The freezing Northeast hasn't been a terribly fun place to spend time this winter, so when the chance came for a weekend to Sarasota. Florida. my bags were packed before you could say “sunshine. I left for the land of warmth and vitamin C(维生素C), thinking of beaches and orange trees. When we touched down to blue skies and warm air, I sent up a small prayer of gratefulness.Swimming pools, wine tasting, and pink sunsets(at normal evening hours, not 4 in the afternoon) filled the weekend, but the best part—particularly to my taste, dulled by months of coldweather root vegetables—was a 7 a．m. adventure to the Sarasota farmers'market that proved to be more than worth the early wakeup call.
The market, which was founded in 1979, sets up its tents every Saturday from 7 a．m. to 1 p．m., rain or shine, along North Lemon and State streets.Baskets of perfect red strawberries; the redpainted sides of the Java Dawg coffee truck; and most of all, the tomatoes:
amazing，large，soft and round red tomatoes.
Disappointed by many a broken, vineripened(蔓上成熟的) promise, I've refused to buy winter tomatoes for years. No matter how attractive they look in the store, once I get them home they're unfailingly dry, hard, and tasteless.But I homed in, with uncertainty, on one particular table at the Brown's Grove Farm's stand，full of fresh and soft tomatoes the size of my fist.These were the real deal—and at that moment, I realized that the best part of Sarasota in winter was going to be eating things that back home in New York I wouldn't be experiencing again for months.
Delighted as I was by the tomatoes in sight, my happiness deepened when I learned that Brown's Grove Farm is one of the suppliers for Jack Dusty, a newly opened restaurant at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton, where—luckily for me—I was planning to have dinner that very night.Without even seeing the menu, I knew I'd be ordering every tomato on it.
Today I went to my daughter's school and spoke about kindness to 60 kids plus teachers and assistant teachers.1 a small talk about the meaning of kindness, I gave a challenge to the2—I told them to write a small 3 about an act of kindness that they had done and how that made them feel. Or if they had 4 an act of kindness, how did that make them feel? In what way had that 5 changed them? Then the vice head and the head-teacher and I would choose the ones, the best ones that will 6 for their feeling of compassion and love 7 others.
When I was waiting for my daughter I 8 some teachers that were at the meeting passing by and I was 9 that they would tell me whether they liked the talk or not, but they didn't 10 anything.
Then a little 11 came to me and said, “You know, I enjoyed the meeting.” “Okay, then are you going to 12 a lovely story?” I asked. “I'm not 13 at writing,” the boy responded. So I explained that I would be 14 if he could just write a phrase or two about an act of kindness.
I didn't have 15 to talk to him because he was in a hurry to 16 his friends who were waiting for him, but in my 17, that was a beautiful act of kindness. The fact that he was able to 18 to talk to me for two minutes, to let me know that he had 19 the meeting was worth all the effort I had 20 into preparing the talk for them.
Each of us has goals for life. Some of these may be long-term (长期的) or1lifetime ones, and other dreams or wishes for more immediate satisfaction.
Just as you2great pleasure when you're trying to3short-term goals, there's also power in having long-term and lifetime goals. Both 4are valuable and serve each other. In order to be5in achieving a short- or long-term wish or goal, you must place your focus on the6result and train your mind on either a moment-to-moment, day-to-day, month-to-month, or year-to-year level.
For example,7a farmer is to plow (耕地) a straight line, he must keep his eye on a faraway point. If his attention is8just a few feet in front of him, he will not plow straight. So, in order for his field to be plowed straight, he must 9and focus on his long-term goal.
Focusing on a long-term goal can10the energy to get things done in the11. For instance, when a runner sets a(n) 12to run a mile, he'll13be tired when he14the one-mile mark. 15if this same runner sets a goal to run ten miles, he probably won't even be sweating (出汗) upon16this same one-mile mark. If this very same runner was to set a goal to run 26 miles and keep his mind on the completion of this long17, not only wouldn't he be sweating, but most likely he wouldn't even be out of breath as he ran by the18mark.
Long-term goals,19, can't be achieved without first achieving20goals. We may have a goal to climb a ladder (梯子), but we have to take one step at a time in order to reach the top.
Across the street from where we live, there stands a big hospital. To earn some money, we 1 the rooms upstairs to patients. One evening, there was a(n)2 at the door. I opened it and saw a short man who was 3 taller than my eight-year-old son. But the worst thing was his face— it was really ugly. He told me he'd been4a room since that noon but no one seemed to have one.5I hesitated, not wanting to rent him a room, but his next words 6 me. He said, “I could sleep on this chair. My bus leaves early in the morning.” I told him we would find him a bed.
It wasn't a long time 7 I found that this old man had a beautiful heart in that 8 body. He fished for a living to9his daughter, his daughter's children, and her disabled husband. He didn't tell it by way of complaint.10, he was grateful that no pain was caused by his 11 and that he still had strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot (吊床) in my children's room for him. Before he left the next morning, he asked, “Could I come back and 12 when I see the doctor next time?13 are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to 14.” I told him he was welcome to come again.
15 his next trip, he brought a big fish and a bag of the largest oysters(牡蛎) I had ever seen. Other times we received 16 in the mail. There were oysters, fish or some fresh vegetables.17 how little money he had and that he must walk three miles to 18 these made these gifts much more 19. And from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with 20.
When I was in junior high school, what my friends thought of me was really important to me. During those years, I grew much1 than most of my peers (同龄人）.Being so tall made me feel2In order to keep the focus off my unusual 3I went along with the crowd who would4 other kids at school. It made sure that the tricks were 5at others, and not at me.
Once before a 6 class, my friends and I played a7trick on one of the kids on the basketball team, which made him terribly embarrassed. I thought it was going to be funny,8 it all ended up that no one thought it was. My parents didn’t always think that my 9 was funny. They reminded me about “The Golden Rules”: to 10others as I would like to be treated. What I was doing was11other kids, and in turn hurting my 12 as someone to be looked up to. My friends were looking up to me 13I was tall, but what did they see? "
My parents wanted me to be a leader who set a good 14 to others. They taught me to set my own goals, and to do the 15at everything that I set out to do. They told me to be the leader that I was 16 to be — to be a big man in ray heart and actions, as well as in my body. I had to 17myself whether or not I would be the kind of leader and person my parents 18 I was inside, but I knew in my heart that they were 19
“Be a leader, Shaquille, not a(n)20 Since people already have to look up to you, give them a good reason to do so.”
There are too many fat people in America, so many Americans are fighting against overweight. But the 1thing is that the French, who consume rich food2to stay thin. Now a3by Cornell University suggests 4life style and decisions about 5may affect weight. Researchers concluded that the French tend to stop eating when they feel6. However, Americans tend to stop when their 7are empty or their favorite TV show is over.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a 8expert, the French see eating 9an important part of their life style. They enjoy food and therefore spend a 10time at the table, while Americans see eating as 11to be squeezed between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans 12the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have13.In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and14foods for the week. The French15tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers' markets where they have a 16of fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs as well as high-quality meats for each meal.
After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don't Get fat, decided to17about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid18. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely goes to the gym.
In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent life style 19may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity(肥胖)—or extreme overweight—among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains 20and the young reject older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17%—and is growing.
During the Nov.11 shopping event，many people tend to buy more than they need because of sales promotions or just plain urge.But what normally 1 the shopping spree(疯狂购物)is not2but regret.That's because many people just buy things to fill the 3 in their hearts，but accumulating things actually4 the burden in their minds.
The concept of Danshari may provide a(n)5to the problem.Danshari was based on three Chinese characters，duan she li6refusal，disposal(清除)and separation.It promotes the idea of getting rid of7things and separating oneself from the drive to own 8 possessions.There are two basic rules that 9 whether you should keep something—the relationship between you and the item under10as well as the timing.So before you11your payment password for something，ask yourself two questions：Do I 12 it now? Does it suit me?
Danshari encourages you not only to13 yourself things，but to give up the unreasonable desire associated with owning them.Nowadays，people need to learn to14their daily lives.Buy only the necessities and 15items，regularly16 things you don't need any more，then you'll get freedom in your heart.
However，it doesn't mean that you should 17your desire and live a less interesting life.Instead，you should 18 yourself rather than material goods.Through19what to buy and what to get rid of，you can see a deeper reflection of yourself20 learning to make wise decisions about more important things.
On a foggy evening, Steven took his old father to a restaurant for dinner. His father was very old and weak. While eating, he1dropped food on his shirt and trousers. Other2watched him in disgust while his son was 3.
The whole restaurant fell 4. All the diners turned away from the father and son one after another while Steven 5his father in a soft voice of a man, “Eat as6as you can, father. It will be weeks before I 7back from my business trip.”
At that moment, the old father nodded with8, tears full of his eyes.
After he finished eating, Steven, his son, who was not at all9 quietly took him to the wash room,10the food particles(饭粒), removed the stains, combed his hair and11his glasses firmly.
When they came out, the entire restaurant was12 them in dead silence, not able to understand 13someone could embarrass themselves publicly like that. The son14 the bill and started walking out with his father.
At that time, an old man among the diners called out to the 15 and asked him, “Don't you think you have 16 something behind?”.
The son replied, "No sir, I haven't".
The old man insisted, “Yes, you have! You left a(n) 17 for every son and hope for every 18”.
The restaurant went silent. All behind looked at Steven with regret and then, with great respect at both father and son, who were19into the fog.
To care for those who once cared for us is one of the20 honors. We all know how our parents cared for us for every little thing. Love them, respect them, and care for them.
Not everyone around is easy to get on well with in your life. I've always tried to keep my1 from people who are rude, aggressive and mean. But sometimes we can't 2 having contact with people who might not have our best interests at heart.
Last summer, I became involved with a(n)3co-worker who was at a bad spot in his life. I had a lot of4 for him and decided to help him5 this tough time, so I tried my best to6 his rudeness when he lost his temper. However, just like a swimmer drowning in a pool, he grabbed on and ended up drowning me when I7 and tried to rescue him. His rudeness gradually was out of8. One night, when I got up to get a glass of water, he started yelling at me to get back into my bedroom. I did as I was told but I was not happy about it. He9 my change in mood and asked what was wrong. But when I told him his behavior toward me was10 and that I was very hurt by the way he had11 me, he was surprised. He could not understand his actions had a bad12 on me. He told me he didn't have anything13 me and that there was no need for me to14 it. I used examples from his life of things that had hurt him and then tried to make the15 that the same things also made me16. I said, “I always treat you with patience, understanding and kindness, but you haven't treated me with17 respect. ” He was silent after listening to my words. What I had said might18 him.
People only change19 they want to change. I didn't know whether he would change his opinion or not in the future, but I would continue to 20 him through my patience, understanding and kindness.
It is you who are the only person that can change what you feel. A new relationship, a new house, a new car, a new job, these things can temporarily distract(转移) you from your 1, but no other person, no material possession, no activity can remove, release, or 2 how you feel. How often do you 3 people say things like “when I have enough 4, I won't be afraid anymore”, only to find there never seems to be enough money to 5 being afraid. Or “when I'm in a secure relationship I won't 6 lonely any more”, and finding they are still 7 regardless of their relationship. We need to 8 that we take our feelings with us 9we go. A new dress, a new house, a new job, none of these things change how we feel. Our feelings 10 within us until we release them.
You can not change or 11 your emotions. You can learn how to 12 with them, living peacefully with them, releasing them, and you can manage them, but you 13 control them.
Think of the people who go along day after day seeming to function normally, and all of a sudden they will 14 in anger at something that seems relatively little and 15.
That is one sign of someone who is trying to control or repress(压抑) their 16 but their repressed emotions are 17. The more anyone tries to control their emotions, the 18 they resist control, and the more frightened people 19 become at what is seen to be a “20 of emotional control”. It is a vicious(恶性的)circle.
Have you ever wondered about changing your life for the better? There are many ways for us to live a healthy lifestyle. So it seems1 that although we know a lot about 2 to live healthily, many people continue to do things which may be 3 for their health.
There are many parts of our lifestyles which allow us to live healthily. For example, we all know about the importance of 4healthy foods and doing enough exercise and physical activities in our daily life. In rich countries, good-quality fresh foods and sports facilities are 5 to the people, so it should be easy to 6 healthy living habits.7, today there are things which prevent people from having a healthy lifestyle. Industry and traffic have8serious environmental pollution. What's more, we spend a lot of time sitting before 9, and this often means we have10 time for activities which keep us fit. There are many people who spend many hours sitting in front of computers working, studying or playing computer games. 11, many people do not eat the 12 food.
All in all, although we have plenty of chances to follow a healthy lifestyle, in 13, we often choose a less healthy lifestyle. It's true that 14lifestyles have good and bad aspects, but the lifestyle we choose15 us. So, live healthily and find your best self.
In this day and age taking a photograph is easier than ever. There are1built into our phones, computers… The way we share photos has2changed. There was a time when you'd 3your photos and file them away into photo albums, but 4the advances in technology and the Internet, all this has changed.
Not only do we have what seems like a (n) 5 amount of space to 6 photos on our devices(设备), but we also have the Internet and social media. Social networks such as Facebook 7 us to post our pictures and albums to share with friends and family.
While you could argue this8 way to store, share and enjoy photos is fantastic, it also could be said that photographs have 9 some of their meaning. I have over 1,000 10on my smartphone and several thousand stored on my computer. I love Instagram and occasionally post my pictures to Facebook. Sometimes, 11, I'll be in the middle of taking or posting a photo and think, is this something worth 12? I try to ask myself, will I 13 want to look back at this picture of a coffee or a selfie(自拍照) taken in a bathroom by myself? Probably not.
Even though I'm guilty of occasionally taking 14and boring pictures like this, a couple of years ago I decided to find a way to make my photographs more meaningful. 15did I do this? Disposable cameras! When I go on a trip, I always try to 16 a disposable camera. With only 24 pictures you can take, you really 17 the photographs you're taking. It's also kind of 18 that you can't see the photograph straight away. And 19, it's so much fun to get the pictures 20 and look through them.
As a child, I was always told to "eat my greens". These were the unappealing vegetables that sat on the edge of my plate. Peas, and green beans, all looked and tasted 1. At that time, all I thought was that "when there were so many other delicious treats to2, why should I eat boring vegetables?"
Since then my taste buds have3and I'm also fully aware of the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables. But we still need4 of the amazing goodness these green super foods give us. In the UK, a campaign has been5for several years to encourage us to eat our "5A Day"—five portions of fruit and vegetables. That's6evidence has shown there are significant health7to getting at least five 80g portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.
But I struggle trying to fit these five portions into my daily8, partly because I have a sweet9and vegetables are, well, tasteless. Researchers have been10 how to make eating vegetables more11. They analyzed the psychology behind our food 12 and found that most of us are13by taste. Brad Turnwald from Stanford University says that "studies show that people14 to think of healthier options as less tasty for some reason."
In Europe, a project called Veggie EAT has also been trying to find ways to get people to 15more vegetables. Project leader, Professor Heather Hartwell believes in 16 encouraging people into eating the right things. One idea is to put a 17of a tasty looking fruit on a supermarket trolley as a 18 about buying something from the fruit section. She says, "Choice is a really19thing. But making vegetables look attractive will increase their sales."
Certainly, eating "twisted citrus-glazed carrots" does sound tempting, even if it just 20like a carrot, but if it makes us eat more vegetables then that can only be a good thing for our health.
If you are a perfectionist, you are probably familiar with the feeling of wanting to get everything just right. You may struggle with handing in papers, agonize(苦苦思索)over projects at work, and even worry about small errors from the past. High 1 are one thing, but perfectionism is quite another. And as some researchers have discovered, 2 perfection can have serious consequences to mental and physical well-being.
Since perfectionism is 3 with negative outcomes, what can someone with perfectionist tendencies do to change their behavior? Although people are sometimes 4 to give up their perfectionist tendencies, psychologists point out that giving up on perfection doesn't mean being unsuccessful. 5, mistakes are an important part of learning and growing. 6, imperfection can actually help us in the long run.
One possible 7 to perfectionism involves developing what psychologists call a growth mindset(思维方式).Researchers at Stanford University have found that cultivating a growth mindset is a key way to help us learn from our failures. Unlike those with 8 mindsets — who see their skill levels as inborn and unchangeable, those with growth mindsets believe they can improve their abilities by learning from their mistakes. Psychologists point out that parents can play a 9 role in helping their children develop healthier attitudes towards failure: they can praise their children for making an effort even if their results are imperfect and help children learn to 10 when they make mistakes.
Another 11 option for perfectionism is to cultivate self-compassion(自我同情). To understand self-compassion, thank about how you would 12 a close friend if they made a mistake. Chances are that you'd probably make responses with kindness and understanding, knowing that your friend meant well. The idea behind self-compassion is that we should treat ourselves 13 when we make mistakes, remind ourselves that mistakes are part of being human, and avoid being 14 by negative emotions. Self-compassion can be beneficial for mental health, but perfectionists tend not to treat themselves in compassionate ways. If you're interested in trying to foster more self-compassion the researcher who developed the concept of self-compassion has a short exercise you can try.
Psychologists have also suggested that cognitive(认知的)behavioral therapy can be a way to help people change their beliefs about perfectionism. Although perfectionism is linked to lower mental health, the good news is that perfectionism is something you can change. By working to see mistakes as learning 15, and replacing self-criticism with self-compassion, it's possible to overcome perfectionism and develop a healthier way of setting goals for yourself.
Making friends is a skill. Like most skills, it1with practice. If you want to meet people and make friends, you must be able to take some action. You must first go2there are people. You won't make friends staying home alone. 3a club or a group, for talking with those who like the same things as you do is4easier.5join someone in some activities.
Many people are6when talking to people. After all, meeting7means facing the unknown. And it's human nature to feel a bit uncomfortable about the8. Most of our fears about dealing with new people come from doubts about ourselves. We think other people are judging us, find us too tall or too short, too9or too fat. 10don't forget that they must be feeling the same way. Try to11yourself as you are, and try to put the other person at ease(舒适). And you'll feel more12.
Try to act self-confidently(自信地)even if you don't feel that way13you enter a room full of strangers, such as a new classroom, walk tall and straight, look directly at other people and14. If you see someone you'd like to15something to, don't wait for16person to start a conversation.
Just meeting someone17doesn't mean that you will make friends with that person—18is based on mutual(相互的) liking and “give and take”. It takes19and effort to develop. And there are things that20a new friendship from growing.
If someone has an accident he is likely to suffer from shock. This is a medical condition when somebody looks 1 or feels weak and sick. A victim in a state of shock always has a weak but 2 heart beat. If you see someone suffering from shock, ask them to sit or lie down.
He may want to put his head between his legs for a short time. Then check the clothes—there should be 3 close-fitting clothes round his neck. If the shock is not serious, 4 the victim a cup of warm, sweet tea to drink. This will make him feel better. But if he looks really ill, call 5 emergency help immediately. Meanwhile lift his legs up so that the blood will flow to his 6 which will help him feel better. If you have a blanket, put it round the victim to keep him 7. This will stop him from getting cold and shivering, which can happen when he suffers shock. Do not move the victim far 8 a good reason and do not allow him 9. If the person finds 10 difficult to breathe, put him in the recovery position.
Nowadays, many of us track our steps with smart watches, pedometers(计步器)or phone apps and are of course thrilled when we reach that all-important daily goal of 10,000 steps. You might 1 that this number has appeared after years of research.
The 2 number "10,000" dates back to a marketing campaign 3 shortly before the start of the1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. A company began4a pedometer called the Manpo-kei: "man" meaning 10,000, "po" meaning5and "kei"meaning meter. It was hugely 6 and the number seems to have stuck. Marty buyers are appealed by the new gadget.
Since then, studies have 7 the health benefits of 5,000 with 10,000 steps and, not8, the higher number is better. But until recently, all the 9 between hadn't been studied. I-Min Lee, a professor of 10 at Harvard Medical School, and her team 11a group of more than 16,000 women in their seventies. Each woman spent a week 12 a device to measure movement during 13 hours. When they 14 the women up an average of four years and three months later, 504 died. How many steps do you think the people alive had been doing? In fact, the average number for15 was only 5,500 but not 10,000. Women who took more than 4,000 steps a 16 were significantly more likely to still be alive than those who did only 2,700 steps. It's surprising that such a small 17could have consequences for longevity(寿命).
However, physical conditions.18from person to person, and we should do it wisely. So count if you find it 19 you, but remember there's nothing special about 10,000 steps. Set the goal that is 20 for you.
Whenever Michael Carl, the fashion market director at Vanity Fair, goes out to dinner with friends, he plays something called the "phone stack" game: Everyone 1 their phones in the middle of the table; whoever looks at their device before the check arrives 2 the tab (账单).
Brandon Holley, the former editor of Lucky magazine, had trouble 3 her mobile phone when she got home from work. So about six months ago, she 4 putting her phone into a milk tin the moment she walked in. It remains there until after dinner. And Mare Jacobs, the fashion designer, didn't 5 to sleep close to a buzzing gadget (小装置). So he 6 digital devices from his bedroom — a house rule he 7 with audiences during a recent screening of Disconnect, a film that shows how technology has alienated (使疏远) people from one another.
As smart phones 8 to make their way into our lives, and wearable devices like Google Glass 9 to destroy our personal space even further. Whether it's a physical 10 (no iPads at the dinner table) or a conceptual (精神上的) one (turn off devices by 11 p.m.), users say these disconnecting 11 are improving their relationships.
"Disconnecting is a luxury that we all 12," said Lesley M. M. Blume, a New York writer who keeps her phone away from the dinner table at home. "The expectation that we must always be 13 to employers, colleagues and family creates a real problem in trying to 14 private time. But that private time is more important than ever."
A popular method for disconnecting is to choose a box for your cellphone, like the milk tin that Ms. Holley uses. "15 my phone is buzzing or lighting up, it's still a distraction (分散注意力的事), so it 16 in the box." said Ms. Holley. Others choose new 17. "No screens after 11 p.m." said Ari. Melber, a TV host. "Now evenings are more 18 and I am sleeping better." he added.
Sleep is a big factor, which is why some 19 to leave their phones out of their bedrooms. "I don't want to sleep next to something full of photos and emails." said Peter Som, a fashion designer, who keeps his phone plugged in in the living room overnight. "It 20 is a headclearer and distinguishes daytime and sleep time."
I went for a walk up to a local park and Chester was running about. Suddenly, two dogs appeared, attacking him. He got 1 and ran off in an unfamiliar direction. I can only 2 myself—it's like losing a family member. My daughter didn't sleep for three days. She just thought her pet was 3.
My family had almost lost 4 until Erica decided to offer her services. She uses a drone (无人机) to help find lost dogs. Equipped with a hi-tech thermal imaging (热成像) camera, the drone can detect heat 5 from 250 feet in the air. 6, when asked to help out in a search for a 7, Erica simply turns up to the dog's last known 8 and sets up the drone. Having found more than 160 dogs, it's proved pretty 9.
And it's easy to see why. Can you 10 Chester running around these woods? To the naked eye (肉眼), it's virtually impossible, but pop the thermal image up and he jumps out, 11 his owner to bring him safely back home.
Having saved hundreds of dogs, the method is clearly 12. Erica doesn't 13 for her services and instead does it for the pleasure of seeing the owners 14.
Erica's drone has helped create countless happy 15 and is sure to make many more in the future.
