Two of my friends had financial problems and needed my help on two occasions.

    The first guy 1 a sum of money for his tuition while he was at his final year of the university. He came to me and 2 to borrow some money for his school fees, 3 that he'd pay all of it back once he 4a job after graduation. As a student, I didn't have much 5 at that time. However, as his friend, out of 6, I decided to give him what he needed 7 the condition that he would pay back. After that I 8 bothered him. Never did I ask when he would pay back.

    On another occasion, another friend told me his 9 dilemma. Being an orphan（孤儿）, he could hardly 10 himself. He delayed his rent for two months, and his 11 was threatening to throw his things out from the house the next day.

    It was the day before 12 my father had given me some money for my monthly expense. And13, it was the exact amount he needed－I gave it all to him. I felt like 14 a special act of kindness.

    A few days later. 15 struck me that I could cancel my friend's 16. After all, things were so difficult for an orphan.

    So I called him up to cancel his debt. He couldn't believe it and said “Seriously? 17!” He was so happy and later sent me a message of heart-felt 18.

    In life, it is the 19 actions of love that matter. 20 unites us.

    Tim, my seven-year-old son, is learning to play the drums. It is an 1 that has always caught his attention 2 he hears them played. Before I3 his first lessons, drums were all he wanted. At the age of 3 he 4 his mini drum set during a show. Using that same drum set he perfected the timing and rhythm of a popular church song 5enough for his mom to sing along to. My son had found his passion at a young age and Had a natural 6 to catch on quickly. Wanting to act quickly to 7 his talent, I immediately signed him up for drum lessons. No sooner had my first payment cleared than his passion 8. He did not want to take instructions. He wanted to play the drums 9. To him the drums were a way of 10. Ian wanted to "play the beat of his own drum."

    The challenge was that music has more than one 11. Rock doesn't sound like smooth jazz and smooth jazz doesn't sound like 12 You can't play every 13 that exists to the same beat .If14 were a series of songs, the melodies 15could be calming and peaceful, or violent and chaotic, Each event we face has its16own sound, so we have to learn 17 to play the tune of the moment. You should understand that even with all the natural talent in the world there is always 18for improvement. You can't do it all without 19'You won't know how to play every beat life throws at you without practice. You can't 20talent forever.

    I've learned a lesson that accepting kindness is important, too. I'm a social worker and have been 1 more time recently with those unlucky people that some might say are less 2. I had a wonderful interaction (互动) this past week, when I had the 3 of being the receiver of kindness. I was speaking to a gentleman who has bad luck and is in 4. We were just talking for a while and getting to 5 each other.

    Towards the end of our evening he said he wanted to 6 me a hamburger at the nearby fast food restaurant. In time before, I would have 7 that he let me buy him a meal, since he had a greater 8 than I. But my kindness experience has taught me the 9 of being a good receiver, too. So I told him if he 10 wanted to do that I would be 11 to share a meal with him.

    It was great! He was so happy to be able to 12 something like that and he was 13 the entire time. I felt glad to 14 the wonderful feeling of someone's giving. We 15 some great conversation and I could see it 16 so much to him.

    As we parted ways, instead of me feeling bad that he probably spent his last few 17 on our meal, I smiled and felt with a wonderful 18 of connection and gratitude. It's not only fun to be a receiver of kindness, 19 this also gives someone else the chance to be the 20. That is important, too.

    My least favorite part was participating in sport meets, for I loved running by myself. When faced with running against fellow athletes, I was 1. I had butterflies in my stomach and the sudden urge to go to the nearest 2. This year, 3, I was encouraged to join in a long distance running competition by my coach.

    The 800-meter event was approaching, meaning that I would 4 soon. I breathed deeply and tried to 5 my worries. I walked over to some of the 6 who would run with me and started to 7 with them. We were all loosening up and getting ready to run as 8as possible.

    I stepped up to the line for the event. The starter raised his cap gun and 9. About twenty-five runners 10. With these runners around me, I 11 my coach's words, “You may be small, but you have 12 power.” So, I kept up with athletes twice my 13. I picked up the runner in seventh place and based my steps on him, making it a little bit faster. One by one, I 14 to make it to the top four, bursting around the lap.

It was the last lap before the final straightaway. I 15 I had the possibility to win. So I widened my steps, speeding up my 16. I caught up with the runner in first place and we ran side-by-side down the last 100 meters — I 17 him by a hair at the finishing line.

    My coach gave me a 18 hug as I headed back to see him. He was 19 because I had shortened my original 20 by twelve seconds at least.

    It was a normal Monday morning at an assembly, and the old headmaster was giving the students a speech about important things in life and about1ourselves to what is important to us. This is2the story went: An old man lived in a certain part of London, and he3wake up every morning and go to the4, where he got the train right to Central London, and then sat at the street corner,5. He did this every single day of his life. He sat at the same street corner and begged for almost 20 years. His house was dirty, and it smelled6. The neighbors could not7the smell anymore, so they asked the police officers to8the place. The officers knocked down the9and cleaned the house. There were small bags of10all over the house that he had11over the years. The police counted the money, and they soon realized that the old man was a12. They waited outside his house expecting to share the good news with him. When he arrived home that evening, he was met by one of the officers who told him that there was no need for him to beg any more13he was a rich man now. He said14at all; he went into his house and locked the door. The next morning he woke up as usual, went to the street and15to beg.16, this old man had no great plans, dreams or anything important for his life. We learn nothing from this story other than staying17the things we enjoy doing. We should remain true to our course, which may mean devoting yourselves to things that people around you may disapprove. Let nothing prevent us from being happy, let nothing else decide our fate (命运), but18. What makes us happy is what19in the end…not what we gain.

    This particular story is one such lesson that I will never forget. Every time I don't focus on courses, I20myself of this story.

I was first going into this final day, the Junior Sled Dog Championship. We'd trained two years and wanted to beat Blake. I knelt down to pat Kenai and my hands 1 from nerves and excitement. Kenai tipped up his face to lick my chin. "You are 2 , aren't you?"

Just before the countdown started, Blake shot me a 3 grin, hands trembling too. Then I heard, "Go!" 4 I could yell "Hike!", Kenai leaped forward. The rest of the dogs 5 after. We started last. We flew down the long hill. Then we 6 a corner. I leaned to keep the sled steady. Kenai saw Blake's team before I did. His tail flew up, and he 7 . Seeing his tongue still flopping forward, I let him go all out. We closed the 8 . A bridge later, we inched closer. On the next hill, Kenai drew even with Blake's sled and then we passed it.

9 our sled hit a branch. The runners caught. I lost my 10 and fell off the sled. Witnessing the sled come to a stop, I struggled through the deep snow to Kenai. I 11 . His shoulder was bleeding.

"Kenail! No!", My voice came out a howl. Kenai 12 to stand. He looked at me, his blue eyes 13 to keep on. He would do it, too. For one frozen moment I saw myself on the winner's stand with the trophy. But no, I bent and gently 14 Kenai in a blanket.

The race vet examining Kenai, I watched Blake accept the trophy. Kenai squirming (扭动) in my lap, I leaned over upon him. Just at that moment, I felt a warm tongue on my wet cheek. I smiled and realized that I had the 15 that really counted.