead of sheep

　　And I fall asleep counting my blessings...

　　Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. The song at the end is "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) sung by Krista Branch.

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　　作者：Anna Matteo

　　日期：2023年11月25日

　　现在，是美国之音学习英语节目“词汇及其故事”。

　　在一年中的某些时候，我们会停下来思考所有让我们快乐或带给我们快乐的事情。有些人甚至会列出这些事情。在英语中，我们有一个说法来形容这个行为：数一数你的幸运。

　　当我们数一数我们的幸运时，我们会注意到生活中所有美好的事物。这有助于我们感激生活的美好。

　　感恩节是许多美国人数一数他们的幸运的时候。美国在每年11月的第四个星期四庆祝这个节日。

　　数一数你的幸运是很重要的。这表明你心怀感激。感激是一种感谢或感激的情感。当人们数一数他们的幸运时，他们可以这样说：“我感谢我的家人。我感谢我的朋友。我感谢我的健康。”

　　对我们的幸运心怀感激，总比把它们视为理所当然要好。当我们把某事视为理所当然时，我们就不会去珍惜它。有时，我们对我们的好运和幸福并不感激，直到它们消失。

　　但现在，让我们退一步看。究竟什么是祝福？

　　在英语中，“祝福”这个词至少有两个含义。正如我们所说，祝福是带给你快乐或帮助你的东西。对于宗教人士来说，祝福是来自更高源头——上帝的批准和帮助。

　　祝福也可以是一种批准的标志。它给你做某事的许可。例如，传统的婚姻习俗涉及到祝福。如果一个年轻人想要娶一个年轻女子，他可能首先想得到她家人的祝福。