A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill．In the room of 200，he asked，“Who would like this $20 bill？”
Hands started going up．He said，“I am going to give this $20 to one of you，but first，let me do this．”
He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up．He then asked，“Who still wants it？”Still the hands were up in the air．
“Well，”he replied，“what if I do this？”He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe．He picked it up，now crumpled and dirty．
“Now，who still wants it？”
Still the hands went into the air．
“My friends，you have all learned a very valuable lesson．No matter what I did to the money，you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value．It was still worth $20．”
“Many times in our lives，we are dropped，crumpled，and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way．We feel as though we are worthless；but no matter what happened or what will happen，you will never lose your value．”
“Dirty or clean，crumpled or finely creased，you are still priceless to those who love you．The worth of our lives comes，not in what we do or who we know，but by…WHO WE ARE．”
“You are special—don't ever forget it．”
Words and Expressions
- seminar n．（大学里由教授指导的）研究班，研讨班
proceed to do继续进行；继续做（或讲）下去
- crumple v．弄皱，压皱
- grind v．磨碎，碾碎，用力挤压
- decrease v．减少，减小
Read and recite the following sentences：
“Many times in our lives，we are dropped，crumpled，and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way．We feel as though we are worthless；but no matter what happened or what will happen，you will never lose your value．”
“Dirty or clean，crumpled or finely creased，you are still priceless to those who love you．The worth of our lives comes，not in what we do or who we know，butby…WHO WE ARE．”
“You are special—don't ever forget it．”
Now try and finish the following sentences：
“Many times in our lives，we are __________，__________ and__________ into the dirt by __________ we make and __________ that come our way．We feel __________ we are __________；but no matter __________ or __________，you will never __________．”
“Dirty or clean，__________ or __________，you are still __________those who __________．The worth of our lives comes，not in __________ or __________，but by…__________．”
“You are special—don't ever forget it．”
二十美元
一位有名的演讲家手里拿着一张20美元的纸币，开始了讨论会。在200人的屋子里，他问道：“谁想要这20美元纸币？”
开始有人举手。他说：“我会把这20美元纸币给你们中间的一位，但是，先看看我这么做。”
他开始把这张纸币揉皱，然后他问道：“还有人想要它吗？”仍然有很多手举在空中。
“好，”他说道，“如果我这样做会怎么样呢？”他把纸币扔到地上，开始用皮鞋使劲踩踏。
然后他拣起又脏又皱的纸币，“现在，还有人要它吗？”
空中仍举着很多手。
“朋友们，刚刚你们已经得出一个非常宝贵的经验。不管我怎么糟蹋这张纸币，你们仍然想要它，因为它的价值没有降低。它仍然是20美元。”
“在生活中，很多次我们被自己制定的决策和身边的环境所抛弃、蹂躏，甚至碾入尘土。我们感到自己一无是处。但是不管发生了什么，或者将要发生什么，你们都永远不会失去自己的价值。”
“无论你肮脏或者干净，皱巴巴的或者被折磨，对周围爱你的人来说你仍然是无可替代的。我们生活的价值不在于我们做了什么，或者我们认识谁，生活的价值在于我们是谁。”
“你是与众不同的，永远不要忘记这一点！”
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