PE 11/12 JK Rowling Speech -Part 2

Actually, I have wracked my mind and heart for what I ought to say to you today.
* wrack one's mind/brain: to think long and hard about a difficult question
ex> the design team wracked their brains trying to come up with something innovative.

What  important lessons I have learned in the 21 years that have expired between that day and this.
* expired: the passing of sth, particularly time
ex> As the sun fell behind the mountains, another perfect day had expired in France.

I have come up with two answers.
* come up with: to find an answer to a question

These may seen quixotic or paradoxical choices, but please bear with me.
* quixotic: 돈키호테식의
* bear with: to be patient with sb
ex> I left my wallet in my car, so bear with me while I go get it.

Half my lifetime ago, I was striking an uneasy balance between the ambition I had for myself, and what those closest to me expected of me.
* strike a balance: to find a middle ground between two extremes
ex> When my parents divorced, I had to strike a balance by splitting my time between my mom and dad.