雖然王子愛上灰姑娘多少有些“外貌協(xié)會”的嫌疑，但最重要的原因還是她身上散發(fā)出的人格魅力。而我們愛上灰姑娘并不僅僅因為她是“逆襲”成功的典型代表，更因為她身上那些可貴的生活態(tài)度和優(yōu)良品質。

The Cinderella story is the ultimate tale of good and evil， of tragedy and triumph. As the Cinderella tale unfolds1）， we are offered important insights2）： life is not always fair and difficult circumstances befall3） good people. The Cinderella story teaches us that we can make good choices when faced with tough circumstances. Here are some life lessons that you can learn from her.

《灰姑娘》是一個講述善與惡、不幸與成功的最佳故事。隨著故事情節(jié)的展開，我們得到了這樣的重要啟示：生活并不總是公平的，好人也會遭遇逆境?；夜媚锏墓适赂嬖V我們，遇到困境時，我們可以做出好的選擇。以下便是我們可以向灰姑娘學習的一些人生啟示。

Choose to look for comfort and friendship

Cinderella is an orphan and her stepfamily is unloving—instead of becoming despondent4）， Cinderella looks elsewhere for friendship. The story teaches us that comfort and friendship can be found if one chooses to look for them.

Choose to remain kind and thoughtful

Cinderella is treated unfairly and unkindly. Instead of returning evil for evil， Cinderella chooses to remain kind and thoughtful. The story teaches us that we can act appropriately， even when surrounded by bad behaviors.

Choose to be industrious5） and uncomplaining

Cinderella has chores—and lots of them. The Cinderella story depicts6） Cinderella as being industrious and uncomplaining. Her work ethic teaches us that tasks， while unpleasant， can be approached in a constructive manner.

Choose to remain optimistic hold onto hope

Cinderella is forced to live in poverty while those around her enjoy creature comforts7）. At this juncture8）， the Cinderella tale teaches us much about enjoying simple pleasures， about endurance9）， and about the importance of maintaining an optimistic attitude and holding onto hope.

Choose to define goal and develop plan

Cinderella's evil stepmother forbids her from attending the ball. To ease her suffering， the fairy godmother arrives. The pumpkin and mice are utilized by the fairy godmother to make the chariot10） and horses. The fairy godmother asks Cinderella to define her goal and develop a plan to achieve it. It won't be easy， but sometimes we can make the impossible possible， she says.

Choose to live in the moment and be relaxed

Cinderella lives in the moment， and while she is at the ball， she enjoys it， keeping out of her mind the worries at home. When she dances with the prince， she smiles radiantly at him， and then brings out his pursuing masculine11） side by disappearing， leaving a trail of mystery in her wake12）. She does not chase after the prince like everyone else in the kingdom. In fact， she runs away from him.

Choose to take responsibilities

As the story goes， Cinderella loses her slipper as she runs out of the ball at the stroke13） of midnight. That is the only clue the prince has to find his new love. Cinderella does not try and get a job in the palace ... instead she goes back home to her nasty14） stepmother and ugly stepsisters and continues working there， without expecting the prince to rescue her.

Choose to wait for chance with hope

The prince knows that the woman on whose foot the slipper fits perfectly is the beautiful princess from the ball. Woman after woman tries to say that the slipper is hers. Over and over， each woman tries to tell the prince's steward15） that she is the perfect woman for the prince. The prince is sobewitched16） that he searches high and low17） for her until he finds her. Cinderella chooses to wait for her chance with hope.

Choose to step forward and claim new life

Cinderella is the mistress of her own destiny. She dreamed of the possibilities of a better life， she knew how to accept help， take risks and work hard. And she didn't fall asleep on the job， like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty， who depended on the prince to bail them out18） of their misadventures. It was always up to Cinderella alone to step forward and claim her new life herself.

選擇尋求安慰和友誼

灰姑娘是個孤兒，繼母一家又很無情。對此，她并沒有灰心喪氣，而是去別處尋找友誼。這個故事告訴我們，如果你選擇去尋求安慰和友誼，你就一定能找到。

選擇保持善良和體貼

灰姑娘受到了不公和刻薄的待遇，但她并沒有以牙還牙，而是選擇保持善良和體貼。這個故事告訴我們，即使身邊充斥著各種不良行為，我們仍然可以做到行為得體。

選擇做一個勤勤懇懇、不怨天尤人的人

灰姑娘要做家務活兒，而且活兒還不少。在這個故事中，灰姑娘被刻畫為一個勤勞并且毫無怨言的人。她的職業(yè)道德告訴我們，有些工作即使令人不悅，也是可以以一種積極有益的態(tài)度去對待的。

選擇保持樂觀，心懷希望

當身邊的人耽于物質享受時，灰姑娘卻被迫過著貧窮的生活。在這種情況下，灰姑娘的故事帶給我們的許多啟發(fā)就是，要享受簡單的快樂，要學會忍耐，并且，保持樂觀態(tài)度和心懷希望十分重要。

選擇確立目標并制定計劃

邪惡的繼母不允許灰姑娘參加舞會。為了減輕她的痛苦，仙女教母出現(xiàn)了。她用南瓜和老鼠分別變出了馬車和馬匹，還讓灰姑娘確立自己的目標，并制定實現(xiàn)該目標的計劃。仙女教母說，這并不簡單，但有時我們可以把不可能變?yōu)榭赡堋?/p>

選擇活在當下，放松心情

灰姑娘做到了活在當下。參加舞會時，她樂在其中，將家中的煩惱憂愁都拋在腦后。和王子共舞時，她沖著他巧笑嫣然。隨后，她的不辭而別留下了重重迷霧，并激發(fā)出了王子想要追求她的男子氣概。灰姑娘并不像王國中的其他女子那樣向王子大獻殷勤，事實上，她從王子身邊跑掉了。

選擇承擔責任

正如故事中所講的那樣，灰姑娘在午夜的鐘聲敲響時匆忙離開舞會，弄丟了一只水晶鞋，而這只水晶鞋成為王子找到自己剛剛邂逅的意中人的唯一線索?；夜媚锊]有試圖在王宮里找份工作……相反，她回到了家里，繼續(xù)面對惡毒的繼母和兩位丑陋的姐姐，繼續(xù)在家里干活兒，并沒有期待王子來解救她。

選擇心懷希望，等待機遇

王子知道，正好能穿上那只水晶鞋的女子就是舞會上那位美麗的公主。一個又一個女子都竭力聲稱水晶鞋是自己的，每個女子都一次次地想要告訴王子的管事說自己就是王子的意中人。但王子十分迷戀那位公主，他四處尋找，最后找到了她?；夜媚镞x擇心懷希望地等待屬于自己的機遇。

選擇向前邁出一步，開始新生活

灰姑娘是掌握自己命運的主人。她憧憬著過上更好日子的各種可能性，她知道如何接受幫助、承擔風險和努力工作。她沒有像白雪公主和睡美人那樣在工作時呼呼大睡，靠王子將自己從不幸之中解救出來。灰姑娘自始至終都是那個獨自做出決定要向前邁出一步，開始新生活的人。

1. unfold [?n?f??ld] vi. （故事）展開；講述

2. insight [??nsa?t] n. 深刻見解

3. befall [b??f??l] vt. （不幸或不好的事）降臨到……頭上，發(fā)生在……身上

4. despondent [d??sp?nd?nt] adj. 沮喪的；泄氣的；失望的

5. industrious [?n?d?stri?s] adj. 勤勞的；勤奮的

6. depict [d??p?kt] vt. 描寫；描述；刻畫

7. creature comforts： 物質享受

8. juncture [?d???kt??（r）] n. 特定時刻；（尤指）當口，重要關頭

9. endurance [?n?dj??r?ns] n. 耐力；忍耐力

10. chariot [?t??ri?t] n. （古代的）雙輪馬車

11. masculine [?m?skj?l?n] adj. 男性的；男子氣概的

12. leave ... in one's wake： （離開某地）留下（麻煩或一片混亂等）

13. stroke [str??k] n. 鐘聲；鳴；敲

14. nasty [?nɑ?sti] adj. 不友善的，惡意的

15. steward [?stju??d] n. （舞會、賽馬等的）管事；管家

16. bewitch [b??w?t?] vt. 使著迷；使著魔

17. high and low： 到處

18. bail sb. out： （常指通過出資）幫助某人脫離困境

19. lot [l?t] n. 際遇；境況；命運

A true \"Cinderella story\" should be about a heroine who isn't waiting to be rescued. She should be making the most of her lot19） in life， and her positive attitude should be the thing that attracts a good man into her life—with or without the assistance of a fairy godmother. If you would like to succeed in your life like Cinderella， please follow her lessons.

一個真正的“灰姑娘的故事”講述的應該是女主角不會一直坐等別人的解救。她應該充分利用自己人生的大部分際遇，并以積極樂觀的人生態(tài)度吸引優(yōu)秀的男士來到自己身邊——不管有沒有仙女教母的幫助。如果你希望自己的人生像灰姑娘那樣成功，請學習她帶來的啟示吧。