Once upon a time a teacher and his student 1down under a big tree near the big grass area．Then suddenly the student asked the teacher，"Teacher，I'm puzzled．How do we 2 our soul mate(知己)?Could you please help me?"

    Silent for a few seconds，the teacher then answered，"Well，it's a pretty hard and easy question．" The teacher 3 ,"Look that way．There is a lot of grass．Why don't you walk there? But please don't walk 4 ． On your way，try to find a blade(叶片)of beautiful grass and 5 it and then give it to me．But just one．"

    The student said OK and then he walked straight ahead to the grassy field．A few minutes later，the student came back empty-handed．When the teacher asked the 6 ,the student said，"On my journey，I found quite a few beautiful blades of grass，but I 7     that I would find a better one，so I didn't pick it．But I didn't realize that I was at the 8 of the field，and I hadn't picked any because you told me not to go back，so I didn't go back." Hearing this, the teacher said，"That's what will happen in real life．"

    What is the 9 of this story? In the story，grass is the people around you；the beautiful blade grass is the people that 10 you and the grassy field is time．In looking for your soul mate，please don't always 11and hope that there will be a better one．By doing that，you'll 12your lifetime．Remember "Time Never Goes Back．"

    “It's never too late and you are never too old to start something new!” says Englishtown1Ellen Rema. Ellen began to learn English at the age of 50, and in just a few years, she had made2progress!

    Ellen chose to study at Englishtown because no evening classes were3n the German countryside where she lives. At Englishtown, she joins4classes online and speaks with live native English-speaking teachers.

    In 2001, Ellen began with the first level of Englishtown and quickly5. “I spent hours and hours studying.” she said. “Maybe I wanted too much in a short time. I finished all my6after 2 years and studying English isn't all about hard work. It should also be7! I really like the online conversation classrooms, in which I can learn so much about other cultures and traditions. I am open for all8.” Ellen has been able to9her English to use by visiting England five times! “I'm very thankful to Englishtown because most of the English I know was learned here,” Ellen says. “My life has10with Englishtown.”

    Every day on the way to work I drive down a street lined with pine trees. One tree in particular1 my attention. It must have suffered some 2Part of its trunk grew nearly parallel to the ground, and then in an effort to 3its own course of life. The trunk took a 90-degree turn 4 to stand tall and stretch toward the sun.

    This tree became a5for me. Each day as I drove by, I saw this bent but determined tree and I would be 6. It was a reminder to me that 7I may not have had the best start in life, I could change8 in the parts of my life at any time.

    I was planning to stop one day to get a perfect 9of my kindred-spirit (志趣相同) tree. But that week I was10. After that busy week, I still didn't take any action. Every time I drove by the tree I would11 myself, “Tomorrow, I'll stop tomorrow to take one.” Then one day, as I 12by “my” tree, I glanced over, and much to my13 I found a sawed-off stump (树桩) where that symbolic tree had stood. Gone. I had14my plan until “tomorrow” and tomorrow proved to be too15.

    A picture of a tree is not of great 16. But my lesson rang through clearly17I found out one of my colleagues had been18 with stage-four cancer. He may no longer have many19.

    What have you been putting off? What would you do today if you knew you would 20 have the opportunity to do it again? Why not do those things that you have been putting off until tomorrow?

Be a Traveler, not a Tourist

    Last summer, I had just enough money saved to buy a golden ticket—— a 3-month train pass that would take me to the furthest reaches of Europe. Excited for my journey, I 1all the necessities — 2the guidebook.

    While the 3of the Internet was definitely a contributing factor to my4, this was not the only reason I decided to fly 5.

    To be honest, I find the guidebook 6a journey—like a bossy aunt who is always telling you what to do,7she doesn't always know what's best.8has taught me that there is a clear 9between a tourist and a traveler.

    While waiting in a queue to see Michelangelo's Statue of David in Florence, I met a man who showed me his 10of "Top 20 Things to do in Italy" and told us11that he'd "seen" everything Italy has to 12in just four days.

    The problem I had with this man's way of 13was that he was too 14the information provided by his guidebook. He was 15in the so-called "must-sees" and blind to all that was happening somewhere else.

    So, guidebook-less as we were, I traveled to Estonia. Arriving for no good reason, I had no option but to16some friendly faces for advice. I 17myself and asked them what was happening around town. When this resulted in an 18to a beautiful Estonian home by a river where I enjoyed a 110-degree wood-stove sauna(桑拿), 19picked forest-mushrooms and the good 20of my five new-found Estonian friends,  I was most glad I had left our bossy aunt at home.

    It was a normal Monday morning at an assembly, and the old headmaster was giving the students a speech about important things in life and about1ourselves to what is important to us. This is2the story went: An old man lived in a certain part of London, and he3wake up every morning and go to the4, where he got the train right to Central London, and then sat at the street corner,5. He did this every single day of his life. He sat at the same street corner and begged for almost 20 years. His house was dirty, and it smelled6. The neighbors could not7the smell anymore, so they asked the police officers to8the place. The officers knocked down the9and cleaned the house. There were small bags of10all over the house that he had11over the years. The police counted the money, and they soon realized that the old man was a12. They waited outside his house expecting to share the good news with him. When he arrived home that evening, he was met by one of the officers who told him that there was no need for him to beg any more13he was a rich man now. He said14at all; he went into his house and locked the door. The next morning he woke up as usual, went to the street and15to beg.16, this old man had no great plans, dreams or anything important for his life. We learn nothing from this story other than staying17the things we enjoy doing. We should remain true to our course, which may mean devoting yourselves to things that people around you may disapprove. Let nothing prevent us from being happy, let nothing else decide our fate (命运), but18. What makes us happy is what19in the end…not what we gain.

    This particular story is one such lesson that I will never forget. Every time I don't focus on courses, I20myself of this story.

Discovering a hobby can lead to amazing results, as Maria Martinez, an 11-year-old with a heart of gold, has proven.

Just over a year ago, Maria came across the world of clothes-making, thanks to one of the Christmas gifts she received. Little did she know that this newfound ability would become a source of joy and purpose, not just for her, but also for countless furry friends.

"I got a gift permitChristmas to start clothes-making lessons," Maria said. "I really liked it."

After mastering the basics, an idea came to her mind during a visit to a local exhibition. Surrounded by pet owners and their pets, Maria had an idea that would change lives. Why not create lovely bandannas (头巾) for dogs and cats and use them to support animal shelters?

With great interest and the support of her grandmother, Maria turned a corner of their home into a busy working room. Together, they made many beautiful bandannas, each one filled with love and care.

But Maria's wish went far beyond creating decorations. She began donating her works to shelters like Claws Forever in Fall River, hoping to catch the eye of some people who can take these dogs and cats home.

Maria also began selling them through word-of-mouth and at various events. "At first she started just donating the bandannas because it took her much time to make them. Then she got more skilled and was able to buy cloth with some extra income that she was making from it," her mom, Crystal, said. "Maria is a really kind giving person and she doesn't want for much of anything. It makes her feel good to donate. We are proud of her." Ranging from $3 to $7, money from her sales is now donated to shelters, too. A few weeks ago, she donated more than $200 to the Kingston Animal Shelter.

"They were happy and really grateful, which made me feel really good inside," said Maria. "It makes me happy to see how it's impacted the people and dogs."