My 10-year-old son Arthur loves to help others. He never1 to help people in need. His favorite pastime is to volunteer 2 at various charities in our community. One day, after purchasing the hamburger Arthur liked most, I tried to hurry him along when he 3 next to our cur to look at something. I turned to see what stopped him.
Standing about five feet away was an old 4 in rags. Every few seconds he smiled and tried to speak to the people who were walking by. At that moment, he turned around and 5 my son watching him. 6 I could say anything, he smiled broadly and said, “Hey do you happen to have any spare 7 ?”
Arthur 8 his empty pockets and then looked at me briefly. I shook my head—I hardly ever carry cash anymore. Arthur 9 and then he said something that took my breath away.
“No, I don't. But are you 10 ? Do you like the hamburger?”
Knowing the old man was hungry, Arthur's whole face 11 . “Good, here, you can have12 .”
I thought about how many people had13 this man as he walked the streets that day. How many chose to act as if he hadn't existed? But my son? The one who just moments before had loudly begged me for the hamburger was now 14 giving his favorite away to a strange man because he was hungry. And he didn't 15 give the food and walk away. He engaged the man in a conversation. The smile on the man's face told me this was the real 16 for his happiness.
"I'm really proud of you, Arthur. I think you 17 his day."
His 18 was beyond my expectation. “It's only 19.”
It's true that being kind doesn't have to be difficult me, or complex. As Arthur often reminds me, 20 is natural.
Last weekend at the airport, I had some extra time before going through the airport security（安全） to catch my flight. While wondering what to do, I thought it was the 1time and place to look for an anonymous (匿名的) act of 2 to do!
One of the magazine stands outside the airport security had flowers for sale. I told the 3 that
I'd like to buy flowers for someone else, and she could decide who to 4 them to. She looked a little 5, so I explained perhaps she could hand the smile cards with the flowers to someone who seem to need some to 6. At first, the clerk 7, "That's strange." Or maybe, "That's crazy." I can't 8 which. But then, I explained a little more about the 9 card and the concept (概念)of doing something kind for a complete 10, and she brightened up.
"I'll never know how it turns out," I said," but you will have the 11 to make someone's day." At that point, she started to seem 12 excited about it.
She went to take the 13out of the water. Then I explained, "It's fine to 14them there until the person you want to give them to 15."
At that point, I thought she was somewhere between amazement and delight, as it was 16 that this was really not a 17she had ever gotten from a customer before.
I 18 the flowers, said goodbye, and headed for the 19 line.
I'll never know how it turned out, but I was 20 for the rest of the morning.
The whole school was talking about the coming trip at a winter camp. And everyone was1, except me.
“I'll hate it,” I told my parents. “I'll get homesick (想家的). I'll look stupid at winter sports, and everyone will2me. ”
“You might be surprised, Bree,” said Mom. “The only way to find out is to3.”
“It's what growing up is all about,” Dad added.
When4the camp, we were asked to share one5.
“I'm afraid I'll be homesick,” someone said.
I wasn't the only one?! I began to6. After lunch, we were asked to ski (滑雪) down to the field. I skied7, but I still hit a piece of ice and8.
“Ha! Ha!” Behind me, somebody started laughing. I9to see who was making fun of me. To my10 I saw a girl in the same awkward (尴尬的) position I was in. “I thought I'd be bad at this,11I'm worse than I expected!” she said.
12, I started laughing too. After being so13of falling, it was a comfort not to fear it anymore.
At dinnertime, I was so happy to be talking about interesting things that I 14 to feel homesick.
The next day, I was15to try ski jumping first, even though I didn't want to. But when my feet left the ground, I felt I was16and it was wonderful.
Maybe Dad was right when he said “You might17it if you give it a chance!”
Maybe the kind of18Mom and Dad were talking about had more to do with my outlook (态度）than my looks. We all19fitting in and failing when we try20things. Sometimes you've got to fall on your face to discover how much you've got in common.
My daughter performed on behalf of her class in the school concert today. She played so 1 that I could not help cheering her. The very 2 reminded me of her experiences of piano practicing.
When she was five, we gave her a piano as a birthday present. With great 3 she began learning it. However, when she was no longer 4 she became sick of it5 it is a tough job to learn the piano, not to mention the daily routine (常规) of6.
When her first teacher left, my friend7 me to an American teacher whose way of teaching was completely American. After practicing, she would give my daughter some 8 comments, and then point out what should be 9 Every time she came,10 beginning the lesson right away, she would first play some11She said, “To learn the piano, you should learn not only the 12of playing, but more importantly, to13the music and love it.”
After some time, my daughter became fond of her lessons. Sometimes she 14 would like to 15a little bit when her skill had reached a certain level.
Surprisingly, my daughter said to me one day, “Mom, I was 16 that you didn't give up my piano lessons. Learning it is like climbing a mountain. You'll feel 17 when you are on the way. When you look18 from where you are, you will realize that you have been making19. But if you 20 you'll never take one more step.” That was the very thing I wanted to teach her.
The guy sat there as car after car drove by. He held a sign that read, “Please help, looking for 1” He was wearing a worn shirt. After 2 I felt like I had spent enough money on myself and that I needed to help someone 3.
So I said to my mother, “Could we 4and get the poor man something to eat?5 he has been sitting there all day, it seemed he 6 nothing.” We went down the road and stopped at the McDonald's, ordered a drink and two hamburgers, and then we 7. The man still sat there. I was a little 8so I stepped out of the car slowly. He saw me, stood up and started to 9 I quickly walked to the man and I expected the man to just 10 the food and not to say anything, because I have 11 that helping someone should not only make him feel good but also help him improve his self-esteem(自尊). I didn't want him to be12 .And when I 13 the man all we bought, he held my hands tightly. Then he said in 14 eyes, “Son, you shouldn't have had to 15that for me. Anyway, this is such a great thing from 16 and I am so grateful. Thank you very much.”
That day I didn't 17 I just helped the poor man and he also helped me. This 18 has given me a happy day and made myself a 19person. I have collected some clothes for the homeless people and I believe my little kindness can make a 20.
I always wondered how people would react if I tried to approach a total stranger for help in a busy place like a street corner or a mall. I have always 1 a stranger who tried to catch my2 in a busy place.
Yesterday I was in a busy shopping mall buying a large piece of luggage because I just had the 3 to do it after many days of planning. After the 4 I picked up my phone from my pocket to call my driver waiting in the parking lot but my phone was 5.
Then I requested the shop assistant who had 6 sold me the merchandise (which was not cheap), if she could ring my driver for me. She 7 that it was the shop policy that they cannot use 8 while working in the shop.
After I got out of the shop onto the busy street, I 9 a young mother with her two kids to make the same 10As soon as I said “Excuse me, madam!” she grabbed her kids and ran. I 11 a kidnapper(绑匪).
I stood there wondering how many times I had 12 to strangers like the young13 I stood there in the 14 street with people rushing by, looking at their faces to see if there was a sign of 15 on their face.
I saw a man pretty shabbily dressed compared to me who 16 to notice me. I just stopped him and made my request. He17called my driver and waited till my car came to make sure I was picked up, turned around 18 I could thank him adequately and was gone.
I was 19 by kindness and hope I will do20 to strangers who try to catch my attention from now on.
A young man had a traffic accident and got his arms removed. He had to 1 his brother, who stayed with him for years. Except for 2 with his toes, the man could do nothing else. However, one day his brother 3 with him and went away, 4 him heartbroken and at a loss what to do.
5, an accident befell (降临) a girl. One night the stove in her kitchen was overturned, resulting in a fire which took her 6 away. Having 7 her sister's offer to help her, she determined to be 8. She tried 9 and soon learned to be self-reliant. “Though my wings are broken, my 10 can still fly,” she wrote in her diary.
One day, the young man and the girl were both 11 to a TV talk-show program. The man told the hostess about his 12 future, while the girl was full of enthusiasm (热情)for life. They were both 13 to write something on a piece of paper with their toes. The boy: My14 arms are my arms. The girl: Broken wings, flying hearts.
They had both 15 the same sufferings, but their different 16 determined the nature of their lives. Unexpected disasters can happen at any time. How you 17 the disaster is the true test of your character. If you choose to complain or escape, difficulties will 18 wherever you go. However, if you choose to be 19, difficulties will turn out to be a fortune on which new 20 will arise.
One day I'd had to call emergency services because I found my partner unconscious on the floor. Within minutes, a police car and an1arrived, filled with police and paramedics（护理人员）who took my2away quickly to the emergency department, where he received the critical3that he needed.
A week later, I wrote thank you notes to those helpful police and paramedics and 4for them, for it was a small gesture with a big impact. When I dropped off brownies（布朗尼蛋糕）at the police and fire stations, they5me for the gifts. Thanked me? All that I'd done was bake: they'd6a life.
I drove away feeling7and happy,8because I'd done a good deed, but mostly because I was amazed that there are9people who do life saving work and10nothing in turn.
I11my mood may have been better than it seemed. Research has shown that 12thoughts of gratitude and performing acts of kindness can boost（提高）your 13and have other14effects on your health. “We know from studies in the literature that gratitude does have a good15on happiness, that it increases life 16," says Willibald Ruch, a psychology professor at the University of Zurich who 17effects of character strengths such as gratitude and18." It's among the top five predictors of19" “You can make positive changes in your life by learning to 20gratitude."
Long long ago, a circle missed one piece of its own. The circle wanted to be whole, so it went around looking for its1piece. But because it was2and therefore could roll only very slowly, it3the flowers along the way. It4with the worms. It enjoyed the sunshine. It found lots of different pieces, but5of them fitted. So it left them all by the side of the road and6searching. Then one day the circle found a piece that fitted7It incorporated the missing piece into itself and began to roll.8it was a perfect circle, it could roll very fast,9fast to notice the flowers or talk to the worms. After it realized how different the world seemed when it rolled so quickly, it10, left its found piece by the side of the road and rolled slowly away.
The11of the story, I suggest, is that in some strange12we are more whole when we are missing something. The man who has13is in some ways a poor man. He will never know what it14like to nourish his soul with the dream of something15. When we accept that16is part of being human and when we can continue rolling17life and appreciate it, we will have18a wholeness that others can only desire, which , I believe, is19God asks of us — not "Be perfect", not "Don't even make a mistake",20 "Be whole".
Once many years ago, I pulled a family out of a burning car somewhere in Wyoming. Last week I 1 a telephone call from a woman who could not stop 2 as she told me that one of my stories had saved her son from committing suicide. In closing she called me a 3.
That 4 me thinking about what a hero is. Was I a hero because I pulled a family from a burning car? If so, 5 could I be a hero just because I 6 a story that saved someone's life?
Today I decided to look up the word "hero" in the dictionary to see 7 what it meant. It 8 "a person who does something brave". As I read on, it also said "a person who is good and noble".
That statement 9 me more than the part about being 10. So I thought about something very important. Say I was walking into the local Wal-Mart Store and I 11 to open and hold the door for someone as a kindness. As they passed me by, I say, "How are you today?" Most of the time that would be no big deal, 12 this time let's say it was for someone who was deeply 13 and near the end of the rope. That may have very well been the only kindness or politeness shown to them in a very long time.
Having been near "the end of my rope", after my marriage of twenty years ended, I was in such a condition. I was within hours trying to get enough 14 to end the pain and misery. When I returned home, someone had 15 me a card in the mail which told me how 16 they would appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero.
Similarly many children come out of the orphanages 17 a very hard and bitter attitude against the world, but the gifts we send them let them know that they have not been forgotten. 18, most of them will never hurt anyone because of the 19 shown to them by those of us who cared. If it 20, we will also become "heroes".
After working an inhuman 8-hour shift at a factory unloading (卸货) parts for cheap furniture, I got on the bus, dirty, tired and hot. I1that place every day looking like I worked in a coal mine.2, I still felt a bit proud of myself as I had held this tiring job for 3months, which was extremely rare. So when I took my seat on the bus going home, I decided my3life would not lower my spirits today.
I was dreaming about a better and new life when I was4by our new passenger. She was a middle-aged woman with worn-out clothes and messy hair. She got on, aggressively and5pushed her way into a front seat, and then turned her glare and6on whoever dared to look her way.
All I could feel for this woman was7. There was no disgust. Only pity and the familiar knowledge of being faceless, nameless, and8to no one. Suddenly, she turned her threatening eyes towards me and very loudly yelled, "Why you so9man?"
With a smile, I said, "I just came from work." She then loudly asked if I worked in hell and broke out in laughter, so I laughed too10her and told her that was funny. Then I asked her her name as I11why I was so dirty. Her name was Karen.
In front of all of us on the bus that day, the power of12showed its beauty. In front of all of us this woman13. Her language, her posture, and her voice, even the way she tilted (倾斜) her head when I spoke to her as a14changed.
As Karen was getting off the bus, she touched me15on the arm. With tear-filled eyes, she asked whether I'd be riding the bus the next day. I promised I16. We waved to each other and then I got what my life had needed all along: affirmation (认可).
Everyone on the bus had been watching us and then an old woman spoke to me, "Sir, you just changed that woman with your heart. She will never forget how you17her. You are great." Other passengers gave me thumbs-up signs showing their18.
That day was the first day when I realized I am19. People say I gave Karen something that day but actually she20me so much more. I now work in the field of mental health. I often tell the story of the power of kindness, and I talk about Karen and unlimited possibilities.
It was the morning before I was presenting a paper at an academic conference in Paris. Unexpectedly, the babysitter I'd 1 for to watch my daughter texted to say she couldn't 2 it. Worried I'd have to cancel the3, I asked the organizers, two men, if they knew of any last-minute babysitters.
"4 her!" they said. "We'll watch her well."
So, with uncertainty and anxiety, I did. While I presented my5in a theater hall, they entertained my daughter by letting her draw on the whiteboard and6on the walls. During the Q&A, my daughter demanded to be7. As she sucked, her diaper(尿布)leaked onto my trousers. Afterward, several people came up to me to8me for my bringing her. A woman said that one of her favorite9was bringing her daughter to her workplace.
Unfortunately, my experience is not the10practice. For most working women, bringing their children to work or having a flexible11is not an option. When flexibility is offered, it comes with a huge
12: advancement to higher positions is less likely for parents, usually mothers, who13flexibility. In 2016, only 200 companies had official14allowing children to15at a workplace during working hours.16, bringing children to work is a rising phenomenon.
17, in bringing this generation of children to working events or offices, I'm sure we're teaching them a valuable lesson about work-life 18. My hope is that, when these children become leaders, they'll19we didn't shut them out of work spaces.20, they will build the policies for a fairer and more enjoyable workplace.
Struggling to Let Go of My College-Student Daughter
When I sent my daughter, Emma, off for her freshman year of college a few years ago, I was sad down to my bones.
Indeed, this is the season when countless articles are published recommending helicopter parents to stop hovering (盘旋) so much. 1 based on Emma's college schedule “helicopter children” may be more 2.
The first one out of my 3 has come fluttering back home nearly every month of the year. In the meantime, 4 keeps our children connected far more than I was with my 5 in the late 70s. I used to call home once a week from a pay phone. Emma calls, texts or e-mails me almost every day.
Given all this, missing Emma seems kind of 6; I've never really gotten the chance. So why, then, have I still felt that I've experienced a great 7?
All Summer long 8 Emma left that first year, I cried 9—at everything. I took Emma out for countless mother-daughter breakfasts, lunches, coffees and walks.
At the same time, I was unusually 10. In my eyes, Emma had spent the weeks going out with her friends too much, not working enough and 11 not spending enough time with me!
Although it's taken quite a while to 12 what was happening, I now understand that my unhappiness and anxiety are not a(n) 13 of how much time Emma and I spend together.
14 how often she comes home, Emma is now gone in a far grander sense. She is well on the road to 15, and from this, she will never 16.
I know full well that this is completely 17. And I take pride and joy in seeing Emma make her way so confidently and capably. She's going to be fine and we will always remain 18.
Nonetheless, Emma's going to college has 19 the passing of something that I cherished—her childhood and my 20 to her as a child—and I can't help being a little sad about that.
Two years ago, Shirley, wife, mother and doctor, found herself worn out. She got up earlier, and went to bed later, just to meet everyday 1, but lacked 2 for the things that mattered most.
She and her husband, a lawyer, began searching for ways to 3 their lives. "We had to decide what was really 4," says Shirley. They knew they wanted more time to 5 with their three-year-old son, to exercise and eat right, and to develop friendship.
So the couple chose to live more simply, shopping with care for necessities and enjoying inexpensive 6 such as reading, cooking and going to the park.
Then Shirley 7 her job and began working part time. She printed business cards that 8 "At your service, buy 9 a little time" and helped clients (客户) with personal tasks like shopping, paying bills and 10 parties. "I still work hard, but being able to control my hours makes a 11," she says, "I can spare time to take my son to the 12 or play basketball with him. My stress and headaches are 13."
Shirley and her husband are 14 alone in wanting to 15 and live a satisfying life. A survey found that 54 percent of parents say they have little time with their children, and 47 percent of married couples 16 that they lack time together. 17 does the time go?
For most people, 18 and commuting (通勤) take up most of the day. Simplifying means becoming 19 of the ways we use money, time and energy, and finding ways to make things easier. Then we have to gain 20 over life and have time for the pleasures.
Last week, my grandfather was explaining his favorite words, "Nothing is very easy." Yesterday, I happened to notice a bumblebee in the living room. I thought 1 the bee would take no more than five minutes. But an hour later, the bee remained there. All that had 2 was that the living room was in a mess and that I felt 3 and had to lie on the sofa to take a breath. I did not expect to waste an hour on such a tiny 4, but suddenly I understood what my grandfather meant.
It is not only 5 that we tend to underestimate – we have to bear other unexpected 6. We often imagine everything can work in our 7, but we seldom think of all the 8 things that could affect us. However, it is important to remember that your day or week or year might not 9 as planned, and that is completely 10. It is absolutely acceptable to feel challenged – 11 at a task you thought was 12 -- because that is part of life.
If you can realize that nothing will ever be easy, then life might seem slightly easier to 13. In middle school, I thought high school might be easier since I could choose the classes I wanted to take. In high school, I thought college might be easier because I could have a schedule best suited for myself. Yet each time, I was both wrong and 14. After realizing that school wouldn't (and shouldn't) be easy, I found myself with a more positive attitude and improved my 15.
Face Adversity (逆境) with a Smile
I often cycle from my house to the town centre. And I used to1about a big hill on the route. When my friend Steven heard, he replied, "You are2. You should be glad of the3exercise that the hill provides.
My 4 to the hill now has changed. When I5it, I will tell myself: This hill will exercise my heart and lung. It will help me to lose weight and get6. It will mean that I can live7. This hill is my friend. Finally, I have a smile of8as I reach the top of the hill.
Problems are there to be9and overcome. We can't achieve anything with an easy life. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to10a university degree. She wrote, “Character can't be11in ease and quiet. Only through 12of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision13, ambition inspired and success achieved.
One of the main14of success in life is our attitude towards adversity. At times we all face hardships, problems, accidents and difficulties. Though we can't choose the15, we can choose our attitude towards it.
16, don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can't do this or that. That's nonsense.17your mind and have a18at everything. Go to school, and join in all the games you can. Go19you want to. But never, never let them20you that things are too difficult or impossible.
It was her giggling that drew my attention. Note-taking really wasn't
all that funny.
Walking over to the offender, I asked for the 1. Frozen, she refused to give it to me. I waited, all attention in the classroom on the quiet 2 between teacher and student. When she finally3it over she whispered, "Okay, but I didn't draw it".
It was a hand-drawn 4 of me, teeth blackened and the words "I'm stupid" coming out of my mouth. I managed to fold it up calmly. My mind, 5 , was working angrily as I struggled not to 6. I figured I knew the two most likely candidates for drawing the picture. It would do them some7to teach them a lesson, and maybe it was high time that I did it!
Thankfully, I was able to keep myself 8.
When there were about six minutes remaining, I showed the class the picture. They were all9as I told them how hurtful this was for me. I told them there must be a reason10and now it was their chance to write down anything they needed to tell me. Then I let them write silently while I sniffed in the back of the classroom.
As I11 the notes later, many of them said something like, "I've got nothing against you, " or "I'm sorry you were 12. " Some kids said, "We're afraid of you. " But two notes, from the girls who I13 were behind the picture, had a list of issues. I was too 14, too strict…
Reading those notes, I realized that over the course of this year, instead of15my students, I had begun commanding them to 16. Where I thought I was driving them to success I was 17driving them away.
I had some apologies to make. But the next day in the classroom, one boy and one girl each handed me a card. The one 18by all the boys expressed sincere regret for the ugly joke. The one from the girls asked for 19.
This was a lesson for both the kids and me. Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the 20.
When I was 12 years old, I already knew my teen years were going to be the worst years of my life. I was a total outsider(局外人), bullied (欺凌) at school. I felt 1 alone in my small town.
When I was 14, I turned my problem into a passion for helping others. The opportunity to2kindness made me feel like my life had a greater purpose. The more positive energy I 3, the more kindness and 4 I received. I realised my purpose in life would be to 5 to people, especially teenagers, and help them feel less alone.
Books were my 6 friends back then. I was so 7 that the authors wrote those books. After 8 terrible experiences at school, I made a choice to take the 9, positive road in the next steps of my journey. My dream 10, one I thought was only possible for the authors I loved, is 11 I am doing now. I have been a full-time author of teen novels since 2007 and am grateful for this 12 opportunity to reach out to readers every single day.
Kindness 13 me when I needed help the most. Even small acts of kindness can change someone's life. You never know what someone else is 14. But by practising daily kindness, you can become a(n) 15 of positive change.
I worked in a restaurant. One night, a woman came in with three small children. As a waiter, I could 1 tell who is going to tip well and who isn't going to tip at all. She asked about the 2 of everything on the menu, but she ordered 3 water to drink. Her daughter asked her "Mum, can I have milk?" The woman pulled out her purse and 4 her change before saying yes. Then I was 5 that I wouldn't get a tip.
At the 6 of the meal, she paid entirely in coins. When I went back to clear the table, to my 7, there were a lot of coins left for me. It amounted to 8 dollars, about the 25% of the 8. Here was a woman who 9to count her money before 10 her daughter chocolate milk, 11she wanted to make sure she still had enough to tip me generously.
Was it the 12 tip I've ever got? No, but it's the only one I 13 after all these years.
This story is a(n) 14that the very best aspects (方面) of 15 nature can shine through in even the most 16 everyday situations. The first 17 may be powerful, but it's important to let others 18 their true nature rather than making quick 19 about them. Generosity is a valuable virtue to develop, whether you 20 to be rich or poor.
While most high schools have traditions when it comes to supporting their sports teams, not many have support groups for other activities, like choir. Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah is looking to1that.
The school has a2called "The Bruin Crazies", which supports the sports teams by3during games. Their new group, The Bruin Classies, has just4to cheer on the non-athletic student activities—the group has already had more than 905.
"The Bruin Crazies is our student cheering department," said Caleb Stay, senior at Mountain View High School. "We6, 'Why not create something for the7—choir, band, jewelry showcase, photography and art galleries—to give them some8and cheer them on?'"
The students9the group "The Bruin Classies" because they10to bring a sense of "class" to the performances they11. The group wears bowties(领结) to each event, and some wear signs walking around school in the days leading up to the events to spread12.
"The students deserve to be13by the student body. This is stuff that they have put their14into and it deserves to be admired," Stay said. "If you worked really hard on something and no one15, it would be sad. We just want to make sure that no one16that way."
Stay is both the president of The Bruin Classies and vice-president of the school choir, so he17how important to support all18activities. "We want people to be19of the product that they20," he said.
