I was diagnosed with allergies (过敏反应) when I was a little kid. Other than family, no one truly knows I have allergies, although I have to tell people it's allergies when my eyes start to tear up. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Sometimes my friends just tease in a friendly way.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}I look like a normal kid. I don't mind telling people about my allergies—after all, it's normal to have them. Having allergies hasn't affected my self-confidence.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}For example, I am a big traveler and I would enjoy going to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D. C. But when I come anywhere within a 10-foot range of cherry blossoms it feels like I lose almost all my senses! Even though it's only temporary, I still feel miserable.

    My allergies haven't stopped me from traveling when I can, though. My class trip was to Williamsburg in Virginia. At first it was supposed to be during cherry blossom time, and that had me worried. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    I've had to rethink some of my dreams, too. Since I'm allergic to animals with fur, I may need to adjust my hopes of being a veterinarian (兽医) or working in an agricultural-science department. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Now I have learned to deal with my allergies and even see the good side sometimes. Having allergies has taught me not to be prejudiced about people's health conditions.

A. I do get made fun of.

B. My allergies have been getting better.

C. If I don't take my medicine I can get really bad breath.

D. You can't tell by looking at me that I have a health condition.

E. Fortunately, it was changed to February, so I went and had the best time!

F. But I'm interested in so many things and there are plenty of other careers out there!

G. Sure, my allergies have held me back from doing some of the things that I love to do.

    While everyone overthinks situations once in a while, some people are troubled by thinking all the time. Overthinkers rethink conversations they had yesterday, second-guess every decision they make, and imagine disastrous outcomes-all day. Their minds are like a movie where they imagine their car going off the road or they replay distressing events over and over again.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Keep the focus on problem-solving

    Keeping the focus on your problems isn't helpful-but looking for solutions is. If it's something you have some control over, consider how you can prevent the problem or challenge yourself to identify five potential solutions.

    If it's something you have no control over-like a natural disaster—think about the strategies you can use to cope with it.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Schedule time for reflection

    Worrying about your problems for long periods of time isn't productive, but brief reflection can be helpful. Thinking about how you could do things differently or recognizing potential traps to your plan, could help you perform better in the future.

    Add 15 minutes of “thinking time” into your daily schedule. During that time let yourself worry, or think about whatever you want.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Learning mindfulness skills

    It's impossible to rehash（反复推敲）yesterday or worry about tomorrow when you're living in the present. Mindfulness will help you become more aware of the here and now.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}There are classes, books, apps, courses, and videos available to help you learn mindfulness skills.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Do this in your brain by changing your activity. Exercise, engage yourself in a conversation on a completely different subject, or work on a project that draws away your attention. Doing something different will put an end to the negative thoughts.

A. Change the channel.

B. Change your attitude.

C. Focus on the things you can control, like your attitude and effort.

D. Just like any other skill, mindfulness takes practice, but over time, it can decrease overthinking.

E. Overthinking can become such a habit that you don't even recognize when you're doing it.

F. There are four tips that can help you stop overthinking.

G. When your time is up, move onto something else.

                                   I love Fridays. And so I celebrate Fridays.

    After dropping my son off at school I head to Starbucks to pick up a coffee treat or another. Then instead of driving straight home I take a long route through the most beautiful roads I can find. I see footballs being passed on lawns, hamburgers being thrown on grill（烤架）, and parties everywhere swinging into action.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    The o0ther day I came out from the doctor's office happy over a positive prognosis（预断）. Seeing the signs of spring around me-flowers, birds, sunshine, I was suddenly ready to celebrate. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    My mind rebelled. “What are you doing? It's Tuesday! Coffee treats are reserved for Fridays!”{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Why should Fridays be any more special than any other day of the week? Why waste six days while waiting to celebrate the seventh? Minutes later I was walking back to my car with a big smile on my face and a coffee in my hand.

    A small victory, to be sure, but it's also an accurate example of how many of us live our lives. We're waiting for conditions to be right before we allow ourselves to enjoy our time here on earth. Maybe when we finally graduate from college and get a job, it will be time to celebrate, or perhaps when our babies are old enough to be in school all day. We'll celebrate when the car is paid off, or enjoy life when we're finally able to retire. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} What if we moved a little of that “Friday feeling” into our rainy-day Mondays, our dull Tuesday and our mid-week Wednesdays? {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Taking Care of Your Health While Traveling

    When you're often on the go, it is likely that your health will suffer. Here are a few simple ways you can keep on top of your health.

    ⒈{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    When you're travelling, your body will quickly begin to wear down. How much is enough sleep? It all depends on your body-listen to it.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Although you want to experience as much as possible when travelling, it is still important to rest.

    ⒉Don't forget to take plenty of water.

    Carry a water bottle with you everywhere and keep it filled up with fresh water. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, it will do your body a lot of good and keep you feeling your best.

    ⒊Eat healthier.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Yes, we get that you are on your holidays, but healthier choices will keep your body filled up with nutrients, which will make you feel better in the long-term.

    Make your own meals.

    Eating out each day isn't healthy for you so you should try and make your own meals where possible. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, but making a few healthy sandwiches in your hotel room is something you should be doing.

A. Get plenty of good sleep

B. Take a break before you wear down

C. Try and cut out as much sweet as possible

D. If you pace yourself and go about things slowly

E. Even if you need to visit the bathroom more often

F. It is difficult to go to the bathroom when travelling

G. We're not talking about coking up a three-course meal

Think like This When You Feel Stressed

    It's a sweet opportunity. If you look on pressure as a threat, you are sure to be negatively impacted by its occurrence. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They look on it as a great chance. They will cherish (珍惜) the pressure moment and approach it with confidence and enthusiasm.

    I'll get another chance. Under pressure, we often lose hope. We tend to distort (扭曲) the reality of the situation. One of the most common phrases is the “chance of a lifetime”, in which we tell ourselves, “I will never get an opportunity like this again, so I can't miss it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    I'll do my best. This is what people who do their best under pressure tell themselves when they are going into a pressure moment. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Because it prevents them from wasting valuable energy worrying over things they can't influence and promotes confidence at the same time. Focusing on doing your best keeps you in the moment and guides your behavior toward success.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} People who perform their best in pressure will reduce the significance of the upcoming pressure moment, so they feel less stressed. Whether it's a sales call or an interview for their dream jobs, they are like winning athletes, and when asked how to handle the pressure of the big game, they responded, “It's just another game.”

    I can control how I respond. People who do their best in a pressure moment focus on what they can control. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you have an upcoming interview, don't worry about the other applicants. You can't control them. Practice how you will handle an unexpected problem.

A. It's no big deal.

B. It stops you paying attention to anxiety.

C. Instead, take care of your own business.

D. Remembering past successes increases your confidence.

E. In fact, we have many chances to succeed in our lifetime.

F. But people who do their best in a pressure moment are different.

G. Focusing on doing your best quickly decreases pressure in the moment.

    Do you remember those times when your mother told you to avoid talking to strangers? But now you're not a child any more. In fact, there are advantages of talking to strangers.

    1: You can meet a really great person.

    Talking to a stranger is a good habit because you never know whom you may meet. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You can also meet someone who'll give you a chance to get your dream job.

    2: {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    You have some opinions about different subjects and you know your friends' and relatives' points of view about them too. But there are millions of other people who think differently and can give you unpredictable yet smart ideas that'll broaden your horizons.

    3: You can improve your social skills.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Asking appropriate questions and attentive listening are two skills that many of us don't have. You can better these skills when talking to a stranger.

    4: You will feel a boost of confidence.

    If you belong to that shy type of people, talking to a stranger may seem to be a real challenge for you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can overcome your fear of being judged by others by talking to strangers and become more confident.

    5: You can cheer someone up.

    The thing you will definitely like about talking to strangers is that you can make someone's day better. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Compliment people and they will think something pleasant about you. Having a sweet short dialogue is one of those perfect chances to make people cheerful.

A. Smile and people will smile in return.

B. It can expand your world view.

C. Why not speak to someone until your turn comes?

D. I'm also extremely shy but I realize it's not an issue at all.

E. You can meet a person who'll become your best friend in future.

F. It may show you the solutions you didn't know about.

G. Whatever social skills you have, you can make them better when talking to strangers.