现在我知道这看似有些可笑。我知道这看上去有些可笑。但相信我，我的生活中不断重复着这个错误。直到三年前，当时，我给自己买了一双很贵的鞋，但是那双鞋的鞋带是尼龙的，我不知道怎么系。
ludicrous[ˈlu:dɪkrəs] adj. 可笑的
a ludicrous suggestion
荒谬的建议
So I went back to the store and said to the owner, "I love the shoes, but I hate the laces." He took a look and said, "Oh, you're tying them wrong." Now up until that moment, I would have thought that, by age 50, one of the life skills that I had really nailed was tying my shoes.
于是我回到鞋店跟老板说， “我喜欢这双鞋，但我讨厌鞋带。” 老板看了看说：“哦，你系鞋带的方法是错的”。 直到那一刻，我都认为一个50岁的人，最擅长的技能莫过于系鞋带了。
But not so — let me demonstrate.
但是，事实却并非如此——我来说明一下。
This is the way that most of us were taught to tie our shoes. Now as it turns out —thank you.
现在这个系法 就是我们大多数人一般系鞋带的方式 现在事实证明——谢谢。
Wait, there's more. As it turns out — there's a strong form and a weak form of this knot, and we were taught the weak form. And here's how to tell. If you pull the strands at the base of the knot, you will see that the bow will orientitself down the long axis of the shoe. That's the weak form of the knot.
等一下，还没完。事实证明——这种打结的方式会有牢固和不牢固两种手法，我们以前学得是不牢固的手法，我来演示一下。如果你像这样撑开绳结的底部，你可以看到鞋带会自动的像这样呈长轴式的转过来。这就是不牢固的打结。
orient[ˈɔ:rient] v. 标定方向;使调整或者成为一条直线
e.g.
She lay still for a few seconds, trying toorient herself.
她静静地躺了一会儿，试图弄清自己的方位。
But not to worry. If we start over and simply go the other direction around the bow, we get this, the strong form of the knot. And if you pull the cords under the knot, you will see that the bow orients itself along the transverse axis of the shoe. This is a stronger knot. It will come untied less often. It will let you down less, and not only that, it looks better.
不过不用担心。如果我们重来，并且仅仅是按原先反方向让右手从下面，绕过来打结，这就是牢固的打结方式。如果你还是这样拉开，你会看到鞋带，仍能保持原样呈横轴式。这就是更牢固的打结，不会轻易松开，也会为你减少麻烦，不仅如此，它看起来也更美观了。
We're going to do this one more time.
我再来演示一次。
Start as usual — go the other way around the loop. This is a little hard for children, but I think you can handle it. Pull the knot. There it is : the strong form of the shoe knot.
就像往常那样开始——再反方向地绕过来系。这对小孩会有点难，但是我相信你们可以做到。拉一下这打结。这样就完成了，鞋带的牢固系法。
Now, in keeping with today's theme, I'd like to point out —something you already know —that sometimes a small advantage someplace in life can yieldtremendousresults someplace else.
现在，为了符合今天的主题,我想指出——有一些大家已经了解的东西——在人生的某一阶段，有时一个小优势可能会在别的地方给你带来意想不到的收获。
yield[ji:ld] v. 屈服，投降;生产
e.g.
The research has yielded usefulinformation.
这项研究提供了有用的资料。
tremendous[trəˈmendəs] adj. 极大的，巨大的
e.g.
It was a tremendous experience.
这是个了不起的经历。
Live long and prosper.
活到老学到老。
参考资料：
https://www.ted.com/talks/terry_moore_how_to_tie_your_shoes/tran#t-10677
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