The spending power of young people (vary) from person to person. Some may max out their parents' credit cards, while some can make good use of money. It seems to be unprecedentedly important to younger generations (learn) to manage money. Some students (offer) courses in personal finance in high school. However, for those who have no access courses, Jerry Witkovsky and his method of using four jars might teach them how to spend their money (wise). The four jars stand for four ways of handling money: one for Spending, one for Saving, one for Giving and the fourth for Investing.
The values taught with the four jars are different. The Spending jar means buying something makes you happy. The Saving jar involves (put) aside money for future use. contrast, the Investing jar does not simply mean saving money for university education, but it also means investing in yourself. The Giving jar means that you can choose to give to cause you believe in.
The jars encourage teenagers to think more objectively about money and the things that it can do, thus helping them to understand the value of the valuable and make informed (choose) about how to use the money they have when growing up.
I suppose it started when a private message appeared in my Facebook Messenger inbox. It was from a woman I met briefly through a friend. It said: "Hey, girlfriend. Want to invite you to join my next challenge group—we'll be focusing on fitting in 30 minutes of exercise, balanced nutrition and motivation. Let me help you reach your goals!"
I laughed it off and closed my browser(浏览器)but the meaning behind the message stuck with me all day. The more the days went on, the heavier her message weighed on me. The insecurity about my body was brought to life by one little Facebook message. That got me thinking about social media in general and how it took up too much of my time.
I tried to remember what life was like without Facebook. Surfing the Internet was an occasional distraction(消遣)and I spent a lot more time reading. I printed out photos and put them in albums. Checking in with friends happened through texts, e-mails or phone calls. Was life easier then than it is now? In an effort to both recreate the simplicity of those days and set a healthier example for my son, I closed my Facebook account.
I felt lost at first. However, leaving Facebook left my mind quiet enough to remember a few important things. My body is fine just the way it is: Though fat, I am healthy. My close friends will text or call me if they are struggling. Our happy moments as a family were strengthened because I was completely present and the break left me feeling better about myself, my family and my life.
After a few weeks, I returned to Facebook. I looked in on a daily basis, but only once with little desire to post as much as I once did. Facebook is not an addiction any more.
Social Media Detox
Today marks the last day of the Social Media Detox, is a fundraising campaign for new sports (equip). At first, over 100 students (persuade) to stop using social media, in ANY form, for seven days. Now, with the detox (finish), they've switched on their devices and they are back online. In the campaign, some students, who found the detox was difficult to tolerate, (throw) in the towel halfway, while others managed the whole week. (face) with the challenge, they found new ways to communicate with each other. They believe even if social media aren't (access), they still can enjoy a colourful life.
In my opinion, has been raised through the detox is not only money, but also the (aware) of how much we rely on social media. Now it's time for us (step) away from it and live a more meaningful life.
Xuan paper, known as one of the Four Treasures of Study, first came into (exist) in Xuan Prefecture in the Tang dynasty. The traditional skill of making the paper hand has been passed down through generations. The process takes as many as 100 steps, all of require a level of delicacy.
Take papermaking master Zhou Donghong for example. He uses a fine screen to filter(过滤) a mixture of water and fibers. He lifts it up, and it's a sheet of paper. It takes him and his partner only 15 seconds (form) and shape it, but they’ve devoted (they) to perfecting the skills for decades.
"There are a lot of tricks of filtering the fibers, and timing is (difficult) part of all. We have only one chance to filter the right amount of fibers, and only the proper weight guarantees the paper is neither too thin nor too thick, and the margin for error is (extreme) small," said Zhou. With just the right degree of thickness, top quality Xuan paper holds ink and water tightly.
The skill of papermaking, (recognize) as a national treasure, has also proven to be an international one. We felt great sense of pride as it was listed as a world intangible culture heritage(非物质文化遗产) by UNESCO in 2009. Since then, in Jingxian County, Xuan papermaking (teach) in schools.
