美国有一家很热门的博客，英文名为“ZINHABITS”，被美国《时代杂志》评为本年度美国最有人气的博客之一。在国内的一些博客中也发现有人在转载。我也很喜欢这位美国博主的生活态度和某些观点，这同今天提倡低碳、环保、健康的世界共识很协调，尽管和我们追求享受、物欲横流的当下背道而驰，但这样的声音或多或少是有益的，我会经常翻译他的一些博文，放在自己的日志中和大家一起共勉，但愿你我能一起走进禅的生活方式……
I've found that when I talk about simplifying or minimalism in general, people are generally positive …
我发现，当我谈到简单或最低限度生活方式的时候，人们普遍正面反应...
but when you get down to specifics, they're not always so enthusiastic.
但是开始认真考虑具体实施时，他们并不总是这么热情。
When I talk about giving up unnecessary shopping or clothes or shoes, many people balk.
当我谈论放弃不必要的购物或衣服或鞋子，很多人犹豫不前。
When I talk about giving up a car, or getting a smaller home, or not drinking sugary coffee drinks, or giving up junk food … I always hear a lot of people who say, “I'd love to be a minimalist, but I could never give up my ____.” (You can fill in the blank.)
当我谈论放弃汽车，或只要一个更小的住家，或不喝含糖咖啡饮料，或者放弃垃圾食物……我总是听到很多人说，“我很愿意成为一个接受最低限度生活方式的人，但要我放弃_____________（你可以自己填写）可做不到。”
I thought the same thing, many times, when I'd hear about other people making changes.
很多时候，当我听到别人身上发生改变的时候，我也会这么想：
" I could never give that up,” I thought to myself.
“我可从来不会放弃这一点，”我反省。
I was wrong.
其实我错了。
I said I could never give up my hamburgers or fried chicken, but now I'ma vegetarian.
我说过我可能永远不会放弃我的汉堡包，炸鸡，但现在我是素食主义者。
I said I could never give up my cable TV, but I've been without it for 6 or 7 years now.
我说过我可能永远不会放弃我的有线电视，但现在，我已经有6、7年时间没有它的陪伴了。
I said I could never give up my cigarettes, but I've been tobacco-free for nearly 5 years.
我说过我不可能放弃抽烟，但我远离烟草已近5年。
I said I could never give up my sweets, and now I only have a few bites now and then.
我说过我不可能放弃糖果，但现在我只偶而吃一点点。
I said I could never give up my car, but I barely drive now and am going car-free next month.
我说过我不可能放弃我的车，但我现在几乎很少开车，下月开始打算不再开车了。
I said I could never give up packaged foods, but now I almost only eat real food, unpackaged.
我说过我永远无法放弃袋装食品，但现在我几乎只吃无包装的、真正的健康食物。
I said I could never give up my coffee, but I recently have.
我说过我不可能放弃咖啡，但最近我放弃了。
I said I could never give up my running shoes, but now I run barefoot.
我说过我可能永远不会放弃我的跑步鞋，但现在我赤脚长跑。
I said I could never get down to a handful of clothes, but I have.
我说过我无法减少只保留一些必须的衣服，但我做到了。
I said I could never give up TV altogether, but I am.
我说过我永远无法完全放弃电视，但我最终放弃了。
If you think you could never do something …
如果你认为不可能也这样做……
stop saying it.
就不要这样说。
You just might surprise yourself.
你会和我一样，对自己感到惊讶的。
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