Mildred Webinga Freeman was an English teacher at the new middle school I attended in the ninth grade.She wasn't my1;she was the adviser to the safety patrol（巡逻）on which I2.I loved being around her and3her sense of humor and kind personality.She was4a good listener.

    At the end of the year,she5that she was moving to Florida,and I was very sad.We exchanged6and became pen pals.I could tell her7,and she treated me8respect even though I was a teenager.

    In Florida,Mrs.Freeman became a Realtor（房地产经纪人）,9she managed to find time to write letters.She wrote10stories and always took my concerns11.She had given me a(n)12invitation to visit,and I missed her so much.When I13to take her up on the14,she answered,"Get your shoes on and your bags15!You are welcome anytime!"

    I spent three weeks with her in Miami.Her16of poetry,music,and creative writing17me to follow these endeavors（努力）.One day18hanging sheets on the clothesline,she19and said,"You know,the sky is fuel for the soul."I had never looked at the20before hearing those words.Later that year,I received a call that Mrs.Freeman had died.

    At 7 a.m. on October 2, 2016, I got up, feeling excited and nervous. The first thought on my mind was, “Today's game is my first1football game.” I've played before but not like this, Not in pads (护具), not with a helmet on my head, my heart started beating faster. I 2finished breakfast and left for the field.

    The whole time on the bus, I felt sick and nervous. Finally, I reached the field3that white number 7 jersey (运动衫) for the first time made me feel great. I felt like4was my fortune.

    We stood there. By the look on our faces, you could see who had 5before and who hadn't. To me, it felt like a war. I was a(n)6soldier going into battle. Now I know that feeling was fear. We had7but not the real game. In training, we took a form and knew each other. In the8you don't know your opponent's strength. Everything just happened 9you know it was happening.

    We did warm-ups, some of us couldn't 10to play, jumping around and yelling. Others stood still waiting for direction. The referees came out. We knew the game11came. As a captain, I went out for the coin toss to see which team would get the ball first. Campus Magnet won the coin toss. They12to receive.

    Soon the game 13I tracked down the ball carrier and ran at a full speed. I lowered my shoulders and ran into his side with all my 14knocking him down and at the same time knocking my15out. I stood to my feet and16what I had done. I'd made my first tackle (阻截). I was 17my dream, feeling renewed, That tackle 18me, giving me strength, confidence and the desire to go on.

    We 19that game—48 to 6. That year we went undefeated20every team on our schedule, I was rated the best receiver in our division.

    “The way we choose to respond to others can cause them to feel ashamed 1can allow them to remember our kindness and2our stories with the future generations.” when I read this3 I thought of Doris, a very 4person. All around her room were dolls she had made: they were the most interesting dolls I'd ever seen.

    One day 5I was in her room, she took one of her dolls out of the case to6me, saying it was the7doll she had ever made. The doll was very unusual with fine artistic work. I was amazed that anyone could crate something so 8.

    Doris held the dolls very carefully. Then she slowly9the doll in such a way that I could see a10crack(裂缝)on the skirt. Doris said that on the way to class she bumped(撞击)the side of the skirt. She expressed how she was 11.When it was her turn to show the doll to the teacher, she pointed out the crack. Doris felt12that the doll would be13. Much to her surprise, the teacher told her she was just going to ignore the crack and 14the doll on the other good 15it had. Doris said this remark and16changed her life. She knew17the teacher hadn't overlooked the crack, she18had made the rest of the dolls.

    The teacher could have made Doris feel ashamed about the crack. But because of her19to ignore the crack, Doris was sharing her20to the next generation.

    “Wanted: Violin. Can't pay much. Call …”

    Why did I notice that? I wondered, since I rarely looked at the classified ads. I laid the paper on my lap and closed my eyes, remembering what had happened during the Great Depression, when my family 1to make a living on our farm. I, too, had wanted a violin, but we didn't have the 2.

    When my older twin sisters began showing an interest in music. Harriet Anne learned to play Grandma's upright piano, 3 Suzanne turned to Daddy's violin, simple tunes soon became 4 melodies as the twins played more and more. 5 in the rhythm of the music, my baby brother danced around while Daddy hummed（哼唱）and Mother whistled. I just 6.

    When my arms grew7 enough, I tried to play Suzanne's violin. I loved the beautiful sound of the firm bow drawn across the strings. Oh, how I wanted one! But I knew it was 8 the question.

    One evening as the twins played in the school orchestra, I closed my eyes tight to capture the picture firmly in my 9. “Someday, I'll sit up there.” I vowed（发誓）10.

    Unfortunately, it was not a 11 year. At harvest the crops did not bring as much as we had hoped. I, however, couldn't 12 any longer to ask, “Daddy, may I have a violin of my own?”

    “Can't you use Suzanne's?”

    “I'd like to be in the orchestra, too, and we can't13 use the same violin at the same time.”

    Daddy's face looked 14. That night, and many following nights, I heard him 15 God in our family prayers, “… and Lord, Mary Lou wants her 16 violin.”

    One evening we all sat around the table. The twins and I studied. Mother sewed and Daddy wrote a letter to his friend, George Finkle, in Columbus. Mr. Frinkle, Daddy said, was a fine 17.

    As he wrote, Daddy read parts of his letter out loud to Mother. Weeks later I 18 he'd written one line he didn't read aloud: “Would you watch for a19 for my third daughter? I can't 20 much, but she enjoys music. And we'd like her to have her own instrument.”

    A few years ago, I was working on a project in a small office of a company. While everyone was friendly, there seemed to be a（n）1 of the workplace culture, for which I wanted to do something 2.

    So one evening, I wrote up a few quotes that have 3me over the years. The next morning, I went to work a bit early and quickly 4 them up by the sinks and mirrors in the office 5.

    For the next few months, some of the quotes got 6, but I noticed that a couple 7. So perhaps they were meaningful to some of them.

    Eventually, I finished out my contract（合同）with that8and went to work in another place.

    A few months ago, I was 9to a reunion with my colleagues to hear updates on how the 10 I had worked on was going. Although I11 worked in this office building, I had really enjoyed working with the team, and was 12 to see them all again. Towards the end of the 13, I went to the restroom, and one of the quotes that I had written before was still 14 in the same spot by the mirror! It 15: The real voyage of discovery consists not 16 seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes.

    Maybe the quote still stood out as a 17 reminder each time someone went to the restroom. 18 the case is, it is a sweet moment and reminder that we never know how long a seed planted will 19 to bloom and give fruit－but to simply keep20 seeds of kindness from the heart... nothing less, and nothing more.

    One day, I watched a video of a man who was throwing empty wine bottles in a rage (泄愤屋) room. I felt a(n)1to go and smash (砸碎) some glass myself. Everyone was keen to show how2their lives were.

    I handed over the cash and3protective overalls (防护服) and a mask before entering the rage room with a friend. We started4but were soon giving it everything. I started with glass bottles, but I soon,5to heavier goods. It was partly the6of work that led me to the rage room. I am an entertainer in film and television, but I still need to7the rent. Standup comedy and small acting roles help me8.

    Before discovering the rage room, I9all kinds of ways to deal with stress: karaoke and the gym. Going to the gym is about getting10looking good, but when I'm smashing things, the intention is11. When I behave like a caveman (野人), I leave any12behind.

    The rage room is a place of honest13. During one session, a year and a half after we14, the words of my ex (前女友) came into my head: "I just don't think you put enough effort into our relationship." I thought this15was unfair. In a flash of broken glass, I realized I had been16that thought for too long.

    I still haven't fully realized my dream. But17the rage room has taught me anything, it is that I am not a(n)18person any more. I don't experience rage before, during or after a session.

    The whole19feels like a calm and controlled release. It is extremely20. I think everyone could pay a visit.