重拾欢乐旧时光：孩子教给我们的15个快乐小秘诀

Every morning my daughter and I go for a twenty-minute walk to my workplace. For me, in those twenty minutes, I’m in transit. For my toddler, it’s nothing less than a parade of flowers, fire trucks, pebbles, and friendly folk.
每天清晨，我的女儿都跟我一起步行20分钟去我工作的地方。对于我来说，在那20分钟里我只不过是在路上。但对于我那刚会走路的小孩儿，这完全就是一场热闹的游行，队伍中有鲜花、消防车、鹅卵石和友好的人们。

One morning, I noticed that a sweet old man, amused by my toddler, was watching her with a smile on his face. As we crossed his path, he chuckled to himself, “Children have all the fun!”
一天早上，我注意到一位和蔼的老人，他被我的小孩儿逗乐了，面带笑容地注视着她。当我们走过他跟前的小路时，他自己咯咯笑起来，“孩子们总是那么快乐！”

He’s right. They do. And clearly, I’m missing out! My age is no good reason for me to miss out on this street party!
他说得对。孩子们是这样的。很明显，我正错失了这些快乐！就算我年纪大了，我也没有理由错过这街头派对！

Now, I try to remember that fun is a perspective. It’s not a force bound within the walls of amusement parks. The days that I remember this, it makes all the difference.
现在我努力去记住：乐趣是一种思考问题的角度。它不是被游乐场的墙壁束缚、身在其中才能感受到的力量。我记住了这一点，我的生活变得完全不同。

Line-ups are a great way to make new friends. Dusting is a contemporary dance. My world is a playground.
排队成了结交新朋友的一个好方法。打扫卫生的同时可以跳个舞。我的世界就是个游乐场。

We are born with a complete understanding of fun, which seems to fade over time and conditioning. I say we learn a thing, or 15, from children.
我们天生就完全理解什么是乐趣，但是乐趣似乎随着时间和周围条件而逐渐消失了。我认为我们应该从孩子们那里学习一件事，或者说是15件事。

1. Be where you are.
活在当下。

Kids are really good at enjoying the moment. Adults are addicted to thinking about all the things we have to do tonight, tomorrow, next week. Where you are is where the fun is. Nowhere else.
小孩子真的很善于享受当前的时刻。成年人则沉溺于思考我们必须在今晚、明天、下周做的所有事情。当下就是乐趣所在。别无他处。

2. Learn something new.
学习新鲜事物。

From new words to new facial expressions, kids are constantly mastering new skills. Make it a point to continuously be learning something, anything. Aren’t we the ones who tell our kids that “learning is fun”?
从新单词到新表情，小孩子在不断掌握新的技能。努力做到持续不断地学习，学习任何事物都可。不正是我们告诉孩子们“学习很有趣”的吗？

3. Get out of your comfort zone.
走出舒适区。

Toddlers take risks all day long. As we mature, we tend to stay in our safe place. Your day will be so much more exciting if you gather the guts to wear hot pink pants.
蹒跚学步的小孩儿一整天都在冒险，而我们这些已经成熟的人却倾向于呆在我们的安全地带。如果你鼓起勇气穿上热辣的粉色短裤，那么你的这一天会更加令人兴奋。

4. Find the beat.
寻找节奏。

While adults would find a car alarm loud and obnoxious, my daughter dances to the rhythm of the beat. Seek out the symphony in the background noise.
成年人或许觉得汽车警报喧闹、令人讨厌，然而我的女儿却随着警报的节奏翩翩起舞。挖掘周围噪音中的交响乐曲吧。

5. Smile 27 times more than you do.
微笑增加27倍。

I’ve heard that children smile 400 times a day and adults, only 15. Smiling is the catalyst to having fun.
我听说孩子每天笑400次，而成年人却只有15次。笑是开心的催化剂。

6. Notice nature.
关注自然。

Every child is in awe of ants, birds, and dandelions. At some point, we become creatures of the concrete jungle. Allow yourself to be enamored by Mother Nature.
每个孩子都敬畏蚂蚁、小鸟和蒲公英。不知从何时起，我们变成了水泥丛林里的生物。让自己沉浸在大自然之中吧。

7. Climb things.
攀登。

As soon as they discover their legs, kids start climbing everything. There is something about being above ground level that is somewhat thrilling. Climb a rock. Climb a tree. You’ll feel like the master of the universe.
一旦小孩子发现自己双腿的用途，他们就开始攀爬各种东西了。高出地平面这件事有那么点儿令人兴奋。爬上块石头，爬上颗树，你会感觉自己好似宇宙万物的主宰。