I have learned that life is like a jigsaw puzzle. You do not see the final picture before you start. You just have to live it and watch the pieces come together.
I have never been a patient person. When I want something, I want it now. Right now though, in my life I find that I am in a waiting stage and I have a strange feeling that this “waiting” period will serve only as a lesson in patience. Sometimes the waiting time in our lives is just as important as the time when we take action. This stage in my life reminds me of a story about patience and the value of not knowing what is around the corner.
When my parents first started out in business, my mother wanted to stay close to her home, so they wanted to sign a contract with Australia Post to be couriers. They were given this contract and so their story began.
Their business became bigger and bigger —first state wide and then it spread across Australia. Finally they had a home business. They now have four storehouses across the country and ship furniture across Australia and around the world. So you see, they started out just wanting a job that would keep them close to their family and ended up with a multi-million-dollar company.
If they had seen the final picture, they probably would have shaken their heads and said “it is an impossible dream”. Sometimes you have to be patient and wait. Just do what is in your heart, and trust that eventually the jigsaw puzzle will all come together and display your beautiful life.
【助读词汇】
-jigsaw puzzle 拼图玩具
-courier n. 快递公司，送快信的人
【参考译文】
忍耐是美德
我认识到人生就像拼图游戏。开始之前，你并不知道最后拼出来的会是什么。你必面经历这一过程，看着它一块一块地拼凑起来。
我从来就不是有耐心的人。想得到什么的话，我希望马上就得到手。但是，我现在却发现自己处在人生的等待阶段，并有一种奇妙的感觉，那就是这一等待阶段恰恰就是给我补上一堂有关耐心的课。有时候人生中那些等待的时间和你采取行动的时间一样重要。人生的这一阶段让我想起一个关于忍耐的故事，同时也让我认识到，不知道将要发生的事情也有它的价值。
当我爸妈开始做生意的时候，妈妈不想离家太远，所以他们希望与澳大利亚邮政签下快递业务。他们签下了这个合同，因此故事也就开始了。
他们的生意越做越大——开始是在我们所在的州，后来就拓展到了整个澳大利亚，最后办成了一个家庭企业。现在他们在全国拥有4家店面，销售的家具被运到全国乃至世界各地。正如你所见，他们起家的时候只是想找份和家人呆在一起的工作，结果却发展成了一家资产数百万的公司。
如果看到了最后完整的拼图，他们可能会摇摇头说“这是不可以实现的梦”。有时候你得忍耐，得等待。做你内心想做的事，坚信到头来这份拼图会拼出来，并展示出你的美丽人生。
【人生启迪】
无论是为人还是处事，耐心都是不可或缺的品质。每个人都想获得成功，但是它只会垂青一部分人，或早或晚。很多人失败不是因为他不够聪明，也不是因为他不够努力，只因为他缺少耐心。要坚信成功有一天会属于你，坚持不懈的努力，成功等你等很久了。