January 27, 2015 by Paulo Coelho - Paulo Coelho's Blog

원문 출처 : https://paulocoelhoblog.com/2015/01/27/the-advantages-of-growing-old/​

A legend tells of a man who used to carry water every day to his village, using two large pitchers tied on either end of a piece of wood, which he placed across his shoulders.

장대를 어깨에 메고 양쪽에 큰 물동이를 달고 마을로 매일 물을 나르는 한 남자가 있었다.

One of the pitchers was older than the other and was full of small cracks; every time the man came back along the path to his house, half of the water was lost.


한쪽 양동이는 다른 쪽보다 오래되어 금이 가 있었다. 그래서 집으로 오는 길에 물의 반은 새 나갔다.

For two years, the man made the same journey. The younger pitcher was always very proud of the way it did its work and was sure that it was up to the task for which it had been created, while the other pitcher was mortally ashamed that it could carry out only half its task, even though it knew that the cracks were the result of long years of work.

2년 동안이나 그 남자는 같은 일을 반복했다. 새 양동이는 항상 자기가 해온 완벽한 일들을 자랑스러워 한 반면, 오래된 양동이는 오랜 세월 동안의 사용으로 금이 가서임에도 불구하고 자기 일의 반밖에 못 하고 있다는 걸 대단히 부끄러워했다.

So ashamed was the old pitcher that, one day, while the man was preparing to fill it up with water from the well, it decided to speak to him.

부끄러워했던 늙은 양동이는 어느 날 그 남자가 우물에서 물을 긷는 동안 그에게 물어보기로 했다.

“I wish to apologize because, due to my age, you only manage to take home half the water you fill me with, and thus quench only half the thirst awaiting you in your house.”

“내 나이 때문에 당신이 가득 채운 물이 집에 반만 도착하니 미안하오, 집에서 목마름에 기다리는 가족들에게 반만 갈증을 해소해주니.”

The man smiled and said:
“When we go back, be sure to take a careful look at the path.”
The pitcher did as the man asked and noticed many flowers and plants growing along one side of the path.

그 남자 웃으며 말하길 “이따 집으로 가는 길에 길 주변을 자세히 살펴봐” 늙은 양동이가 그리해보니 많은 꽃과 야채들이 집으로 가는 길 주변에 자라고 있었다.

“Do you see how much more beautiful nature is on your side of the road?” the man remarked.

“길 주변이 얼마나 아름다운 자연이더냐”

“I knew you had cracks, but I decided to take advantage of them. I sowed vegetables and flowers there, and you always watered them. I’ve picked dozens of roses to decorate my house, and my children have had lettuce, cabbage and onions to eat. If you were not the way you are, I could never have done this. We all, at some point, grow old and acquire other qualities, and these can always be turned to good advantage.”

“난 네가 금이 가 있다는 걸 알았지만, 그것의 장점을 받아들이기로 했어. 채소와 꽃들을 씨 뿌리고 네가 항상 물을 준 거란다. 덕분에 장미꽃다발들로 집을 장식하고 내 아이들은 양상추, 양배추, 양파들을 먹을 수 있었단다. 그 길에 네가 없었다면 난 이런 일들을 할 수 없었단다.

어떤 면에서 우리 모두는 나이를 먹으면서 다른 능력을 가질 수 있단다. 이런 건 항상 장점이 된단다.”

(임의 해석입니다요).