People say one man's trash(垃圾) is another man's treasure. That1 comes to me as I2 the house purchased in 1962 by my parents. My mother passed away in 1996. My father left the house3 my sister and me when he died a few months ago.

    After Dad was4 , we looked around the5 house where we grew up and that Dad loved so much. At first we felt so6 all the stuff left. Like so many of their generation, my parents7 everything. And like many in my generation, we faced anxious 8 about what to abandon and what to keep.

    As we started throwing out old phone books and every medical bill from every9 my parents ever saw, I also10 many hidden treasures. Mom's pocketbook was in their bedroom closet, which had everything in it, 11 her hairbrush with hair, as if she were still here. And Dad, who was a World War II veteran(退伍兵) and a world traveler,12 everything—from little spoons from all over the world to every letter he wrote to his parents while in the13. The letters he wrote during the war14 his thoughts as a young man. Later, in the basement, I15 our old kitchen table, which brought back 16 of my parents and sister and me having breakfast together .

    I'm realizing all these things17 my parents' life journey. Each time I go to18, I find something that reminded me of my childhood or teaches me something about my parents I19 knew. 20, from the shabby furniture to all the hidden treasures, means more to me than all the money in the world.

    I used to be a very self-centered person, but in the past two years I have really changed. I have started to think about other people 1 I think about myself. I am happy that I am becoming a2person:

    I think my3started when I was at Palomar College. At first, I just wanted to get my4, and be left alone. I thought I was smarter everyone else, so I hardly ever5to anyone in my classes. By the end of my first semester, I was really,6. It seemed as if everyone but me had made friends and was having fun. So tried a(n)7. I started asking people around me how they were doing, and if they were having trouble I8to help. That was really a big9for me. By the end of the year, I had several new friends, and two of 10are still my best friends today.

    A bigger cause of my new11, however, came when I took a part-time job at a Vista Nursing Home. One old lady there who had Alzheimer s disease became my12. Every time I came into her room, she was so13because she thought I was her daughter. Her real daughter never14her, so I took her place. She let me15. That making others feel good make me feel good, too. When she died, I was 16, but I was very grateful to her.

    I think I am a much 17, person today than I used to be, and I hope I will not18these experiences. They have19e to care about other people more than about myself.20who I am today, and I could not say that a few years ago.

    One day I overheard my mom talk about a family whose work schedules overlapped (重叠), leaving no one to watch their two children. Upon hearing their 1, I decided to help this 2 out by babysitting (当临时保姆). I finally continued with it due to the 3 I obtained. For example, on the first day, while we were playing outside, the neighborhood kids 4 playing on the swings. I 5 came up with the solution of rock-paper-scissors: the kids who 6 swung first. I 7 I had the ability to change a negative situation into an enjoyable 8 for the children. The two children 9 me how creativity can come from the 10 things, with imagination being the only tool needed. We turned plates into masks and the backyard into a medieval (中世纪的) castle. They also taught me things can't always be 11 and sometimes things can get messy but you can always clean a mess up. I 12 more about myself each of the four times a week I spent at the household than I could have 13.

    I continued babysitting throughout my high school 14 the bond I'd formed with the children and the 15 I'd felt I was making in their family. It was 16 to watch the kids 17 and learn from things I was able to instill (灌输)in them. After the swing argument, whenever a 18 needed a solution, the kids would do rock-paper-scissors. I'll never 19 the lifetime skills I obtained from the experience that has 20 me into the person I am today.

    I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to spread a little love and kindness today. I had doctor's1 in a town that's about 45 minutes from where I live. After both my appointments were 2, I started walking away from the building and 3an elderly woman standing at the gate anxiously. I 4myself and asked if she was waiting for someone or she needed 5 .

    As it turned out, she was having 6walking the distance and had asked for a wheelchair and a staff member to 7her up but no one had come yet. Virginia heat was kind to no one, and I was 8for this dear lady's health.

    I asked her to 9while I went to get her wheelchair myself. I ran to the help desk and asked for a 10to assist a lady outside. The receptionist asked me, “Is the 11?” I was upset at the question and answered, “She's a bit large, I suppose, but if transporting her is a(n) 12for you, I am willing to do it myself.”

    She looked sort of shocked by my 13, but the woman outside needed help, no matter her 14. The help desk woman and I walked to the end of the passage to the now seated lady. Help desk person 15 her hand to help the lady, but she said “No, I'm fine. I want to grab on to her 16help.” She was talking about me. I helped the woman into the wheelchair but first locked the brakes so that she would be 17. After she was seated, she softly 18 me for my help.

    When I returned home, what happened to me today kept going through my mind and reminded me how much I 19 the opportunity to help the lady. It gave me a sense of fulfillment and a 20heart.

    Many families usually take their children to travel during school breaks. But Julie and Tim Rivenbark planned a(n) 1 vacation with their two children―a one-year trip around the world. They plan to 2 30 countries in all.

    Right now, the four travellers are about halfway through their 3. Ms. Rivenbark says they are trying to see as much of the 4 as they can.

    Mr. Rivenbark says the family has 5 on ostrich (鸵鸟) birds, elephants, and camels. But, he says, one of the most 6 experiences of the trip has been meeting new people.

    “People have been 7 friendly and welcoming and love our kids and it's lovely to see them interacting (互动) with new people and their 8 to see our kids enjoying themselves in their country.”

    Eleven-year-old Tyler says he has enjoyed 9 about the people they have met. “I learned in Africa that people have very 10 lifestyles to those in America.” His sister Kara 11 that she liked Thai food.

    Ms. Rivenbark says that the trip is 12 the children a lot more than short visits would have. “I think that the longer we travel, the more 13 it has on how they see the world. I can see them 14 more than they can see themselves,” she said.

    It took the family a year to 15 for the trip. They had to sell their house and cars. Ms. Rivenbark 16 her job and her husband is using unpaid leave. They carry small bags 17lightweight clothing and whatever else they need. Ms. Rivenbark says she 18 being able to carry everything she needs on her back.

    Tyler and Kara each have iPads so they can communicate with teachers to stay 19 with their schoolwork. Tyler is also 20 a 365-day video blog.

    Anna Douglas was 72 years old when she started writing her newspaper column. She had been a school teacher before she retired (退休), but she needed to keep 1. She was even willing to work without pay. She then offered her 2 with a business that helped other businesses find jobs for old people. Every day she 3 other old folks like her. By talking with them, she 4 two things. Old people had abilities that were not 5. But old people also had some 6. She found a new purpose for herself then.

    Through the years, she 7 to write stories about people for national magazines. There was now a new 8: Old people like herself. She began to write a newspaper column called "Sixty Plus", which was about 9 old. She wrote about the problems of old people, especially their problems with being 10.

    Anna Douglas used her 11 ability to see the truth behind a problem. She understood 12 problems began. For example, one of her 13 said that his grandchildren 14 the houses as soon as he came to visit. Mrs Douglas 15 some ways for him to understand his grandchildren.

    "It's important to know 16 about your grandchildren's world," said Mrs Douglas. "That means questioning and listening, and 17 is not what old people do best. Say good things to them and about them," she continued. "Never try to 18 your grandchildren or other young people. Never 19 your opinion. Don't tell them what they should do. 20, they have been taught they should have respect for old people. The old should respect them as well."