【推荐2】Life Cycles

About 15 years ago, Andrew McLindon, whose favorite hobby is riding, was on his bike in Austin, Texas, when he thought about a friend’s son. The boy had never known the joy of biking because he suffered from the balance disturbances. When McLindon got home, he bought a three-wheel recumbent (可斜躺的) bike with a seat belt, perfect for a child with balance issues. Then the boy got the chance to seize the freedom coming with simply riding a bike and began interacting with friends. But there was more, as McLindon learned from his friend’s reaction after performing this small act of kindness. “I’ll never forget the smile on his face,” McLindon said.

The smile launched the McLindon Family Foundation. Funded by donations, the foundation finds disabled children who can benefit from owning adaptive bikes, and helps adapt each bike to the particular needs of the children.

When the foundation was just started, people thought a bike was not a pressing need for children with medical conditions. The feedback from the families, however, told the foundation that it was so much more. It strengthens muscles. It builds confidence. It is the joy and pride of owning a bike. And, most importantly, it’s inclusion. To the families and the children, the bike has changed their lives. Once children are fitted for their bikes and are able to ride around with families and friends, the real results come to light. The ability to move allows these children to truly become part of the group — that is priceless at any age.

Since the start of the foundation, they have helped to provide 450 bikes for happy children. These children and their families are not just one-time clients. They are involved. “I am part of the project because every day my family is blessed with the wonderful gift that is the fruit of this project. It is really incredible,” a mother said. “I could go on forever about all the things that this project has given back to me,” said McLindon. “It absolutely brings me the greatest happiness.”

【推荐3】The day before Thanksgiving, to prepare for the next day’s community dinner in our farm’s room, I went to the barn for the thirty-pound turkey in the barn fridge. As I opened it, I found an empty space. Next, I looked all over the barn, thinking John had left the turkey out accidentally, but there wasn’t a turkey in sight. By then, I knew I wouldn’t find it there. I’d feel awkward if fifteen people came for Thanksgiving the next day.

After asking John if he had brought the turkey into the house, I remembered it was Wednesday, the day the workers of the charity came for the vegetables we donated to community families each week. Every Tuesday, I sent an e-mail to the friend who picked up our vegetables to tell her what we had. I looked back at that week’s e-mail and saw that I had mentioned the turkey on the top shelf. Re-reading the note, I realized that she must have sent someone else for the pick-up. Someone less familiar with our arrangement could think a turkey donation accompanied the vegetables for Thanksgiving.

Since the charity was closed by then, I tried to contact my friend but in vain. We wouldn’t mind the turkey going to charity, but we needed a turkey, and it was 4:00 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving. Would we really be able to find an organic turkey at this late hour?

I called a local store, which still had an organic turkey. When John got home with the turkey, he said everyone in the meat department had a good laugh about our “donation”. At our table, we laughed at the gift of a good story with which to remember this Thanksgiving — a reminder to be grateful for all we have and all we can share.

【推荐1】Ellie Hamby, a documentary photographer, and Sandy Hazelip, a physician and lecturer, toured the world in 80 days, adventuring from the beaches of Bali to the deserts of Egypt.

Their first stop was Antarctica. They got to the southernmost continent after crossing the Drake Passage, the rough waters between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands. Since that first adventure, the pair have visited 18 countries across all seven continents.

Hazelip said she came across Hamby after her husband died in 1999. Before his death, he “planted the seed in my heart that we should start taking our grandsons on trips in the summer,” she said. This led her to the Zambia Medical Mission, a project run by Hamby and her husband in southern Africa.

The two bonded because both of them loved travelling and were committed to prioritizing unique experiences over comfort while abroad. Both became closer after Hamby’s husband died in 2005.

Hazelip said the idea for their trip originated a few years before they were each set to turn 80. “I just got the idea because we’d traveled previously together internationally,” she said. “And so about four years before we were going to turn 80, I mentioned to her one day, ‘Ellie, wouldn’t it be fun to go around the world in 80 days at age 80?’”

Over the past eighty days, the pair have ridden camels in Egypt, met elephants in Bali, danced in Nepal, and observed the Northern Lights in Finland. And despite the challenges international travel presents, the best friends said they finished their trip without any arguments.

Although Hamby and Hazelip have finished their worldly adventure and returned home to Texas, the two are already planning for their next trip. And they encouraged other older travelers not to let age hold them back. Aside from some small things—like deciding not to ride a motorbike in Bali because of concerns about falling—they said their age didn’t affect their travel abroad.

【推荐3】It was a normal day in Altitude, a town high in the mountains. People were going about their daily routines, not knowing the disaster that was soon to come. Suddenly, the ground under their feet began to shake. Then people were thrown off their feet and objects flew off shelves. The sound of breaking glass and falling buildings filled the air.

Alice, a young girl who was in her house when the earthquake struck, knew she had to act fast. She got her emergency kit, which included food, water, and a first-aid kit, and ran out of the house.

The streets were messy. Traffic lights were out, cars were overturned, and people were running in fear. Alice knew she had to get to higher ground. She headed for the nearest hill, joining a group of other people. As they reached the top, the full force of the earthquake hit, but Alice and the others managed to stay on top of the hill.

After what seemed like a century, the earthquake finally stopped. Alice looked down at the town she had called home. It was in ruins. Houses were destroyed, roads were cracked open, and a large crack had formed in the middle of the town square.

Alice knew she had to help. She joined hands with other survivors and they began the rescue effort. With simple tools and their bare hands, they dug through the stones and bricks to find anyone who might be trapped inside. In the following days, Alice and the other survivors worked tirelessly to help, providing food, water, and medical aid to those in need. With the help of rescue teams and volunteers from around the country, they slowly but surely began to rebuild their town.

Alice’s experience changed her forever. She realized that life was uncertain, but also that people could come together in times of difficulty. She determined to help others whenever she could and above all never to forget the power of community.