I was required to read one of Bernie Siegel's books in college and was hooked on his positivity from that moment on. The stories of his unconventional1and the exceptional patients he wrote about were so2 to me and had such a big3on how I saw life from then on.

    Who knew that so many years later I would look to Dr. Bernie and his CDs again to4my own cancer experience?

    I'm an ambitious5, and when I started going through chemo(化疗), even though I'm a very6 person, I lost my drive to write. I was just too tired and not in the7. One day, while waiting to go in for8, I had one of Dr. Bernie's books in my hand. Another patient9what I was reading and struck up a conversation with me10 he had one of his books with him as well. It11that among other things, he was an eighty-year-old writer. He was 12a published author, and he was currently13on a new book.

    We would see each other at various times and14friends. Sometimes he wore a duck hat, and I would tell myself, he was definitely a(n) 15of Dr. Bernie. He really put a 16on my face. He unfortunately17 last year due to his cancer,18he left a deep impression on me and gave me the 19 to pick up my pen again. I20to myself, "If he can do it, then so can I."

    America is a fast-paced society, which may seem very troubling to foreign visitors. One's first 1is likely to be that everyone is in a rush. City people always seem to be 2 and are very impatient if they are delayed even for a brief moment.

    3 this may seem unfriendly to you4 drivers will rush you; storekeepers will be in a hurry as they 5you; people will push you 6 walking along the street. You will7 brief conversations with people when you shop or dine there as people seem to be on the go.

    Do not8 that because Americans are in such a hurry they are 9. To them, that is just part of their 10 of life. Americans who live in cities often think that everyone is11in a hurry to get things done so they naturally 12 others to behave similarly13 when they discover that you are a stranger, most Americans become quite kind and will take great 14 to help you. Many of them first came to the city 15 strangers and they remember how frightening a new city can be. If you need help,16a friendly-looking person and say, “I am a stranger here. Can you help me?”

    Most people will stop17 you, and help you find your way. But you must let them know that you need help. Otherwise they are18 to pass you by, not noticing that you are new the city and 19 help. If, occasionally, you find someone too rushed to give you help, don't be20just ask someone else. Most Americans enjoy helping a stranger.

    "How dare you!" My anger finally burst out when my son 1 to go to the piano classes for the third time that day. He rolled his eyes at me, which made me even 2. I completely lost my 3 and screamed at the top of my lungs, "Enough! You are not my boy anymore!" He didn't 4 or talk back to me. He responded in 5 with a look of helplessness that I had never seen before. He used to cry violently and beg me to 6 him. The innocence shining in his big eyes would 7 that hot-tempered beast in me away in the end. 8, this time…

    Did what he had done really make me 9? No. Did such anger come entirely from his improper 10? No. Had I ever given it a chance to listen to and 11 him? No. My demanding job, my 12 housework, my kid's cry for company..., all formed a minefield and all that was needed to 13 it up was a fuse (导火索). My son was the 14.

    The rest of the day, he 15 an outdoor walk, a ride in the park and even his favorite games and just wanted to be alone. I could 16 the greatest sorrow and the most true innocence in his eyes. After admitting my own fault, I held this tiny trembling creature 17 in my arms, tears swelling in my eyes.

    For those who believe "Sticks and stones may break the bone, but 18 can never hurt anyone", I have a piece of heartfelt advice. Do not try this most powerful weapon 19 the people you love. It is 20 enough to cut the deepest into a soul.

    I learned about life from an ant farm. When I was seven years old, my family tried to 1 an ant farm at home. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we brought some ants from the backyard and placed them into the 2 home.

    Shortly after the new 3 were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew 4 what to do. After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had particular given jobs. With my mom's help, I kept a journal of what happened each day and 5 the ants. My favorite was the biggest, Cinderella. I drew a picture of her in my journal, which I still have.

    On day five a disaster 6 the ant farm. While I was 7 the ants, I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over, 8 in all the tunnels. Although the ants 9 their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was 10 as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were dying of "frustration"—feeling annoyed and impatient as they couldn't control the situation. They simply could not 11 the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. Cinderella was the last to die; she did so while carrying a dead ant on her back.

    Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, 12it taught me much more. 13 the years, I came to realize the ants were a study in the benefits of 14. Working together, they were able to create a(n) 15 world for themselves. I also learned that they should be 16 for their hard work. Day in and day out, each labored at their task. The ant farm demonstrated that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key 17 to success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not 18 until recently: Disaster is a natural part of life, and must be 19. Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face 20. Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.

    My l4-year-old son, John, and I spotted the coat which was hanging at a secondhand clothing store in Northampton Mass. While the other coats drooped(低垂), this one looked as if it were1itself up. The coat had beautiful tailoring, a Fifth Avenue label and a(an)2price of $28, which was popular just then with3, but could cost several hundred dollars new. This coat was even better, bearing that4of classic elegance(优雅). John tried it on and the fit was perfect.

    John5the coat to school the next day and came home wearing a big smile" Did the kids like your coat?" I asked. "They loved it," he said,6folding it over the back of a chair and smoothing it flat. Over the next few weeks, a7came over John. Agreement replaced contrariness (作对) and reasoned discussion replaced fierce8. He became more mannerly and9, eager to please. He would generously loan his younger brother his tapes and lecture him10his behavior.

    When I mentioned this incident to his teacher and11what caused the changes, she said laughing. "It12be his coat!" Another teacher told him she was giving him a good13not only because he had earned14but because she liked his coat. At the library, we ran into a friend "Could this be John?" he asked surprisingly,15John's new height, assessing the cut of his coat and extending his hand, one gentleman to another.

    John and I both know we should never16a person's clothes for the real person within them.17there is something to be said for wearing a standard of excellence for the world to see and for18what is on the inside to what is on the outside.

    For John it is a time when it is as easy to try on different approaches to19as it is to try on a coat. The whole world, the whole future is stretched out ahead, a vast landscape20all the doors are open. And he could picture himself walking through those doors wearing his wonderful, magical coat.

    Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a famous concert. After they were seated, the mother1a friend and walked over to greet her. Seizing the2to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy got up and explored his way3a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE (禁止进入)". When the lights became less bright and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her4and discovered that the child was missing.

    Suddenly, the curtains5and the lights focused on the stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard,6Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

    At that moment, the great piano master, Paderewski,7on the stage, quickly went to the piano and8in the boy's ear, "Don't9. Keep playing."

    Then, leaning (倾斜) over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began10in a bass (低音的) part. Soon his right arm reached11to the other side of the child and he added a beautiful piece of music.12, the old master and the boy13a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative14.

    That's the way it is in life.15we can complete on our own is16noteworthy (值得注目的). We try our best, but the17aren't exactly graceful or flowing music.18when we put our trust in the hands of greater power, our life can be truly beautiful.

    The next time you set19to create great performances, listen carefully. You can hear the20of the master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."