A Person Who Has Influenced My Life

    There is always a time in one's life when a hero comes along. Someone who has inspired you can really help you learn what life is about.

    I 1 it as if it was yesterday. I was fifteen years old that year. It was around eight o'clock one evening when my mother 2 a phone call from her brother-in-law, who told us my aunt was in hospital and that the doctor 3 them she would need an operation immediately. My family became very 4about my aunt's situation.

    While my aunt was in the hospital with special 5 , my cousin Mark, who is mentally disabled, spent time with my family. Mark was seventeen at the time, and had been born with severe mental disorders, which 6 a wide range of social and physical problems for him throughout everyday life. He never had any true friend 7 no one could relate to him. I must 8 that at the beginning I was filled with uncertainty as to how much of a 9 my cousin would bring on my family. Now looking back it saddens me to see the 10 I once showed.

    Over the two weeks when Mark lived with my family, I probably 11 more about life and its meanings. Thinking back, I took 12 in daily life for granted, believing it would always be there. I never even thought about being able to do things like walking, brushing my teeth, or going to the bathroom on my own. Now I see how 13 I am to be able to do these things independently.

    Mark was seventeen, but learned on a nine-year-old 14. Although his learning ability was slower than most, he could still learn. He explored 15 to do most of the things everyone else did. 16 he did pretty well and succeeded in almost everything he tried to do. He 17 his illness and showed an ambition to love life. To him, having a successful life means achieving goals on his own terms and at his own 18.

    Mark is my hero, for his disability has forever 19 my viewpoint on life. It seems like a well-deserved life when you're fifteen, and it is amazing how in a period of time your point of view can change so 20 .

    A father and his teenage son were out together at a shopping mall one day. The son wanted to buy a new pair of 1 at the sports store.

    2 they were making their way through the crowded food store, a young woman holding a number of bags 3 and the contents of several of them spilled (洒落) across the floor.

    The son stepped around the woman and continued with the flow only to 4 that his father wasn't next to him. Looking around he 5 his father bending down and helping the woman 6 the spilled items.

    Feeling a bit bad he hadn't thought to stop and help, he simply stood and 7 from the distance. He was 8 when his father handed the woman her things and she simply took them away without 9 him and said “I can do it myself!” When his father returned, the son expressed his 10 at how impolite the woman had been.

    In the sports store the son was so 11 about the incident that he spent most of the time complaining. They soon left without the shoes.

    Later at 12 the son told his mother the story13 her to be just as angry as he was at the woman's14 His mother looked at her husband 15 enjoying his meal and said, “Son, your father left that woman behind hours ago. Why are you 16with her?”

    When we hold onto 17 feelings, all it does is to leave us stuck (陷入) in the past and18 to move forward. One of the best things you can do to stay happy is to 19 to let things go. It is okay to show anger and unhappiness.20 don't let them affect you and how you see the world.

    I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox... I 1 ...I couldn't do it. I suddenly felt a sense of 2and insecurity (不安).

    The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in 3 on Facebook. For months, I read about what she 4 on her Facebook page, which helped me to live my life differently. Her volunteer (志愿者) work wasn't huge. 5, she was doing small, local good deeds.6 , she changed my views on the world and for some reason, I felt I should let her know how her example7 influenced me.

    I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thank-you. That's why I ended up8 the letter. But now here I was, standing before the mailbox, unable to put the envelope inside. What was stopping me? It suddenly hit me that I was 9 of being too nice. I guess I felt strange 10 it wasn't like she was my best friend or a relative. Maybe my 11 was too heartfelt. Thinking this over, I put the envelope in the mailbox 12.

    Weeks later I received a message from her. It turned out she was 13 a hard time and my note 14 a lot to her. She said she had no idea she was playing such a big 15in others' life.

    Not only did this letter make her happier, but her response to it brightened my world and 16my level of happiness as well. I was so 17 that it had such a great influence on her that I decided to write a(n) 18 letter to someone each month. Now it's easier for me to19 the goodness in others and be more20 for this beautiful life I'm living.

    Carl Kenton is a wealthy businessman. Five years ago, after returning from abroad to his motherland, he 1 his small company. Speaking of success, Glen often tells us a story about his 2 expensive “school” fee. He always owes his success to it.

    At that time, Glen, who already got a PhD degree, decided to return to the homeland, starting a company. Before 3 , he bought a Rolex watch with the 4 made through years of work after school and the scholarships. At the airport he had to accept the routine customs check. The watch on his wrist was also demanded to be 5 down for inspection. Glen knew that carrying the 6 goods out had to pay the tax and he worried about paying 7 for his watch. So when he was checked, he told a lie that his watch was a 8 fake (假货). When he was 9 of his “smarts”, immediately, 10 the presence of Glen, the officers hit the watch, which 11 nearly 100,000, into pieces at hearing Glen's words. Glen was 12. Before he understood why, he was taken to the office to be examined 13. For many times of entry-exit 14, he knew that only those people in the “blacklist” would “enjoy” this special treatment. The officers looked over everything carefully in the box and 15 him no matter what time of entry and exit he must accept the check and if 16 reusing and carrying fake and shoddy goods, he would be charged according to law! Suddenly, his face turned red, and he had nothing in mind after 17 the plane for long.

    After returning to the homeland, he often told the story to his family and his employees, too. He said that this made a deep 18 on him because the additional high “school” fee that he had ever paid made him realize the value of 19, which he would 20 as the secret of his success forever.

    Madeline's grandma was going through a lot, so the little girl wanted to do something to cheer her up. She made her a special 1 and her grandma loved it!

    Four years ago, Madeline's grandpa 2 unexpectedly from heart failure. MawMaw, Madeline's grandma, had a very 3 time coming to tears with losing her husband and her health began to 4. Her family were very 5.

    Last year Madeline's grandma received sad 6 just a few weeks before Christmas 7 her that she had lung cancer. She had quite a journey ahead of her and she would be alone for a lot of her 8.

    Madeline wanted to find a way to 9 her sweet grandma's spirits and help her not feel so 10. She thought hard for some time and finally had an 11. She asked to 12 one of her grandpa's old T-shirts. MawMaw was 13 about why she wanted it, but she did not ask. Madeline wanted to use the T-shirt to make a blanket for her grandma and 14 it with her.

    The whole 15 stood around to watch MawMaw 16 her blanket. She was so excited about the handmade 17 that her sweet granddaughter had 18 for her. But she was pleasantly surprised when 19 that her husband's shirt was sewn in. “Oh, Madeline!” She cried.

    Then she covered the blanket around her. She was so 20 that she began to cry. Now when MawMaw goes to the doctor for her treatments, she will not feel all alone.

    "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

    A long time ago, my friend Joan believed it. At least, she 1 to. When she was young and fat, she was2 being laughed at.

    Then things changed. Joan grew up. Her friends politely say she's  "3 ", Her doctor calls her "morbidly obese (病态地肥胖)The rest of the 4 calls her fat.

    Some people say it out loud to her face. Some people 5 the word. And there are some people who say things even worse.

    Don't think she hasn't heard the words. She has. 6  they hurt her deeply. But Joan has learned how to avoid the cutting (刻薄的)7: She simply stays home.

    One day, her husband 8  her to have an eating out. The restaurant was Perfect. 9 , the servers weren't.

    Joan 10 not to hear the unkind words. But she couldn't overlook the young girl at the table across from them. When the girl 11toward their table  Joan felt uncomfortable. 12 had taught her that kids could be especially 13.

    The wide-eyed little girl stopped next to Joan. Reaching out a single finger, she14Joan's blouse.

    "You're so 15in that blouse?" The little girl smiled and walked back to her seat

    Simple praise. That was all. But it was enough to change her life and her 16.

    "Now," Joan says, "when people speak in a low voice behind my17, I can bear a young angel's 18reminding me that I'm pretty. And I'm equally sure the words everyone whispers are19.

    "That's all I hear now," Joan says: "Only praises. Words that can never20 me."