【推荐1】I have been watching my daughters play sports since they were four, and have been shocked at how some parents in the crowd behave.

At soccer games, when my girls were very young, parents would be screaming at their children to get their heads into the game, to charge, to “get” an opposing player, or to “kill it.” I understand parents want to encourage their children and their team—but at some point it becomes too much.

My daughter Grace is a high school and AAU (Association of American Universities) basketball player and a very good one at that. During a recent game, a parent sitting near me was shouting loudly to her daughter, standing up, expressing displeasure about the way her team was playing and, during halftime, speaking loudly about her personal life. After having her in my ear for more than half of the game, I was so put off that I had to move.

Admittedly, I am the quiet parent at games. I clap for the schoolgirls when they make wonderful plays. For the most part, however, I remain silent. Shouting out makes them nervous.

I asked Grace to weigh in on this, and she tells me: “Some parents become extremely emotionally invested in sports games, which can become a problem for the players. The worst thing is when people point out that ‘crazy parent,’ and they don’t know that’s your parent.”

I am all for parent spectators cheering on their children and the rest of the team. But I hope you can cheer your children on in a positive way. Shouting things like, “Where’s your head?” “Go after her!” is not, in my view, the way to cheer on high school students or younger children.

If you have nothing positive to say, hold your tongue. If you find yourself struggling to keep it together, get some fresh air during halftime.

【推荐2】Jim Denevan is an amazing artist whose work is admired by all, but owned by none — that’s because all of Jim’s art is created on an unusual canvas (画布) — the soft sand. He sometimes spends days working on a piece, only to see it washed away by the sea or a storm and that is just the way he likes it.

Denevan discovered his artistic talents about ten years ago, when he was wandering aimlessly on the beach with a stick. He ended up drawing a 12-foot-long fish. Since then, Jim has traveled over 1,800 miles while creating over 600 pieces of sand art.

Over the years, his drawings have become bigger, but the tools he uses haven’t changed — All he needs is a stick, a garden rake (耙) and most importantly, his lively imagination!

Just like any good artist, Jim is quite particular about the “quality” of his canvas, sometimes walking for miles, in search of perfect sand. His latest piece of work, which is also the world’s largest freelance (自由职业的) drawing, was created in the desert sands of Nevada. It took Jim three trips, eight days and over 100 miles of walking to create this 3-mile work of art. It took the storm just one night to destroy it! However, Jim says he actually enjoys watching the waves or rain wash his paintings away.

Jim’s art has become very popular over the years and was even the topic of a documentary named “Sandman” in 2005. Jim Denevan is not just about art in the sand — he is also an excellent cook and founder of an organization called “Outstanding in the Field”, whose motto (座右铭) is to celebrate food at its source. Accordingly, group dining events are held outdoors on farms, with the diners being treated to a delicious meal. The events, which are held in different farms throughout America, are always sold out the minute the schedule is announced.

【推荐3】After a car crash left 14-year-old Collin Smith paralyzed, doctors told him he had a 20 percent chance of finishing high school. The opportunity to attend college seemed even slimmer. Yet eight years later, Collin earned a bachelor of arts degree. He achieved the nearly impossible--with the help of a kind and generous man five decades his senior.

Emest Greene and his wife attended the same church as Collin and his parents did. The Creenes had moved to the area just nine months earlier. But when Emest heard about Collin' s accident and the fact that his parents would not be able to care full-time for him, he approached Collin's parents with the idea that he looked after the boy while they were at work. The Smiths gratefully accepted.

Emest sought training to care for Collin and then began arriving early on weekday mornings. He would help Collin get out of bed, wash, dress and have breakfast. Then he' d drive Collin to and from school. Then, while the two waited for one of Collin's parents to get home, "We played lot of Monopoly," says Emest with a laugh. At first, the age difference was a challenge but they learned to compromise. "Older folks are just older versions of you," says Collin. "Same people. great stories."

Some days were better than others. "He can't do for himself, so he can be demanding," says Emest. But he attests that Collin's strong will got him through tough times.

After graduation, Collin was accepted to nearby High Point University. Emest accompanied him to every class. On graduation day, Emest received an honorary degree in humanities.

"I was floored, "he says.

Collin wasn't surprised, however. "Emest is a godly example of the way a man should live-calm, modest," he says.

Practical tips to stay fit for Spring Festival

The Spring Festival is here and lots of people may not only ruin their usual diets, but also gain a few extra pounds.    1    . Excessive eating is claimed to be the main cause for the additional weight gain, but it is also due to lack of physical activity and exercise. A lot of individuals out there tend to set aside their fitness routines during the holidays since they believe that they do not have enough time to perform their workouts. And because they feel guilty after   the holiday season,   most   of   the   gyms   and   fitness   centers   are   packed   with   fresh   members.     2    . Here are several useful tips that might help you.

Eat before heading out. It is best that you eat something before heading out to visits, trips or family dinners. You will no longer be tempted to eat a lot or overindulge yourself since you have already eaten.

Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast! Even though it can be tempting to skip on certain meals, believing that it will make up for the treats you consumed in the previous day, don’t do it because it will only lead to counterproductive results.

    3    . Alcohol, coke or other juices will only add more calories to the ones you already ate!

Make the holidays a family affair. Plan outdoor activities where everyone is involved. Even a tour at the shopping mall will burn a lot of calories and keep the children entertained.

You’d better distribute your meals evenly throughout the day, and do not eat everything at once.     4    . Eat your dinner earlier and have a nice walk before going to bed.

These tips will help you avoid gaining weight during the holiday, and will also allow you to enjoy yourself and have a great time with your loved ones. So there you go!

【推荐3】Sleeping is important, but we all know that, right? Many people have experienced strange sleeping patterns, weird dreams and a feeling of restlessness and drowsiness during the coronavirus lockdown, despite a good night's sleep. So what sort of things can help you to improve your sleep?

There’s a plethora of myths related to sleep, some of which can be quite damaging for our health, Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously claimed that she only hit the sack for five hours a night. But according to experts this is detrimental to health. Likewise, kipping in front of the TV is another thing to avoid. The bright lights can prevent you from entering deep sleep.

From a young age we're told to count sheep to help us to nod off, with some choosing to stay in bed to battle with insomnia (失眠). However, some experts advise getting up and doing something mindless, like folding socks, to help us get in the mood to catch forty winks.

Psychologist Seth J. Gillihan PhD recommends walking to help in the battle against insomnia. He talks about a sleep study published in the journal Sleep Health which suggests that those who walk slightly more will experience better quality and duration of sleep. Watching what you eat or drink can also improve the amount of REM, or rapid eye movement you experience.

If you’re a snorer, you might also want to take note. While most snoring is harmless, it could be a sign of sleep apnoea, with people suffering from the condition more likely to have strokes or heart attacks, irregular heartbeats or high blood pressure.

Finally, a decent nap, or even a power nap, can help you to be more alert, calm and focused. So while there are some good tips like exercising or folding socks to help us get a good night’s sleep, sometimes a good afternoon’s sleep can help us tackle the day ahead.