We live in a fast-paced and anxiety-filled world that oftentimes seems to shift beneath our feet. Thus we are sometimes affected by fears or anxiety impacting our life. For as long as I could remember I had struggled with anxiety. After I left university, I made friends with a Moroccan woman at work. One day she invited me to 1 her and her family back home. I wanted to, but I would have to travel there 2 and I knew we would be in a very rural area. How would I cope with my 3?

    Then one day it 4 to me that I had a life to live. I could choose to let anxiety 5 me or I could go to Morocco and 6something different. I was 23 years old and had never been out of the UK alone. The journey to Morocco 7 something inside me. I managed to cope with my anxiety. The sense of 8 was overwhelming and still to this day when I get afraid of going somewhere alone, I remember how 9 it felt when I arrived in Morocco.

Upon arrival I was so 10 for the generous welcome I received. My friend's family had arranged a welcome party. The people were so loving toward me. As a moment of 11 felt in a faraway village, this reminded me that I was “good enough”, which helped to 12 my anxiety. Waking up the next day, in the morning light, I saw the area where we were. I was 13 by how rural it was – and the realization that these people had very few 14.

    In the days afterwards, I traveled around Morocco. We went to Marrakesh and 15 the Atlas mountains. We had the most amazing food – lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

    At the end of my 16 something inside me had changed. I realized I had not felt anxious for nearly two weeks.

    Experiencing a different culture far away from home helped me to realize what is important in life, what really 17, and with that my anxiety 18. When I returned home I was much more active in 19 my anxiety. Working with people, helping them 20 their anxiety, is how I can share the love I found in Morocco.

    It is a story that happened several years ago but it has always stayed with me since then. On my way back home from work every day, there was 1 a homeless man standing by the road. His 2 had a sparkle and they were what struck me the most about him. His eyes, I thought, 3 the man in general. He always waved at every 4, and he was smiling and even dancing sometimes. It seemed that he was always 5.

Every day after work I would 6 to gather any spare change to give to him 7 I saw him. I'd quickly 8 my car window and give him the coins. 9 the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day. His 10 would be always the same, "I'm blessed!"

    It amazed me that even in his situation of being 11 he was so positive, and his answer would always12 me of my happiness.

    Then one day I 13 my job. How could I continue my life? I was 14 on my way home. I didn't remember to look for my spare change and keep it 15 like I usually did.

When I saw the homeless man that day, he set his eyes on me while still 16 and waving at others. When I was waiting for the red light to 17, the man walked to my car and said with a big smile, "Today I will 18 you a dollar." He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill. I was moved and burst into tears.

    That day, I 19 that no matter what material things are taken from you, 20 can take away your choice to be joyful. So every time I'm faced with challenges, I think of the homeless man's valuable lesson and remember that I am blessed.

    As we slowly drove down the street on that cold December evening, we spotted the porch（门廊）light. “This 1be the house." I told our "Positive Teens In Action" group with certainty. We2in front of an older home with the porch light shining. We gathered up our 3 books, walked up the steps, and4on the door. We heard a 5 voice from inside say, "Come in. The door is open." We opened the door.

    There in a rocking chair 6 an elderly woman with a big 7 on her face. "I've been8you,"she said weakly. Ruth was one of our "Meals On Wheels" stops I had9. I had phoned her and told her about it. Going along with me were the10 church members who 11 singing carols（颁歌）.

    We 12 Ruth the basket of delicious food the teens had prepared earlier that evening. Then I asked Ruth what carols she would like to 13Ruth was smiling cheerfully when she 14 singing each song.

    15we hugged Ruth good-bye, she said to me with tears in her eyes, “The day you 16 I was still in bed. l had just finished17 .I asked God if it would be possible to have some Christmas carolers come to my home and18 this year. Thank you for being the 19to my Christmas prayer."

    Wow, what an awesome 20 to have the opportunity to make Ruth quite content!

    Have you ever traveled around by bike? This spring my older brother and I 1 the busy city and spent a long weekend 2  in the countryside. Our speed was only around 14 kph, but we didn't 3 . We hadn't come to break any speed records,  4 . All we wanted was some 5 air and a break from schoolwork.

    We really 6 ourselves while cycling along traffic-free country paths. There was plenty of sunshine, 7 it was quite cold,  8  in the mornings. The good news was that soon we  9 as we rode along. Our only 10 was when my brakes (刹车) started making a terrible noise. But I didn't care as it gave us an  11   to visit a café while a bike mechanic (机修工) had a look at it.

    Every few kilometers there was a  12  where we could talk with local people. One of the women was very  13  and showed us the way when we got lost. On Saturday night we were   14  at 2 a.m. by some young people. They kept singing loudly in the next room, which made us 15 all night. We felt very 16  when we got up the next morning. Soon we 17 . We were more cheerful on the way when the sun came out. 18  , things like that happened only once. Anyway I still like traveling around by bike — it's 19 and it's fun. If you're looking for a short break that's active and cheap, then cycling is a great 20 !

    As I sat motionless on the steps of the pool, watching everyone else swim back and forth, I realized that I had spent most of my life watching others enjoy themselves. It was then that I 1a little girl staring at me with a look of confusion. I smiled at her, hoping to 2 the ice by talking to her. Unfortunately, my 3 failed and she just kept on staring. My 4 increased as a little boy swam up to me and said, "I feel sorry for you."

    After the 5 by chance, a thought struck me. I had to change 6 the world viewed me. Because it was children who stared at me the most, I decided to write a children's book that taught them about 7 in a fun way. This is when KatGirl, a super hero in a 8 who helps children that are being bullied, came into my mind.

    I quickly 9 inside my apartment and began creating the story. As I wrote each word, I could 10 my future as a world-famous author and public speaker. My excitement 11 like wildfire. Over the next two years, the story 12 many changes before it saw the world in the spring of 2011. My insistence 13 paid off.

    One day I was invited to speak to the students at a neighboring school. I confidently wheeled into a classroom filled with students who 14 at me just like the little girl in the pool. "How do you feel when you see me?" I asked them. The kids bravely 15, "I feel sorry for you."

    I opened my book and started reading. Immediately I noticed the children's stares turned to 16. "How do you feel when you see me?" I asked again. Without 17 they replied, "You are so cool! Does your 18 fly too?" I just smiled, "No, not yet, but maybe some day." I knew in my heart that this was 19. The past two years had proven to me that with 20 anything is possible.

    Last year I went on holiday to Spain. But 1, after two days in Madrid, I started to get severe 2 pain. I was in such suffering that I went to the local hospital for a(n)3.

    No sooner had I arrived than I was 4to a small room, and I had not been waiting too long5 a surgeon came to examine me. He didn't speak English and I only spoke a few words of Spanish. He 6that I had to remove my clothes and he gave me one of those funny hospital gowns （罩衣） which hardly 7anything.

    He then asked me in Spanish if I was embarrassed. "Si, unpoco （Yes, a little）", I replied with my face turning red. You see, not only did I feel embarrassed at 8 my clothes in front of a stranger but also this 9stranger was an extremely handsome man. He looked at me as though I was out of my10 and then he quickly 11 down the passage.

    I was beginning to 12what had happened to him when he suddenly reappeared, this time with a group of 13students, and again asked the same question in Spanish. Now I was feeling 14, and shouted in English, "Yes, I'm extremely embarrassed. I think you would mind too if you had to talk to a crowd of strangers with almost no clothes on." Then a female doctor in the group 15 my arm gently and 16 in perfect English, "I think I see the problem. My17 wants to take a photograph of your back﹣an X﹣ray﹣so he wants to know if you are 18a baby. You see, embarazada means pregnant in Spanish."

    No sooner had she told me this than I realized the 19of the misunderstanding. We all had a laugh, 20 I must admit that I felt rather stupid as well.