At my heaviest I weighed 370 pounds. I had a very poor relationship with food: I used it to 1bad feelings, to make myself feel better, and to celebrate. Worried about my health, I tried many different kinds of 2 but nothing worked. I came to believe that I could do nothing about my 3.

    When I was 50, my weight problem began to affect me 4 . I didn't want to live the rest of my life with this 5 weight any more.

    That year, I6 a seminar where we were asked to create a project that would touch the world. A seminar leader shared her 7story —she had not only 125 pounds, but also raised $25,000 for homeless children.

   8 by her story, I created the As We Heal(痊愈), the World Heals 9. My goal was to lose 150 pounds in one year and raise $50,00010 a movement founded 30 years ago to end hunger. This combination of healing myself and healing the world11 me as the perfect solution.

    12I began my own personal weight program, I was filled with the fear that I would 13 the same difficulties that beat me before. While the 14 hung over my head, there were also signs that I was headed down the right 15. I sent letters to everyone I knew, telling them about my project. It worked perfectly. Donations began 16in from hundreds of people.

    Of course, I also took some practical steps to lose weight. I consulted with a physician（内科医生）, I hired a fitness coach, and I began to eat small and 17meals. My fund-raising focus also gave me new motivation to exercise 18.

    A year later, I19my goal: I lost 150 pounds and raised $50,000! I feel that I've been given a second life to devote to something that is 20 and enormous.

    At the age of 13, I remember that my father would take me on short outings on Saturdays. On the way 1 from these trips, Dad frequently 2 at the Dairy Queen for 10-cent ice cream. Not every single time, just often enough. I couldn't 3 it, but I could hope and 4 from the time we started heading home to that 5 where we would either go straight for the ice cream or turn and go home 6. That corner meant mouth-watering excitement or 7.

    One day, we were 8 home, and I was hoping and praying for the beautiful sound of his 9. It came. “Would you like an ice cream today?” “That sounds 10, Dad!” But then he said, “It sounds good to me too, son. Would you like to 11 me today?”

    “Twenty cents!” I thought to myself, “I can afford it. I got 25 cents' pocket money and some extra for odd jobs. Well, 12 it is enough, ice cream isn't a good use of it.” Therefore, I said, “Well, in that case, I guess I'll 13.” My father just said, “Okay, Son.”

    But as we headed home, I realized how wrong I was and begged him to 14. But he just said, “That's okay, we don't really need one.” I felt 15 for my selfishness and ungratefulness. He didn't mind, or16 act disappointedly.

    From that I 17 generosity goes two ways and gratefulness sometimes costs more than “thank you”. On that day gratefulness would have cost 20 cents and it would have been the 18 ice cream I'd ever had.

    I'll tell you one more thing. We 19 another trip the next week. As we 20 the corner, I said, “Dad, would you like an ice cream today? My treat.”

    My old friend Judy who worked at our local Wal-fart, had been down a pretty rough road. However, she somehow had maintained her 1 and cheerful outlook on life.

    Every time I 2 other, I felt a pull in my heart to do 3 to help. I just couldn't figure out what it was that I was 4 to do.

    Christmas was coming. This morning I was 5 by and turned in. I had Christmas cards in my car from work. I pulled one out and 6 it to her. I placed a gift of cash inside the card – more cash than I had ever given anyone but the 7 in my heart said, "Yes! Do it!"

    I went up to customer service and said to the clerk 8 there, "I'm looking for my friend, Judy." He said, "OK, she is here. I'll 9 her for you."

    When my friend 10 I said with a smile "Here is a card for you." She asked, "Should I 11it here?"

    "Sure," I 12 . She opened it and tears came to her eyes. She burst out a cry of 13 "Oh, thank you! I wasn't going to be able to give my girls Christmas gifts at all this year."

    It was 14 for me to see her happiness and it was also good to know I had finally 15 how I was supposed to help her. 16 she did next made me know I had done the right thing. She called me later to thank me again, 17 "It was too much, so I shared it 18 two other women at work who were not going to have Christmas gifts for their children 19. I hope you don't mind."

    My heart swelled with joy knowing I had done something that was passed on right 20 it was meant to go.

    "Mom, I don't like you," my two-year-old son said.

    "Okay… is that 1 you love me?" I asked.

    "No, you're not lovely."

    That night, as I washed my face, I 2 a little longer in the mirror—not because I was hurt by his 3, but because I noticed there was no light in my 4.

    I took out a pen and started writing a list—a list to 5 myself; a list to put sparkle（火花）back into my eyes. I once made many lists but 6 accomplished anything. This time would be 7!

    The first goal on my list I wanted to achieve was 8 a Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics. On that day, when I 9 into my 1980s workout clothes, Jack smiled, "Mom, you look 10." Maybe, just maybe some light 11 my eyes.

    When coming out of the cold lake I felt happy and proud. I kept screaming, "I 12 it !" But one of the most exciting parts of the day was when I stood in front of my 13, which was taped on the refrigerator door. I 14 item number one. With that, I began to take back my life.

    Everyone taking part in the Polar Plunge received a 15. Whenever I wore it, Jack asked, "Is that your Polar Plunge clothing?" I answered 16, "Yes!" "I want to do that too." I was happy he remembered I jumped into a 17 lake, and that he wanted to do activities with me.

    With each 18 crossed off（划掉） the list, a piece of myself is 19. Not only am I showing my family it's important to 20, but I'm showing myself that I'm worth it.

    A Tennessee woman celebrated her birthday with a bittersweet gift from beyond the grave ——flowers from her father, who died five years ago.

    Michael William Sellers pre-paid for a bouquet of 1to be delivered to his daughter, Bailey, every 2 until she turned 21. And on Friday, Bailey 3 the gift, her last from her dad.

    "My dad4 when I was 16 from cancer and before he died he pre-paid flowers so I could receive them every year on my birthday," then she said. "This is my 21st birthday flowers and the5."

    Bailey said the special gift made birthdays6."Since that day I've hated my birthday 7he always made it so special," Bailey said "I was especially8 my 21st because I knew it would be the last year."

    Bailey said this year's gift and birthday card were especially 9."I broke down," she said. "That letter was very 10and sad all at the same time."

    "This is my last love letter to," her father11. "I do not want you to drop another 12for me, for I am in a 13 place. He also told her to always respect her mother and stay 14to herself." Be happy and live life to the fullest," he wrote. "I will be with forever, just 15and I will be."

    "That was my dad," she said. "He was trying to make my birthday 16."

Social media users17 the post, calling it both "heartwarming," and "heartbreaking."

    Others praised her father, calling him a(an) "18 of what a good man is like," "He would be very 19," Bailey said "he'd be very proud that it20 a lot of people."

    Luckily, I got four turkeys this holiday. I 1 only one of them. I 2 my neighbor was going through a hard time, so I decided to give one to them as a 3.

    That still 4 me with two extra (额外的) turkeys. I 5 to cook one of them, make sandwiches and6 them to an area of town where many people seem to be in need of food and a little 7.

    While I was waiting for the bus to get there, I saw two people that I thought might 8sandwiches. The moment they came near, I 9 them each a sandwich, along with a smile card, and told them to have a good day. I received 10 in return.

    On the bus, a young mother got on with her little girl. I offered her a sandwich, and she 11 accepted. Then I started giving them to other 12, along with smile cards, and they also 13 with smiles. By this point, I was 14 happiness and couldn't help smiling. I felt 15because of that.

    When we got to the bus terminal (终点), I had given away five sandwiches. The act of 16, the care shared and the 17 smiles just made my heart filled with so much 18. I think what I have done is good for everyone,19 I will do this again soon.

    Giving not only makes you feel wonderful but it also 20happiness to others.