Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor 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 amends, 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 alienating just about everyone from my life.

    instructor n. 教師　　

    wrongdoing n. 壞事、不道德行為　　

    alienate v. 疏遠

    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 buddies and I decided 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 pals and me in his office. My friends confessed and I lied, denying the truth. No one ever found out.

    sheriff n. 治安官　　

    buddy n. 密友、伙伴　　

    s.o.b. （縮寫）畜生、狗娘養的

    "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.' " 

    yell v. 大叫、忍不住笑　　

    sake n. 緣故、理由

    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 mediator. 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.

    springboard n. 出發點　　

    mediator n. 調停者

    幾年前，我參加了一個人際關系方面的課程，其間有過一次獨特的經歷。老師要求我們列出過去自己曾感羞愧、負疚、缺憾和悔恨的事情。一周后他請大家大聲宣讀自己所列的清單。這看起來有涉隱私，但確總有勇敢之人自告奮勇。聽了別人的陳述，我的清單愈發長起來，3周之后竟達101條之多。之后老師建議我們想法彌補缺憾，向別人真誠道歉，采取行動來糾正自己的過失。我對此舉能夠增進我的人際關系深表疑惑，相反卻認為這只能使彼此更加疏遠。 

    一周后，我身旁的一位老兄舉手發言，講了如下這個故事： 

    我在列舉清單時，想起高中時發生的一件事情，我在衣阿華州的一個小鎮長大。鎮上有個我們孩子們都討厭的官員。有天晚上，我和兩個伙計決定要捉弄這個叫布朗的官員一番。喝了幾瓶啤酒，找到一罐紅顏料，我們爬到鎮子中央的高高水塔之上，在上面用鮮紅的顏料寫道：“布朗是個狗娘養的”。第二天，鎮上的人們起來后都看到了我們的“大作”。兩小時后，布朗把我們3個人弄到他的辦公室。我的伙計們承認了錯誤而我卻撒謊抵賴、蒙混過關。 

    這事都快過去20年了。今天布朗的名字出現在我的清單上。我不知道他是否仍在人世。上個周末，我給衣阿華州的家鄉打電話查問，果然有個叫羅杰-布朗的先生。我于是給他打電話。鈴聲響了幾下后，我聽到：“喂，你好。”我問：“你就是那個叫布朗的官員？”那邊沉默了一下，“是的。”“那好，我是吉米-考金斯，我想告訴你那事我也有份。”又是沉默。“我早就知道。”他嚷道。我們于是大笑，相談得很愉快。他最后說：“吉米，我一直為你感到不安，因為你的伙計們都已摘掉了心病，而你這么多年卻一直掛在心上。我想應該感謝你打來電話……這是為你著想。”