English learning82-新年新希望有礙健康?

有時候硬許下看似真的想達成的願望、想做的事，事實上可能並不符合本性，反倒努力半天，沒達成時又感到萬般沮喪。但一旦認知到這件事真的很重要時，是生命中不可或缺的一部分的時候，就會自然而然想去做了!沒有這樣的覺悟前，再怎麼逼都是沒有用的，不是嗎?

Wordbank：

darn (adj): "damn"比較文雅的說法 tongue twister (n): 繞口令
Distinction (n): 卓著，澳洲大學成績分級的一個等級 inadequacy (n): 不足
expel (v): 退學 self-esteem (n): 自尊心
New Year's resolution (n): 新年新展(希)望 withdraw (n): 退選(課程)

Phrases：

in the run-up to = before
promise the earth: 再三的保證
work up a sweat: 從事很消耗體力還會弄得滿身大汗的運動、活動
up to scratch = up to the standard: 達到標準
get stuck into: 完全的投入去作...
chances are = it's likely
in vain = useless
a vicious circle: 惡性循環
break wind = fart
turn of the screw / turn the screw: 火上加油；雪上加霜
take each day as it comes: 隨遇而安；逆來順受
carpe diem: 及時行樂

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Don't make plans for self-improvement. It's not good !!!!!
It's the first school day after the New Year Holiday. While on the way to the next lecture, Adam and Lynn are talking about their plan for this New Year.
Adam: You know, I still can't make up my mind which courses to take. It's darn difficult to make the right decision.

Lynn: Why? What's up?

Adam: In the run-up to every New Year, I always promise the earth to start something, quit something or otherwise change something in the new year. And last year, the promises that I made to myself was to start exercising, and to achieve Distinction in all the subjects. But I guess I was too focused on working up a sweat, so after the mid-term exam, three of my teachers told me that the assignments I handed in and the results of my exam were not up to scratch, so chances were that I could have been expelled if I hadn't really got stuck into the work in the last two months. So, by the end of the year, I only got Pass in the three subjects, and during that two months, I gave up exercising and so did the waistline increase again. So you know, I did everything in vain.

Lynn: Well, you know, five years ago, I made the greatest New Year's resolution in my whole life. And so far, I haven't broken it.

Adam: Really! What's that?

Lynn: The resolution was to stop making New Year's resolutions because it's a vicious circle to make New Year's resolutions.

Adam: What are you saying? Is that a tongue twister?

Lynn: No, a tongue twister is like this one:

One smart fellow, he felt smart.
Two smart fellows, they felt smart.
Three smart fellows, they felt smart.
And they all felt smart together.

Try it. It's an easy one.

Adam: That's funny. Alright...

One smart fellow, he felt smart.
Two smart fellows, they smelt fart.
Three fart fellows, they felt fart....

It's confusing! I didn't mean to say "fart"!

Lynn: Yeah, just like we normally don't mean to break wind in front of other fellows.

Adam: Alright, you got me. Come on, you haven't told me why it's a vicious circle to make New Year's resolution?

Lynn: Making resolution is another turn of the screw when I am already struggling with feelings of failure and inadequacy. And if I fail the resolution, the negative feeling can be even worse, and lead me to feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem. And with feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem, I definitely will lose confidence when making any plans. So, that's why making resolution is vicious circle, and instead of making resolutions, the best alternative is to take each day as it comes.

Adam: That's it?

Lynn: Yeah, or what else?

Adam: No wonder you never worry about anything.

Lynn: Why should I? Just take the courses I'm interested, eat the food I love, and do exercises when I want to. Carpe diem, that is!

Adam: Ok, carpe diem. Do you know today is last day to add and withdraw from courses?

Lynn: Oh, really! I've not yet been to any lectures, except the one we just went! My goodness! I'm gonna be in trouble.

Adam: Yeah, you're already in trouble, but carpe diem, my friend!