I once had a hard time making a living in France. Three years ago, I moved to a new neighborhood and felt an intense(强烈的) need to meet people so I went to the cinema. Outside the cinema was a woman with long gray hair who had a strong smell and was asking for money. I reached for my wallet to give her a Euro and then something made me stop and enter into conversation with her. I said, “Look, all the women going to the cinema here on a Tuesday night are seeing a film that can change your life. I'd rather buy you a ticket than give you money.”

    She hesitated（犹豫） for a moment and then came in with me. She hid behind me because, she said, the people running the theater didn't like her. I got her a ticket and she sat next to me. There were about 80 women there; I noticed some of them were turning around and looking at me with expressions of surprise and curiosity(好奇心).

    I encouraged the woman I had bought the ticket for to come the following night to an event where there would be many representatives(代表) of various social services. I thought they could be of some help to her. She did come and I was able to direct her to an agency that helped women in her situation. At the same time, a woman came toward me and said, “Are you the person who bought a ticket for the woman outside the theater asking for handouts?” When I said yes she said, “I want you to come to the community center where I work. I want the other employees there to meet you.”

    This was the beginning of a deep friendship and colleague relationship. I now have a great job and have more work than I've ever had in my 20 years in France. And the woman I took to the cinema that night? I learned that she was not homeless and that she was a secretary.

A Trip to the Forest

    One day Bob took two of his friends into the mountains. They put up their tents and then rode off to a forest to see how the trees were growing.

    In the afternoon when they were about ten kilometers from their camp（营地）, it started to snow. More and more snow fell. Soon Bob could hardly see his hands before his face. He could not find the road. Bob knew there were two roads. One road went to the camp, and the other went to his house. But all was white snow. Everything was the same. How could he take his friends back to the camp?

    Bob had an idea. The horses! Let the horses take them back! But what would happen if the horses took the road to his house? That would be a trip of thirty-five kilometers in such cold weather!

    It was getting late. They rode on and on. At last the horses stopped. Where were they?

    None of them could tell. John looked around. What was that under the tree? It was one of their tents!

    Devon Gallagher, a college graduate from Philadelphia, wants the world to know exactly where she's been during her worldwide vacation in a special way.

    The traveler, who was born with a congenital bone disease (先天性骨病),lost her right leg at the age of four. Although she had a hard time at first, she now thinks that nothing can stop her living her best life.

    To spread that message, Gallagher shares photos of her travels around the world online, and writes her location across her artificial leg (假肢)before taking a picture. Now she has been taking pictures across Europe, all with the well—known locations written on her artificial leg.

    "I get a new leg every two years and I can choose the design (设计)on it. One day I had a sudden idea to get a chalkboard," Gallagher said, "My mum and grandmother didn't like the idea, but my friends liked it and told me to go for it, so I did."

    Gallagher said people often stared when she was writing on her leg, but once she shared the photos, she received only positive feedback (正面的反馈). "My leg hasn't stopped me doing anything I've wanted to do, and I've been able to keep up with my peers (同龄人)and lead a pretty great life."

    Gallagher shows us that you should never let anything stand in the way of your dreams. And if you run into difficulties, get creative with it because if life gives you an artificial leg, make art.

What is kindness? It may be giving a helping hand to others when they are in trouble. Because of this help, someone who loses their way in darkness might see the light of hope. Perhaps the good actions you do are no big deal to you, but be of great help to others. 

I remember the year before last when I saw a big box near our house. I didn't know what it was. I took a look and found that it was a donation (捐赠) box. People could put clothes in it to donate to people living in poor areas. I saw many people donating their clothes. I was very moved (感动) by this and told my mother about it. The next day, I went to the box and put some of my own clothes inside. I was very excited. 

Some time later, someone sent me a letter saying "thank you" for my donation. I was once again deeply moved. 

We should give a hand when others need help. Do your best to do so.