介绍:
Bite by Bite/ 一口一口吃掉烦恼
“Mom，I can，t do this.”My teenage son Bret stood in front of me with his hands outstretched， full of papers.
“Can，t do what？”I half-looked at him while preparing supper.
“All these！”He waved his hands up and down.“There，s no way I can do everything my teachers are asking me to do！”
I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him. I had never seen him so upset. He was my jovial，carefree son. He made good grades in school and nothing ever seemed to bother him. As I studied his face，I could see tears brimming in his eyes accompanying the look of panic.
Walking over to the kitchen table，I sat down and motioned him to join me.
“Show me what you have to do.”
Bret plopped down in a chair and dropped the papers in a stack in front of him.
“Ms. Jones，my chemistry teacher wants me to make a project for the Science Fair.”
“Okay. And what else？”
“I have an algebra test next week that will be one-third of our semester grade！”
I knew how Bret hated algebra，which always gave him trouble.
“And I have to write an essay for English composition. And midterms are the next week！ I need to study for them and I have to get help with Spanish. There，s no way I can do everything！”
It broke my heart to see him so stressed out. I wanted to help him，yet I couldn，t do the work for him. I could relate to his dilemma though.
In my job as a sales manager，there had been many stressful times. Caught in the middle，I had to please upper management by producing results from my sales team as well as deal with ten individuals.
As much as I wanted to run away and hide from the responsibility，I knew I had to handle it. And even though I had my doubts about the outcome，I wanted things to run well. How did I handle it and not implode？ I made a list. I listed everything that had to be done，then I put a deadline on each item and organized the list according to what had to be done first，second，and so on.
I looked at Bret and said，“You don，t have to do everything at once. You can do one at a time. Let，s make a list of what you need to do.”
So，one by one，we listed each item. Then we put the due date next to the item. Next we separated the items into parts. As we worked on prioritizing the tasks，I saw my son visibly relax.
When we finished with the list，I asked，“Do you think you can do this now？”
He smiled and I saw his confidence return.“Sure！ Thanks，Mom！”
From that day on，Bret made lists for everything he had to do. I had to laugh when I saw lists lying around，but I knew the process worked for him，as it did for me. Bret completed all his assignments and kept his good grades.
There，s an adage that asks，“How do you eat an elephant？”The answer is，“One bite at a time. ”
“妈妈，我搞不定这个。”我十几岁的儿子布雷特站在我面前，伸出的手里攥满试卷。
“搞不定什么？”我边准备晚餐边瞥了他一眼。
“所有这些！”他上下挥舞着手。“我不可能完成老师要求的所有任务！”
我停下正在做的事，转过身面对着他。我从没见过他如此沮丧。他是我生性快乐、无忧无虑的儿子；在学校成 绩很好，似乎没什么能让他困扰。当我仔细看着他的脸，分明看见他神情慌张，眼里有眼泪在打转。
我走到餐桌旁坐下，并示意他和我坐到一起。
“让我看看你要做的。”
布雷特扑通一声坐到椅子上，将一堆试卷丢到我面前。
“我的化学老师琼斯小姐希望我为科学展览会做个设计。”
“嗯，还有呢？”
“我下周有场代数考试，这成绩会作为学期成绩的三分之一。”
我清楚布雷特对代数的厌恶程度，它常常给他带来烦恼。
“还有，我得为英文写作写一篇文章，并且下周就要期中考试了！我要复习考试，还要补习西班牙语。我不可 能完成所有的任务！”
看到他承受如此大的压力，我的心都碎了。我想帮助他，尽管我能感受到他的困境，但我不能替他做那些功课。
作为一名销售经理，我的工作中有很多压力大的时候。身处中层，我必须以我销售团队创造的业绩来取悦上层 管理者，同时要管理10个员工。
尽管我十分想逃避责任，我知道自己必须处理好它。纵然对成果持有怀疑，我仍希望事情能够顺利发展。我该 如何处理而不至于崩溃呢？我制作了一个清单。先列出所有要做的事，给每一条加上截止日期，然后根据事情 的迫切程度去整理清单。
我看着布雷特说：“你不用同时完成所有的事，你可以一次做一件事。我们来把你要做的列成一个清单吧。”
于是，我们一件件列出了每条，然后在每一条旁边加上截止日期。接着我们将每个事项分成几部分。在给任务 进行主次排列时，我看到儿子明显放松了些。
当我们完成清单，我问他：“现在你觉得自己可以完成了吗？”
他笑了笑，我看得出他恢复了自信。“当然！谢谢你，妈妈！”
从那天起，布雷特都会把所有要做的事列成清单。看到散落四处的清单时，我就忍不住笑，但我知道这个方法 对他很有用，正如它对我很受用一样。布雷特完成了所有的任务并保持着好成绩。
有一句谚语是这么问的：“你怎样才能吃下一头大象呢？”答案是：“一次吃一口。”
outstretch
【释义】vt. 拉长；伸展得超出……的范围
【短语】out stretch one，s helping hand 伸出援助之手
jovial
【释义】adj. 天性快活的
【短语】be in a jovial mood 心情非常好
stack
【释义】n. 堆；堆叠 vt. 使堆叠；把……堆积起来 vi. 堆积，堆叠
algebra
【释义】n. 代数学
【短语】advanced algebra 高等数学
midterm
【释义】adj. 期中的；中间的 n. 期中考试
【短语】midterm exam 期中考试
implode
【释义】vt. 使内爆 vi. 向内破裂；内爆
【短语】the engine implode 发动机内爆
prioritize
【释义】vt. 把……区分优先次序 vi. 把事情按优先顺序排好
【短语】prioritize your tasks 按轻重缓急安排任务；
prioritize education 教育优先
assignment
【释义】n. 分配；任务；作业；功课
【短语】assignment right 转让权，顶让权；
school assignment学生作业，课题
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