I often read of incidents of misunderstanding or conflict. I'm left1.Why do these people create mistrust and problems, especially with those from other2?

    I was growing up in Kuala Lumpur in the early 1960s,3children from different races and religions played and studied4in harmony. At that time my family lived a stone's5from Ismail's. And no one was bothered that Ismail was a Malay Muslim and I was an Indian Hindu-we just6our differences. Perhaps, our elders had not filled our heads with unnecessary advice, well7or otherwise.

    We were nine when we became friends. During the school holidays, we'd8the countryside on our bicycles, hoping to9the unexpected. At times Ismail would accompany my family as we made a rare shopping trip to town. We would be glad of his10.

    When I was twelve, my family moved to Johor. Ismail's family later returned to their village, and I11touch with him.

    One spring afternoon in 1983, I stopped a taxi in Kuala Lumpur. I12my destination. The driver acknowledged my13but did not move off. Instead, he looked14at me. “Raddar?”he said, using my childhood nickname(绰号). I was astonished at being so15addressed(称呼). Unexpectedly! It was Ismail! Even after two16we still recognized each other. Grasping his shoulder, I felt a true affection, something17to describe.

    If we can allow our children to be18without prejudice, they'll build friendships with people, regardless of race or religion, who will be19their side through thick and thin. On such friendships are societies build and20we can truly be, as William Shakespeare once wrote, “we happy few, we band of brothers”.

    My mother asked me to call my grandmother. What could we possibly have a1about? Nothing! I just did what she told me and2called my grandmother.

    When she3the phone, I planned. to have a small,10-minute exchange.4, she invited me to lunch at her house so we could5together. Hesitantly, I agreed.

    After hanging up the phone I immediately6agreeing to the lunch date on Saturday.

    Surprisingly, my Saturday morning wasn't7.I found it was nice to see her. I forgot the time8her stories about her recent trip to Europe and her sewing class. I wasn't9that 60-year-old people had a social life. It turned out that he r10wasn't as mundane（平凡的）as I thought. I was happy to have spent time with her. We planned to meet11at her house. My mom didn't have to12me any more.

    This time I didn't feel the gloom（忧郁）.13 I wanted to ask were building up in my mind: What was my grandfather like? What did you do at my age?

    As we looked through pictures, I was14.I had never seen, nor imagined, my grandmother as a young girl. She reminded me of myself. I learned that as humans, we15human experiences, no matter what age.

    She told me about the time she and her friends went swimming in the lake late at night and the first time she met my16."You would have adored him. He was the funniest man I'd ever met." We sorted through three shoeboxes of photographs, each with a17story.

    Ever since that18phone call to my grandmother, we have talked at least once a week. I regret not calling her earlier. She has19me what can't be learned in a textbook: being open to new things, enjoying the simple things, and appreciating what life has given me. I have20a new perspective（视角）on life.

    “I have recently completed my college degree. The project we were 1in the last class was called “Smile”. The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and record their 2

    Soon, my husband and I went out to a McDonald's for 3We were standing in line, waiting to be4, when everyone around us began to back away.5 I turned around, I smelled a6“dirty body” smell, and there standing behind me were two 7 homeless men.

    As I looked down at the short gentleman, he was “smiling”. His blue eyes were8of expectation as if in search of acceptance. The second man9 awkward. I realized the second man was mentally challenged.

    The young lady at the10asked him what they wanted. He said, “coffee is all, Miss,” because that was all they could11. If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy12. I realized that he just wanted to be13. It was too cold outside.

Then I really felt it— the compulsion (冲动) was so great I almost reached out and embraced the short man. I noticed all the customers in the restaurant were14at me, judging my every action. I smiled and 15two more breakfast meals for the two men. The short man looked up at me in16with tears in his eyes.

    I returned to the17on the last evening of class with this story. I turned in “my project” and the teacher read it. Then she said, “Can I18this?”

    I nodded. She began to read19while every student listened attentively.

    In my own way I20the people at McDonald's, my teacher, and every student in the classroom. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

    Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand （农场工人）. At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he1to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social2 with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the café. On Saturday evenings, the café was 3 because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied with his4 In his words, he5 thought of changing his job.

    At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came6 into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt7 She told Dad that they must make a8

    My mother had 9of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and 10And she 11 that I would some day become a great leader 12 men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she 13Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and 14a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for 15 education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother's hope, Dad and I16what we have today. Dad runs a big international 17and I am a successful lawyer18great fame in my country,19not a leader as my mother expected.

    Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn't be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.20 he got a lesson of life —sometimes we really need drive from outside.

    One Sunday, I drove my wife to work. On my1she asked me to do some shopping at the local shopping centre. Outside I noticed a(n)2guy. He sat on the floor with a small cup asking for3and a little dog at his side, keeping4.

    The shoppers walked past5him on such a very cold day without any mercy. I6my pockets.￡1.5 was all the change I had and I7it in his cup and said to him to treat himself8I left him, I thought to myself: Is that really a treat? Leave this guy in the cold and9throw him￡1.5!I knew this wasn't10.

    I collected my shopping and as I made my way back, I thought what I could do to help this guy. So I went into a bakery and bought some11for him. But what about his12? Again, I went to a shop, grabbing some doggy chocolate treats.

    Coming13 I sat down, introduced myself and gave him the food. He was14and couldn't believe it, but he kept shaking my hand and 15me. Then I left. As I returned my car, I16The guy was eating his food and filling a bowl of water for his dog.

    Christmas is about17and helping others.18everything you have, for example, the rich food in your fridge over the Christmas period and your sofa. On the contrary, this guy had19of these. I've helped him for a day or two and hope that you may spare a thought next time you see someone on the20.

    After suffering severe bums to her back and other pans of her body at the age of three, Sylvia, 49, had spent her life covering up her scars. Her confidence was destroyed by years of1comments. At her lowest she had considered2her own life.

    "I didn't really know what3was. I didn't realize my mental health was being affected﹣I4thought this was a5thing."

    The accident that left her6happened during a7game of hide and seek with her sister. Afterward, a life of8herself up and hiding from attention followed, until a turning point in July last year.

    Sylvia was on holiday with her mother when she9a man's camera phone following her around the hotel pool. She and her mother left for the beach, but she was struck by the10the encounter had on her mother.

    "I could see her11at my scars. She just looked so sad," Sylvia recalled.

So she started to12, calling out to her mum to make her smile.

    "I had been in such a bad place before. I was so13. I was in such a horrible place for so many years. I looked back and felt like I'd destroyed my family s lives and I thought, now is the time for me to stop."

    Sylvia felt it was time not just to make a14for herself, but to help others with disfigurements（外形的损毁）and to raise awareness.

    She15a Facebook group, Love Disfigure, and now runs swimming sessions at High bury pool in Islinton, north London, with the aim of helping increase the16of people with disfigurements or17and health conditions.

    For Sylvia, last year has been18. Having19her body, and had depression, anxiety and post﹣traumatic stress disorder（创伤后应激障碍）she now hopes her story will20others.