My friend Monty Roberts told me a story about a young boy. One day at school, the boy was asked to write a paper 1 what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

    That night he wrote a seven – paper 2 his dream of owning a farm. He put a great deal of his 3 into the paper and the next day he handed it in to his 4. Two days later he received his paper back. On the5 page was a large red F with a 6 that read, “See me after class.” The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked, “7 did I receive an F?” The teacher said, “This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like 8. Owning a farm requires a lot of money. There's no 9 a young man could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “10 you rewrite this paper, I will reconsider your 11.”

    The boy went home and 12about it long and hard. Finally, after a week, he turned in the 13 paper, making no changes.

    Monty then said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my farm. I 14 have that school paper over fireplace.” He added, “The 15 part of the story is that two summers ago the same schoolteacher 16 30 kids to camp out on my farm. When the teacher was 17, he said, 'Look Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream18. During those years I stole a lot of kids' dreams. 19 you had enough courage not to 20 yours.” Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what…

    On that particular day after I finished giving my training course, I took a flight home. Upon 1 the plane, I noticed a boy who was around eight years old, sitting in the window seat 2 mine. Trying my best to be 3, I said “hello” and introduced myself, and he told me his name was Bradley. We started a 4 and within minutes, he took me into his confidence, saying, “This is the first time I have ever been on a plane. I'm a little bit 5.” I managed to 6 him.

    As we ascended (上升), he looked out of the window and started describing excitedly everything he was 7. Then he told me he needed to go to the bathroom, 8 I stood up to let him out into the aisle. It was then that I noticed the brace (支柱) on his legs. Bradley, 9 made his way down to the bathroom and back. Sitting back down, he 10, “I have muscular dystrophy(肌肉萎缩症), and so does my sister, who's in a 11 now.”

    As we descended (下降), he looked over, smiled, and spoke in a low, almost 12 voice, “You know, I was really 13 about who would sit beside me on the plane. I was afraid it would be someone who didn't want to 14 with me. I'm so 15 I sat beside you.”

    16 the whole experience later that night, I was reminded of the 17 of being open to the moment. Now when 18get(s) rough, I look out of the window, try to see what images the clouds are painting in the sky, 19 remember Bradley, the beautiful child who taught me that 20.

    There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. And he was given a slingshot (弹弓) to play with. He 1 in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little 2, he headed back for dinner.

    As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse(冲动), he let fly, hit the duck in the head, and 3 it. He was shocked and upset. In 4, he hid the duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister 5. Sally had seen it all, but said nothing.

    6 lunch that day Grandma said, “Sally, it is your turn to wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn't you, Johnny? ” And then she spoke 7 to him, “Remember the duck?”

    So Johnny 8 the dishes. Later Grandpa asked if 9 wanted to go fishing, but Grandma said, “I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper.” But Sally 10 and said, “Well, that's all right 11 Johnny told me he wanted to help.” And she spoke softly again, “Remember the duck?” So, Sally went fishing while Johnny stayed at home.

    After several days of Johnny's doing 12 his various small tasks and Sally's, he finally couldn't 13 it any longer. He came to Grandma and 14 that he killed the duck. She 15 down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I 16 the whole thing. But because I love you, I 17 you. However, I was just 18 how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

    “Whenever we do something 19, Jesus Christ sees it. He loves us and doesn't say it. My honey, do take responsibility 20 your errors and don't keep your mind suffering.” Grandma added.

    Sunday was always our book-buying day. Every Sunday, my father would take me over to the Carousel Mall and let me walk through all the 1 while he read his newspaper. Then we would sit side by side reading in  2. After a while, he would ask me which one out of my large pile of books I liked best. If I couldn't  3 between two, he would buy me both books. In this way, he  4me to read. He never discouraged me by  5 like my mom often did: “Why are you reading  6? Get outside! Stop living in fantasy.”

    When I grew older and discovered the  7 where I could take out as many books as I wanted for free, my father encouraged me to go there  8.

    For quite some time I never knew there was an actual person who  9all those wonderful books. When I finally realized this, it was like a(n)  10. I thought I could also write stories just like them. When I told my dad this, he seemed to already11 it. He read what I wrote and always joked that when I became a famous writer one day I should give the 12to him. Even if I don't become 13 for my books. I at least know what I am and what my dad helped me to become because of all those childhood 14 to book stores, and all his heartfelt comments that made me really 15myself. Before reading what I wrote, he said he knew it would be16, because I had written it.

    I'm going to major in English literature at college 17I want to make a career writing. I know my dad will be 18 of me. He has19 me instead of hindering（阻碍）me. He encouraged me to be who I am. I'm going to give the first book to him not because he 20me to but because he is my inspiration.

    I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to spread a little love and kindness today. I had doctor's1 in a town that's about 45 minutes from where I live. After both my appointments were 2, I started walking away from the building and 3an elderly woman standing at the gate anxiously. I 4myself and asked if she was waiting for someone or she needed 5 .

    As it turned out, she was having 6walking the distance and had asked for a wheelchair and a staff member to 7her up but no one had come yet. Virginia heat was kind to no one, and I was 8for this dear lady's health.

    I asked her to 9while I went to get her wheelchair myself. I ran to the help desk and asked for a 10to assist a lady outside. The receptionist asked me, “Is the 11?” I was upset at the question and answered, “She's a bit large, I suppose, but if transporting her is a(n) 12for you, I am willing to do it myself.”

    She looked sort of shocked by my 13, but the woman outside needed help, no matter her 14. The help desk woman and I walked to the end of the passage to the now seated lady. Help desk person 15 her hand to help the lady, but she said “No, I'm fine. I want to grab on to her 16help.” She was talking about me. I helped the woman into the wheelchair but first locked the brakes so that she would be 17. After she was seated, she softly 18 me for my help.

    When I returned home, what happened to me today kept going through my mind and reminded me how much I 19 the opportunity to help the lady. It gave me a sense of fulfillment and a 20heart.

    My mom is the most positive person I know. She has a/an 1 spirit, sees the good in all people, and always sees 2 in any situation. I grew up in a 3, positive home environment, where there were always family 4 and lots of laughter.

    I have fond memories of my mom taking us to 5 every Saturday morning. While my brother and I would have rather stayed home on our day off from school, she had us 6 her to help people in Roanoke, Virginia who needed groceries (食品杂货) to feed their families. While she did her service role, we helped to prepare bags of food. 7, this got to be something we looked forward to and we always left feeling 8 about what we did.

    My sweet mom 9 made doing housework enjoyable. The best 10 I learned from her that sticks with me today is "O-H-I-O". Growing up, my mom would 11 me a pile of clean clothes and I would 12 set them on the floor, 13 to put them away later. My mom would say, "Kids, you've got to 14: OHIO! That means Only Handle It Once. When I give you clothes, put them away in your 15 as soon as I give them to you so they are only in your hands 16."

    Today, as a forty-two-year-old wife and stepmom, when I pick up my mail or bring clean, 17 clothes to my room, I hear my 18 mom's voice in my head: "Remember, OHIO!" Most of the time, I take those extra two minutes to handle things only once and put them in their 19 place. Who knew that this girl from Virginia would learn such a/an 20 lesson about OHIO that stays with me still today? Thanks, Mom!