I'd spent decades telling my girls that their bodies were a means to a long and satisfactory life, not objects to be admired because of how they look. I told them that good health and the energy to enjoy life should be their ultimate goals, not fitting into society's preconceived ideas of what is beautiful.
This year I'm sixty years old. I appear much older than before. This aging body of mine is not the one I expected to have. Looking at the old, fat, wrinkled woman in the mirror, I begin to complain about it. I've actually spent a lifetime focusing on my flaws, constantly complaining about my less-than-perfect self. As I was complaining yet again, my younger daughter told me, “Mom, stop. Stop putting yourself down. This is the body you live in now. It's beautiful because it's yours.” If I'm unwilling to accept my aging self with grace and dignity, how can I possibly expect my girls to do the same when they face these same physical changes?
And then, I learned that a friend of mine, the same age as me, died. At her funeral, her three heartbroken daughters spoke of their mother's devotion, wisdom, and compassion. They never said a single word about her appearance though her body had melted away during her last months. It didn't matter. I left that funeral desperate to hold my own girls in my arms, to kiss them and tell them how much they mean to me , and to promise that I will do better, be better—for them as well as for myself.
And so, to honour the memory of my dear friend and to set a good example to my beloved girls, I promise to love my aging body, and celebrate the gift of being alive.
【小题1】What can we learn about the author from the first two paragraphs?| A．She forgot to listen to her own advice. | B．She was more of a talker than a doer. |
| C．She was unaware of her words’ effects. | D．She was unwilling to accept others’ advice. |
| A．Advantages. | B．Imperfections. | C．Appearances. | D．Treasures. |
| A．Action speaks louder than words. | B．Lies can never change facts. |
| C．Beauty comes from the depths of the soul. | D．Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. |
| A．Running through Life | B．Rebuilding Your Life |
| C．Remembering to Respect Others | D．Finding Beauty in Ourselves |
