Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand（农场工人）. At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he 1to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social2 with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the café. On Saturday evenings, the café was3 because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied（满意）with his4 In his words, he 5thought of changing his job.

    At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a school teacher. In the following spring I came6 into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt unsatisfied. She told Dad that they must make a7

    My mother had8of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and fame. And she9that I would some day become a great leader，ruling men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she persuaded Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and10a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for11 education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother's hope, Dad and I12what we have today. Dad runs a big international13and I am a successful lawyer enjoying great fame in my country,14not a leader as my mother expected.

    Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn't be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.15he got a lesson of life: sometimes we really need drive from outside.

    I know a Catherine who is smart, educated and interesting. But I avoid her because she never1 complaining(抱怨)! For years, I fought against my feelings, because I really like and admire her, but I've found I just can't be her friend. Her world is 2 “buts…”. The trip would have been nice, but the drive was too long. The food was good, but the light of the restaurant was too 3. The hotel was too hot, the bed hurt her back and the room service was too slow. Her complaints were 4 changing me. Months ago, my best friend Daisy was listening to me complaining about Catherine 5 she just became really angry. “Either break up with her, or leave me alone.” She shouted at me, “I'm tired of listening to your complaining.” Her honesty surprised me, and I began to keep myself away from Catherine. Later, I did6 her.

    Now I try to remain happy and positive (积极的) about life, and find friends of the same. There's been scientific research lately. It shows that people who find7 to be thankful for their lives are actually happier, and I believe that is true. Endless complaining seems to control your life if you let it come into your brain. And too much complaining will actually make your life 8 .

    Some people take “gratitude (感激之情) walks” every day, where they9 their lives in a positive way. By developing a grateful attitude, you can be turned away from what's troubling you, and10what makes you happy. Then you will have a beautiful life.

    Have you ever been a volunteer? Every year, thousands of young people in Britain take a year1before they start work or go to university. Some young people go to other2like France and Australia to work as volunteers. Volunteers give their time to help people3, they work in schools or hospitals, or they help with environment.

    Pauline Jones, 18, lives in Cardiff, Britain. Next year, she wants to go to4to study French, 5now she's living in Queensland, Australia. Pauline says, "I'm6with other people here to help with the coral reefs(珊瑚)in the7near Queensland. The reefs here are very beautiful, but if the sea water is very 8, the coral will die. I'm helping to do the9on the coral and the fish that living around the coral reefs. All over the world, coral reefs are10. We need to do something about the11before it's too late. "

    I'm staying with a family here and I help with the cooking and the cleaning I don't get12, but it's OK. I love my job here. And I'm learning a lot about people of Queensland-and13! When I14my work, I want to stay here for another three15, I want to travel around Australia. "

    One day a professor entered the classroom and told the students about a surprise test. Now the professor gave the test papers to all students with text facing down at the desk. After he 1 the test to all students, he asked —them to turn the test pages and begin.

    Students were 2 to see that there was not a question but just a black dot(小圆点）in the center of the page. The professor 3 the students' face expressions and told them," I want you to write about what you see there."

    The students were 4 surprised but got started with the test. At the end of the class, the professor took all answer papers and started reading each 5 from each paper. All of them 6 about the black dot and tried to explain its position(位置). After the professor finished reading, the whole class was 7 .

    8 , the professor explained, "Don't worry. I'm not going to give you 9 for this test, but I just want you to think about something. Here everyone paid attention to the black dot and wrote about it 10 no one wrote about the white paper, the same is with our lives. The white paper represents our whole life and the black spot represents 11 in our life.

    Our life is a gift given to us 12 God, with love and care, and we always have reasons to celebrate-our friends around us, the joy 13 provides us our livelihood, the happiness in our families. Still we only care about problems like health problems, study problems, problems in relationships, but we 14 see that these problems are very small compared everything we have in our lives”

    So we should try to take eyes off our problems and enjoy each nice moment that life gives 15. Just smile, and life will smile to us!