A long time ago there was a boy. He was smart, talented and handsome.  1, he was very selfish and his temper was so 2 that nobody wanted to be friends with him. Often he got angry and said various 3things to people around him.

    The boy's parents were very 4 about his bad temper. They considered what they could do and one day the father had an idea. He called his son and gave him a hammer and a bag of5.The father said: “Every time you get angry, take a nail and 6 it into that old fence as hard as you can.”

    The fence was very7and the hammer was heavy, nevertheless the boy was so angry that during the very first day he drove 37 nails.

    Day after day, week after week, the number of nails was gradually8. After some time, the boy started to understand that 9 his temper is easier than driving nails into the fence.

    One day the boy didn't 10 hammer and nails any more as he learned to hold his temper perfectly. So he came to his father and told about his11. “Now every time, when you hold your temper all day long,12 one nail”.

    Much time has passed. At last the boy could be13 of himself as all the nails were gone. When he came to his father and told about this, he14to come and take a careful look at the fence. “You did a good job, my son,15 pay your attention to the 16 that were left from the nails. The fence will 17 be the same. The same happens when you say hurtful things to people, as your words leave18 in their hearts like those holes in the fence. Remember, we need to 19 everyone with love and respect. It doesn't 20 that you say you are sorry, because the scars will not disappear.

    Two years ago, my husband bought me a bicycle. If you live in a town, it is often faster than a car and you don't have to 1 about parking. You can 2it anywhere. As it has a seat at the back and a basket at the front, I can take my small daughter to school, to the library, shopping, 3in fact.

    I use it most in summer when the weather is warm and dry. It can be very unpleasant in winter when it is cold and the rain is 4 down. It can also be very 5. You must, of course, be careful on a bicycle. Accidents are not the only problem, though. One day I went shopping and came back to 6 my front wheel was missing. It was a long 7to bicycle shop! Now I have three strong locks.

    My husband uses my bicycle sometimes for short journeys. He says it is better than waiting for a bus. He still uses his 8for longer journeys, but I think that all this sitting down is making him 9 and lazy. On my bicycle I get a lot of 10 and fresh air, and this makes me feel a lot younger.

    A beautiful September evening, my 11-year-old grandson, Josh, and his team were warming up for their first football game of the season.

    At six, the 1called the captains forward, said something and 2 his whistle. The two teams 3 separately. I was 4 .The other team was,  5, ten inches taller than our players. It didn't take long for their 6 advantage to show. They took a 7-0 lead very 7 .At the half, the score stood at 34 to 6. Josh 8 minimal play time. In the second half, they used Josh more often. The score climbed to 40 to 6.

    Once again, the other team began their 9 down the field. Their quarterback threw the ball. The receiver caught it and 10 the goal. There was only one man in his 11 —Josh. Josh dove and 12 that boy's legs with all his strength. The receiver dragged Josh a couple of yards and 13 fell down.

    On the next play, their quarterback shot through an opening and rushed to the goal, but there was Josh again. Josh took him off his feet and 14 another goal. They scored on the last play, but it wasn't Josh's 15 .The game ended with a score of 48 to 6.

    On the way home. I wanted to 16 Josh, but he turned to me with a 17 smile. “Grandpa, that was a 18game.”

    “But you lost, 48 to 6!”

    “I know, but I did good.”

    The boy understood the 19 better than I did. They didn't win, but he did his best. I was proud of him. More 20, he was proud of himself.

Rediscovery

    I used to be a happy child with a loving family and many friends. I had a1 that could brighten a cold winter day and I had a special love for life.

    At twelve, my life had a huge breakdown. It was then that I2OCD (强迫症). I started to wash my hands ten times an hour, and I constantly3my kitchen oven to make sure that it was off. This way of life continued for four painful years, and by then, my OCD had led to depression (抑郁). I was no longer the4little girl I had been.

    In the tenth grade I finally5to my mother that I was suffering from depression along with my OCD. My mom took me to a doctor and I started taking6. Over a few months, the medicine did help the OCD, but I still was struggling with depression.

    One autumn evening, I hit rock bottom. I thought suicide (自杀) was the only7to my depression problem, so I decided to write a suicide note. As I was8it, my eyes fell on a photo. It was a9of an adorable little girl, wearing her red soccer uniform and holding a bike helmet. She had a bright smile that showed she was full of life.

    It took me a few minutes to10who the girl in the photo was. The photo had been taken when I was seven years old. I almost couldn't believe that smiling child was me. I felt a chill go down my spine (脊柱). It was like my younger self had sent me a11. Right then and there I knew I couldn't kill myself. Once I had been a strong little girl, and I had to become12like that again.

    I tore up my suicide note and13that I would not rely only on my medicine. I would have to fight the depression with my mind, too. I could make myself happy again.

    It has been two years since I14myself. The real reason I am healed is that I took action and refused to let depression15my life. I learned a lifelong16: Never give up. Everyone has challenges in life, but everyone can17. I am living proof of that.

    Now I am prepared for whatever18life may bring. I have a role model to19up to for strength, and who is guiding me20life. My hero is a seven-year-old girl, smiling back at me from a photo on my desk.

    Anna Douglas was 72 years old when she started writing her newspaper column. She had been a school teacher before she retired (退休), but she needed to keep 1. She was even willing to work without pay. She then offered her 2 with a business that helped other businesses find jobs for old people. Every day she 3 other old folks like her. By talking with them, she 4 two things. Old people had abilities that were not 5. But old people also had some 6. She found a new purpose for herself then.

    Through the years, she 7 to write stories about people for national magazines. There was now a new 8: Old people like herself. She began to write a newspaper column called "Sixty Plus", which was about 9 old. She wrote about the problems of old people, especially their problems with being 10.

    Anna Douglas used her 11 ability to see the truth behind a problem. She understood 12 problems began. For example, one of her 13 said that his grandchildren 14 the houses as soon as he came to visit. Mrs Douglas 15 some ways for him to understand his grandchildren.

    "It's important to know 16 about your grandchildren's world," said Mrs Douglas. "That means questioning and listening, and 17 is not what old people do best. Say good things to them and about them," she continued. "Never try to 18 your grandchildren or other young people. Never 19 your opinion. Don't tell them what they should do. 20, they have been taught they should have respect for old people. The old should respect them as well."

    A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had 1 a beautiful diamond ring. Knowing her husband could2it, she told him that it was all she wanted as a birthday gift.

    As her birthday approached, this lady awaited3that her husband had purchased the diamond ring.

    Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband told her how4he was to have such a good wife, and how much he loved her. He 5her with a beautifully wrapped gift. Curious, she opened it and found a Bible. She raised her6to her husband and said, "Only a Bible?" She was so7that she left him.

    Many years later, the lady8in a more beautiful house. Realising her husband was very old, she thought perhaps she should go to9him. But before she could make10, she received a letter telling her that he had11and given all of his 12to her. She needed to come back and take care of things.

    When she arrived at his house, regret13her heart. She saw the14brand-new Bible, just as she had left it before. With15, she opened it and began to turn the pages, finding a sentence16marked by her husband,

    "Bad as you, you know how to give good things to your children!" As she read those words, a bag17from the Bible: a diamond ring and the words "I LOVE YOU" could be seen.

    If your18is not packaged the way you want it, it's because it is better packaged! Always 19little things; they usually lead you to bigger things! The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, for they must be felt with 20.