実践ビジネス英語ディクテーション (aired 5/16,17)

こんにちは。実践ビジネス英語Talk the Talkのコーナーのディクテーションです。番組の5月前半のテーマは、‘Healthy Aging’（健やかに年をとる）でした。番組vignetteでは、（登場人物たちが中年期まっただ中ということで）healthy aging のコツとして、適度な運動、食事、日光を避けること、笑うことなどが挙げられていました。“Talk the Talk”では、43歳になったとおっしゃるHeather さんが告白する、留学生時代の昼食が衝撃的でした。

（S: 杉田敏先生　H: Heather Howardさん）

Healthy Aging

S: In our current vignette, the H&B staffers talk about the travails of getting older. First is Alyce Collins, who says celebrating her 43rd birthday recently brought home to her that she’s now middle-aged.

H: I had to laugh when I first read this vignette because so much of it exactly parallels my own life. I turned 43 myself, this year, and I have also heaved more than a few sighs over my vanished youth.
Though, it wasn’t my birthday that really made me feel it. It was sitting across a large restaurant table from a group of American college students late last year.
Looking at them I realized that I graduated from college more than one of those kids ago. In other words, when I was in college, they hadn’t even been born yet.
That’s when it hit me, “I am middle-aged.” I must seem as old to these kids as, well, forty-somethings once looked to me.

S: Lyons says one of the first signs of aging is fatigue, and that he no longer has the energy he had only a few years ago.
He also laments the random aches and pains that come with aging.

H: Yes. I’ve noticed my body getting stiffer over all. I like to sit cross-legged on chairs and sofas when I work on my computer at home.
And until recently it never bothered me at all; I could stay in the same position for a good long time with no ill effects.
Since about last year, however, I’ve often felt very stiff when I unwind myself. At the worst times, I actually have to hobble straight-legged for ten steps or so before my legs loosen up again.
One thing they don’t mention in the vignette is the change in metabolism that comes with age. How I miss those younger days when I could eat just about anything I wanted, and just about as much of it as I wanted, and not worry about getting fat or feeling sick.
When I was studying in Kyoto during my junior year of college, the school gave us 500yen for lunch every day, and that was enough for instant yakisoba and some chocolate at a nearby store.
So, that’s what I ate almost every day, again, with no ill effects. But if I try that today, with this 43-year-old body―forget it.

S: The conversation then turns to ways that middle-aged people can help themselves age gracefully. The H&B staffers say, for example, that it’s important to exercise regularly but not overdo it and hurt ourselves.

H: Very true. I hurt my knee while running a few years ago, because I tried to increase the distance I was running too quickly.
I should’ve known better but I think there was an element of “I’m still young. I can take it” behind my recklessness.
I didn’t want to admit that I need to ease into things more gently and give myself more time to recover now.

S: What about some of the other things they mention, like staying out of the sun, eating certain foods and laughing?

H: I do tend to stay out of the sun, I’ve never been interested in sunbathing; I burn very easily. So, that’s an easy step for me to follow.
I have to admit I don’t pay a lot of attention to anti-oxidants in my food. Though, apparently there are a lot of them in blueberries―one of my favorite fruits.
It doesn’t surprise me at all that laughing helps keep us healthy and young.
Watching a funny movie always gives me a boost both mentally and physically. My body actually feels lighter after a good laugh.
And if nothing else, laughing and smiling make us look younger. A bright, cheerful expression is always going to be more attractive than a scowl or a pout.

最後までお読みくださり、ありがとうございました♪