tributary, sound, malicious, equal, inevitably, pulp, naked

一条小溪，是大河的一条支流（tributary），曾经感到很难过。“我太小了，”它叹息道。“我的声音（sound）不过是耳语，与河流的咆哮相比。”附近一只年长的智者青蛙听到了。“小溪啊，”青蛙呱呱叫道，“别以为你的渺小让你不重要。每一滴水都为整体做出了贡献。你在贡献上是平等（equal）的，即使在体型上不是平等（equal）的。你的目的独一无二。”小溪陷入沉思。它意识到，即使是恶意的（malicious）行为也可能被扭转；也许一根倒下的木头，虽然挡住了它的去路，却会创造一个小池塘，让新的生命得以开始。小溪明白，它的旅程，尽管蜿蜒曲折，但终将（inevitably）流入大海。它可能会觉得自己被岩石磨成了纸浆（pulp），但它打磨光滑的每一颗鹅卵石都证明了它不懈的流动。小溪决定拥抱它的旅程，赤裸（naked）而无畏于它的渺小，知道它是比它自身大得多的事物中不可或缺的一部分。

A tiny stream, a tributary to a grand river, once felt sad. "I am so small," it sighed. "My sound is but a whisper compared to the river's roar." A wise old frog nearby heard this. "Little stream," croaked the frog, "do not think your size makes you less important. Every drop adds to the whole. You are equal in your contribution, even if you are not equal in size. Your purpose is unique." The stream pondered this. It realized that even a malicious act could be turned around; perhaps a fallen log, though blocking its path, would create a small pool where new life could begin. The stream understood that its journey, though winding, would inevitably lead to the sea. It might feel like it was being ground down to pulp by the rocks, but each pebble it smoothed was a testament to its persistent flow. The stream decided to embrace its journey, naked and unashamed of its smallness, knowing it was a vital part of something much larger.

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