The loss of handwriting in our high-tech world saddens me. People of all ages openly admit their handwriting is becoming worse as keyboards replace pen and paper. Increasingly, schoolchildren deal with assignments on computer and struggle to write, having had little practice. I am of the generation that learnt to write with a dip pen in kindergarten and a fountain pen in high school; by the time I reached university, like everyone else, I used a functional ballpoint. Handwriting has filled every aspect of my life since I was first taught to shape letters on the lined pages of my exercise books.

    From the age of 12, I have kept a handwritten journal, recording my thoughts and feelings regarding both the significant and boring aspects of my life. Through this daily practice I connected with myself, explored experiences and found a way to interpret and make sense of my relationships. Although I rarely reread my written material, the process of writing has remained with me as a means of processing my feelings and filtering（过滤)）my experiences.

    Yet today, handwritten letters are as rare as a red panda. Few of us write letters any longer, even to those to whom we are close. We communicate differently when we e-mail or text, both methods characterised by speed and informality. The deep thinking, which accompanied a handwritten letter, is almost entirely absent. We may be communicating more frequently and with more people, but the depth and quality of our communication has reduced.

    Sadly, modern technology tends to be temporary. Few of us keep old e-mails or even print them out, so a sense of history and memory is lost. Archivists（档案管理者）report that more information has been lost in the past decade than in the previous 150 years. It is too easy to press the delete button.

    In many other areas of records, material is now in the digital format. Yet saving material in a digital format only is extremely unstable. How it will survive the future remains a problem.

    In this digital world of text, e-mails and instant messaging, the perceived value of writing is no longer obvious and the case for retaining the practice of writing needs to be made. Should we save the humble pen and paper when laptops and mobiles are functional, universal and unstoppable? Should children continue to be taught to write with a pen and paper?

    With its passing, a good mode of self-expression is being lost. I invite readers to engage with handwriting and become aware of this special skill that has created civilization for centuries.

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The current{#blank#}1{#/blank#} of handwriting   

▲    Students {#blank#}2{#/blank#} to computers to complete their homework.

▲    With little practice, students have{#blank#}3{#/blank#} writing.

▲    We seldom write letters even to people we are close to.

The author's link with handwriting

▲    The author{#blank#}4{#/blank#} himself to handwriting from kindergarten to university.

▲    The author kept {#blank#}5{#/blank#} of his thoughts and feelings by keeping writing journals.

▲    The author also takes {#blank#}6{#/blank#} of writing to process his feelings and filtering his experiences. The {#blank#}7{#/blank#} with modern communication methods

▲    There is an{#blank#}8{#/blank#} of depth and quality in e-mails and texts.

▲    The temporariness of modern technology tends to give {#blank#}9{#/blank#} to the loss of some history and memory.

▲    Saving materials only in a digital format is not very stable.

▲    A style of self-expression is being lost.

The author's {#blank#}10{#/blank#} to people for handwriting  

Write as much as possible and realize the importance of this special art.

    Here, sleep experts clear up some of the biggest misunderstandings about sleep they see with their patients, which could weaken your ability to have a night of good sleep.

Myth: {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    The latest research shows that the right amount of sleep may vary from person to person and should leave you feeling energized the next day. I'm a sleep doctor. Take myself for example. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

Myth: Don't fall asleep with the TV on.

    I've cured more people suffering from sleep problems than you can imagine by telling  people it's OK to fall asleep with the TV on. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Control the watching time so it doesn't affect your sleep later in the night.

Myth: You can catch up on lost sleep on the weekend.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A Harvard study found that even if you sleep for an extra 10 hours on the weekend to make up for only sleeping six hours a night for two weeks, those extra hours won't improve  your reaction times or ability to focus. Plus, sleeping late throws off your biological clock, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Myth: Alcohol can help you rest easy.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Alcohol may relax you so you nod off quicker, but studies show you'll wake up more and get less of deep sleep you need to feel rested.

Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

    Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit—and that can be a very annoying thing.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Read on for some techniques worth trying.

    ⒈{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer's disease (早老性痴呆症), according to a recent study.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brain looking forward.

    ⒉ Go for a walk

    Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ⒊ Learn something new

    Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}or go dancing with your friends.

A. Focus on the future.

B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.

C. It should be something like learning gardening.

D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.

E. But don't worry if your schedule isn't filled with life-changing events.

F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments.

G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.

    Changes that will help you get more done than ever before

    Win tomorrow today. All it takes is setting aside five minutes every evening before you end your work to establish the one goal you will accomplish tomorrow. Sometimes, the hardest part of getting things done is deciding which thing to work on first. If this decision making has to happen first thing in the morning, it can create a block to progress, which is no way to start your day. By giving yourself a head start the night before, you're allowing your most productive work hours-in the morning—to be used to the fullest by not having to wonder about on choose what you'll work on first.

    Having a morning routine is one of the best things you've done for yourself. It not only helps you set your day up to be successful by gaining great power first in the morning, but it also allows you to guarantee that you are going to get a set number of things done right away. This way, no matter what your day brings, you should keep in mind that your health and nutrition are the most important. Your morning routine includes a workout, drinking water, meditation（冥想）, and ensuring you get the nutrients you need to perform at a high level all day.

    One of the common mistakes people make is to focus entirely on whatever task is next on their list and promise not to move or pause until it's done. Tasks will expand to the time assigned. Instead, try to be inspired from successful people and setting up timed periods for both focused work and breaks. Establishing sections where you have a set amount of focus time followed by a set amount of refresh time prevents you from being distracted（注意力不集中的）and helps you make great progress on the tasks and projects you're working on.

    Being extremely future-focused and ambitious is great, but if you're always moving from one task to another, you could be missing out on a big growth opportunity. In order to learn what's working and what's not working, you need to spend time reflecting. Set aside some time at least every 10 days to reflect on the good, the bad, and everything in between. When you can identify what's working, you'll know what to double down on. You'll also be able to identify the things that are holding you back from getting where you want to go, and to think out solutions for those struggles in order to remove them in the future.

    If you really want to get more done, you have to stop focusing on what you can't do, and start focusing on everything that's going right. Being grateful will not only increase your happiness factor, it will also make you more productive. When you have a positive attitude and take time out to recognize everything you have to be grateful for, you're able to focus on the many things you have accomplished, you're more likely to make progress and get more done.

    Nothing succeeds like confidence. When you are truly confident, it radiates from you like sunlight, and attracts success to you like a magnet(磁铁){#blank#}1{#/blank#} And gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds success.

    So how can we build a sense of self-confidence and prepare ourselves on the way to success? First, do what you believe to be right, even if others laugh at you for it{#blank#}2{#/blank#}If you believe you can, then you really will. The belief keeps you searching for answers, which means that pretty soon you will get them.

    Second, govern your behavior based on what other people think. What's more important, be willing to take risks and go the extra miles to achieve better results, in which case mistakes can not be avoided{#blank#}3{#/blank#}  Next, work hard to settle the problems in order to cover up your mistakes before anyone notices. Building self-confidence is readily achievable, as long as you have the focus and determination to carry things through.

    With your determination and improvement, you are getting closer to success. At this stage, wait for others to congratulate you on your accomplishments. “Thanks, I really worked hard on the road to success. I'm pleased you recognize my efforts.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every aspect of our lives, and it is no wonder that so many people struggle to find it{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Besides, whether you're working on your own self-confidence or building the confidence of people around you, it's well worth the effort!

A. Believe in yourself and believe that you can do it under any circumstances.

B. Highly self-confidence person can achieve great results in every field he enters.

C. Besides, those who are self-confident can in turn inspire confidence in others.

D. The congratulations from others will promote you to gain further success.

E. Self-confidence really can be learned and built on.

F. Don't hesitate to admit your mistakes, and learn from them.

G. A lack of confidence can lead to a lot of sufferings.