生活哲學
或許生活其實很簡單，不過是作為當事人的我們將其變得復雜。我們總想著：當我們得到更多、擁有更多時，才會快樂、幸福。殊不知，快樂不在于擁有得多，而在于計較得少。當我們專注于自己真正的“所需”，而非相互攀比之下的“所要”時，即使不富有，也可以享受生活、感受快樂！
適時地返樸歸“簡”吧！返樸歸“簡”既是一種生活方式，也是一種生活態(tài)度。拋開繁雜和過多的物質(zhì)束縛，用一顆知足的心去擁抱簡單而充實的生活，我們將和快樂不期而遇。簡單的快樂，你值得擁有！——Maisie
My grandparents actively practiced simplicity. They both grew up in very large families and lived through 1)the Great Depression. Saving 2)for a rainy day and avoiding 3)rampant 4)consumerism was integral to their life philosophy. Rather than seeking fulfillment through material items they chose to spend 5)quality time together, with family, and in nature.
我的祖父母一直過著簡樸的生活。他們都在大家族的環(huán)境下成長，并且都經(jīng)歷了大蕭條的年代。未雨綢繆地儲蓄和杜絕無節(jié)制的消費是他們的人生信條之一。比起通過物質(zhì)來尋求滿足，他們更愿意和家人在一起共度珍貴時光，享受大自然。
Over the years my grandparents noticed dramatic changes in their community. Every year more farmland was devoured to build larger and larger homes. As real estate prices rose many of their neighbors sold their little homes and 6)lots. Soon they were the only small house on the block, surrounded by a 7)sea of 8)McMansions.
這些年來，我的祖父母注意到他們所在的社區(qū)發(fā)生了翻天覆地的變化。每年，越來越多的農(nóng)田被吞噬，用以建造更大的房子，且愈演愈烈。由于房地產(chǎn)的價格節(jié)節(jié)攀升，他們的很多鄰居都賣掉了自己的小房子和土地。不久，他們所在街區(qū)就只剩下祖父母家的小房子，而周圍全是麥克樓。
My grandparents built and lived in a small 600-square-foot cottage for most of their adult lives. Countless family members encouraged my grandparents to expand their home. But they didn’t want a bigger place. They loved their little home and were content with what they had. For instance: they gardened, repaired their own clothes, and drove the same car for over 15 years. I still remember riding around in their old, green 9)Mercury beast and sleeping in their super tiny guest room.
我的祖父母建造了一間占地600平方英尺的小屋，他們大部分的成年時間都住在這里。很多家庭成員勸說我祖父母擴建他們的房子，但他們并不想要一個更大的地方。他們喜愛自己的小窩，也非常滿足于已有的一切。比方說，他們自己打理花園、縫補衣服，15年多來開著同一輛車。我依然記得自己開著他們那輛老舊的綠色水星牌轎車到處游蕩，睡在他們家的超級小客房里。