My 4-year-old son now enjoys posting letters. He has formed the 1 of drawing pictures, writing his name on them, and then  2 the artwork in an envelope. He then insists on 3 his handwork to the neighbors, and a mail box he 4 belongs to the elderly couple who live next door. To be 5, I didn't think much of it, but I had 6 to warn my neighbors of the drawings 7 appearing in their letterboxes—I just didn't have the 8 to do so, because I was a little busy recently.

    On Tuesday of last week, I was walking down to school to collect my son when I 9 Mary, my elderly neighbor, 10 at her mail box. She said, “Jodie, is it your little son that has been posting items in my letterbox to me?” I was at once 11, “Oh yes, Mary, it is. I'm sorry. I meant to tell you…” She cut me off, “Jodie, I just love his mail. I've 12 every item he has sent. You don't know how much 13 the letters has made my day. I just love them.” While I was walking down to school after our 14, many thoughts came to me. Mary doesn't have a lot to fill her days, 15 she was a mother to a number of children herself who receives fairly regular visitors. The small 16 of getting some mail—pictures drawn by the hand of a young child—has brought 17 to her days, just as my visit to my grandparents does.

    I have decided that my son should 18 this practice. He should also start sending some items to his grandparents in Perth as well. It will most 19 make their day.

    It's doing the little, simple things that can often make a big 20 in someone's life.

    Thanks for Taking Care of Me

    Like most elementary schools, it was typical to have a parade of students in and out of the health clinic throughout the day. As principal, my office was right next door to the clinic, so I often dropped in to lend a hand and 1out with hugs.

    One morning I was putting a Band-Aid on little Mary's bloody knee and I 2 that she was shivering in her thin little shirt. I found her a warm sweater and helped her pull it on. “Thanks for 3me,” she whispered.

    It wasn't long after that when cancer invaded me. I considered whether or not to tell the students about my 4 The word cancer seemed so frightening. When it became evident that the children were going to find out one way or another, I 5to tell them myself. The empathy and 6 I saw in their faces told me I had made the right decision. When I gave them a 7 to ask questions, they 8wanted to know how they could help. I told them that what I would like best would be their letters, pictures and prayers.

    Little Mary threw herself into my arms and looked up into my face. “Don't be afraid, Dr. Perry,” she said earnestly, “It's our 9 to take care of you.”

    No one 10have ever done a better job. The kids sent me a book they had written and a video of every class in the school singing get-well songs. When I would have an operation, the letters and pictures11 coming until they covered every wall of my room. What healing 12 I found in being surrounded by their caring!

    At long last I was13 enough to return to work. As I headed up the road to the school, I was suddenly overcome by 14If the kids have forgotten all about met what should I do?15they don't mint a skinny bald principal? Then I caught sight of the school marquee “Welcome Back, Dr. Perry,” it read. As I16 closer, everywhere I looked were pink ribbons.17flooded over me.

    Little Mary was first in line to 18 me. “Dr. Perry, you're back!” she called. “See, I told you we'd take care of you!”

    What an amazing day! I didn't look for or expect anything in 19 when I helped them, but when they did return the favor, it was an enormous and positive 20

    When you're willing to ask for what you want but don't insist on getting it, there are some potential hidden benefits as well. For example, you sometimes 1 the sympathy and generosity in others.

    Several years ago, I arrived in Mumbai very late one evening. 2 having a confirmed reservation, the hotel was overbooked and was 3 people away. The man in front of me was angry and became very 4.

He insisted on getting his way—but there were no 5. He stormed out, defeated and angry. He was totally 6 to the fact that it wasn't the receptionist's 7. It wasn't personal.

I walked up to the receptionist and said8, “I really understand your9 and don't blame you a bit. I would 10 it so much if you would help me. I know you don't have any rooms here, but could you help me find another 11 close by?” I thought it was wise to ask—as long as I didn't 12.

    Hearing my words, she was 13. Remarkably, she said she had some great news, She had completely 14 that fact that one of the guests had to leave in an 15 and wouldn't be back. It turned out the most expensive room! Because I had been so 16, she gave it to me at lower rate.

    The question is, why didn't she 17 this empty room and give it to the angry man in front of me? I think the answer is pretty 18. His insistence pushed her away and may have even 19 to her “forgetfulness”. When I was talking to her, however, she relaxed and felt less 20. Her memory returned and I ended up getting a few hours of much-needed sleep.

    So be sure to ask for what you want, but don't insist on getting it.

    That holiday morning I didn't have to attend school.Usually, on holidays, Mother1me to sleep in. And I would certainlytake full advantage of it. On this particular morning, 2, I felt like getting up early.

    I stood by my window overlooking the 3, having nothing better to do. But asit turned out, I was soon to learn about something 4 in life.

    As I watched several people go by, get into their cars andgo off, I 5 an old man on a bicycle with a bucket on its 6 and a basket rags and bottles on itsback-carriage. He 7 from one car to another, washing and cleaningthem. From the water on the ground, it seemed that he had already 8 washing and cleaning about a dozen or morecars. He must have begun to work quite early in the morning.

    Several thoughts 9my mind as I watched him work. He wasn'twell-dressed. He had on a pair of shorts and a(n) 10 T-shirt. The bicycle he rode was not by anymeans the kind modern 11would want to be seen riding on. But heseemed12 with life. There he was, working hard at hissmall business, 13 at passers-by and stopping to chat now andthen 14 elderly men and women on their way to themarket nearby.

    There was a noticeable touch of15 in the way he seemedto be doing things— 16the windscreen, then standing back toadmire it; scrubbing the wheels and 17, standing back to see what they looklike after the scrub.

    It was a 18 to learn, I felt. At no age need one have tobeg for a 19if one has good health and is willingto work hard. For a while I felt 20 of myself. Young as I am—just sixteen, andthere was this old man who must have been usefully engaged perhaps before thesun appeared above the horizon.

    I come from a small rural area, where college education is very important to make a good living. I am considering gaining a good 1and a job I absolutely love. My parents weren't so 2to have such an opportunity. My dad dropped out of school during his senior year to drive truck and move out on his own.

    As a high school student, I know I can be very smart if I 3 myself so I've studied a lot of courses. I plan to attend college, one of the 4I'm faced with. Though we aren't wealthy and college can be very 5, I intend to get a good education so my 6can have a better life. Knowing college is very hard to 7 pushes me to do my best. Luckily, Colorado State University (CSU) can offer a lot and will 8my plan.

    My 9has always been to do well in my life and give my family a better 10 of life. The life I live isn't bad but I want to try to make a11. My life is 12of ups and downs but I always keep my head high and make the best out of every 13. I first understood it when I started realizing my parents 14financially for what we really needed. Nowadays it gets 15 to support a living in this economic depression. Seeing this, I want to make a change and get a good job that I will 16for the rest of my life.

    I 17to go to CSU and major in biomedicine. I can get distracted easily, but 18this shouldn't be a problem as long as I keep my goals in sight. I have determined to do well in college and 19in life. CSU would be a(n) 20opportunity with a great environment and it would be an honor to be a student there.

    "Do I really want to go through with this?" Have you ever asked yourself that 1 ? Sometimes in life, there are moments when you 2 if you will be able to handle the responsibilities ahead of you. For me, these 3 come daily, whether it's taking a test or working. But one Saturday afternoon, my family and I were 4 around when my dad pulled into a small mall. Little did I realize, we were going to a 5 store where a new member would be 6 to our family.

    As my 7 parked our car, I figured we would just take a 8 look and then leave. After a while, my dad called us over. He was standing next to my mom, looking at several 9 . I began to think, "Are we 10 a cat"? My dad asked, "So guys, you like any of these?" My brother said "Yes!" before I could even open my 11 .

    When I pictured feeding the cat, cleaning it and giving it water, all of these responsibilities felt  12 to me. Would I be able to handle it? 13 , I would have to live a more adult-like  14 if I got a cat. Later on, after 15 that we should get a cat, I thought about this new phase of my life. I realized that the 16 I make can affect my future.

    Looking back, I find that I have been able to 17 the responsibility of owning a cat. Some tasks may be 18 , but that doesn't 19 they can't be accomplished. You simply20 to do your best in order to push past them.