The benefits of keeping a journal(日志)

    If you want to grow, one important thing you should do is keep a journal. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference in your life. I have been keeping journals for years. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.

♦ It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea and lost it later because you didn't write it down? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible. If I am away from my computer, I usually write it down on a piece of paper that I bring wherever I go. I will then transfer the idea to the journal in my computer.

♦ It helps you review all the lessons you've learned. By reviewing your journal, you can quickly see the lessons you've learned and the ideas you've gotten. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You can use the ideas to propel yourself forward.

♦ {#blank#}4{#/blank#} After keeping a journal for years, you can look back at it and see how far you've gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past have been realized today.

♦ It helps you expand your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea, you are thinking actively about it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In the end, you will expand your ideas.

A.I often experienced that myself.

B.It trains you to express your thoughts.

C.It allows you to see your progress over time.

D.Just use whatever tool you feel comfortable with.

E.Thinking actively helps you connect your idea to another idea.

F.And to be honest, I can't imagine what my life would be like without it.

G.Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

    You don't need to travel far away to write a travel diary.Your writing can start with a family vacation or a weekend get away.All you need is a destination or a place of departure（出发）!

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Your trip journal can begin before your trip has started.Use your journal to start planning the things you want to do.It can be a cool restaurant where you want to eat,a hike you want to go on or different sights you want to see.

    Write about what you imagine it will be.Sometimes when you travel,your destination is wildly different from what you expected.Maybe you expected the local food to be bad and it turned out to be delicious.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Maybe you thought you would not be comfortable with the climate while you adapted to it.Whatever,tr)r to write it down before you arrive.It will be interesting to compare these predictions to what you have actually experienced.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.It is always easier to remember things when they are fresh in your brain,but it may be diluted（淡化）with time going by.So try to write as much as you can during traveling every day if you can.Your journals don't have to be long,but letting them express your feelings is the most important or exciting.

    Add pictures to your journal.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Combining pictures with your first-hand accounts of what they represent,or what happened when they were taken,will make for（有助于）a better travel journal.

    Write about your trip after you leave.It is important to reflect on your travels,so you can have a new understanding.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Ask a parent for help.

B.Use your journal to plan your trip.

C.Get prepared for your travel journal.

D.Write as much as you can during your trip.

E.Maybe you imagined the town to be smaller than it actually is.

F.This is also a great way to learn about yourself and other people you have travelled with.

G Even though your journal is meant for writing,pictures are still worth a thousand words.

    Last week the electricity in my flat went out.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} My typical evening is spent watching TV and scrolling (滚动) through social media. Tonight this wasn't possible. My roommate and I weren't prepared with candles and matches. We just rely on electricity.

    So for me it was an early night.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} That night, losing our electricity felt like losing a basic necessity, as basic as running water. But really, electricity is a luxury that we've grown to take for granted. I use electricity all the time, even when it's not really necessary.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And as I'm writing this, I have my lights on, even in the middle of the day when I don't really need them.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}It contributes to global warming. It is harming our environment and we need to do what we can to stop it. Not only that, but if we continue to use the same large amount of energy, we will soon run out of it.

    How would we survive in a world without electricity? Our daily lives go around it. We wouldn't be able to function.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}So, shouldn't we start preparing for it now? Cutting down on our use of electricity would save energy resources so that they could last for longer. And if everyone does it, we can make a big difference.

A. Yet we know one day we will run out of it.

B. Our over-use of electricity is a big problem.

C. This left me in complete darkness the whole night.

D. It is a real problem to cut down on the use of electricity.

E. I know for sure I could cut down on my use of electricity.

F. I couldn't help but think, do we rely too much on electricity?

G. I turn on the TV in the background even when Tm not watching it.

Tips to stay safe and make smart choices

    Even if you're a genius (天才) at school, you still might be lost when it comes to getting from point A to point B. Don't get caught in a strange place without these basic safety tips.

    Know where you're going.

    Before you set out in an unfamiliar area, go to Google Maps to plan your journey and print it out. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Make sure that the location services are turned on your phone, just in case you get lost.

    Know where your stuff is.

    Never leave your backpack or shopping bags out of your sight. Carry your wallet in your front pocket or keep it close to your body. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A fun day out can turn into the worst headache ever if you realize you've left something behind.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you have the choice between a busy street and a deserted one, always pick the busy one. You are more likely to be attacked on dark, empty sidewalks than on ones with a crowd.

    Travel in packs.

    Don't go anywhere — especially an unfamiliar place — without a friend or two. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Don't let your music drown you out.

    There's nothing wrong with listening to your iPod as you walk around town, but keep it at a low enough volume (音量) so you can still hear passing cars. Losing concentration puts you at risk from accidents, attacks and getting lost. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't do it. Keep your head up and pay attention to the people and things going on around you.

A. Pick your streets smart.

B. Always choose your own ways.

C. Be sure you've got everything at all times.

D. Take out your phone and call the police.

E. This also goes for texting while walking.

F. You can also use your phone's GPS to map the route.

G. If you must go out alone, be sure to tell someone where you're going.

    A youth soccer coach, Hugo Grejada, director of Pro Youth Soccer academy in Chester, New York, shares some tips to help you improve your soccer skills.

Start with basic drills. "Go outdoors, get a ball, and keep it close to your feet," Grejada says, "{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you have a backyard, work on shooting."

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} "It's a good way of building skills without having the pressure of games. Choose camps that emphasize building skills and go to one of those. There are plenty of camps that begin right after school ends."

    Don't forget to stretch. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Then do a series of stretches to loosen up your muscles. Don't forget to take a drink of water before you even step on the field. "Water is important especially in summer." Grejada says.

    Watch the World Cup. Grejada tells his athletes to watch as many games as they can. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Then, you should try to bring some of their moves into your own game. "Pick up something that you like and practice it." Grejada says.

    Keep practicing. Practice may not seem like the most fun part playing soccer. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Look for ways to make practice fun by adding some competition to simple drills, and don't be discouraged if it takes time to master new skills. "If someone was struggling to improve, I would tell him to keep practicing, keep trying. Practice makes perfect."

A. Sign up for a soccer camp.

B. Reduce the pressure of games.

C. However, it's the best way to develop skills.

D. Study how the best players move with the ball.

E. A game is sometimes used as an educational tool.

F. That will help improve your ability to run with the ball close to you.

G. Before each game or practice, start with a proper ten-minute warm-up.

How to live with someone in chronic pain?

    Do you know that 100 million people in the United States suffer with chronic(慢性的)pain? Living with someone in chronic pain can be demanding at times because the person doesn't feel well and wants your help to feel better. Yet you are powerless to do much about stopping their pain. As a result, much of the relationship can become focused on pain which is depressing for both of you. But people in pain need emotional support. They need to know that you understand their feelings. So, express it in your words and show it by your presence.

    Now, realize, there is a fine line between helping and hurting when talking with people in chronic pain. You help by encourage pain free talk, by focusing on tfie positives of your relationship and other aspects of the person's life. Instead of asking, "How is your pain today?" ask, "How is your day going?" Then, focus on what is going right or is positive despite the pain. This isn't ignoring the reality of their pain, rather focusing away from the pain. Constant conversations about pain increase pain. The more attention you give pain, the more it multiplies pain.

    The more you do things for the person in pain, the more likely they are to become disabled by their pain. For example, if your partner can move, get up or get their own drink, let them. Even if it takes a while to accomplish something, movement is good for chronic pain. The goal is not to do things they can do for themselves. Otherwise, you are enabling sick behavior. Therefore, encourage, but don't enable! You don't want anyone's identity to be developed around the pain.

    Remember, chronic pain has caused your partner to limit his behavior and not do the things he used to do. He is dealing with loss and has to find a new normal. Talk about what can be done to improve functioning despite the pain. You may have to get creative! Can you throw a ball to the grandkids sitting down? Maybe you can find a more comfortable position for closeness.

    Finally, do all you can to help him remain social even though the pain may lead to a cancellation with friends now and then. When that happens, you are supposed to keep inviting him to gatherings as he wants to remain active and involved. The worse thing a person in pain can do is get separated from others. Not only will they become depressed but it is much easier to lose hope. And there is so much you can do to improve functioning and get on with your life.

    In sum, chronic pain can cause relationship tension, but a focus on small things that turn down the volume on pain and improve your day to day functioning will help your relationships.