WomenCannotaffordtoGrowOld

　　翻译：北京外国语大学北戴河外语培训基地副校长张宝丹

　　Middle-ageisacrucialperiodandmiddle-agedwomenarefacingevenmoredangers.Youthisstilllingeringonthere,butitcan'tstandanycarelessnessornegligence.Stayingyouthcanbelikenedtoclimbingasteephill,whilenegligencewillleadtodecrepitudeovernight.Thosewhofeedontheiryouthwillhavetooptotherwiseatthisstage.

　　Thisisatimefulloftemptations,alluringgirlsandglamourouswomenpopupeverywhere,makingthediscomposedmenconfusedanddisoriented,leavingbehindmoreandmorebroken-upfamiliesandabandonedwives,therebyleadingthemiddle-agedtotheheartfeltrealizationthatwomencannotaffordtogrowold.

　　Beautyparlorsarebeingopenedoneafteranotherandthecosmeticsmarketisgettingmoreandmoreprosperousinordertokeeptheyouthfulfaceofwomenforeverfresh..Properfacialcare,hair-dressingoraerobicsareallnecessaryforwomen,buttheyareonlysuperficialandcannotlastlong.Theycaninnowaydothecosmeticmake-upsround-the-clock..Whatwillbecomeofthemafterremovingthecosmeticsfromtheirface?

　　Womenneedtorefinetheirmindandtomakethemselvesmoreintellectuallyprepared.Theyneedthesenseofsecuritytoo.Wemaywellsaythatmen'syouthliesintheircareerwhilewomen'syouthreliesontheirstateofmindandcultivationBecauseoftheriseofYinandthedeclineofYang,wecanseemanycapablewomendevisingandcalculatingwithalltheirmight.Theyusedtobeverybeautiful,andarenowstillcharming,buttheyaremiddle-agedafterall.Howlongcantheystillpreservetheirdiminishingyouth?

　　Whatarethosewomenafter?Money?Butwilltheybehappyiftheyhavetocountthemoneywiththeirskinnyshriveledhandsaftertheyhavesuccessfullybecomewealthyoldladies?

　　Maybetheyareseekingforspacioushousesandlimousines.Butthesearejusttoolstoserveus,justlikeamotorcycleisforustorideon,notforustocarryonourshoulders.Isitstillworththepriceiftheirpursuithasbecomeaburdenorapressurethatcallsforthesacrificeoftheiryouth?

　　Ormaybetheyneedthemoneyfortheirchildrentostudyabroad.Butstudyingabroadisnottheambitionofeveryone.Aswealwayssaythatchildrenhavetheirownluck,weshouldn'tchoosethesamewayforthemtogrowup.Doingbusinessorgoinginforpolitics,workingatcivilianpostsorasmilitaryofficialsaredifferentchoicesfordifferentchildren.Someevenwanttobecomechessplayersanditissuchawonderfulcareerthatafterbecomingsuccessful,theycanmakeplayingchessarewardingprofession..Whyshouldwetryourbesttosendourchildrenabroadwheretherearesomanyuncertainties?What'sthepointofthesacrificeofourpreciousyouthtosendourchildrentosomewherethatmaybeheaven,orhell?

　　Weshouldbemoderateatseekingwealth,forthereisnolimitforit.Abillionaireeatsnomorethanthreemealsadayandsleepsinonebedatnightwhileafamilylivingonameagersalarycanbeveryhappyandhealthy.WemayfeelsometimesthattheluxuriousBeijingRoastDuckisnomoredeliciousthanthesimplepancakeswithshallots.Onlywhentheykeepapeacefulheartcantheyfacebothfavorsandhumiliationswithcomposure.

　　Whatdothemiddle-agedwomenneedinordertomaintaintheiryouthanddoomeddecrepitude?Finequalitiesandgoodmanners,confidenceandcalmness.Don'tdoto