Karen, one of my co-workers, complained about her apartment every day. One day I asked her why she didn't look for another apartment. It seemed like an easy solution to me. Karen's reply to this was, "I will look for another apartment when I come back from vacation."

    Sam hated his job. He had a love for photography and was currently taking a two-year course to obtain his certificate. Every night he complained about his work. I asked him why he didn't finish his course and start a small business doing photography on the weekends. His reply was, "If only I had more time to finish my course. When I finish my course I will start a business."

    Harry worked for a company that allowed early retirement. He had both the years of service and his age, which allowed him to retire, but at a reduced pension. He was having difficulty coping with all the changes that were being made in his work. I was worried about the stress of his job and the effects it was having on his health. "Why don't you retire, Harry? Do something that you have always wanted to do?" I asked. Harry's reply to my question was, "If only I was older then I would get my full pension." "But Harry, you have your house paid off. You have no bills, and the kids are grown up. You can sell your house and get a smaller one. It's really not worth your health, is it? Harry then said, "When the summer comes, maybe I will."

    Now a year later, Karen is still living in the apartment she hates! Sam is still complaining about his job! Harry is still working and his health is not what it used to be! These people had a lot of stress in their lives that they could have taken action to reduce. But all of them defeated themselves by thinking "if" or "when". Life is too short for "if's and when's". The next time you are in a stressful situation and you find yourself saying or thinking "if or when", remember the saying, "If and when were planted and nothing grew!" Change your thinking and take action so that you can reduce your stress right now.

    You might not get what you wish for, but you always get what you work for. I want to be a professional ballerina(芭蕾舞者) with the American Ballet Theatre in New York when I grow up, and I work toward my dream by training over 18 hours a week. I even started homeschooling so I could make more time for dance. I love dancing more than anything. It makes me feel strong and invincible(不可战胜的), like nothing could ever bother me. Most important, it's helped me deal with the most difficult event of my life — the death of my dad when I was seven.

    My dad died of a heart attack while playing hockey, his favorite sport. When my mom first told me, it didn't hit me that I would never be able to see him again. It was also hard to tell my friends and classmates because I didn't know what to say, and they never knew how to respond. But four years later, everything that I do, I do in memory of my dad. I did my first dance solo. “The Love Lives On.” to him when I was nine.

    I would have never gotten through the experience without my mom. She comforted me when I was in grief and pain, and we wrote down all the memories I had with my dad in a special book. Now that I'm older, my mom and I do get on each other's nerves more often — for a while, my schedule was very busy and we were so stressed that our little miscommunications would rise into huge arguments. But after we attended counseling(心理咨询) and I started homeschooling, things got much better, and now my mom and I have more quality time to spend together.

    I've learned that talking and communicating are the most important things to do in any relationship, and that definitely includes friendships, too! When I hang out with my friends, I try not to look at my phone. It's so awkward(尴尬的) when you're sitting at a table with someone else, and she's texting instead of talking to you. I think a good friend is kind, respectful, fair, and funny — and I'll always try to be all of these things in person, not just on the phone!

    When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood, he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.

    These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. "Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence（能力）and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society, " said George Vaillant, the psychologist（心理学家）who made the discovery. "And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them."

    Vaillant's study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25, 31and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men's mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.

    The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.

    Working—at any age—is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence—the underpinnings（基础）of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn't everything. As Tolstoy once said, "One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one's work."

    One of the hardest parts of planning a trip to Hawaii is deciding which of the major Hawaiian Islands you should visit. Each has its own personality and offers unique adventures and activities.

    Oahu

    Oahu has a bit of everything, packed in 597 square miles. You can hike into thick rainforests, and when you need a break, relax on powdery white sand beaches and stay at luxury resorts.

    Oahu has become a great destination for families. The urban core (核心) of Honolulu and Waikiki has historic sites, museums and bustling (熙熙攘攘的) and nightlife scenes. The island lives up to its nickname of the Gathering Place.

    Maui

    Maui is a great island for honeymooners. The Valley Isle has top-class resorts and golf courses, adjacent (毗邻) to some of the state's best beaches. A large dormant (休眠) volcano in east Maui at sunrise or sunset is a serene experience, as well as driving the Road to Hana, famed for its thundering waterfalls.

    Kauai

    Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. The island gets a lot of rain, but that's what makes it so lively, you'll come across flowers and plants you've never seen before. For some of the best views on the island, visit Waimea Canyon, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and the Na Pali coast, boasting some of the world's highest sea cliffs.

    Big Island

    The Big Island is the only Hawaiian island still growing. Witness the power of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, wind, lightning and volcanoes with a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It's one of the few spots in the world where you can see lava flow. In fact, the Big Island has 10 of the world's sub-climate zones, from the snow-covered mountain of Mauna Kea, green forests of Waipio Valley to stretches of barren desert.

    There is such a group of singers in the western musical circle at present, who enter the business as online celebrities(名人)and then become top idols and giant stars globally. They become popular for their videos online and then they are discovered by talent agents and gradually cause huge storms in the musical circle. For example, Troye Sivan, a singer who is nicknamed "chuoye", became popular on You tube from an early age.

    As a popular video sharing website, You Tube has given rise to plenty of stars, creating a new celebrity culture. Providing a platform where anyone can post videos. You tube presents the opportunity for anyone to achieve fame by simply uploading a short video. Sivan has been making you tube videos since he was 12 to show his singing talent. In the digital age, Sivan has already developed large devoted audience online and his sensitive video blogs have earned him extreme popularity.

    A. survey has showed that US teenagers are more attracted with You Tube stars, which is a surprising result. You Tube stars are judged to be more attractive, outstanding and related than traditional stars. Looking at the survey comments and feedback, teens enjoy a close and real experience with You Tube celebrities, who aren't carefully directed by design. Teens also say they appreciate YouTube stars sense of humor and risk-taking spirit, which are often limited by Hollywood stars. As a result, singers who make their first show in the traditional way no longer have a complete advantage in front of the audience. Online platforms open up a lot of doors for people. They become the best place to be discovered.

Top Music Festivals in 2021

Coachella

Selling out fast every year, the Indio desert becomes a fashionable place where the coolest bands are watched by trendy people and celebrities. Near the top of everyone's bucket list of festivals, Coachella is a constant source of annual expectation and a hotbed for musical discussion.

When &. where: April 9-11 &. 16-18, 2021; Indio

Ultra Music Festival

Seen as the ultimate gathering for electronic music fans across the nation and globe, the streets of Miami turn into a bold and bumping party with popular DJs playing what will be the sounds of summer.

When & where: March 26-28, 2021; Miami

South By South West

Regarded as the ultimate trend-setter and launcher of careers, SXSW is an annual showcase of music, films and interactive highlights enjoyed through performances, showcases, talks, screenings and more. Virtually taking over the city of Austin, everyone in the world of music from fans to media flock here to discover the next big thing.

When &, where: March 16-20, 2021; Austin

The Governors Ball Music Festival

Another event which proves the music loving potential of Randall's Island Park is Governors Ball, an exciting and infectious mix of rock, hip-hop, electronic, pop and folk. Providing a variety of music and food tastes, whether you look to kick back and relax or dance to the beats, Governors Ball has what you want.

When & where: June 11-14, 2021; New York