While most of us are happy to take the credit when things go well, few of us are willing to take the blame when things go wrong. Rather than trying to hide our shame or embarrassment, experts found that we are simply less aware when our actions result in a negative outcome.

       The research may explain why we often feel it hard to take the blame for our actions. “Our result suggests that people may really experience less responsibility for negative than for positive outcomes，” said Patrick Haggard, leading researcher and professor of the institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London.

      In a series of tests, participants were asked to press a key. A sound then followed, either disapproving, neutral or approving, and they were then asked to estimate the time between the action and when they had heard the sound.

      Researchers found that individuals experienced different levels of responsibility depending on the outcomes. They also discovered they were significantly slower to recognize if their actions had resulted in a bad consequence, compared to when they had done well.

   “Effectively, we have found that we experience a negative outcome differently, not just retell it differently. We make a weaker connection when there is a bad result. And respond much more strongly when something good happens，” said Professor Haggard. When something goes right, everyone wants to take the credit, and when things go wrong, nobody is interested in putting their hands up.

        The researchers say our brain is “very much concerned” with reward, as good results are key to survival. Although our own perception (认知) of whether we are guilty of something or not is changed by the outcomes, this does not provide a defense if we have done something wrong. “Our experience of our own responsibilities can be misleading and can be strongly colored by the outcomes of our actions，” said Professor Haggard. “We have to take responsibility for what we actually do, not just for how we experience things.”

    When her five daughters were young. Helene An always told them that there was strength in unity（团结）. To show this, she held up one chopstick, representing one person. Then she easily broke it into two pieces. Next, she tied several chopsticks together, representing a family. She showed the girls it was hard to break the tied chopsticks. This lesson about family unity stayed with the daughters as they grew up.

    Helene An and her family own a large restaurant business in California. However, when Helene and her husband Danny left their home in Vietnam in 1975, they didn't have much money. They moved their family to San Francisco. There they joined Danny's mother, Diana, who owned a small Italian sandwich shop. Soon afterwards, Helene and Diana changed the sandwich shop into a small Vietnamese restaurant. The five daughters helped in the restaurant when they were young. However. Helene did not want her daughters to always work in the family business because she thought it was too hard.

    Eventually（最终）the girls all graduated from college and went away to work for themselves, but one by one, the daughters returned to work in the family business. They opened new restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Even though family members sometimes disagreed with each other, they worked together to make the business successful. Daughter Elizabeth explains. “Our mother taught us that to succeed we must have unity, and to have unity we must have peace. Without the strength of the family, there is no business.”

    Their expanding business became a large corporation（企业） in 1996, with three generations of An working together. Now the An' corporation makes more than ＄20 million each year. Although they began with a small restaurant, they had big dreams, and they worked together. Now they are a big success.

    Hundreds of years ago, a Roman army came north from England to make war on Scotland. The Scots, a brave people, love their country. They fought hard to drive the enemy out of Scotland. But there were too many of the Romans. It looked as if the Romans would win.

    One night, the leader of the Scots marched his soldiers to the top of a hill. “We will rest here tonight, my men,” he said, “Tomorrow we will fight one more battle. We must win, or we will die.”

    They were all very tired. So they ate their supper quickly and fell asleep. There were four guards on duty, but they were very tired, too, and one by one, they fell asleep.

    The Romans were not asleep. Quickly they gathered at the foot of the hill. Slowly they went up the hill. Closer they came to the sleeping Scots. They were almost at the top. A few minutes more the war would be over. Suddenly, one of them put his foot on a thistle (蓟). He cried out and his sudden cry woke the Scots. In a minute they were on their feet and ready for a battle. The fighting was hard, but it did not last long. The Scots wiped out the Romans and saved Scotland.

    The thistle is not a beautiful plant. It has sharp needles all over it. Few people liked it. But the people of Scotland liked it so much that they made it their national flower.

    My father was attached to gardening by birth. One of my earliest memories is following Dad barefoot around in the garden with both hands blackened from digging in the soil. The garden was a wonderland full of possibilities.

    As Dad grew older, he still loved gardening. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer, he still planted all sorts of plants. Sometimes, I would come over to visit, and we would walk together in the garden. But then, something changed. Like the weeds that took over his garden, the cancer grew rapidly in Dad, and the doctor gave up. I stayed with Dad twenty-four hours a day and I found myself in all kinds of uncomfortable situations with Dad until I promised to care for the garden.

    Though I had heard the words of the doctor, what really made me believe that Dad was dying was the state of his garden. That year, he only planted tomatoes. Too tired to weed them, he simply tied them with strong strings to the fence and let them be. It made me sad to see them ignored, so I would come over and water them once in a while, and remove the weeds. I still remember the day I picked the last tomato from the vine(藤). That day was one of the saddest I had ever experienced in my life.

    Three years ago, I decided to plant my own garden. I decided I would start out with just a few tomatoes. That morning when I moved to the garden, something caught the corner of my eye and I had to smile. It was my eight-year-old son Nathan, standing barefoot in the soil, happily playing in soil.

    Teenagers enter their adolescent years with a mixture of optimism, excitement and anxiety. Adolescence is a time when boys and girls begin to show greater independence from their parents. It is also a time when young people begin to develop the sense of individuality that will help shape their future identity as adults. In fact, showing independence and forming a unique identity are two of the most important developmental tasks that adolescents must finish in preparation for satisfying and productive adult lives.

    It is not easy for parents or teenagers to go smoothly through this period. Adolescents want to be independent of their parents and make their own decisions. They often do not recognize their need for adults' guidance and support.

    However, some parents find it easy to keep the lines of communication open with an adolescent child. These parents are often noticed by the child as stable sources of positive influence, and the teen feels supported in his or her growing independence. Communication in such families characterized by mutual(互 相的) respect and the ability to freely exchange feelings and ideas. Parents who understand their teenager's need for a reasonable measure of independence and individuality encourage their child's growth and achievements. This positive interest strengthens parent-child relationships. When adolescents receive parental approval and believe that parents really value their accomplishments, it creates a willingness to share other information about themselves.

    Many parents find it difficult to have open communication with their child during the adolescent years. Some parents have difficulty understanding the changes their teenager is experiencing and pay little attention to his or her need to pull away from the family and make independent decisions. At the same time, some teenagers are so self-focused that they do not appreciate or accept their parents' concern, and they are against all parental authority. In this case, frequent arguments may develop, and family life may become difficult. Parents and teenagers may separate from one another to avoid arguments, but this is usually a short-term solution that does not clear up the main problems.

    A major long-term method is to help them develop more effective communication. This enables the family members to end their conflicts(矛盾) and to establish more harmonious and more satisfying relationships.

Things to do in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico

    Majahuitas Island Tour

    Duration: 6h 30m

    Let yourself be spoiled by the nature in the Majahuitas Island (Natural Reserve) while you do different beach and sea activities, such as Snorkeling (潜游), Kayak (划独木舟)Tour and more. Eight delicious options from our menu will please your taste during lunch time, also your favorite drink will be prepared in our bar.

    Las Marietas Eco Discovery

    Duration: 6h

    Snorkel, swim, and kayak through the beautiful rock formations around the Marietas Islands. Beloved by Jacques Cousteau for their rich marine life and clear waters, this underwater playground is an ideal place to spend the afternoon.

    Follow up your snorkeling adventure with a guided kayak trip. Learn about the islands' geologic past and keep your eyes peeled for migrating whales and playful groups of dolphins. Back on the boat, have a tasty deli-style lunch featuring delicious sandwiches and salads, or kick back with a drink from the open bar while your crew set a course for your return to port.

    Yelapa & Majahuitas Catamaran Tour

    Duration: 7h+

    Set sail from Puerta Vallarta aboard a luxurious catamaran with the vast Pacific Ocean ahead and a refreshing sea breeze surrounding you. Spend your morning snorkeling and exploring the peaceful cove of Majahuitas. This coral reef and tropical fish-filled coastline is only accessible by boat, making it one of Puerto Vallarta's best-kept hidden treasures.

    Sayulita Escape

    Duration: 3h

    Hop on a powerful UTV (utility task vehicle) to explore Sayulita, a hip and relaxed beach town not far from Vallarta. Ride over muddy back roads and a riverbed to reach the small community famous for its laid-back atmosphere. Soon after hitting the main road, your guide turns onto one of the dusty forest paths. Pass by farms, fields, and a riverbed before reaching an isolated beach. When you are ready, a picnic lunch, open bar, and knowledgeable crew await your return to the catamaran.