|英语美文：我期待自己变老

I choose the thoughts that make me feel comfortable with growing older.

我选择能让自己坦然面对衰老的想法。

I am the perfect age.

我正值最好年龄。

Each year is special and precious and filled with wonders all its own.

生活当中的每一年都是特别而珍贵的，且充满新奇。

Being elderly is as special as being a child.

成为老人和成为孩子一样都是一段特殊的历程。

Yet, my culture fears old age so much.

然而，我所身处的文化对于变老却很恐惧。

Weve made it such a terrible, terrible thing to get old.

大家觉得变总是一件很很可怕的事情。

And yet its normal and natural.

然而这是正常而自然的现象。

Weve created a youth-worship culture that is harmful to us all.

大家打造了一种青春崇拜的文化，这让大家所有人都深受其害。

I look forward to growing older.

我期待自己变老。

The alternative is to leave the planet^1.

代价是要离开这个世界。

I choose to love myself at every age.

我选择去爱每一岁的自己。

Just because I am older it does not mean I have to get sick and infirm.

虽然变老了，但这不意味着我必然会生病或变得虚弱。

I do not have to be hooked^{2 up to machines or suffer in nursing homes in order to leave the planet.}

当我离开这个世间时，我也并未必非要在身上插满各种管子或待在养老院里挨日子。

When its my time to go, Ill do it gently-perhaps go to bed, take a nap^{3, and leave peacefully.}

到了我该告别的时候，我会温顺地完成这件事情-----或许我会走到床边躺下，打个盹，然后平静地离开。