下面是小编整理的英语美文：Everyday is a gift，希望对大家有帮助。

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister’s bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip(纸片). This is lingerie(女士内衣)." Hediscarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite(精致的); silk, handmade andtrimmed with a cobweb (蜘蛛网，蛛丝)of lace(花边). The price tag with an astronomicalfigure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is theoccasion." He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were takingto the mortician(殡葬员). His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then heslammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion.Every day you’re alive is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helpedhim and my niece attend to all the sad chores (琐事)that follow an unexpected death. Ithought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where mysister’s family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn’t seen or heard or done. Ithought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.

I’m still thinking about his words, and they’ve changed my life. I’m reading more anddusting less. I’m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds inthe garden. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committeemeetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor(使有风味，尽情享受), not endure. I’m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I’m not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event-suchas losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia (茶花)blossom. I wear mygood blazer (颜色鲜明的运动夹克)to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous,I can shell out (交付，支付)$28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing(畏缩). I’mnot saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in bankshave noses that function as well as my party-going friends’.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it’s worthseeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I’m not sure what my sisterwould have done had she known that she wouldn’t be here for the tomorrow we all take forgranted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might havecalled a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think shewould have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I’m guessing--I’ll never know.

It’s those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours werelimited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with-someday. Angry because I hadn’t written certain letters that I intended to write--one of thesedays. Angry and sorry that I didn’t tell my husband and daughter often enough how much Itruly love them.

I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter andluster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, everyminute, every breath truly is ... a gift from God.