英語演講稿——女人不能老Women Cannot afford to Grow Old

middle-age is a crucial period and middle-aged women are facing even more dangers. youth is still lingering on there, but it cant stand any carelessness or negligence. staying youth can be likened to climbing a steep hill, while negligence will lead to decrepitude overnight. those who feed on their youth will have to opt otherwise at this stage.

this is a time full of temptations, alluring girls and glamourous women pop up everywhere, making the discomposed men confused and disoriented, leaving behind more and more broken-up families and abandoned wives, thereby leading the middle-aged to the heartfelt realization that women cannot afford to grow old.

beauty parlors are being opened one after another and the cosmetics market is getting more and more prosperous in order to keep the youthful face of women forever fresh.. proper facial care, hair-dressing or aerobics are all necessary for women, but they are only superficial and can not last long. they can in no way do the cosmetic make-ups round-the-clock.. what will become of them after removing the cosmetics from their face?

women need to refine their mind and to make themselves more intellectually prepared 。 they need the sense of security too. we may well say that mens youth lies in their career while womens youth relies on their state of mind and cultivation because of the rise of yin and the decline of yang, we can see many capable women devising and calculating with all their might. they used to be very beautiful, and are now still charming, but they are middle-aged after all. how long can they still preserve their diminishing youth?

what are those women after? money? but will they be happy if they have to count the money with their skinny shriveled hands after they have successfully become wealthy old ladies?

maybe they are seeking for spacious houses and limousines. but these are just tools to serve us, just like a motorcycle is for us to ride on, not for us to carry on our shoulders. is it still worth the price if their pursuit has become a burden or a pressure that calls for the sacrifice of their youth?

or maybe they need the money for their children to study abroad. but studying abroad is not the ambition of everyone. as we always say that children have their own luck, we shouldnt choose the same way for them to grow up. doing business or going in for politics, working at civilian posts or as military officials are different choices for different children. some even want to become chess players and it is such a wonderful career that after becoming successful, they can make playing chess a rewarding profession.. why should we try our best to send our children abroad where there are so many uncertainties? whats the point of the sacrifice of our precious youth to send our children to somewhere that may be heaven, or hell?

we should be moderate at seeking wealth, for there is no limit for it. a billionaire eats no more than three meals a day and sleeps in one bed at night while a family living on a meager salary can be very happy and healthy. we may feel sometimes that the luxurious beijing roast duck is no more delicious than the simple pancakes with shallots. only when they keep a peaceful heart can they face both favors and humiliations with composure.

what do the middle-aged women need in order to maintain their youth and doomed decrepitude? fine qualities and good manners, confidence and calmness. dont do too much extra work, dont tire yourselves out, and never try anything beyond your capacity and energy.

whats more, they need security and friendship. no matter how strong a man is, he needs support; no matter how independent a woman is, she needs backing. the flowery girls may care about nothing but amusement, and they may not consider even the reliability and capability of a man. middle-aged women, however, are much more practical, and they have to face the loyalty and creativity of a man. what they are seeking is the most loyal, the most responsible, the most powerful, the most reliable and the most trustworthy love which is nearly eternal and unchangeable. any kind of strike may wear away their youth which is once gone never to return.

middle-aged women must keep a clear head instead of doing things out of willfulness. they should be able to judge who is sincere and who is hypocritical. once they choose the hypocritical instead of the sincere out of carelessness, tragedy will definitely fall on them. in fact, one whim may decide whether they will live in heaven or stay in hell.

all women have one weak point—they are easily enchanted by mens flattery. therere numerous sweet-tongued men, but loyal ones are hard to find. they may use sweet words to flatter you or they may be soft-spoken and submissive, but that is when they are weak and in need of help. as soon as the situation is different, they may change immediately. we always think the weak is the reliable, but this is misleading. the weak may be pitiable, but not always reliable. reliability doesnt mean being weak or strong, but depends on whether one can master himself. if someone, when absent from home, does what he dares not do at home, then how can he be regarded as a trustworthy man?

the middle-aged women, with the exception of those who work at special posts, neednt fight too hard. instead, they should encourage men to temper themselves in this world. studying with ease, working with ease, living with ease and facing everything with ease are what middle-aged women should try to do. ease is the symbol of ever-lasting youth and also the glamour of all middle-aged women.

may all kindhearted women enjoy an easy life and ever-lasting youth!

translated by zhang baodan

june 20, ～

中文

人到中年是個坎，女人們會面臨更多的考驗。青春似乎還在，卻容不得大意和放任。保持青春已如爬坡，任由衰老會一瀉千里。吃青春飯的行業，則面臨着重新擇業和轉行。

如今畢竟是燈紅酒綠的時代。到處是閒花野草，到處有嫵媚妖嬈，搞得沒有定力的男人們暈頭轉向、身不由已，從而讓中年社會由衷地感到：女人不能老。

美容保健業所以日漸發達，化裝品市場所以如火如荼，也正是為了保住女人們這張青春豔麗的臉。適時和適度的美容、美髮、美體，對女人們是完全必要的。但這畢竟是表面文章。表面文章能維持多久呢？人不能 24 小時都在脂粉的遮蓋下渡過。卸裝之後怎麼辦？

女人需要修身養性，需要增加內涵，也需要安全感。我們也可以説：男人的青春在事業，女人的青春在心態。

因為陰盛陽衰現象的存在，我們看到許多忙忙碌碌的女人們，掙命似地在運籌着、工作着。她們曾經很有姿色，至今風韻猶存，但畢竟徐娘半老，長此下去保得住嗎？

女人們在追求什麼呢？金錢？就算她們如願以償，最後成了富婆，用衰老的枯掌去數錢，會幸福嗎？

也許在追求闊宅豪車。但這些都應該是為人服務的，就象我們可以騎摩托而不能扛摩托一樣，如果這種追求成了負擔、成了壓力、甚至付出青春的代價，那還值嗎？

或者為孩子留學出國。可出國留學並非是每個人的追求。且不説兒孫自有兒孫福，眾人的成長也不會都走一條道路。從商從政，從文從武，各不相同。有人選擇了下棋，下好了，邊玩邊豪華一生。你一定把兒女送出國，國外也有不少陷阱啊！何必熬着自己的青春最後把孩子送到那可天可地的國度？

對金錢、對物質，追求要適度。因為這些東西，沒有止境，沒有夠，只在自己如何把握。億萬富翁，也日食三餐，夜宿一牀。幾百元工資的家庭，面色卻可能紅通通。有時你真可能覺得，北京烤鴨竟香不過煎餅卷大葱。所以對物質世界，保持一個好心態，才能得失傲然，寵辱不驚。

要保住青春，延緩衰老，人到中年的女人需要什麼呢？她們需要氣質、需要風度、需要從容不迫，需要氣定神閒。學業不熬夜，事業不拼命，甚至不必力所能及，而要遊刃有餘。

她們還需要安全和友誼。再強大的男人，也需要攙扶；再好強的女人也需要依靠。花季的女孩，可以不管不顧，她們那時甚至不必考慮男人的可靠和能力，只要好玩。而中年以後的女子則現實得多了，他們不得不面對男人的忠誠和創造力。甚至可以説，她們現在需要尋求世界上最真誠、最責任、最強大、又最可信賴和依靠的一種近於永恆的愛。任何風浪顛簸的打擊，都會打擊她們的青春，而青春有可能一去不回頭。

人到中年的女性，需要清醒，而不能一廂情願。她們一定要判斷好，哪些是真的，哪些可能把握不住。如果由於輕率、由於不經意而丟失了真摯，選擇了假，一定會產生悲劇。其實，一念之間就可能決定未來在天、還是在地。

女人們有個弱點，就是常常迷惑於男人的奉承。會説漂亮活的男人有的是，但忠貞不二的男人卻少得很。也許他們處在弱勢或有所求的時候，會花言巧語，甚至低聲下氣，可形勢變化了則不盡然。人們總以為弱者最可靠。其實這是個誤區。弱者會可憐，但不一定可靠。是否可靠的根本，不在於強弱，而在於是否能把握自己。大家都“將在外君命有所不受”，還有什麼可信度？

人到中年的女人，不在非常崗位，不必奮力拼搏，而應更多地鼓勵男人闖天下。從容學習、從容做事，從容生活，從容面對一切。從容是她們青春永在的標誌，也是她們的魅力所在。

讓我們祝願一切善良的女人都能從容不迫，青春常在！