When Spring cleaning season arrived this year I decided¹ that it was time to get rid of more than just a Winter's worth of dust and dirt. I decided that it was the time to get rid of years worth of accumulated stuff as well. This stuff was lining² my walls, filling my shelves, and crowding my closets.

又到了今年的春日清洁季，我想着需要清洁的不止是一个冬天的污垢尘霾，还有多年累积的杂物。这些杂物有的靠着墙，有的在架子上，还有的在我拥挤的衣橱。

This stuff was cluttering³ my home and my mind and not bringing me one bit of happiness. I couldn't even remember how I got some of it, but I knew I wanted it gone.

家里的东西乱成一团，想到这我一点都高兴不起来。我都想不起来是什么时候有的，现在我只想让它们快点消失。

It turned out to be an even bigger job than I thought. Twenty year old bills and receipts were tossed in the trash. File cabinets were cleaned of papers that were no longer necessary or needed.

清理它们比我想象的要工程浩大。二十年内的帐单发票、文件夹中用不上的废纸，统统丢进垃圾箱。

Broken bowls, dented⁴ pans, and cracked knickknacks were finally thrown away. Unworn clothes were hauled out of the closet and bagged up to be given away to the local Goodwill⁵.

破掉的碗、变形的平底锅、有裂缝的小摆件都扔掉了。从衣柜整理出不穿的衣物，打包捐给当地的慈善机构。

Old books were boxed up to be passed on for others to read and enjoy. It took several days to get it all done,but in the end I was able to walk through a home that seemed a little less cluttered⁶. My heart was a lot lighter⁷ too. It felt so good to be able to get rid of all the junk and to just focus on the essential stuff in life again.

旧书入箱传递给别人悦读。我花了好几天的时候才把这些事情都办妥。当我在家中巡视感觉没那么乱了，心情也较之前释然不少，丢弃无用之物，把心思放在重要的事情上，让人怡然自得。

What is the essential stuff? What is the stuff that brings meaning to our days? A loving heart is essential. A joyful spirit is essential. A soul full of goodness and God is essential.

什么是重要的事情？这些事情对我们要度过的每一天有什么意义？有一颗仁爱之心非常重要。有一个积极向上的灵魂非常重要。心存善念和上帝非常重要。

And a lifefull of sharing all of these things is absolutely essential. The essential stuff can't be bought, sold, or stored. It can only be chosen, created, and given away. The essential stuff is the stuff we all really want. It is the stuff we all really need.

懂得施予也有其重要。真正重要的事情不可以买卖或者存储。它们只可以被选择、被创造、被放弃。真正重要的东西是我们想要且需要的。