3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时（精选19篇）

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇1

The East and the West, Let’s enjoy the combination of the two cultures?

Kipling said:“East is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet!” But now, a century later, they have met.

They have met in business. They have met in education. They have met in the arts. Some people will argue that these meetings will leave us with a choice between east and west, but I believe that the best future lies in the creative combination of both worlds. We can make western ideas, customs and technology our own, and adapt them to our own use. We can enjoy the best of both worlds, because our tradition is, above all, one of selecting the best and making it our own.

I love Beijing and Hennan opera because it always reminds me of who I am. But I am also a fan of pop music, especially English songs. So I have combined eastern melody with western language. It is called western henna opera.

When two cultures meet, there may be things in one culture, which do not fit into the tradition of the other. When this happens, we need to learn to understand and respect the customs of another culture. Then there are certain things some people may not like. To this, I will say, if you do not like it, please try to tolerate it. To learn to tolerate what you personally don’t like is a great virtue at a time when different cultures mix and merge. Before us, there are two rivers, eastern and western cultures. At present, they may run in different courses. But eventually, they will converge into the vast sea of human culture.

Right now, I can see peoples of eastern and western cultures, standing side by side, singing the Olympic theme song: we are hand in hand, heart to heart, together we will shape a beautiful tomorrow! Thank you!

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇2

The East and the West, Let’s enjoy the combination of the two cultures?

Kipling said:“East is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet!” But now, a century later, they have met.

They have met in business. They have met in education. They have met in the arts. Some people will argue that these meetings will leave us with a choice between east and west, but I believe that the best future lies in the creative combination of both worlds. We can make western ideas, customs and technology our own, and adapt them to our own use. We can enjoy the best of both worlds, because our tradition is, above all, one of selecting the best and making it our own.

I love Beijing and Hennan opera because it always reminds me of who I am. But I am also a fan of pop music, especially English songs. So I have combined eastern melody with western language. It is called western henna opera.

When two cultures meet, there may be things in one culture, which do not fit into the tradition of the other. When this happens, we need to learn to understand and respect the customs of another culture. Then there are certain things some people may not like. To this, I will say, if you do not like it, please try to tolerate it. To learn to tolerate what you personally don’t like is a great virtue at a time when different cultures mix and merge. Before us, there are two rivers, eastern and western cultures. At present, they may run in different courses. But eventually, they will converge into the vast sea of human culture.

Right now, I can see peoples of eastern and western cultures, standing side by side, singing the Olympic theme song: we are hand in hand, heart to heart, together we will shape a beautiful tomorrow! Thank you!

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇3

Everyone has a choice when he wakes up in the early can choose to be happy or sad all the day. But for me , I think I have responsibilities to fulfill all the day. So every morning my first job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. Today I can complain because it is rainy or I can be grateful that the grass is watered for free.

Today I can feel sad because I don’t have more money or I can be glad that it will prevent me from wasting.

Today I can feel very down because of a bad cold or I can rejoice that I am still alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can be disappionted for my lack of friends or I can be excited to discover new relationships.

Today I can be exhausted because I have too much homework to do or I can feel honored because I’m getting closer to my dream in this way.

What today will be like is just up to can get to choose what kind of day we will have! As teenagers,we stilll have much time to achieve our dreams, but the way to success is not so we choose to face it in a good mood and carry on trying,I believe we can enjoy the whole process and get to the destination of success much more easily and happily.

In fact,everything depends on your own you choose to be happy and positive,you will enjoy your work and have a good you choose to be sad and negative,nothing good will come to you and your life will be colourless.

The world around us is so e is no reason why we don’t enjoy ,everybody,let’s choose to be happy everyday!

Ok,that’s all.

Thanks for listening!

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇4

Ladies and Gentlemen

I'm only going to talk to you just for a minute or so this evening because I have some -- some very sad news for all of you -- Could you lower those signs please? -- I have some very sad news for all of you and I think sad news for all of our fellow citizens and people who love peace all over the world; and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and was killed tonight in Memphis Tennessee.

Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings. He died in the cause of that effort. In this difficult day in this difficult time for the United States it's perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in. For those of you who are black -- considering the evidence evidently is that there were white people who were responsible -- you can be filled with bitterness and with hatred and a desire for revenge.

We can move in that direction as a country in greater polarization -- black people amongst blacks and white amongst whites filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort as Martin Luther King did to understand and to comprehend and replace that violence that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land with an effort to understand compassion and love.

For those of you who are black and are tempted to fill with -- be filled with hatred and mistrust of the injustice of such an act against all white people I would only say that I can also feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed but he was killed by a white man.

But we have to make an effort in the United States. We have to make an effort to understand to get beyond or go beyond these rather difficult times.

My favorite poem my -- my favorite poet was Aeschylus. And he once wrote:

Even in our sleep pain which cannot forget

falls drop by drop upon the heart

until in our own despair

against our will

comes wisdom

through the awful grace of God.

What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness but is love and wisdom and compassion toward one another and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country whether they be white or whether they be black.

So I ask you tonight to return home to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King -- yeah it's true -- but more importantly to say a prayer for our own country which all of us love -- a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.

We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times. We've had difficult times in the past but we -- and we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; and it's not the end of disorder.

But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together want to improve the quality of our life and want justice for all human beings that abide in our land.

And let's dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world. Let us dedicate ourselves to that and say a prayer for our country and for our people.

Thank you very much.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇5

In the matter of courage we all have our limits. there never was a hero who did not have his bounds. i suppose it may be said of nelson and all the others whose courage has been advertised that there came times in their lives when their bravery knew it had come to its limit.

I have found mine a good many times. sometimes this was expected--often it was unexpected. i know a man who is not afraid to sleep with a rattle-snake, but you could not get him to sleep with a safety-razor.

I never had the courage to talk across a long, narrow room. i should be at the end of the room facing all the audience. if i attempt to talk across a room i find myself turning this way and that, and thus at alternate periods i have part of the audience behind me. you ought never to have any part of the audience behind you; you never can tell what they are going to do.

I'll sit down.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇6

Parkour is a sport activity with the purpose of moving from one place to another as efficiently and quickly as possible,using only the physical skills of the human is used to overcome obstacles,which can be any obstacle in the environment on fences and stone,to pillars,walls and bars and can be practiced both in urban areas and rural areas.

Founded by David Belle in France,parkour focuses on efficient movements to develop the training of the body and mind,to be prepared to overcome obstacles in an also be a form of entertainment or a way to spend your free sport is also called l’art du deplacement / the art of movement / art movement or even term “parkour” is derived from the French “parcours go combattant” in translation meaning “to overcome an obstacle” .

Free running is the term used by Sebastien Foucan in Jump London documentary to refer to parkour,term which later came to describe a sport based on acrobatics,different from the original discipline Le Parkour.

Practitioners of this discipline are called tracers sport is practiced mainly in urban areas,involving jumps in,on,through and around obstacles such as railings,stairs,pillars,,trees,buildings, consider this kind of training a way of liberation from the constraints imposed by other sports and one standard for overcoming the induced limitations .

Parkour is classified as “wow!” an extreme ticing this discipline does not require wearing special equipment,sites developed,prepared before or other our is very simple,fluid movement from one place to another,to which are added run speed,climbing,jumping,spectacular and efficient movement,imagination,improvisation and other complex sport “parkour” performed by you does not include items listed above,then you are doing fitness.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇7

Yes, my dream. to give my famliy a warm, give my friend happy. Yes, my dream. The podium from the first station began his love this place, started from the first published an article looking forward to the world of words, decided to stay here from the beginning, stick to bottom of my heart desire.

Years in our faces no matter how many additional traces, no matter how much things to us across the chest wounds, as long as we have the right to breathe, to have a passion for remodeling dreams! Oxygen to survive as long as we have to have the courage to create a passion!

Choose to continue, select the value, select the achievements of the passion of life, the brave hearts of the initial dream of success!

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇8

Pubs are an important part of British life. Even very small villages nearly always have a pub. People especially men， will often go to the pub for a drink in the evening and at weekends. A man will usually go to the same pub， one which is closed by and which is called the local： I'm just nipping down to the local for a print. Women now go to pubs more than they used to， but usually don not like to go to a pub on their own. Children under 16 are not usually allowed into pubs， although some pubs have a children's room or a garden where children can sit.

Until 1988， pubs were only allowed to be open from 12：00 am to 2：00 pm alcoholic drink can be sold in a public place are called the licensing laws. Even though the law was changed so that alcohol can now be sold all day， many pubs still only pen at lunchtime and in the evening. When it is nearly time for the pub to close， the landlord or landlady shouts "last orders" and then "time".

Pubs often sell food or snacks as well as drinks. Food that is considered typical pub food is scampi (kind of shellfish) and chips (fried potatoes)， pie and chips， chicken and chips， and ploughman's lunch (bread with cheese)。

Pubs have names， For example: The Angel， The Black Swan， The Crown， The King's Arms， The Red Lion， The White Horse， etc. and people usually refer to the pub by its name： Turn left at the Rose and Crown. There is often a sing outside the pub showing the name with a picture.

Many pubs have two or more different bars. The public bar is usually plainly furnished and often has a pool table and dartboard. It is the bar usually used by the local people. The saloon bar is comfortable and well-furnished and is the bar that is usually used by men and woman drinking together.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇9

i have a dream today

i have a dream that one day every vally shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. wow, what a dream it has been for martin luther king. but the changing world seems telling me that people gradually get their

dreams lost somehow in the process of growing up, and sometimes i personally find myself saying goodbye unconsciously to those distant childhood dreams.

however, we need dreams. they nourish our spirit; they represent possibility even when we are dragged down by reality. they keep us going. most successful people are dreamers as well as ordinary people who are not afraid to think big and dare to be great. when we were little kids, we all dreamed of doing something big and splashy, something significant. now what we need to do is to maintain them, refresh them and turn them into reality. however, the toughest part is that we often have no ideas how to translate these dreams into actions. well, just start with concrete objectives and stick to it. don‘t let the nameless fear confuse the eye and confound our strong belief of future. through our talents, through our wits, through our endurance and through our creativity, we will make it.

hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow. so my dear friends, think of your old and maybe dead dreams. whatever it is, pick it up and make it alive from today.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇10

She kindled a third match。 Again shot up the flame; and now she was sitting under a most beautiful Christmas tree ，far larger， and far more prettily decked out， than the one she had seen last Christmas eve through the glass doors of the rich merchant's house。 Hundreds of wax-tapers lighted up the green branches， and tiny painted figures， such as she had seen in the shop-windows， looked down from the tree upon her。 The child stretched out her hands towards them in delight， and in that moment the lights of the match warm quenched; still， however， the Christmas candles burned higher and higher， she beheld them beaming like stars in heaven; one of them fell， the lights streaming behind it like a long， fiery tail。

“Now some one is dying，” said the little girl， softly， for she had been told by her old grandmother， the only person who had ever been kind to her， and who was now dead that whenever a star falls an immortal spirit returns to the God who gave it。

She struck yet another match against the wall; it flamed up， and surrounded by its light， appeared before her that same dear grandmother， gentle and loving as always， but bright and happy as she had never looked during her lifetime。

她擦着了第三根火柴，又冒出了火焰。此刻她觉得正坐在十分美丽的圣诞树下方，比上次圣诞节透过那富商家的玻璃门看到的那株还要大、还要美。这株树的绿枝上点燃着许许多多的蜡烛，颜色瑰丽的图画，就象橱窗里挂着的那些一样漂亮，仿佛在向她眨眼。小姑娘把两只手伸过去，火柴又熄灭了。然而圣诞树上的烛光越升越高。她看到它们变成了明亮的星星，有一颗落下来，在天上划出一道长长的火丝。

“此刻又有一个什么人死了。”小姑娘说。因为她的老祖母——一个唯一待她好的人，此刻已经死了，以前告诉过她，天上落下一颗星，地上就有一个灵魂回到曾赋于他生命的上帝那里去。

她在墙上又擦了一根火柴，火光把四周照亮了。在亮光里，亲爱的和生前一样的祖母出现了。她依然是那么的慈爱和温和，然而那快活和幸福的样貌却是她生前从未有过的

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇11

A famous doctor once attended a little boy who was dangerously ill. Thanks to his skill and care this young patient recovered， and was soon able to get up and run about again. The child's mother was very grateful， and she called on the doctor to thank him for what he had done for her son.

“Doctor，”she said.“You have saved my little boy's life. I do not know how to thank you enough. I feel that money alone cannot repay you， so I have made this little purse with my own hands， as a sign of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it.”

The doctor drew himself up and said coldly，“Madam， little presents like that are very nice between friends， but a doctor needs to be paid properly for his attentions.”

The lady was too surprised and hurt to reply for a moment. Then she said quietly，“Perhaps you will tell me what your fee is， doctor？”

“Fifty pounds，”he answered.

The lady opened the little purse that she had made and took out four fifty-pound bank notes. She handed one of them to the doctor， and put the other three back into the purse. She put the purse into her handbag， and saying good morning to the doctor， she went out of the room.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇12

Good morning, everybody!

In this world, there is one thing that is very fair to everybody, whether you are a male or female, young or old, rich or poor. Does anybody know what it is called?

Right. It is time. The topic I am going to present to you today is called “ Treasure Every Minute”.

The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with.

And remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!! The clock is running. Make the most of today.

Good luck, everybody!

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇13

I heard a word"Don`t give , just be use life`s too short tobe anybody else."I think what this word express is so yeah,so I wanna you to memorize it.

Everyone has a beautiful dream and personal life on the way that we hunt for the keys of acheving our dreams,there are many difficulties appearing,thus,several timid men give in to them,one after another,some peaple lost their first dreams and even !Many characters and pretty or handsome stars around us,we are obesessed with some of those,and even ad occean of peaple volunteer to imitate those ver,as we turn back,we will find in surprise,the tree is still the old tree,the house is still, everything is still the didn`t change them a little.

The same as our competitions,teachers always say:"You`d better read more essays and memorize some perfect or wonderful sentenses,it`s helpful for your writing level."Well!I don`t think so! Personally,I feel we must keep on our styles and priciple,due to this,when readers read our essays,they might learn about us better,therefore we will become happier to make the life colorful and ,I support that we read more books,rather than recite more essays.

Being true to yourself implies if you are delighted,then you laugh,if you are sad,then you cry,don`t hide your mood,do not be on your dream which is deep in your hear. You can`t become the other like magic,because there is no such thing as magic in the wold,OK!Let`s stand in front of the mirror,carefully look at :Calm `t get anything to bother your heart,just be true to yourself.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇14

the footsteps of the world expo is getting closer and closer to us, civilized and harmonious call is still ringing in my ears. shanghai, china obtained the right to host the world expo , expo shanghai china will be a world event, the development of shanghai's new round of golden opportunity, as it is an important embodiment of our national spirit.

world expo is a great influence and a long history of international activities, is the largest gathering of human beings. people from around the world gathered in one place display their products and skills, boast of their hometown and motherland. expo set the culmination of human civilization, which has a unique appeal, make you feel surging.

world expo is a platform, we are the masters. she put up a platform for us to let the world know us; she built a bridge for us, so we better communicate with the world. this platform may let us display self wantonly. we are the masters here, we have to landlord, let guest experience enthusiasm and happiness.

everyone to contribute for the expo, we are no exception, as a living piece of fertile land in pudong's teachers, we are proud and pride. in the vision of a better tomorrow, we have to do for the world expo will own a wonderful ability, we have through our hands, warm heart and sincerity to practical action to achieve the commitment of shanghai to the world. we should educate the many students: do not throw garbage anywhere, no spitting, no jaywalking ... ...

thank you

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇15

Good morning everyone!

My name is Jie Lidi. Today, my topic is: “Confidence”. As we all know, failure is the mother of success. But What I want to say is that success is the child of confidence. Without confidence, things can become negative and uncomfortable. I remember, during an English class, I wanted to make a sentence using the word "listen". I should have said: "I listen to the Voice of America" but I was too nervous and said "I listen to the Noise of America". Everybody in the class laughed. Since then I wanted to train myself to be confident. Now, confidence makes me brave and courageous. Take this speech for example. I wanted to enter this competition, but I would feel very embarrassed if I made mistakes. Just then, I thought about my dream. My dream is to become a scientist when I grow up. If I am not confident, how can I overcome difficulties I face? If I am not confident, how can I succeed in developing myself in the future? I will do it! Today, I am making a speech in public and I feel proud and confident!

I am sure, in the future, with confidence, I will go forward-always forward. Confidence will make my dreams come true!

Thank you!

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇16

My speech on this English summer program

Ladies and Gentlemen: Good morning!

My name is Hob. I am an -------

I am very happy to participate in this English Summer Program because it helps me to improve my oral English.

Each day I arrive early for class; and sit in the first row which is nearest to the teacher so that I can hear the teacher clearly.

I have attended every class, not missed a single one, only because I cherish this opportunity to learn to speak English well.

Our teacher is a wonderful teacher. She speaks English slowly and clearly so that we can easily understand her. She tries hard to help us with pronunciation, intonation and rhythm and teaches us to speak English smoothly. She helps everyone with every difficult sound. She tells us stories and teaches us life skills, which will be useful to us in the future. She is very kind to us and we all love her.

In the beginning, many of our students were shy about standing up in front of the class to speak English, but with the help of our teacher; and with the encouragement of our teacher every one of our class can now stands up and speak English loudly.

Our teacher seems not to be an expert on languages. She does not tell us that the word “goodbye” originally means: ’god be with you’ or “god bless you” when we are talking about the basic expressions of saying goodbye. She does not tell us such things. She only teaches us every day English to help us to communicate with others. And that is just what I needed. So, this program has been very helpful to me.　I hope there will be more such programs in the future so that many more people can benefit from it.

Now, I have a dream!

My dream is that one day I can go to America for a Chinese Summer program to teach Americans to speak Chinese and tell them about China.

My dream is that Chinese and Americans understand each other better, will be good friends forever!

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to improve my oral English. 　Thank you!

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇17

Thank you. Thank you, President Chen, Chairmen Ren, Vice President Chi, Vice Minister Wei. We are delighted to be here today with a very large American delegation, including the First Lady and our daughter, who is a student at Stanford, one of the schools with which Beijing University has a relationship. We have six members of the United States Congress; the Secretary of State; Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Agriculture; the Chairman of our Council of Economic Advisors; Senator Sasser, our Ambassador; the National Security Advisor and my Chief of Staff, among others. I say that to illustrate the importance that the United States places on our relationship with China.

I would like to begin by congratulating all of you, the students, the faculty, the administrators, on celebrating the centennial year of your university. Gongxi, Beida. (Applause.)

As I'm sure all of you know, this campus was once home to Yenching University which was founded by American missionaries. Many of its wonderful buildings were designed by an American architect. Thousands of Americans students and professors have come here to study and teach. We feel a special kinship with you.

I am, however, grateful that this day is different in one important respect from another important occasion 79 years ago. In June of 1919, the first president of Yenching University, John Leighton Stuart, was set to deliver the very first commencement address on these very grounds. At the appointed hour, he appeared, but no students appeared. They were all out leading the May 4th Movement for China's political and cultural renewal. When I read this, I hoped that when I walked into the auditorium today, someone would be sitting here. And I thank you for being here, very much. (Applause.)

Over the last 100 years, this university has grown to more than 20,000 students. Your graduates are spread throughout China and around the world. You have built the largest university library in all of Asia. Last year, 20 percent of your graduates went abroad to study, including half of your math and science majors. And in this anniversary year, more than a million people in China, Asia, and beyond have logged on to your web site. At the dawn of a new century, this university is leading China into the future.

I come here today to talk to you, the next generation of China's leaders, about the critical importance to your future of building a strong partnership between China and the United States.

The American people deeply admire China for its thousands of years of contributions to culture and religion, to philosophy and the arts, to science and technology. We remember well our strong partnership in World War II. Now we see China at a moment in history when your glorious past is matched by your present sweeping transformation and the even greater promise of your future.

Just three decades ago, China was virtually shut off from the world. Now, China is a member of more than 1,000 international organizations -- enterprises that affect everything from air travel to agricultural development. You have opened your nation to trade and investment on a large scale. Today, 40,000 young Chinese study in the United States, with hundreds of thousands more learning in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇18

A Young Idler,An Old Beggar

Almost everyone knows the famous Chinese saying：A young idler，an old beggar. Throughout history，we have seen many cases in which this saying has again and again proved to be true.

It goes without saying that the youth is the best time of life，during which one's mental and physical states are at their peaks. It takes relatively less time and pains to learn or accept new things in a world full of changes and rapid developments. In addition，one is less likely to be under great pressure from career，family and health problems when young. Therefore，a fresh mind plus enormous energy will ensure success in different aspects of life.

Of course，we all know：no pains，no gains. If we don't make every effort to make good use of the advantages youth brings us，it is impossible to achieve any goals. As students，we should now try our best to learn all the subjects well so that we can be well prepared for the challenges that we will face in the future.

少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲

几乎所有人都知道中国有一句老话:少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲.通过阅读历史,我们从一个又一个的案例当中得知,这句话被证实是真确的.

不用说都知道,在青年时期,人的智力和身体状况都是一生中最好的,这也是一个人一生中最好的时期.在这个处处都不停地转变,飞快地发展的世界里,年轻使人相对地用更少的时间去学习和领悟新知.在这时,很少人会困在从事业上来的压力下,家庭和健康问题也比较小(就是说不是没有--译者).所以,一个清醒的脑袋加上巨大的能量就会成就人生中不同方面的成功.

当然,我们都知道:没有挫折就没有获得.如果我们没有好好努力去利用年轻带给我们的优胜之处,那就没有可能获得任何的成功.作为中学生,我们应该做到最好去学好每一个科目,这样的话,我们就可以为将来即将面对的挑战做好准备.

3分钟英语演讲稿_精彩进行时 篇19

Friendship

Ladies and Gentlemen:I am honored to be standing here to deliver a speech entitled “Friendship”.

The hero’s mother in the movie Forrest Gump says, “Life is a box of chocolates”. I would say that life, with friendship, true friendship particularly, is sweet as honey. It is moonlight cast on the tranquility of a lake on a mid-fall night, enchanting to the soul. It is morning dew on rose petals, pleasant and pleasing to the sense of sight. It is cosy fire on a bitterly cold winter night, warming the heart.

But as Helen Foster Snow remarks, “Friendship is no common weed that grows along the way. It’s highly cultivated and watered day by day.” Like an infant, it needs constant care; like a young tree, it can not be left to the tender mercies of severe weather. True friendship consists more in “a friend in need” to give to than “a friend in need” to take from. A true friend is a person who can be turned to, who is ready to lend a listening ear, who is willing to share feelings.

Friendship should be mutual, otherwise it will be subject to withering like plant in drought. Like genuine love, true friendship has to be a two way experience. Be it the former or the latter, if one expects to be solely on the receiving end, then s/he will be too optimistic about it: it is hoping against hope that it will last. Love or friendship of this kind is dangerous, as it is contaminated by the dark matter in human nature – selfishness.

Not infrequently does friendship need to be cared and tended, fostered and nourished, so that it will “stand at every crossroad, so good and strong and true”.

Thank you!