As a general rule, all forms of activity lead to boredom when they are performed on a routine(常规) basis. As a matter of fact, we can see this 1 at work in people of all 2. For example, on Christmas morning, children are excited about 3 with their new toys. But their 4 soon wears off and by January those 5 toys can be found put away in the basement. The world is full of   6 stamp albums and unfinished models, each standing as a monument(纪念碑) to someone's 7 interest. When parents bring home a pet, their child 8 bathes it and brushes its fur. Within a short time, however, the 9 of caring for the animal is handed over to the parents. Adolescents(青少年) enter high school with great 10 but are soon looking forward to 11. The same is true of the young adults going to college. And then, how many 12, who now complain about the long drives to work, 13 drove for hours at a time when they first 14 their driver's licenses? Before people retire, they usually 15 to do a lot of 16 things, which they never had 17 to do while working. But 18 after retirement, the golfing, the fishing, the reading and all of the other pastimes(消遣) become as boring as the jobs they 19. And, like the child in January, they go searching for new 20.

    As I sat motionless on the steps of the pool, watching everyone else swim back and forth, I realized that I had spent most of my life watching others enjoy themselves. It was then that I1a little girl staring at me with a look of confusion. I smiled at her, hoping to 2the ice by talking to her. Unfortunately, my3failed and she just kept on staring. My 4increased as a little boy swam up to me and said, “I feel sorry for you.”

    After the5a thought struck me, I had to change 6the world viewed me. Because it was children who stared at me the most, I decided to write a children's book that taught them about7in a fun way. This is when KatGirl, a super hero in a8who helps children that are being bullied, came into my mind.

    I quickly9inside my apartment and began creating the story. As I wrote each word, I could10my future as a world-renowned author and public speaker. My excitement11like wildfire. Over the next two years, the story12many changes before it saw the world in the spring of 2011. My perseverance 13paid off.

    One day I was invited to speak to the students at a neighboring school. I confidently wheeled into a classroom filled with students who14at me just like the little girl in the pool.” How do you feel when you see me?” I asked them. The kids bravely15“ I feel sorry for you.”

    I opened my book and started reading. Immediately I noticed the children's stares turned to 16“ How do you feel when you see me?” I asked again. Without 17they replied, “ You are so cool! Does your18fly too?” I just smiled, “No, not yet, but maybe some day.” I knew in my heart that this was19The past two years had proven to me that with 20anything is possible.

    A little boy almost considered himself as the most unfortunate child in the world because a terrible illness made his leg lame（癖的）. He 1 played with his classmates; and when the teacher asked him to answer questions, he always 2 his head without a word.

    One spring, the boy's father got some saplings （树苗）3 the neighbor and told his 4 to plant one each person. The father also 5 to buy a favorite gift for whoever grew best. The boy also wanted to get his father's 6. But seeing his brothers and sisters carry water actively, he lost 7. So after watering it once or twice, he never8 it.

    A few days later, when the little boy went to see his tree again, he was 9 to find that it appeared greener and 10 than his sisters' and brothers'. His father 11 his promise, and said that he would surely become an outstanding botanist（植物学家）when he 12 up.

    From then on, the little boy slowly became 13. One night, looking at the bright moonlight outside, he suddenly recalled what the 14 teacher once said: plants generally grow at night. Then he came to the courtyard and unexpectedly found his father 15 under his tree with a big spoon. 16, he understood: his father had been secretly watering his small tree! He 17 to his room, tears running down out of control.

    Decades passed. The little boy didn't become a botanist, 18 he was elected President of the United States. His name was Franklin Roosevelt.

    19 is the best nutrition （营养）of life; even if it is just one spoonful of clear 20, it can make the tree of life lively.

    I was driving to a business appointment when I came to a very busy crossroad. The traffic light had just turned red. Suddenly, an unforgettable 1 caught my eye. A young couple, both blind, were 2 arm-in-arm across this busy crossroad with cars racing by in every direction. Each of them had a walking stick extended, searching for clues to 3 them.

At first I was moved. They were trying to 4 what I felt was one of the most scary disability—blindness. It 5 be terrible to be blind. My thought was quickly interrupted by 6 when I saw that the couple were directly walking toward the middle of the crossroad. Without 7 the danger they were in, they were walking right into the path of oncoming cars. I was concerned because I didn't know 8 the other drivers understood what was happening.

    To my astonishment, I saw a(n) 9 scene unfold before my eyes. Every car in every direction came to a(n) 10. No sharp sounds of brakes or noisy horn were heard, 11 did anyone yell, “Get out of the way!” Everything 12. At that moment, time seemed to stand still for this couple.

    Amazed, I 13 the cars around me. I noticed that everyone's attention was fixed on the couple. 14 the driver to my right yelled, “To your right! To your right!” Other people 15 in union, shouting, “To your right!”

    The couple 16 their own course and they made it to the other side of the road. 17 they arrived at the roadside, one thing impressed me--they were 18 arm-in-arm. I was taken aback by the 19 expressions on their faces and judged that they had no idea what was really 20 around them.

    As I drove away, I did so with more awareness of life and care for others than ever before.

    You may be surprised to see “making sure children never suffer” as a mistake.  The following 1may help you understand how rescuing children from all suffering2weakness.

    A little boy felt sorry for a butterfly3 to emerge from its chrysalis(蛹). He decided to4the butterfly. So he peeled (剥开) the chrysalis open for the butterfly. The little boy was so5to watch the butterfly spread its wings and fly off into the sky.  Then he was horrified6he watched the butterfly fall to the ground and die because it did not have the muscle7to keep flying. In fact, the butterfly's struggle to8the chrysalis helps the butterfly become stronger.

Like the little boy, 9too often want to protect their children from struggle in the10of love. They don't realize that their children need to struggle, to experience11. To deal with disappointment, and to solve their own problems. Only in this way can children12their emotional strength, become 13and develop the skills necessary for the even bigger struggles they will meet throughout their lives. Children experiencing sufferings can14the ups and downs of life.

    However, it isn't helpful either in this case when parents15lectures(训斥), blame and shame to what the child is experiencing. Mothers 16to say, “Stop crying and acting like a spoiled boy. You can't always get what you want.” These17words should be avoided.

    Instead, parents can offer loving support. You can say, “Don't lose18. Be brave! You will succeed if you try again. ” Then comes the tough part-no19and no lectures. Simply allow him to discover that he can get over his disappointment and20what he can do to get what he wants in the future.

    That holiday morning I didn't have to attend school.Usually, on holidays, Mother1me to sleep in. And I would certainlytake full advantage of it. On this particular morning, 2, I felt like getting up early.

    I stood by my window overlooking the 3, having nothing better to do. But asit turned out, I was soon to learn about something 4 in life.

    As I watched several people go by, get into their cars andgo off, I 5 an old man on a bicycle with a bucket on its 6 and a basket rags and bottles on itsback-carriage. He 7 from one car to another, washing and cleaningthem. From the water on the ground, it seemed that he had already 8 washing and cleaning about a dozen or morecars. He must have begun to work quite early in the morning.

    Several thoughts 9my mind as I watched him work. He wasn'twell-dressed. He had on a pair of shorts and a(n) 10 T-shirt. The bicycle he rode was not by anymeans the kind modern 11would want to be seen riding on. But heseemed12 with life. There he was, working hard at hissmall business, 13 at passers-by and stopping to chat now andthen 14 elderly men and women on their way to themarket nearby.

    There was a noticeable touch of15 in the way he seemedto be doing things— 16the windscreen, then standing back toadmire it; scrubbing the wheels and 17, standing back to see what they looklike after the scrub.

    It was a 18 to learn, I felt. At no age need one have tobeg for a 19if one has good health and is willingto work hard. For a while I felt 20 of myself. Young as I am—just sixteen, andthere was this old man who must have been usefully engaged perhaps before thesun appeared above the horizon.