Um bom exercício de tradução

                   

                      A FATHER´S INSTRUCTIONS  FOR LIFE

                       Condensed from “LIFE´S LITTLE INSTRUCTIONS BOOK”

                                     H. JACKSON BROWN, JR.

Years ago, I read that  it was the responsibility of parents not to pave the road for their children, but to provide a road map. So, as my son, Adams, prepared to leave for college, I jotted down a few words of counsel and put them  in a dime-store binder. After his mother and I had helped him move into his dorm, I presented him with the bound pages.

A few days later, Adam called me. “Dad,” he said, “the book is one of the best gifts I´ve ever received. I´m going to add to it and someday give it to my son.”Every once in a while life hands you a moment so precious, so overwhelming, that you almost glow. I had just experienced one.

Here are the words I gave him.

Ø  COMPLIMENT THREE PEOPLE EACH DAY.

Ø  WATCH A SUNRISE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.

Ø  OVERTIP BREAKFAST WAITRESSES.

Ø  LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE.

Ø  SAY « THANK YOU » A  LOT.

Ø  SAY « PLEASE »  A   LOT.

Ø  LIVE BENEATH YOUR MEANS.

Ø  BUY WHATEVER KIDS ARE SELLING ON CARD TABLES IN THEIR FRONT YARDS.

Ø  TREAT EVERYONE YOU MEET AS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.

Ø  DONATE TWO PINTS OF BLOOD EVERY YEAR.

Ø  MAKE NEW FRIENDS BUT CHERISH THE OLD ONES.

Ø  KEEP SECRETS.

Ø  DON´T WASTE TIME LEARNING THE « TRICKS OF THE TRADE .INSTEAD, LEARN THE TRADE.

Ø  ADMIT YOUR  MISTAKES.

Ø  BE BRAVE. EVEN IF YOU´RE NOT, PRETEND TO BE. NO ONE CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

Ø  CHOOSE A CHARITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT IT GENEROUSLY WITH YOUR TIME AND MONEY.

Ø  READ THE BILLS OF RIGHTS.

Ø  USE CREDIT CARDS ONLY FOR CONVENIENCE, NEVER FOR CREDIT.

Ø  NEVER CHEAT.

Ø  GIVE YOURSELF A YEAR AND READ THE BIBLE COVER TO COVER.

Ø  LEARN TO LISTEN. OPPORTUNITY SOMETIMES KNOCKS VERY SOFTLY.

Ø  NEVER DEPRIVE SOMEONE OF HOPE. IT MIGHT BE ALL HE OR SHE HAS.

Ø  PRAY NOT FOR THINGS, BUT FOR WISDOM AND COURAGE.

Ø  NEVER TAKE ACTION WHEN YOU´RE ANGRY.

Ø  HAVE GOOD POSTURE, ENTER A ROOM WITH PURPOSE AND CONFIDENCE.

Ø  DON´T DISCUSS BUSINESS IN ELEVATORS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY OVERHEAR YOU.

Ø  NEVER PAY  FOR WORK BEFORE IT´S COMPLETED.

Ø  BE WILLING TO LOSE A BATTLE IN ORDER TO WIN THE WAR.

Ø  DON´T GOSSIP.

Ø  BEWARE OF THE PERSON WHO HAS NOTHING TO LOSE.

Ø  WHEN FACING A DIFFICULT TASK, ACT AS THOUGH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FAIL. IF YOU´RE GOING AFTER MOBY DICK, TAKE ALONG THE TARTAR SAUCE.

Ø  DON´T SPREAD YOURSELF TOO THIN. LEARN TO SAY NO POLITELY AND QUICKLY.

Ø  DON´T EXPECT LIFE TO BE FAIR.

Ø  NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS.

Ø  INSTEAD OF USING THE WORD PROBLEM, TRY SUBSTITUTING THE WORD OPPORTUNITY.

Ø  NEVER WALK OUT IN A QUARREL WITH YOUR WIFE.

Ø  REGARDING FURNITURE AND CLOTHES : IF YOU THINK YOU´LL BE USING THEM FIVE YEARS OR LONGER, BUY THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD.

Ø  BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS. WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR LIFE, YOU´LL REGRET THE THINGS YOU DIDN´T DO MORE THAN THE ONES YOU DID.

Ø  FORGET COMMITEES. NEW, NOBLE, WORLD-CHANGING IDEAS ALWAYS COME FROM  ONE PERSON WORKING ALONE.

Ø  STREET MUSICIANS ARE A TREASURE. STOP FOR A MOMENT AND LISTEN, THEN LEAVE A SMALL DONATION.

Ø  WHEN FACED WITH A SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM, GET AT LEAST THREE  MEDICAL OPINIONS.

Ø  WAGE WAR AGAINST LITTERING.

Ø  AFTER ENCOUNTERING INFERIOR SERVICE, FOOD OR PRODUCTS, BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PERSON IN CHARGE. GOOD MANAGERS WILL APPRECIATE KNOWING.

Ø  DON´T   PROCRASTINATE. DO WHAT NEEDS DOING WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Ø  GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. NO ONE EVER SAID ON HIS DEATHBED, « GEE, IF I´D ONLY SPENT MORE TIME AT THE OFFICE. »

Ø  DON´T BE AFRAID TO SAY « I DON´T KNOW ».

Ø  DON´T BE AFRAID TO SAY « I´M SORRY ».

Ø  MAKE A LIST OF 25 THINGS YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE BEFORE YOU DIE. CARRY IT IN YOUR WALLET AND REFER TO IT OFTEN.