接下来,我又生了几个孩子,但我没有放弃为比尔打工。约翰的工资也涨了,但是我们继续过着节衣缩食的生活。说实在的,我仍没有办法。我仍然为将来的生活担忧,我的信条仍然是要为将来买意外保险,而不是积极地应对现实的生活。而比尔坚持他自己的信仰,每天早晨起来都对生活充满最美好的希望。我会像比尔一样乐观地生活吗?甚至,我的丈夫受我的影响,活得都非常沮丧。一个周末,约翰想去看电影,“我们可以去看7点钟的那场。”“亲爱的,我们为什么不白天去看呢?”我问。“那样会便宜些。”“但是,我们买得起电影票。”我知道约翰是对的,但是,我总是为将来担忧。这种担忧从孩童时就产生了,根深蒂固,我一直都无法摆脱它的束缚。
冬季的一天,天气预报说波特兰会有大风暴,比尔当然很高兴,“这样的天气对一名上门推销员是非常有利的,”他说,“因为人们都待在家里。”因此他把商品捆起来,去挨家挨户地推销,他一直工作到完成销售任务。但是,这时,由于天气原因造成的糟糕的路况,公交车停运了,他不得不搭便车回家。但是,他发现他家门前的那条车道太滑了,他多次摔倒多次爬起。最后,他手脚并用,终于爬着摸到了家门口。然而,他心里特别高兴,为那天圆满的工作高兴。第二天上午,他把发生的事告诉了我。可能是由于长时间为比尔工作,受到他乐观精神的影响,我不再为将来的生活发愁了,而是开始享受生活。
我为比尔工作二十年了。有时,我以前的焦虑感还会袭击我。但每当这时,我就会想起我的朋友比尔在他家门前结满冰的车道上爬行的情景,我听到他说:“谢利,生活中没有阻碍,只有挑战。”当我向他学习时,我就会放松了,会感到自由。是的,比尔最终让我看到希望,看到上帝为我们打开的机会,每次都有一扇门。现在,我们家去看电影都买全价的电影票,而且我们还舍得花钱买爆米花了。
Whenmyhusband, John, andIhadourfirstchild20yearsago, weagreedI''tgotothemoviesanymore.
"new" : acollegeeducation, asolidmarriageandacareer.I'dhaddoneitall, yetIstillcouldn'.
ThingstookaturnonedaywhenIgotaphonecall."Shelly? ThisisBillPorter," -to-doorsalesmanI'ddeliveredpackagesforinhighschool."Wouldyoubeinterestedincomingbackacoupleofdaysaweektofillordersforme?" ItalkedaboutitwithJohn, andthenwenttoworkforBill.
—orrather, shuffles—.
"Bill, doyouhaveMSorsomethinglikethat?" Iasked."Ihavecerebralpalsy," ."But… whatdoesthatmean? Howdidyougetit? Willitgetworse?" "Thedoctor''tgetanybetter, 'tstopmefromaccomplishingwhateverIsetmymindto."
Bill'soptimismamazedme, , ; afterhegraduated, hisfathertoldhim, "Getajob." Hewasn''sjustthatthey'dnevercoddledBill; instead, , , "'tmatterwhattheproductis, 'llsee."
ThedirectorgaveBillajob—, ormore, andbecamethecompany'', Bill'salarmwentoffat4:45a.m.Hisbusdowntownleftat7:'tliketodressinarush."Appearanceisessential," , , hiswingtipslooselytied, , knockingoneverysingledoor, tellinghimself, "Thenextcustomerwillsayyes." Thekeyis, Billbelievesthey'llallsayyeseventually.
, , , ? ."Wecancatchtheseveno'clockshow." "Honey, can'twegotothematinee?" Iasked."It'scheaper." "Wecanaffordit." Hewasright, butIcouldn', andI'dneverbeabletoovercomethat.
."Perfectforadoor-to-doorsalesman," hesaid."Everyone'shome!" , , , '.
It'sbeen20yearsnowthatI', "Therearenoobstacles, ." WhenIfollowhisexample, I', BillPorterfinallygotmelookingforwardtotheopportunitiesGodopensforus, -pricedshow—andsplurgeonpopcorn.
