My third story is about death.我第三个故事是关于死亡的。
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you‘ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
“假如你把每一天都当成你在人世的最后我17岁那年读到过一句话，大意是这样：一天来过，总有一天你会发现自己是对的。”这话给我留下了印象。自那时起，33“假如果今天是我这辈子最后的一天，我年来的每个早晨，我都对着镜子自问：还会做我今天要做的这些事吗？”每当连续很多天答案都是“不会”的时候，我就知道有什么东西需要改变了。
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything —all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -these things just fall
away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have
something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.记住自己将不久于人世，这是我在作出人生重大选择时的一个最重要的参考工具。因为几乎所有的一切——一切外界对你的期待、一切荣耀、所有对窘境和失败的恐惧——它们在面对死亡的时候都黯然失色，剩下的只有真正重要的东西。在我看来，设想自己将死去是帮助你避开“我可能会失去xxx”思维陷阱的最佳方法。此时你已经赤条条一无所有，又何不随心而动？
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.
大约一年前，我被查出患有癌症。早上7点半，我做了一次扫描，结果很清楚地显示出我的胰腺里有一个肿瘤。当时我连胰腺是什么都不知道。大夫们告诉我，差不多可以肯定这是一种无法治愈的癌，我估计还能再活三到六个月。我的医生建议我回家去，把事情都做个了结。这是医生的行话，这意味这试着在几月内告诉你的孩子你将在十年后告诉他们的事情；意味着确认对家人将这件事情守口如瓶，并显得尽量的自然；意味着对这个世界说再见。
Ilivedwiththatdiagnosisallday.LaterthateveningIhadabiopsy,wheretheystuckanendoscopedownmythroat,throughmystomachandintomyintestines,putaneedleintomypancreasandgotafewcellsfromthetumor.Iwassedated,butmywife,whowasthere,toldmethatwhentheyviewedthecellsunderamicroscopethedoctorsstartedcryingbecauseitturnedouttobeaveryrareformofpancreaticcancerthatiscurablewithsurgery.IhadthesurgeryandI'mfinenow.
一整天我的脑子里只有这个判决。当晚，我做了一次组织切片检查，他们将内窥镜伸到我的咽喉，穿过我的胃直到我的肠道，把一根针伸到我的胰腺里，从瘤子上取出一些细胞。我被打了镇定，但是我的妻子，她也在场，她告诉我他们在显微镜下看到我的细胞后，医生喜极而泣，因为医生们发现这是一种非常罕见的、通过手术可以治愈的胰腺癌。后来我做了手术，现在已经痊愈了。