Words & Expressions

The atmosphere in the room was really charged - the children were crowding around my little daughter with the presents they had just given, and my daughter was adamantly refusing.

charged // a charged situation or subject makes people feel very angry, anxious, or excited, and is likely to cause arguments or violence

由于作者女儿的不合时宜的表现，导致当时房间里的气氛发生变化，其他家长们多少会有些生气。

e.g. That was really a highly charged debate.

adamant // determined not to change your opinion or a decision that you have made

画面感很强的一句描述，好像看到了这个小姑娘护着自己收到的所有礼物，坚决不给其他小朋友碰。

e.g. She begged me to change my mind, but I remained adamant.

So I first tried a simple request. "Honey, would you please share with your friends the toys they've given you?"

"No," she replied flatly.

flatly // (1) to say something in a direct and definite way that is not likely to change (2) without showing any emotion

根据上下文，我觉得此处的flatly是第一种解释，有一种小女孩的情绪在里面。

e.g. He flatly denied ever having met the woman.

e.g. 'Aunt Alicia has changed her will,' she said flatly.

My Learnings

"A thousand-mile journey begins with the first step" and can only be taken one step at a time.

千里之行始于足下。一次迈一个台阶。这是不变的真理，无论在生活的各个方面。人们如果无法接受这个事实，就往往会因自己的personality ethic而想相反的方向前行。人生并没有捷径可走，越想少走弯路，往往会走更多的路，把少走的部分统统找补回来。