I am 22. I used to work in a hotel. It was boring.

One day a guest and I had a conversation. She asked me, "Do you like your job?" I was sad because I knew the answer. "No".

     She was 74 and gave me the most beautiful advice that I remember in all my life:"You are too young to hate your job, young man. Go to get your passport and start your adventure(冒险 ). "

     So I did.

     Since I was a little kid I was dreaming to know Europe. So next day I had my passport. And one week later, my plane tickets.

     It was impossible to have a long holiday.  So I resigned(辞职).  My boss said I was crazy. My friends said that I was not responsible. I just paid no attention to those voices.

     It was Europe in winter. Not the best time to travel there. But Europe in winter is really cheap.

     I packed some books, a camera, 4 shirts, 2 pants, a coat, gloves, 2 pairs of walking shoes, candies and music to give away.

       I had little money.  I just walked and walked.  I went to high mountains and big cities. I saw some beautiful sunsets(日落). I heard some of the best musicians (for free). I discovered that there was still love in the world. I realized that sunrises are not always blue or yellow. Sometimes they mix.

      I spent 22 days and $1,500 (including the plane tickets). What I did to save money:

      1. Used CouchSur fing(沙发客 ).

      2. Ate 20-cents bread.

      3. Went to Burger King to get free potato chips and water.

      4. Learned to cook.

      5. Talked with local(当地的) people.  They always know where to do cool and cheap stuff(事儿).

      6. Only went to free museums (only in England).

      Until this point in my life, I never had a clear idea of how to deal with my life. Now I do. I want to be a photographer so that I can inspire(激励) people with my pictures. Thanks to this travel. Thanks to that lady.

    It was just three degrees above zero. "That's cold," thought Jane as she got ready to deliver her morning papers. Jane had 50 customers, and on cold mornings when she couldn't ride her bicycle, it took her more than an hour to make her rounds. As she collected her papers and put them into a big canvas bag, Jane regretted that she hadn't finished her math homework the night before. There was still time. She'd hurry with the papers and finish the math before breakfast.

    Less than an hour later, Jane was nearly finished. She had only five customers to go. She could then head for home to complete her math while her room fixed breakfast. As she rounded the corner, she saw a car in the middle of the street. It was Mr. Zimmerman, the elder man, who walked with a walking stick. His car was out of gas. "I'd like to help Mr. Zimmerman," thought Jane, "but if I do, I won't have time to do my homework." She hated to think what Mr. Roberts would say if she hadn't completed her papers.

    "It's his own fault for running out of gas," Jane talked to herself. "The station is only a half mile down the street. Surely Mr. Zimmerman can walk that far, even on a cold morning like this — can't he?" As she walked down the street, Jane wondered what to do.

    Mr. and Mrs. Su don't often go out in the evening, but today they go out for a walk after supper. They go to the park and have a good time there. On their way home, Mrs. Su says to Mr. Su, "Look! A woman is running in the street and a man is running after（追赶）her." Mr. Su says, " What's the matter? Let's go and help her."

    Now the woman gets near them. Mr. Su asks, "Shall we help you?" "No, thank you," the woman says, "My husband and I are running home, and the slower (较慢的) one does the housework."

It takes time to practice critical（批判性） thinking, but it's never too late to start. The following steps will help people to become critical thinkers.

 It was Jimmy's birthday and he was five years old. He got a lot of nice birthday gifts from his family, and one of them was a beautiful drum.

" Who gave him that thing?" Jimmy's father said when he saw it." His grandfather did," answered Jimmy's mother.

" Oh," said his father. Of course Jimmy liked his drum very much. He made a terrible noise with it, but his father didn't mind. He was working during the day and Jimmy was already in bed when he got home in the evening, so he couldn't hear the noise.

 But one of the neighbors didn't like the noise at all, so a few days later, she took a knife and went to Jimmy's house while he was hitting his drum. She said to him," Hello, Jimmy, do you know, there is something very nice inside your drum? Here is a knife. Open(打开) the drum and let's find it."

Tony loves his grandma. She often tells him stories about Santa Claus(圣诞老人). 

Today is December 24th. Tony's grandma takes him to Kevin's Store to shop. She gives Tony fifty dollars and says, " Take the money and buy something for someone who needs it. I' ll wait for you in the car. "

Tony thinks of everyone he knows: his family, friends and classmates. Then he thinks of Bobbie. Bobbie sits behind Tony. He doesn't have a warm coat. Tony knows it because Bobbie never goes out to play in winter. So Tony buys a blue coat for him. It looks really warm. 

In the evening, his grandma helps Tony put the coat in a Christmas box, and writes" To Bobbie, From Santa Claus" on it. " Santa helps people but never lets them know, " Tony's grandma says. They put the box in front of Bobbie's house and then go back home joyfully. 

That night Tony knows Santa Claus is real, and they are on his team.