I used to abandon myself to despair. Last year my mother 1from stroke(中风)and had an operation on her brain. I felt my whole world turn upside down and I had no2what I could do to help her to reliever her3 . Tears welled up in my eyes whenever I was alone.

    Last month I4 a precious watch, which was an 18-year-old birthday gift from my father. I could not fall asleep for a couple of nights because I felt 5about the loss.

There have been many6like these in my life. I could never figure out how to deal with such tough things 7I read "If You Have a Lemon, Make a Lemonade" by American writer Dale Carnegie.

"When the wise man is handed a lemon, he says, What 8can I get from this? How can I 9my situation? How can I turn this lemon into a lemonade?" he wrote.

    I suddenly10that life is full of ups and downs, so I need to stay 11all the time.

    Now when I think of my past, I wish I could have handled things 12. When my mother was fighting for 13, I should have held her hands in mine, telling her things would get better instead of 14and crying.

    Several weeks ago, I took part in a campus singing competition. I didn't15a prize. If I had not16this article, I would definitely have felt 17again. But instead, I smiled after the competition. I was happy that at least I had got some stage18.

    Life is not just a bed of roses. There are thorns（刺）as well, but these thorns help us become 19and strong. When life20us a lemon, let's try to make a lemonade.

    I played a racquetball(壁球) game against my cousin Ed last week. It was one of the most 1and tiring games I've ever had. When Ed first phoned and2we play, I laughed quietly, figuring on an3 victory. After all, Ed's idea of 4has always been nothing more5than lifting a fork to his mouth.6 I can remember, Ed's been the least physically fit member in the family, and7proud of himself. His big stomach has always ballooned out between his T-shirt and trousers. Although the family often8about that, Ed refused to buy a9T-shirt or to lose weight. So when Ed10for our game not only with the bottom of his shirt gathered inside his trousers but also with a stomach you could hardly11, I was so surprised that I was12. My cousin must have made an effort to get himself into shape.13, at the point in our game when I'd have predicted（预计）the score to be about 9 to 1 in my favor, it was147 to 9—and Ed was15. The sudden realization was painful. We 16 to play like two mad men. When the score was 16 up, I was having serious 17about staying alive until 21 years old, let alone18that many points. When the game finally ended, both of us were lying flat on our backs, too tired to19. In a way, I think we both won: I the game, but cousin Ed my 20.

I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I used to give a lot of money to the homeless, feeling 1 for them. But as time passed, I became a mom with no home, a huge 2, and hardly any income. As a result, I 3 giving money to the people on the side of the road and became very 4. Things started to change for me 5. I had a home, a backyard for my daughter, and plenty of food, and I started to 6 myself out of debt. One day we saw a homeless person with the 7, "Will work for food." I 8. My daughter commented. "Mommy, you used to always give money to those people in 9." I replied, "Honey, they just use that money for 10, or other bad things." She didn't respond. 11 when I said that, I didn't feel right. Three days later, I was driving to 12 my daughter from school. A man was standing on the corner, and something deep 13 me said, "Just help the guy." So I 14 down my window, and he ran over excitedly. He said, "God bless you, I only need 77 cents." I 15 into my ashtray（烟灰缸）and strangely enough, there 16 three quarters and two pennies. I picked them up and gave them to him. He 17 with joy and tears in his eyes. "Wow, you just made it 18 for me to see my mom for Christmas! Thank you so much; the 19 that had this great sale is leaving in 20 minutes!" It was a moment I'll 20 forever. I think that man won't forget it either, but I was the one who got the best gift in life—GIVING.

He Had a Go

    It was a cool spring evening in Melbourne, Australia. I drove to my boxing gym for a Friday night training session. After1up, I started training. Then I noticed a tall and slim young man walking through the doors. There was something about him that caught my2.

    Before long, I realized that he might have a mental illness. Having volunteered for mental illness support groups, I really3his problems when I looked at him.

    He paid for the session, put on a pair of gloves and then started hitting the punching bags. I watched him from a4 and wanted to help him to punch straighter and better. Then I felt it was best to leave that up to the trainer who was 5watching him.

    After a few seconds of punching the bag, he stopped and started staring at the   6.The trainer went up to him and 7to help him. It was almost like he woke up from a dream. He8 eye contact with the ceiling at once.

    Then the bell rang and it was the end of the round.9 rounds we are required to do five push-ups(俯卧撑),10all the boys that were training that night did five push-ups. He11to complete his five push-ups. The bell sounded again and the next round began. He punched the bags for a few seconds and then he12. This time he was taring at the walls which were decorated with boxing posters.

    It was clear to me that he could not 13for long.

    When I finished training, I decided to go to him and offer him my help. I held the bag for him and asked him to punch. He14 the bag a few times and then stopped again.

    I smiled at him and asked, "Do you like boxing?"

    He replied with a very shy 15on his face, "Yes, boxing is alright."

    What else could I do than16 this man and his willingness to give it a go? Most people put self-imposed(自我强加的)17on their lives and stop themselves from having a go. I kept thinking about this man while admiring him for even turning up to a boxing gym, let alone training at what appeared to be his18

    There are many lessons to learn from this man. What I19admired about this man was that he had a go! That is what20ordinariness from greatness.

So what will you have a go at?

    When I was younger I developed an interest in stories of magic. I 1 books where wizards (巫师) and fighters 2 the powers of darkness in strange worlds. I was very happy when they 3 to bring peace and happiness to their lands in the end. Like most of the readers of these stories I secretly 4 for magical powers for myself. I wanted to be able to magically make my pain disappear, to make my problems 5, and to have power over this world that so 6 has power over us.

    As I got older, however, I 7 that there was no such thing as magic and how 8 the reality of life was. I had daily pain from a back injury that never healed (治愈)  right. I went through a 9 period of poverty for many years. I felt 10 when both of my sons were diagnosed with Autism (自闭症). I still sometimes daydreamed of magic 11 even that faded away.

    Then one day it struck me that there was a 12 kind of magic, which grew 13 in my heart, soul, and mind day by day and year by year. This magic was called LOVE. It 14 me to my own highest self and to all of the other 15 in this world. It didn't get rid of my 16 but it made every day of my life feel richer. It didn't cure my sons, Autism, but it helped me see them as the beautiful, loving, and joyful souls that they 17 are. It didn't make me a wizard or a fighter.18, it helped me to drive the darkness of this world with my own 19.

    May you choose it, share it, and live in it every single day of your life. May you use it to 20 others, and to heal this world.

    Michael Greenberg is a very popular New Yorker. He is not famous in sports or the arts, But people in the streets 1 him, especially those who are 2.

    For those people, he is "Gloves" Greenberg. How did he get that 3? He looks like any other businessman, wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase (公文箱). But he's 4. His briefcase always has some gloves.

    In winter, Mr. Greenberg does not 5 like other New Yorkers, who look at the sidewalk and 6 the street. He looks around at 7. He stops when he 8 someone with no gloves. He gives them a pair and then he 9, looking for more people with cold 10.

    On winter days, Mr. Greenberg 11 gloves. During the rest of the year, he 12 gloves. People who have heard about him 13 him gloves, and he has many in his apartment.

    Mr. Greenberg 14 doing this 21 years ago. Now, many poor New Yorkers know him and 15 his behavior. But people who don't know him are sometimes 16 him. They don't realize that he just wants to make them 17.

    It runs in the 18. Michael's father always helped the poor as he believed it made everyone happier. Michael Greenberg feels the 19. A pair of gloves may be a 20 thing, but it can make a big difference in winter.