IF and WHEN were friends. Every week they met and had lunch. Their conversation usually centered on all the things they were going to achieve. They both had many dreams and they loved to talk about them.

"如果"和"到那时"是一对好朋友。他们每星期相约吃一顿午餐。会面时，他们谈论的话题通常围绕在他们即将要做的事情上面。两个人都有着许多梦想，并且他们热衷于这种交谈。

This particular Saturday when they met, WHEN sensed that IF was not in a great mood. As usual they sat at the table reserved for them and ordered their lunch. Once they placed their order, WHEN questioned IF. "IF what is wrong with you? You don't seem your usual cheery self?"

这个星期六他们见面时"到那时"觉察到"如果"的心情不是很好。像往常一样，他们坐在特意预留给他们的餐桌上点餐。刚一点完"到那时"就问道:如果，你怎么了?你看起来好像不太高兴。"

IF looked at WHEN and replied, "I'm not sure, I just don't feel like I am making any progress. This last week I saw a course I wanted to take if only I had the time to take it."

"如果"看了看"到那时"答道"我也不知道怎么了，只是觉得自己没什么进步。上个星期我发现一个很好的课程，如果有时间的话，我就去学。"

WHEN knew exactly how IF felt. "Yeah," replied WHEN, "I too saw a course and I am going to register¹ when I get enough money together." WHEN then said, "well what about that new job you were going to apply for. You were so excited about it last week, did you apply?"

"到那时"非常理解"如果"的感受。他答道是啊，我也看到一项课程，等到钱充足的时候，我就去报名。对了，你打算申请的新工作怎么样了?上星期见你说得那么情绪激昂，申请了吗? "

IF responded, "If my computer didn't break down last week, I would have applied². But, my computer is not working, so I could not type my resume³."

"如果"回答道"如果不是上周我的电脑坏了，我会申请的。但是它坏了，我无法打印简历，所以只能放弃了。"

"Don 't worry about it IF, when you are ready another job will come through. I have been thinking about looking for another job also, but I will wait and when the weather gets nicer I will look then." WHEN then went on to tell IF about his week, hoping that it would cheer him up a bit.

"别着急，等到你准备好时，另-个工作就出现了。我也一直考虑着换个工作，但是我想等到天气看起来好一些时再行动。"然后，"到那时"继续跟"如果"谈论着他的星期计划，希望这样能使他的朋友高兴起来。

The man at the next table couldn't help overhear⁴ WHEN and IF. They both were talking about when this and if that, finally he couldn't take it anymore. "Excuse me gentlemen," the man said. IF and WHEN both looked at the man and wondered what he wanted. The man continued, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help hearing your conversation. I think I know how you could solve your problems."

邻桌的一个男人无意中听到他们的谈话。他昕见两个人一直在说着"等什么什么时候如果这样那样"的话，他再也无法忍受了。于是，男人说道"打扰一下，先生们。""如果"和"到那时"吃惊地看着他，不知道他要做什么。男人继续道很抱歉，我无意中听到你们的交谈。我想我知道如何解决你们的问题。"

IF smiled and thought, how could a complete stranger know how to solve all of their problems. If only he knew. When he realized the challenges they faced there was no way he could solve their problems! Curious, IF asked the gentleman, "How do you think you can solve our problems?"

"如果"笑了笑，心想，一个完全陌生的人怎么会知道如何解决他们两个人生活中的问题呢。如果让他认识到他们所面对的困难，恐怕他再也不会那样说了。出于好奇"如果"还是问道你认为应该如何解决我们的问题呢? "

The gentleman smiled and said , "You only need listen to yourselves. It reminds me of an old proverb: "If and When were planted , and Nothing grew."

男人笑着答道"你们说的话让我想起一句古老的谚语:'只想不做，就会没有收获。"

IF and WHEN looked puzzled. The gentleman smiled and said, "Start counting how many times you use the words 'if' and 'when'. Rather than thinking 'if and when', start doing, take action, stop talking about 'if and when'."

"如果"和"到那时"疑惑地看着他。男人继续说从现在开始，数一下你们用了多少次‘如果'和‘到那时'这两个词语。你们不要总是思考‘如果怎样怎样到那时怎样怎样而是应该着手去做，采取行动，请不要再谈论‘如果和到那时'。"

IF and WHEN both looked surprised, and suddenly realized that what the gentleman had said was so true. Both of them were guilty of thinking,acting and living their life for the "ifs and whens', The gentleman left and IF and WHEN's conversation changed. They made a pact⁵ that when they met for lunch next week, there would be no "ifs and whens"; they would only talk about what they accomplished⁶!

"如果"和"到那时"感到十分惊讶，他们突然意识到这个男人说得很正确。两个人都为自己把思想、行为、生活的希望放在"如果和到那时"上感到惭愧。男人离开后，他们谈话的内容有了改变。他们约定下个星期一起吃午餐时，再也没有"如果"和"到那时他们只会谈论已经完成的事情。