Brave New World
Welcome to year 2001. To many Americans， it has a nice， familiar ring since much of our culture revolves around forecasting the new millennium， this fascinating time of great social and technological developments. Growing up in the 80's and the 90's， I remember reading books and watching movies set in the amazing 21st century. People dressed in biosuits， babies born in laboratories， cars travelling through air， and the moon has become our favorite vacation spot. These incredible images used to fill my young mind with excitement. I would lie awake at night， thinking how slowly time moved， wondering if I'd live to see the 21st century. （Keep in mind I was only ten-years-old then.） And that day has finally arrived. The future is here and now.
Last week， I was driving to a meeting with a movie producer. Suddenly the traffic ahead came to an abrupt halt and we went from 70 miles per hour to a total stand still. （Usual for L.A. freeways.） Trapped， we leaned back in our seats." So， Michelle， what are your plans for the New Year？ I mean what do you hope to accomplish in this year？" She asked.
" OK？" I thought for a moment. " You mean New Year resolutions？"
" Can't start the year without them." She smiled. " You know， turn over a new leaf."
" Yes， I know. And no， I haven't given it that much thought yet."
" Do you have any resolutions？"
Then it dawned on me how much our personal resolutions， however small and insignificant they may seem， reflect the current social mentality and， in the long run， determine the course of our society. Let's for a moment， think about the word， resolution. It means having the resolve and the firm conviction to do something， a state of being determined. I don't know about you， but it requires a lot of courage and strength to have resolve which includes persistence， perseverance， drive. It's interesting how most resolutions involve some kind of change. And this desire for change is often the motivator for progress. Therefore， by taking note of people's New Year resolutions， we can foresee the direction which our society gravitates toward. On that note， let's look at what most Americans have on their plate for this year's New Year resolutions：
Lose 25 pounds before the summer Quit smoking Cut back drinking Work out for 1 hour three times a week Read a novel a week Stick within a spending budget Learn a new programming language Eat five servings of vegetables a day Get a job promotion Travel the world in 80 days Floss after every meal Go to see a dentist Call home every week Watch less TV Decide what my passions are and follow them Find a better paying job with more upward mobility Etc， etc， etc？
Believe it or not， this is just the tip of the iceberg. The list goes on and on. And from it， we can gather that America is a youth， health and career/success obsessed society.
1.YOUTH
Looking around America， you'll notice that most faces on billboards， magazines， TV and advertisements are that of young， pretty people. In a culture that equates youth with beauty， a majority of Americans is constantly at war with aging. Before the advent of new technologies， people used to jump through hoops to shave a couple years off of their looks. But now， laser surgery is a relatively painless alternative to facelifts and skin tucks. And let us not forget all the fancy anti-aging cosmetic products and skin treatments in department stores and beauty salons. Furthermore， we have also developed holistic approaches to fighting aging： yoga， herbs， acupuncture， etc.
It seems like people will do almost anything to stay young. But the crazy thing is that you can't stay young forever. That's impossible. What you can do is feel youthful. And that requires much more than cosmetic changes. In order to feel young， you must exercise your mind， keep up with the world and maintain an active lifestyle. In other words， instead of spending ＄ 5000 on wrinkle removing laser surgery， why not go on an adventurous journey to an unfamiliar part of the world？ Instead of spending ＄ 50 on a bottle of anti-aging lotion， why not buy a mountain bike？
We should always remember the fountain of youth lies in our heart， mind and spirit.
2.HEALTH
One of the characteristics of youth is good health. And Americans are definitely on the right track.Since the early 90's， America has been on a big health kick. People are staying away from foods that are high in fat， sodium and cholesterol. More of us are quitting smoking， cutting down drinking and exercising more.We sip herbal teas， gulp fresh juices，stir fry organic vegetables，hire personal trainers， and consult nutritionists.Do you know that some Americans take ＄ 15 worth of vitamins a day？ Unbelievable， huh？
In addition to staying in good physical form， we try to enhance our mental and spiritual health.Most Americans lead a stressful lifestyle： too many places to go， people to see， bills to pay， etc. As a result， we are tense， stiff and wound up. In recent years， various stress reduction therapies such as yoga， meditation， massages， and aromatherapy have become a living necessity，like medicine for the overtaxed mind and the soul.After all， a sound mind in a sound body is the best state to be in.
3.CAREER AND SUCCESS
Needless to say， there are many advantages to being young and healthy， one of which is doing and achieving more with your life. That's right. If you're young， you have your whole life ahead of you. If you're healthy， you'll live longer. Youth and health are the building blocks of success.
Our lives are plotted out with milestones. And we are expected to accomplish certain things by certain ages. So the sooner you can achieve these milestones， the more successful you are.
In a society where your happiness and self- worth are determined by your career accomplishments， people are under the pressure to devote themselves entirely to their work. Often times， people disregard their passions and interests and choose careers based on job security， pay and professional prestige. As a result， they are unhappy and their personal lives and love ones suffer. Personally， I think success means you're making a comfortable living doing what you love and enjoy.
Anyway， regardless of the resolution， we are all making a commitment toward betterment. And with it， there is the hope for a happier life and an improved sense of self. How odd that it is our constant dissatisfaction with the status quo that propels society forward？After all， nothing kills progress like complacency.But now the nagging question is， why must we wait for New Years to make resolutions. Today is as good as any. Right？ A brave new world awaits us and its dawn depends on our resolve to move steadily forward and towards something better， something different， and something wonderful. I took a deep breath and settled on my life's resolutions grand as it may sound， I'm determined to make the most of every second of my life. Because a bright future begins with the present and the present is here and now.
美好的新世界
欢迎来到2001年。在许多美国人看来，它有着一个美丽而熟悉的光环，因为我们的文化大都围绕着对这个新千年作出预告――这是个迷人的社会和技术大发展的时代。在80和90年代成长起来的我还记得，那时读书、看电影，背景都设在令人称奇的21世纪，人们穿着生态服，婴儿都在实验室里出生，汽车在空中穿行，而月球则成了我们最喜欢的度假胜地。这些令人难以置信的想象，那时都在我年轻的脑海中，令我激动不已。我会在晚上躺在床上，了无睡意，想啊，这时间过得可真慢，我能活着看到21世纪吗。（想想吧，我那时才10岁。）而那一天终于到了，未来就在眼前，就是现在。
上周，我驾车带一个电影制片人去开会。突然，前面的车辆来了个急刹车，我们也就从时速70英里一下子停了下来。（在洛杉矶的公路上这是常事儿。）困在这儿了，我们往车座上向后一靠。"好吧，米歇尔，你新年有什么计划？我是说你希望在这一年里做成什么？"她问道。
"哦！"我想了一会儿，"你是说新年决心？"
"开始新一年没它们可不成。"她笑道，"你知道，就像翻开新的一页。"
"是啊，我知道。但我还没怎么想这件事呢。"
"那你有什么决意要做的事儿呢？"
我突然领悟到，个人的决心，不管看起来是多么小、多么无足轻重，但都反映了当前社会的心态，甚至从长远来说，决定了我们社会的走向。让我们来考虑一下决心这个词吧。它的含义是决意并坚信要干成某事，就是拿定主意，坚定不移。我不知道你怎么想，但要下决心就得有足够的勇气和力量，因为这要做到坚持不懈、锲而不舍并且干劲十足。有意思的是大多数决心都涉及某种改变。这种想改变的愿望通常就是进步的动力。所以，把人们的新年决心做个记录，我们就能预见到我们社会前进的方向。我们来看看这个记录上大多数美国人今年的新年决心是什么：
在夏季来临之前减轻25磅/戒烟/少喝酒/每周户外工作三次每次一小时/一周读一本小说/严格遵守开支预算/学习一门新的编程语言/每天吃5份蔬菜/ 获得升职/80天内环游世界/餐后用牙线洁牙/去看牙医/每周往家打次电话/少看电视/找出酷爱的事并且去做/找一个薪金较高的和提升机会较多的工作等等，等等？
信不信由你，这才只是冰山的一角。这张单子还可以继续列下去。从中我们能归纳出：美国是一个崇尚年轻、健康和事业成功的社会。
1.年轻
环顾美国，你会发现在排行榜上、杂志、电视和广告上出现的大多数面孔都是年轻好看的。在一种把年轻等同为美的文化中，大多数美国人一直都在与衰老作斗争。在新技术问世以前，人们通常要经受一些痛苦去整容以使自己显得年轻几岁。而今，激光外科提供了一种相对来说痛苦较少的整容和拉皮术。更别忘了那些昂贵的抗衰老化妆品和大商场及美容店里的皮肤保养。此外，我们还开展了抗衰老的整体疗法：瑜伽、草药、针刺等。
人们似乎为了永葆青春几乎可以不惜一切。但使人发疯的是你不可能青春永驻，那是不可能的。你能做的就是觉得朝气蓬勃。这要求的可不只是化妆。要想觉得年轻，你得锻炼自己的头脑，跟上这世界并维持一种积极的生活方式。换言之，与其花5000美元做个激光手术消除皱纹，干吗不去世界上你没到过的地方来个冒险之旅？与其花50美元买一瓶抗衰老乳液，干吗不买辆山地车？
我们得永记，年轻之源在心中、在脑海里和精神上。
2.健康
年轻的一大特征是身体好。而美国人在这方面肯定做对了。从90年代早期开始，美国就热衷于健康了。人们不吃那些富含脂肪、钠和胆固醇的食物。我们中更多人戒烟，少喝酒并多健身。我们小口喝草药茶，大口喝新鲜果汁，旺火煸炒有机蔬菜，雇佣私人教练，还咨询营养学家。你知道吗，有些美国人一天要吃价值15 美元的维生素？难以置信，啊？
除了保持身体健康外，我们还尽力增进心智和精神的健康。大多数美国人过着一种紧张的生活：要去那么多地方，见那么多人，付那么多帐单，等等。结果，我们紧张拘谨，放松不下来。近年来，各种各样的减轻压力疗法，如瑜伽、静坐默念、按摩及芳香疗法，已成为生活中必不可少的东西，这就像给过度紧张的大脑和精神上药。毕竟，长在健康身体上的健康头脑才是最好的状态。
3.事业和成功
年轻和健康的优势自不用说，其中之一就是可在一生中做许多事，取得许多成就。这是对的。如果你年轻，你整个的一生还长着哪。如果你健康，你就会活得更长久。年轻和健康是成功的基础。
我们的人生是以里程碑做标识的。而我们得在某个年龄段完成某些事。所以你越早实现这些里程碑，你就会越成功。
在一个你的幸福和个人价值是由事业上的成就决定的社会里，人们被迫将全副身心都投入到工作上。人们常常不顾自己酷爱的事物和兴趣，而是根据工作保障、报酬以及职业威望来选择所从事的职业。到头来，他们过得不开心，个人生活和亲人们也跟着遭殃。我个人认为，成功就是你做着你热爱并乐于做的工作，还足以过上舒适自在的生活。
不管怎么说，别提决心，我们都在保证朝着更好努力。这样，就有希望过上幸福的生活，也提高了自我意识。多奇怪呀，正是我们这种对现状的一直不满意推动着社会前进。毕竟，正是自满导致了停滞不前。但现在令人挂心的问题是，我们干吗非得等到新年再下决心呢？今天也一样好，不是吗？一个美好的新世界正等着我们，而它的来临就有赖于我们决心坚定地向前走，走向更好、异于往常且绝妙非凡。我深吸一口气，决定实行我那听起来比较宏伟的人生决定，我下定决心要好好用我生命里的每一秒。因为光明的未来始于现在，而现在就在眼前。
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