I teach economics at UNLV three times per week. Last Monday, at the beginning of class, I1asked my students how their weekend had been. One young man said his weekend had not been so good. He had his wisdom teeth2. He then asked me why I3seemed to be so cheerful.
His question4me of something I'd read somewhere before:" Every morning when you get up, you have a choice about what you want to5life that day, "I said I6to be cheerful.
I continued to address the students in the class. 7teaching here, I also teach out at the community college in Henderson, 17 miles down the freeway from where I live. One day I drove to Henderson, but on the way my car died. I tried to start it again, but the engine wouldn't turn8. So I put my flashers on, grabbed my books, and9down the road to the college.
When I told the secretary this was my lucky day, she was10. "Your car breaks down and today is your lucky day?"
"I live 17 miles from here." I replied. "My car could11down anywhere along the freeway. It didn't. 12, it broke down in the perfect place: off the freeway, 13walking distance of here. I'm still able to teach my class, and I've been able to14for the tow truck(拖车) to meet me after class. If my car was15to break down today, it couldn't have been arranged in a more convenient fashion." The secretary's eyes opened wide, and then she smiled. So ended my story.
16the early hour, no student seemed to be asleep. 17, my story had touched them. Or maybe it wasn't because of the story but my cheerfulness18it had all started.
Just as an Indian wise man said, "Who you are speaks louder to me than19you can say." I suppose it20be so.
