Finally, I seemed to grasp his meaning and realized that here was a profound observation. The wisdom that happiness makes possible lies in clear perception, not fogged by anxiety nor dimmed by despair and boredom, and without the blind spots caused by fear. Active happiness—not mere satisfaction or contentment —often comes suddenly, like an April shower or the unfolding of a bud. Then you discover what kind of wisdom has accompanied it. The grass is greener; bird songs are sweeter; the shortc...

Finally, I seemed to grasp his meaning and realized that here was a profound observation. The wisdom that happiness makes possible lies in clear perception, not fogged by anxiety nor dimmed by despair and boredom, and without the blind spots caused by fear. Active happiness—not mere satisfaction or contentment —often comes suddenly, like an April shower or the unfolding of a bud. Then you discover what kind of wisdom has accompanied it. The grass is greener; bird songs are sweeter; the shortc...

在既定的轨道安排下，我浑浑噩噩的长到了18岁，迷迷糊糊地考了一个大学，又孤孤单单地一个人只身去往一个陌生的城市。最后，凄凄惨惨地在那个城市里租上了一个小房子，投着简历，找着工作，无人问津。 孤独大约也就是如此吧。好像长大了，但又好想只做个孩子。 所以呀，我养了一只猫，就在我的出租屋里，一只圆圆乎乎的大胖橘猫，我叫它胖头橘。 我们的生活就这样开始了，一人一猫磨合的倒挺融洽，在我们那个小小的出租屋里，在属于我们的小家里。胖头橘经常乖乖地卧在我身边，任由我的手有一搭没一搭的顺着它的毛，有时当我写作太入迷时，便会朝我喵呜的叫一声，似乎是在抗议。 胖头橘有时也会吵吵闹闹，偶尔我也会生气地指责胖头橘，而指责声中又会夹杂着一声又一声的喵呜，仔细听来，那声音里还有几分捣乱成功后的小得意。 生活一天一天的过着，石沉大海的简历忽有一天然得到了回复，我终于找到工作了。 第一天入职，我本是满怀着憧憬与希望，可现实却狠狠地朝我泼了一盆冷水。刚毕业没多久的大学生，要资历没资历，要经验没经验，只有一腔随时可能会被现实泼灭的热血。 我兴致恹恹的回到了我们的家，胖头橘很乖，在第一天和我分别的日子里，在我们的小家里...

在既定的轨道安排下，我浑浑噩噩的长到了18岁，迷迷糊糊地考了一个大学，又孤孤单单地一个人只身去往一个陌生的城市。最后，凄凄惨惨地在那个城市里租上了一个小房子，投着简历，找着工作，无人问津。 孤独大约也就是如此吧。好像长大了，但又好想只做个孩子。 所以呀，我养了一只猫，就在我的出租屋里，一只圆圆乎乎的大胖橘猫，我叫它胖头橘。 我们的生活就这样开始了，一人一猫磨合的倒挺融洽，在我们那个小小的出租屋里，在属于我们的小家里。胖头橘经常乖乖地卧在我身边，任由我的手有一搭没一搭的顺着它的毛，有时当我写作太入迷时，便会朝我喵呜的叫一声，似乎是在抗议。 胖头橘有时也会吵吵闹闹，偶尔我也会生气地指责胖头橘，而指责声中又会夹杂着一声又一声的喵呜，仔细听来，那声音里还有几分捣乱成功后的小得意。 生活一天一天的过着，石沉大海的简历忽有一天然得到了回复，我终于找到工作了。 第一天入职，我本是满怀着憧憬与希望，可现实却狠狠地朝我泼了一盆冷水。刚毕业没多久的大学生，要资历没资历，要经验没经验，只有一腔随时可能会被现实泼灭的热血。 我兴致恹恹的回到了我们的家，胖头橘很乖，在第一天和我分别的日子里，在我们的小家里...

He was 9—in a Sunday school class of 8-year-olds. Eight-year-olds can be cruel. The third-graders did not welcome Philip to their group. Not just because he was older. He was “different.” He suffered from Down’s syndrome and its obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses, symptoms of retardation. One Sunday after Easter the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle—the kind in which some ladies’ pantyhose are packaged. The Sund...

He was 9—in a Sunday school class of 8-year-olds. Eight-year-olds can be cruel. The third-graders did not welcome Philip to their group. Not just because he was older. He was “different.” He suffered from Down’s syndrome and its obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses, symptoms of retardation. One Sunday after Easter the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle—the kind in which some ladies’ pantyhose are packaged. The Sund...