Dad was not only my best friend, but my compass (指南针). While he was alive, he1 me with his actions and advice. He taught me one important 2: “Believe in yourself.”

    If there was one phrase my dad 3liked to hear, it was “I can't.” He never got to finish high school and 4 two jobs to support his large family, 5 he never complained. Through education and years of hard work, my dad became an excellent journalist.

    When I was in high school, I had a 6time with math. He tried to help me, but I 7 struggled. So my math teacher suggested I meet with him at 7:00 each morning before school for 8 help. I told Dad, “That's9! I'm tired! I can't do that!” He replied, “You're doing it. I'll send you to school.” Every morning at 6:45, we'd leave the10. Despite (尽管) working 12 hours every day, Dad never once11 driving me to school.

    After months of12, I was facing the final exam. I was so13. On the day of the final, my dad hugged me and said, “Luke, 14yourself. You can do it.” His words made me realize I needed to trust in my15 and in the hours of work I'd 16. When I got my17 proudly, the first person I called was my father. He cried, “Yes! You deserved it!”

    Even now, whenever I18 that a task is too much for me, I think back to that exam. No matter how 19something is, if you're willing to work, you can succeed. I'm forever20 to Dad for that lesson.

    Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers.

    Some years later, they got together again. While having dinner, they 1 for along time. They discussed the 2 they had given their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said, "I had a 3 house built for Mama." The second said, "I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer (经销商) send a 4 to her.” The third said, "I built a beautiful 5 for Mama." The fourth said, "You know 6 Mama loved reading poems and you know she can't read anymore because she can't 7 very well. I met a businessman who had a parrot (鹦鹉) that can recite many 8. It took him 20 years to 9 it to speak and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years, 10 it is worth it." On hearing that, the other brothers were 11 by his good thought.

    After the holidays their mother 12 her thank-you notes. She wrote: "Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to 13 the whole house. It's a tiring job. Thanks anyway."

    "Marvin, I am too old to 14. I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I'll 15 use the car.  The 16 was good, although not practical. Thanks."

    "Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to 17 plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I've almost 18 my hearing and I'm nearly blind. I won't use it. Thank you all the same."

    "Dearest Melvin, you are the 19 son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so 20. I liked it very much. Thank you.”

    The famous composer, Albert Roussel, didn't have a good start in this career. However, he achieved a great deal of success as a result of a 1.

    Roussel's parents died when he was eight and he went to live with his 2. As a little boy, he fell in love with music and3himself about it by reading through the family collection that his mother kept, 4 which there were a lot of related books. Three years later, Roussel's grandfather died, and his mother's sister decided to 5 him. Her husband was a kind man and6for young Roussel's music lessons. One summer vacation at a Belgian seaside added a second 7to his life—the sea. Then he studied to be a naval cadet（海军学员）, but still took time to study 8.

    In the French Navy, he and two friends found the time to 9a band, playing the works of Beethoven and other10. Roussel also began composing. On Christmas day 1892, he had his first chance to 11as a composer, which turned out to be a success.

    That success 12 Roussel to write a wedding march（婚礼进行曲）, and one of his navy friends 13to show it to a famous conductor, Edouard Colonne. When Roussel's friend 14with the manuscript（手稿）, he reported that Colonne had advised Roussel to 15his naval career and devote his life to music.

    Not long,16, at the age of 25, Roussel decided to 17Edouard Colonne's advice. He gave his heart and soul to his composing and 18 a major force in twentieth century French music. Because of Eduoard Colonne's inspiring 19, Roussel devoted his life to music, but Rousssel's20friend later admitted that he had made it up. He said he had never even shown Roussel's manuscript to the famous conductor.

    As a child, I started learning to play the piano, my favorite musical 1,but I was forced to give up when I started my middle school 2 I could concentrate more on my studies.

    It's one of my biggest 3to stop practicing the piano when I recall sadly today. During the following years, I kept telling my piano teacher that I would4. However, I didn't keep my promise because I was 5 with my study.6 I lost touch with my teacher. Some years later, my teacher died. I was very sad because I lost such a good teacher. She was a very warm and gentle person. It hurts me to think she may have been 7 that I never returned. I haven't taken lessons since then but to be honest, I 8 to. Sitting at the piano, I couldn't help recalling many9-- times of my practising at home and playing before my teacher and one time my teacher 10 me after I played entire pieces of music wrong in front of her colleagues. I was so11 that I could hardly say anything. But her12 helped me ease my shame. These memories, 13, good or bad, never caused my 14 for playing the piano again.

    This thought then led me to think that15is like music, and that we all try to play different 16 in the instrument of our life. Sometimes the pitch(音高) is 17when we play it well, but sometimes we are out of tone. However, we all continue to create our own 18style of music. No matter what style our music is, it is 19 that we sing the songs of joy, quietness and love. Though I may never make it back to piano lessons, it doesn't20 that I've stopped making music.

    A 35-year-old Australian mother makes around $58,000 a year by hugging total strangers. Jessica O' Neill started her1 job six months ago. "As human beings, one thing we often2 in our daily lives is physical touch. Without it, we can fall into depression and other mental health problems. To satisfy this 3, I've become a professional worker in hugging treatment," said Jessica.

    Jessica claims that her hugs can4those who are suffering from loneliness, depression, or low self-confidence. Originally, Jessica was a masseuse (女按摩师), a quite5profession. She notices that when she6her customers during treatments, they dropped their guards and7her more. "I could see their8melt away. Then I could get to their heart and do what I can to9them," Jessica said. "Everyone has a totally different story. But the most common10are loneliness, depression and anxiety. They all just have that desire to11with someone. I believe my hug helps me and my12connect on a spiritual level."

    Jessica says the majority of her customers are 13, but she has a surprising number of female customers14Despite many people thinking she must be 15 for doing such work, Jessica is confident that she's made the right16"It's so much more rewarding than just working as a masseuse. I feel like it's what I was put on this Earth17," said Jessica. In today's digital age, many people are lonelier than ever before. For people whose lives18physical interaction, hugging therapy can have an apparent effect on their mental health."

    "Interestingly, although the hugging19has been around for a short while, we've actually covered several20 businesses in the last few years."

    As we all know, helping others is a great service, and it's easy to see how to help some people, but what about those people whose needs are not so obvious? This story may have happened a while back—It was a lesson which has1with me and helped me ever since.

    It was Thanksgiving and I was volunteering with my parents at a2for the needy. We stood behind the counter3out hot food to whoever came in. Most of our diners looked like they had been having4times: their clothes were old and dirty.5short, they looked needy!

    Then, a man came in, who looked anything6needy. He was well dressed; he wore a/an7suit. I wondered what he was doing there and my jaw dropped in amazement when he 8the line for food. The closer he came to my service station, the more I9. What was this man doing? I wanted to know. Surely he was not going to take food meant for those who were really in10!

    Then my11quietly took me to one side. She said, "You12that the needs of the people who come here must be purely13: hunger, inadequate shelter, clothing, etc. And this gentleman doesn't seem to have any of those problems.14what if he needs emotional help? What if he needs15, or just to be among other human beings?" Her words16me like a ton of bricks! I felt like I should apologize to the man—but I didn't.

    About a week later, the shelter17a large donation from an anonymous(匿名的)person. I can't help but18if it came from that man.

    Now, whenever I meet someone I remember my mother's19and try to send kindness and blessings their way, regardless of how they look. Needs aren't always20. But kindness always makes a difference.