Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor1 asked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about, regretted, or incomplete about. The next week he invited participants to read their lists aloud. This seemed like a very private process, but there's always some brave soul in the crowd who will volunteer. As people read their lists, mine grew longer. After three weeks, I had 101 items on my list. The instructor then suggested that we find ways to make amends2, apologize to people, or take some action to right any wrongdoing. I was seriously wondering how this could ever improve my communications, having visions of alienating3 just about everyone from my life.
The next week, the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story:
"While making my list, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town in Iowa. There was a sheriff in town that none of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies4 and I decided5 to play a trick on Sheriff Brown. After drinking a few beers, we found a can of red paint, climbed the tall water tank in the middle of town, and wrote, on the tank, in bright red letters: Sheriff Brown is an s.o.b. The next day, the town arose to see our glorious sign. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had my two pals6 and me in his office. My friends confessed and I lied, denying the truth. No one ever found out.
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"Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown's name appears on my list. I didn't even know if he was still alive. Last weekend, I dialed information in my hometown back in Iowa. Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed. I dialed his number. After a few rings, I heard: 'Hello?' I said: 'Sheriff Brown?' Pause. 'Yup.' 'Well, this is Jimmy Calkins. And I want you to know that I did it.' Pause. 'I knew it!' he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a lively discussion. His closing words were: 'Jimmy, I always felt badly for you because your buddies got it off their chest, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.'"
Jimmy inspired me to clear up all 101 items on my list. It took me almost two years, but became the springboard and true inspiration for my career as a conflict mediator7. No matter how difficult the conflict, crisis or situation, I always remember that it's never too late to clear up the past and begin resolution. <a hRef=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNiform.html>蘇州閱讀寫作培訓(xùn)</a>
1 instructor
n.指導(dǎo)者，教員，教練
參考例句：
The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大學(xué) 突然把他從講師提升為正教授。 The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教練是一個高高個子曬得黑黑的男子。
2 amends
n. 賠償
參考例句：
He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送給她一些花，為他自己的魯莽賠罪。 This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 該國頑固地拒絕為其過去的戰(zhàn)爭罪行賠罪。 <a hRef=htTps://Www.EuZw.nE/miNifoRm.Html>蘇州初中語文補習(xí)</a>
3 alienating
v.使疏遠(yuǎn)( alienate的現(xiàn)在分詞 )；使不友好；轉(zhuǎn)讓；讓渡（財產(chǎn)等）
參考例句：
The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 異化現(xiàn)象普遍存在，體育運動也不例外。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng) How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情況下吸引住他們呢？ 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
4 buddies
n.密友( buddy的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )；同伴；弟兄；（用于稱呼男子，常帶怒氣）家伙v.（如密友、戰(zhàn)友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人稱單數(shù) )；做朋友；親近（…）；伴護艾滋病人
參考例句：
We became great buddies. 我們成了非常好的朋友。 來自辭典例句 The two of them have become great buddies. 他們倆成了要好的朋友。 來自辭典例句
5 decided
adj.決定了的，堅決的；明顯的，明確的
參考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.這使他們比對手具有明顯的優(yōu)勢。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英國人和中國人打招呼的方式有很明顯的區(qū)別。
6 pals
n.朋友( pal的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )；老兄；小子；（對男子的不友好的稱呼）家伙
參考例句：
We've been pals for years. 我們是多年的哥們兒了。 CD 8 positive cells remarkably increased in PALS and RP(P CD8+細(xì)胞在再生脾PALS和RP內(nèi)均明顯增加(P 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
7 mediator
n.調(diào)解人，中介人
參考例句：
He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他總是在爭論中充當(dāng)調(diào)停人的角色。 He will appear in the role of mediator.他將出演調(diào)停者。
《It‘s Never Too Late》添加時間：2024-12-14；更新時間：2025-03-09
