Live Life in Crescendo

bother: (often used in negative sentences and questions) to spend time and/or energy doing something

dichotomy: a division or contrast between two groups or things that are completely opposite to and different from each other

If somebody does something anew, they do it again from the beginning or do it in a different way.

deathbed: the bed in which somebody is dying or dies

thrilled: very excited and pleased

cog: one of a series of teeth on the edge of a wheel that fit between the teeth on the next wheel and cause it to move

obligation: the state of being forced to do something because it is your duty, or because of a law, etc.

instinctively: by using instinct (= a natural quality that makes somebody/something behave in a particular way) rather than thought or training

destiny: what happens to somebody or what will happen to them in the future, especially things that they cannot change or avoid

stack up: ​to keep increasing in quantity until there is a large pile, a long line, etc.

bald: having little or no hair on the head

crescendo: a slow steady increase in how loudly a piece of music is played or sung

diminuendo: ​a slow steady decrease in how loudly a piece of music is played or sung

whimper: to make low, weak crying noises; to speak in this way

    No matter what your age or position in life, if you live by the 7 Habits, you are never finished contributing. You are always seeking something higher and better from life --- the next fascinating challenge, greater understanding, more intense romance, more meaningful love. You may get satisfaction from past accomplishments, but the next great contribution is always on the horizon. You have relationships to build, a community to serve, a family to strengthen, problems to solve, knowledge to gain, and great works to create.

    無論你目前的人生階段或年齡如何，只要你秉持《高效能人士的七個習慣》的原則，你就永遠有不斷貢獻的機會。這代表著你的人生永無止境，持續追求更高的目標與品質。

    儘管你可能對過往的成就感到驕傲和滿足，但這正是一個開始，因為總有下一個更具挑戰性的目標等著你去實現。這反映了一種不斷追求卓越、勇於迎接新挑戰的心態。

    你可以在各個層面上發揮影響力：發展人際關係、服務社群、強化家庭關係、解決現實問題、追求新知及創造顯著的成果。這些都是你持續成長和貢獻的重要方面。

horizon: the limit of your desires, knowledge or interests

startle: to surprise somebody suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Explained by Microsoft Copilot and Edited