Things to do when you are feeling down

    Let's start with a fact. We all have days when we feel down and discouraged.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here is a list to help you get back on track.

    Take care of yourself

    This may seem like an obvious thing, but try your best to get a good night s sleep and eat healthy food when you're hungry{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Consider setting an earlier bedtime than usual and stick to it. Make some nourishing snacks that you can easily grab instead of sugary junk food. Fresh fruit, a piece of cheese, some cut-up vegetables, homemade soup, they are all quick and easy options to consider.

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    If you are going through a tough time, think about some healthy comforts that will make you feel better. Take a bike or go for a walk in nature. Treat yourself to a lunch at your favorite restaurant. Listen to some good music. Call a friend. Watch a funny movie. Take a nap. Read a good book. The release from stress will add to your level of happiness.

Make an action plan

    Can you identify what's making you unhappy? If so, you have a good chance of changing it{#blank#}4{#/blank#} You don't have to figure out a whole plan to solve your conflicts; simply taking some steps in the right direction will boost your good feeling.

    This, too, shall pass

    What do you say to yourself when you are going through a tough time? Beating yourself up is not helpful!{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Examples are, “It is what it is; let me just accept it and move on.” “All I can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.” “And finally, this, shall pass.”

A. Science shows that both of these things can have a huge positive impact on both your mood and your blood sugar.

B. A lot of researches show that when we intend to be happy, our thoughts and actions follow suit.

C. What action can you take today that will make you feel better and change the pattern?

D. What can you do to pull yourself back from despair?

E. Try saying things that are comforting your heart and mind.

F. Other times, the blues just seem to hit for no reason at all.

G. Find things to comfort yourself.

Eight Things That Lead to Success

    "What leads to success?" This may be a question asked by those who want to make something of their life. For seven years, Richard. John made 500 interviews. Here he wants to tell you what really leads to success.

    And the first thing is passion.

    Freeman Thomas says, "I'm driven by my passion." TED-sters do it for love; they don't do it for money. Carol Coletta says, "I would pay someone to do what I do." {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Work

    Rupert Murdoch said to me, "It's all hard work. Nothing comes easily. But I have a lot of fun." Did he say fun? Rupert? Yes! {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I figure, they're not workaholics. They're workafrolics（醉心工作者）.

    Good!

    Alex Garden says, "To be successful put your nose down in something and get damn good at it"

    There's no magic; it's practice, practice, practice.

    And it's focus.

    Norman Jewison said to me, "I think it all has to do with focusing yourself on one thing."

    And push!

    David Gallo says, "Push yourself. Physically, mentally, you've got to push, push, push. You gotta push through shyness and self-doubt." Goldie Hawn says, "I always had self-doubts. I wasn't good enough; I wasn't smart enough. I didn't think

    I'd make it." {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (Laughter) Frank Gehry said to me," My mother pushed me."

    Serve!

    Sherwin Nuland says, "It was a privilege to serve as a doctor."{#blank#}4{#/blank#} And the first thing I say to them is: "OK, well you can't serve yourself; you gotta serve others something of value. Because that's the way people really get rich."

    Ideas!

    TE D-ster Bill Gates says, "I had an idea: founding the first microcomputer software company." I'd say it was a pretty good idea. And there's no magic to creativity in coming up with ideas- it's just doing some very simple things. And I give lots of evidence.

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    Joe Kraus says, "Persistence is the number one reason for our success." You got to persist through failure. You got to persist through CRAP! Which of course means "Criticism, Rejection, Assholes and Pressure." (Laughter)

A. So why don't I ask them what helped them succeed, and pass it on to kids?

B. And the interesting thing is: If you do it for love, the money comes anyway.

C. Now a lot of kids tell they want to be millionaires.

D. LED-sters do have fun working. And they work hard.

E. Persist!

F. Investing their money in pursuing a future lifestyle rather than in an academic conquest.

G. Now it's not always easy to push yourself, and that's why they invented mothers.

Five steps to better handwriting

    Some kids love handwriting, but others hate when it's time to put their pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five steps that really work!

    Get a great grasp

    Try this — hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard? But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Hold it in place with your thumb, and your index (食指) and middle fingers.

    Let the lines be your guide

    Lined paper is your friend! Those lines can help you create letters that are the right size and proportion (均衡). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.

    Slow down

    If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.

    Lower the pressure (压力)

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try easing up and don't hold the pencil too tightly.

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    Lots of games require you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pen better.

A. Play games

B. Ask for more advice

C. So "a" should be half the height of a capital "A".

D. You've been writing since you were a little kid.

E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.

F. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.

G. The best way to hold a pen or pencil is to let it rest next to the base of your thumb.

    A dog's mind is only equal to that of a two-year-old baby. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Therefore, they are probably the first to notice any change in the behavior of their masters. Let's do some deep-digging to understand the amazing ability of a dog.

    They sense your feelings. Isn't it strange? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This is true. A study published in the Animal Cognition journal says that dogs are known to come to people who appear sad or depressed. It doesn't matter if the person is their owner or a stranger. They have an ability to sense sadness and are attached to troubled souls.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Dogs can easily tell when you're playing with favorites, and if you reward or play more with other pets, your dog might notice it and feel uncomfortable. As they can't say how they feel, they will scratch, yawn or lick their mouths.

    They smell fear. Let's say you're faced with your worst fear. Would you get scared and run away or just face it? Before choosing how to deal with it, you should remember one thing. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Research shows that dogs often sense their masters' responses in dangerous situations. If you fear something and choose to back away, chances are that your pet is going to do the same thing.

    They're watching you. We are all raised as respectable individuals who are taught to respect elders, obey the law and help out people in need from time to time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But if you have a dog at home, it is time to be serious about them. Dogs like generous people. So just be careful around your pet; it may judge you on how you behave with others.

A. They sense health problems.

B. They understand when ignored.

C. They know when no one's looking at them.

D. You would be setting an example to your pet.

E. Every time you feel sad, you dog just know it.

F. But dogs are able to sense everything around them.

G. However, not all of us take these three things seriously.

    Why do we read poetry? First obvious one: because we enjoy it. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}But that's not why this is here.

    Many of us read poetry simply because we often feel depressed and hopelessly lost, and in poetry we see how beautiful and strange everything is. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    There are many different kinds of poems. They are not all calming. Some poems make me anxious, angry, scared, and sad, which is why I value them.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}I want the sweet and the bitter. Often, I read poetry when I'm already relaxed. In fact, I read more when I'm not stressed out.

    Here are the main reasons I respond to poetry, as far as I can tell. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Usually, this is done by setting up a rhythm and then violating it or almost violating it. And then returning to it again. This satisfies my desire for order and also my desire for testing boundaries.

    Poetry plays with language. It often slams words together in surprising ways, which is thrilling the way food can be when the chef has paired ingredients you never thought would taste good together but somehow do.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Words mean two or three things at once and lots of suggestions are packed between the lines. This is intellectually inspiring and it allows me to read the same poem over and over, always finding new things in it.

    And, of course, there's the subject matter. It interests me just as it would if the same subject was explored in a story or essay. Not all poems interest me in this way, but then not all stories and essays do, either.

A. Many poems are dense.

B. So in that way poetry calms our anxiety.

C. As a reader, I want a full meal, not just dessert.

D. Another reason is to appreciate the suggestions offered.

E. The only other reason seems to be for academic purposes.

F. The best part about poetry is that they are flexible in length.

G. Metrical(格律的) poems are about setting up rules and then bending them.

    Proven Ways to Make a Good First Impression (印象)

    Want to be more memorable? These tips will help you have a lasting connection with anyone you meet.

    Smile!

    People who smile tend to manage and sell more effectively, and raise happier children. Your facial expression is typically the first thing someone notices about you when they make a judgement. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Think about your purposes

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Do you want to make a new friend? Network? Strike a business deal? A clear set of purposes can help you figure out what kind of energy you want to give off during the interaction. Know what kind of information you want to share about yourself in each circumstance.

    Show great interest

    You can make a good first impression if you are excited and greatly interested in the person or people you are trying to connect with. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. If doing so, you will have more in depth and more memorable conversations.

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    It is often said that actions speak louder than words. Going out of your way to do something kind or thoughtful, especially for someone you don't know well, can ensure that you make a lasting impression.

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A. Pay attention to your words

B. Make an effort to be thoughtful

C. It's important to appear both happy and active.

D. What are your goals in making this impression?

E. These are little things you can do to be nicer to anyone.

F. Remembering someone's name and working it into a conversation go a long way.

G. Listen carefully, ask questions, and encourage others to talk about their experiences.