I was on my way home from work, cutting through the park. On that day, the sun seemed to 1 faster than usual, and all of a sudden I found myself walking 2 I was less than half a mile from my apartment,3the path would lead me over a bridge, across train tracks, and 4 an unlit underpass (地下通道).

Then 5 I heard him — a stranger running alongside me. My mouth went 6. My legs felt like water. But I didn't7my pace. Instead, I stopped, turned, and8 him. He came out of the bushes and said he'd been watching me for a long time.9he walked beside me, I moved a little closer to the edge of the10When we reached the bridge, a train raced past, and he seized the moment,11 himself suddenly at me as his hands12my throat. The self-defense skills I had learned years before kicked in, and I dug my 13into his eye, hard. But he14grew bolder (大胆), pulling at my clothes. So I put all my 15into that thumb, and finally he16.

I was shaking with 17but I looked him straight in the eye and began to back away. I 18to run the hell out of there, but then I 19 another self-defense lesson: Never20 because then you're prey (猎物). So I walked away —alone — through the dark underpass as I dialed 911 with trembling fingers.

    One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried 1 for hours as the farmer tried to figure out 2 to do. Finally he decided the animal was 3 and the well needed to be 4 up anyway, so it just wasn't 5 it to rescue the donkey.

    He invited all his 6 to come over and help him. They all grabbed (握起) a shovel (铁铲) and began to shovel 7 into the well. At first, the donkey 8 what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's 9, he was quiet.

    A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked 10 the well and was 11 at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that 12 his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would 13 it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors 14 to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take another 15 up. Pretty soon, everyone was surprised as the donkey stepped up over the 16 of the well and ran off.

    Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The best way of 17 out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our 18 is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest 19just by not stopping, never 20! Shake it off and take a step upward!

    Feeling tired of waiting for a lift for so long because you don't want to take stairs? Or even feeling so exhausted that you wished for a(n)1 when you could just lie down on the bed all day and not worry about work or studies?

    My name is Beena, and my story begins from here.

    I was born in a poor family. While growing up, I saw my parents making many 2 for me and my brother. They wouldn't buy anything for themselves so that they could 3 all our wishes. The small amount of money they earned is 4 in our childhood to make sure we don't feel lesser than other kids around us.

    I decided to 5 my studies and give my parents a better life, the life that they 6 for all they have done. I finished my 7 and got placed into a Leading firm in Audit industry.

    In the process of fulfilling my dreams, I took my health for granted. I was 8 tired and that was the time I felt that I needed a rest from work and relax for some time.

    I went to a doctor's clinic when I heard these three words which changed my life forever—I was 9 with Guillian Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological autoimmune disorder.

    My breathing was becoming increasingly 10 for me while I was in the ICU. I was in the hospital for two months on life support. During these two months I had 11 some near death experiences, including skin 12 and multiple infections.

    I was sent home from the hospital immediately after being taken off the life support. My body was still fully 13 from neck down and I couldn't even lift a finger at that time. I started my physical 14 from home. It took me one year to take my first few 15 with the help of a walker. I had two options at that time. The first was to give up and 16 that I will never be myself again and the other was to keep pushing. I chose to be my own 17.

    I 18 everything that could help me go to work without having any caretakers around and finally after 2 years of hard work I was ready to go to work again.

    I still have a long way to go, but I have decided I will never give up my 19. It's that door you 20 that will decide whether you will fly or live your life in a cage.

New Distractions (使人分心的事)

    Madeline's family vacation to the beach was usually the highlight of her summer. This year however, her parents announced a new1no phones allowed for the entire week. "No distractions," they said. "But my friends will be2updates," Madeline protested. "They'll have to3," her mom said. "What if something bad happens?" Madeline changed her4Her mom shook her head as she opened a drawer. Madeline saw that her parents' phones were already in it. Madeline had to5her phone in, too. The drive to the beach house took most of the day. That night after dinner, Madeline wandered into the kitchen, where her father was6dishes. "Still hungry?" he asked. "No," she answered. Then she gave him a7look and said in her sweetest voice, "Couldn't I have my phone back? Just so I can tell everyone what a(n)8time I'm having?" "Can't," he said. "It's not here. Remember?9out the bookcase in the living room," he suggested. "Might find something you like." She walked into the living room and spotted a jigsaw puzzle (拼图玩具) on the bookcase. She took it, put the pieces on the table, and began to10them. After what seemed like minutes, she looked up. It was past ten o'clock. She had been11for almost two hours! The puzzle was less than half done. It would have been nice to12a picture of the puzzle with her friends, she thought. The next morning, a golden sun was rising over the blue ocean. The sky was cloudless. The scene13Madeline of a photo that Brandi had shared. Her friends had oohed and ahhed over it. This view was even better. It would leave everyone14Madeline's hand15to the bedside table, but there was nothing there.

    That evening, Madeline lost herself in the jigsaw puzzle again. She felt a little excited every time the shapes16. Soon, all that were left were a few gaps. She quickly put the remaining pieces into place. The puzzle was17.

    She stepped back to18the finished puzzle. The picture showed an old painting of several farmhands working in a brown field and there was a giant rainbow arching across the sky.

    Madeline enjoyed the puzzle for a few minutes, trying to19the image in her mind. Then, she quietly started taking it20. That, she thought, was just for me.