桑兰

　　SangLan

　　AthleticcareerandinjurySangachievedexcellenceingymnasticsatayoungage,winningtheall-aroundandeverysingleeventfinalatthe1991ZhejiangProvinceChampionships.By1995shewascompetingnationally.SangwasoneofChina'sstrongestvaulters,placingsecondontheeventatthe1995ChineseNationals.WhilesheneverrepresentedChinaattheOlympicsorWorldGymnasticsChampionships,shedidcompeteatthe1996and1997AmericanCupmeetsandwasselectedforthe1998GoodwillGamesteam.

　　InNewYorkattheGoodwillGames,duringwarmupsforthevaulteventfinal,Sangfellwhileshewasperformingatimer(asimplevault,usedbytheathletetofamiliarizeherselfwiththeapparatusandwarmup).Shecouldnotraiseherselffromthematandwastakentothehospital.TestsindicatedthatshehadfracturedanddislocatedherC6andC7vertebraeandinjuredherspinalcord.Theresultoftheinjurywasparalysisfromthemid-chestdown.SangremainedinNewYorkCityforalmostayear,receivingrehabilitationatMountSinaiHospital.Manycelebrities,includingLeonardoDiCaprio,CelineDionandChristopherReevevisitedandofferedtheirsupport;shewasalsoinvitedtoparticipateintheNewYear'sEvefestivitiesinTimesSquareasanhonoredguest.[edit]AdvocacySincereturningtoChina,Sanghasbecomeacelebrityandanadvocateforthedisabled.Atelevisionminiseriesaboutherlifewasproducedinthelate1990s;shewasportrayedbyherformergymnasticsteammateMoHuilan.Sangalsohostsherownshow,SangLanOlympics2008.onSTARTV,aMandarin-languagetelevisionchannel.ShewasanambassadorforBeijing'ssuccessful2008OlympicsbidandhasbeenselectedasanOlympicrelaytorchbearer.SangiscurrentlyastudentatPekingUniversity.Shehascontinuedarigorousphysicaltherapyregimenandhasregainedsomeuseofherarmsandhands.ShehasalsoexpressedaninterestinreturningtocompetitivesportsandwishestorepresentChinaasatabletennisplayeratthe2008ParalympicGames

　　幸福

　　“Thedaysthatmakeushappymakeuswise.”----JohnMasefield

　　whenIfirstreadthislinebyEngland’sPoetLaureate,itstartledme.WhatdidMasefieldmean?Withoutthinkingaboutitmuch,Ihadalwaysassumedthattheoppositewastrue.Buthissoberassurancewasarresting.Icouldnotforgetit.

　　Finally,Iseemedtograsphismeaningandrealizedthatherewasaprofoundobservation.Thewisdomthathappinessmakespossibleliesinclearperception,notfoggedbyanxietynordimmedbydespairandboredom,andwithouttheblindspotscausedbyfear.

　　Activehappiness---notmeresatisfactionorcontentment---oftencomessuddenly,likeanAprilshowerortheunfoldingofabud.Thenyoudiscoverwhatkindofwisdomhasaccompaniedit.Thegrassisgreener;birdsongsaresweeter;theshortcomingsofyourfriendsaremoreunderstandableandmoreforgivable.Happinessislikeapairofeyeglassescorrectingyourspiritualvision.

　　Noraretheinsightsofhappinesslimitedtowhatisneararoundyou.Unhappy,withyourthoughtsturnedinuponyouremotionalwoes,yourvisioniscutshortasthoughbyawall.Happy,thewallcrumbles.

　　Thelongvistaistherefortheseeing.Thegroundatyourfeet,theworldaboutyou----people,thoughts,emotions,pressures---arenowfittedintothelargerscene.Everythingassumesafairerproportion.Andhereisthebeginningofwisdo