It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was worried about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.
今天是6月15日，再過兩天我就滿30歲了。對於即將進入我人生一個新的十年，我惴惴不安，擔心我最好的時光已經遠去了。
My daily routine included going to the gym for a physical training before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted him on this particular day, he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual energy and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas』 age, so I asked him, 「What was the best time of your life?」
我的日常活動包括去體育館鍛鍊，然後去上班。每天早上，我總在體育館見到我的朋友尼古拉斯。他79歲了，但身體棒極了。當我在這個特殊的日子跟他打招呼的時候，他注意到我不像往常那樣充滿活力， 就問我是否有什麼不對勁。我告訴他我對自己即將邁人30歲有些焦慮。我不知道有朝一日，我到了他那樣的年齡時，自己該怎樣回首自己 的一生，所以就問他你人生最好的時期是哪一段?」
Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, 「Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question:
尼古拉斯毫不遲疑地回答說:「噢，喬，針對你的富有哲理的問題，下面是我富有哲理的回答：
When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.
當我在奧地利還是個孩子的時候，我的一切都得到照顧，我的父母養育我，那是我人生最美好的時光。
When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.
當我去上學，學會了現在知道的東西，那是我人生最美好的時光。
When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.
當我得到第一份工作，有了責任，因自己的努力得到了報酬，那是我人生最美好的時光。
When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.
當我遇到自己的妻子，愛上了她，那是我人生最美好的時光。
The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship going for North America, that was the best time of my life.
第二次世界大戰爆發了，我和妻子為了生存，只好逃離奧地利。當我們一起安全乘船到達北美的時候，那就是我人生最美好的時光。
When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.
當我們到了加拿大，開始建立家庭的時候，那就是我人生最美好的時光。
When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.
當我當上了年輕的父親，看著孩子們成長的時候，那就是我人生最美好的時光。
And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old, I have my health, I feel and I am in love. This is the best time of my life.」
而現在，喬，我79歲了，我身體健康，感受到愛而且我也愛他人。這就是我人生最美好的時光。」
by Joe Kemp