Maybe you are aware that the latest job markets news isn't promising: Unemployment is still more than 9 percent, and new job growth has fallen close to zero, which is bad for economy, of course. And it may be especially discouraging if you happen to be looking for a job or hoping to change careers right now. But it actually shouldn't matter to you nearly as much as you think.

    That's because job growth numbers don't matter to job hunters as much as job turnover data. After all, existing jobs open up every day due to promotions, resignations, terminations, and retirements. In both good times and bad, turnover creates more openings than economic growth does. Even in June of 2007, when the economy was still falling along, job growth was only 132,000, while turnover was 4.7 million!

    And as it turns out, even today — with job growth near zero — over 4 million job hunters are being hired every month.

    I don't mean to imply that overall job growth doesn't have an impact on one's ability to land a job. It's true that if total employment were higher, it would mean more jobs for all of us to choose from. And it's true that there are currently more people applying for each available job opening, regardless of whether it's a new one or not.

    But what often distinguishes those who land jobs from those who don't is their ability to stay motivated. They're willing to do the hard work of identifying their valuable skills; be creative about where and how to look; learn how to present themselves to potential employers; and keep going, even after repeated rejections. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed that 2.7 million people who wanted and were available for work hadn't looked for a job within the last four weeks and were no longer even classified as unemployed.

    So don't let the headlines fool you into giving up. Four million people get hired every month in the U.S. You can be one of them.

     “I see you've got a bit of water on your coat,” said the man at the petrol station. “Is it raining out there?”“No, it's pretty nice,” I replied, checking my sleeve. “Oh, right. A pony(马驹) bit me earlier.”

As it happened, the bite was virtually painless: more the kind of small bite you might get from a naughty child. The pony responsible was queuing up for some ice cream in the car park near Haytor, and perhaps thought I'd jumped in ahead of him.

    The reason why the ponies here are naughty is that Haytor is a tourist-heavy area and tourists are constantly feeding the ponies foods, despite sighs asking them not to. By feeding the ponies, tourists increase the risk of them getting hit by a car, and make them harder to gather during the area's annual pony drift(迁移).

    The purpose of a pony drift is to gather them up so their health can be checked, the baby ones can be stooped from feeding on their mother's milk, and those who've gone beyond their limited area can be returned to their correct area. Some of them are also later sold, in order to limit the number of ponies according to the rules set by Natural England.

    Three weeks ago, I witnessed a small near-disaster a few mils west of here. While walking, I noticed a pony roll over on his back. “Hello!” I said to him, assuming he was just rolling for fun, but he was very still and, as I got closer, I saw him kicking his legs in the air and breathing heavily. I began to properly worry about him. Fortunately, I managed to get in touch with a Dartmoor's Livestock Protection officer and send her a photo. The officer immediately sent a local farmer out to check on the pony. The pony had actually been trapped between two rocks. The farmer freed him, and he began to run happily around again.

    Dartmoor has 1,000 or so ponies, who play a critical role in creating the diversity of species in this area. Many people are working hard to preserve these ponies, and trying to come up with plans to find a sustainable(可持续的) future for one of Dartmoor's most financially-troubled elements.

    Win a Family Vacation!

    Whether you're headed for the beach or taking a road trip across the country. Reader's Digest wants to help make it memorable and fun. Request any free travel information and you'll be entered to win a $2,000 cash prize to help plan your best vacation ever!

    CLICK HERE TO ENTER

    One Grand prize winner will receive a $2,000 prize.

    Enter the RD Travel Sweeps by 11:59 pm EST on June 14, 2018.

    The winner will be chosen by random（随机的）drawing from all suitable entries on or about June 28, 2018.

    The sweepstakes（彩票）open to legal US citizens of the United States who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. Void（无效）where forbidden by law.

    For the complete and official sweepstakes rules, please visit: http://www.argifocus.com/Client/TheMGI/LM1/images/rd-official-rules2018-2019.asp

    Your information will not be sold or used for any other purpose. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

    You can either travel or read, but either your body or soul must be on the way. The popular saying has inspired many people to read or go sightseeing. Traveling, just like reading, is a refreshing journey from the busy world. Books, brain food, can keep you company on your travel.

    ⒈On the Road, 1957, by Jack Kerouac

    The book is a globally popular spiritual guide book about youth. The main character in the book drives across the US continent with several young people and finally reaches Mexico. After the exhausting and exciting trip, the characters in the book begin to realize the meaning of life. The book can be a good partner with you to explore the United States.

    ⒉Life is Elsewhere, 1975, by Milan Kundera

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” The book tells a young artist's romantic but miserable life, about how he reads, dreams and has a relationship. Experience the artist's passionate life in the book during a trip to Central Europe. The book invites you to deeply reflect on your current life.

    ⒊The Stories of the Sahara, 1967, by Sanmao

    The book narrates the author's simple but adventurous life in the Sahara Desert, which seems a desolate and dull place. The fancy natural scenery and life there, along with the author's romantic and intensive emotions will inspire you to explore the mysterious land. Reading the book is like participating in a dialogue with the author, who is sincere and humorous.

    ⒋Lotus, 2006, by Annbaby

    This novel set in Tibet, tells three people's stories, each with their unique characteristics. It reveals modern people's emotions and inner life, their confusion about love, and exploration of Buddhism. The book is a good partner to bring you to the scared land Tibet.

    The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing as Melinda sits in the rose garden of the nursing home. She is recalling old times as she waits for her family's arrival. The nursing home has been Melinda's new settlement ever since Thomas passed away a week ago. Thomas had fought a long and hard battle against lung cancer for three years. Unfortunately, he has broken the promise that he and Melinda had made: to be with each other for every birthday. Melinda knew this was unrealistic (不现实的) but agreed to the promise for Thomas's sake.

    "Thomas, you are completely a dreamerl" Melinda shouted to Thomas as he dragged on about living on an island with his beautiful wife. That's what she loved about him most-he had a vivid imagination. They got married at age eighteen and began having children right away. Mary came within the year, followed by Thomas Benjamin II, Lilly-Ann, and Joseph "Little Joey" George. The family lived an exultant life filled with laughter and love.

    "Mom!" Lilly shouted, but it really sounded like a howl. Melinda had lost herself in thinking about the life she had shared with her late husband. Lilly pushed her down the long dark halls of the nursing home until they arrived at the recreational room.

    When the doors opened, Melinda put her hand over her mouth and was completely speechless. The room was crowded with the people nearest and dearest to her and the warmth and love was felt instantly. The night went on; stories and cocktails were shared and everything was perfect.

    However, when Melinda caught a moment to herself she looked around at her family. With a smile on her face, she raised her Manhattan and called out for a toast. "This one is for you, Thomas, though you are not here."

A boy who has been climbing the equivalent（等量）of Mount Qomolangma in aid of a children's hospice（救济院）is about to reach his fundraising goal of £29,031. Six-year-old Oscar, from Lancaster, has climbed 10 of the UK's highest mountains to help Chorley's Derian House. He said he needed two more to match Mount Qomolangma's 29,031 feet height.

Oscar started his challenge on October 9, 2022, and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales was the first mountain to be chosen. He said that the hardest climb so far had been Cairn Gorm in the Scottish Highlands because the snow was so deep.

Oscar took on the challenge in the hope of raising enough money to send 29 children with life-limiting illnesses on holiday. "I wanted to be the youngest person to climb Mount Qomolangma and I have climbed 10 out of 12 mountains. When I get older, I want to climb the real Mount Qomolangma," Oscar said.

"It was amazing what a child's dream can achieve. We're speechless and couldn't be prouder. We were grateful to everyone that supported us along Oscar's journey," Oscar's father Matt wrote on the social media.

Oscar and his family hoped to make their final climb on Ben Nevis in Scotland on May 29, 2023. The climb would mark not only the completion of Oscar's challenge, but also the 70th anniversary of the first successful ascent（攀登）of Mount Qomolangma by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

"For every foot he climbed, our children would get a pound to achieve their dreams. The total £29,031 raised by Oscar would help support the work of the hospice, which provides end-of-life care to more than 400 children across the northwest of England," said Karen Edwards, a senior official of Derian House.

"The six-year-old was an unbelievable little boy who had truly gone to great heights. How many six-year-olds could say that they have climbed the height of Mount Qomolangma?" Karen added.