我們來到世界，不是為了征服

一家附近的雜貨店正在翻新改造

and not a single one of the changes is good

這些改造卻一個也不好

for those of us who shop there.

對于我們這些在那里買東西的人來說

The grocery aisles have been rearranged

雜貨店里的貨廊被重新整理過了

with some going in one direction

有些朝向這邊

and others going in another.

有些又朝向相反的方向

The aisles have been pushed closer together too

貨廊從兩邊向中間變窄了

making it harder to get through them.

行走其間變得更加艱難

All of the items have been moved from their usual spots as well

而且，所有的商品都從它原本的位置挪開了。

It seems like

似乎

all of these changes have been for the purpose

所有這些變化都只有一個目的

of slowing the shoppers down

就是讓買東西的人動作更慢一些

so they will make more impulse buys

他們就會做出更多的沖動消費

and give the store bigger profits.

讓雜貨店賺更多的錢


 

As I walked through the store today

今天，當(dāng)我在店里走動的時候

no one was smiling

我發(fā)現(xiàn)沒有一張笑臉

and everyone was unhappy about it.

沒有人為此感到高興

The change that bothered me the most, however,

不過，最讓我氣惱的改變

was in the check-out aisles.

是在收銀的區(qū)域

Only a few cashiers were left working

只剩下幾個收銀臺可以用

with huge sections being converted into self-scanning check-outs.

大部分的區(qū)域都改成了自動掃碼收銀區(qū)

It saddened me to see this.

這讓我感到難過

I knew that

我想

people were probably going to lose their jobs because of this change.

一定會有人因為這些變化丟掉工作

I got in a cashier aisle

我走到一個收銀區(qū)

and patiently waited

開始耐心等待

while I saw some other people struggling to figure out how the self scan machines worked.

這時我看到其他顧客正竭力弄明白自動掃碼機的使用辦法

I vowed at that moment

那一刻我暗自發(fā)誓

never to use one myself

自己絕不會用自動掃碼機

even if I had to wait longer every time I shopped there.

即使每次來店里買東西，都必須等待更長的時間

When I finally arrived at the front of the aisle

當(dāng)我終于來到了人工收銀臺前

I saw the cashier was someone I knew.

我發(fā)現(xiàn)收銀員是我認(rèn)識的人

I smiled

我報以微笑

and asked her how her family was doing.

問她家人都好嗎

She smiled back with a warmth and kindness

她帶著溫暖和善意回饋了一個微笑

that touched my soul.

讓我深受觸動

We chatted happily

我們相談甚歡

while she scanned and bagged up my groceries .

同時，她掃描我的商品，并且?guī)臀已b袋

I felt a friendship and a connection with her

我感覺到彼此之間的友情和默契

that warmed my heart.

這讓我心中一暖

I wished her well before I left

在我離開前，我祝愿她一切都好

And wished good luck to her

并祝她好運

and all the other hard working cashiers there.

也祝店里其他辛勤勞作的收銀員好運


 

Machines can do a lot for us,

機器能為我們做很多事

but there are many things they can't do.

但也有很多事他們無能為力

They can't smile.

他們不會微笑

They can't love.

他們不能付出愛意

They can't touch a heart.

他們不能觸碰我們的心弦

Only we can do that.

只有我們?nèi)祟惪梢宰鲞@些

Only we can make life worth living.

只有我們能讓生活變得值得

It is time we realize that

是時候我們應(yīng)該意識到

profits aren't more important than people

利益并不比人心更重要

and machines aren't more important than us.

機器也不比人更重要

It is time we see that

是時候我們應(yīng)該看到

we are here not to conquer the world

我們來到世界，不是為了征服

but to be a part of it.

而是為了成為世界的一部分

It is time we learn that

是時候我們應(yīng)該學(xué)會

each other,

相互彼此

and this world

還有這個世界

is what life is all about.

才是生活的意義所在