【推荐1】Several weeks ago, I pulled an old road map out of the glove box and passed it to my children. They had never seen the province of Ontario laid out like that before. They stared at the map, asking about all the towns, parks, and other landmarks we'd visited, and I pointed them out on the map.

Google Maps and GPS are modern wonders that have gotten me out of many confusing places, but paper maps still have a role to play in our lives. Most of us adults learned to read them out of necessity, but it's up to us to pass on that skill to children whose need may not be so obvious, but who still stand to benefit from it.

As Trevor Muir wrote in an article on this topic, "When kids learn how to create and use paper maps, they are doing more than just learning how to get around. They are actually developing fundamental skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Map skills still belong in today's classroom. "

As a child I had National Geographic maps taped to my bedroom walls. This aroused my curiosity and imagination about those places and thus made me eager to remember my geography and history lessons because they were tied to places I'd "seen". Even now as a mother of four, I've also spared time to travel to many of the countries whose maps I studied as a child.

Additionally, in this fast-changing world, unexpected events can rapidly influence one's usual way of life. When GPS satellites or Internet connections are affected, this old-fashioned skill can get you out of a mess without requiring a smartphone. Last but not least, paper maps arouse "big picture" thinking, showing kids that there's a much bigger world out there and helping to direct them within it.

So, now is a good time to pull out those dusty old maps and lay them on the kitchen table.

【推荐2】Thinking is great. But action makes things happen. One of the biggest differences with people that successfully grow, expand themselves, and reach their goals, is that they consistently take action. Action takes energy though, so where does that energy come from? It comes from inside.     1    

Here are several ways to light the fire and inspire yourself to take action.

Act like you mean it. Maybe you want to get in great shape, but are you acting like you mean it? How many hours are you putting in each week? What routines are you trying?     2     Who are your instructors and models? What bold actions are you taking? If you act like you mean it, you'll make better choices, show more confidence, and build energy that helps you spring up.

    3     Find some role models and heroes to use to lift your spirits. Just having some examples under your belt can inspire you to new levels. For example, for me, I always look to the amazing physical and philosophical achievements of Bruce Lee. Chances are, no matter what problem or challenge you're up against, somebody's been there and done that.

Shift to the future. Always thinking of the past is a quick way to bring yourself down. To lift yourself up, switch to the future and imagine the possibilities. See what's possible. This is where hope springs from. A few simple ways to shift to the future are... “How can I solve this?”…or "What would good look like?”…or "What's the end in mind?"     4    

Connect to your values. You can connect everything you do to your values. This is a powerful way to inspire yourself with skill.     5     Whenever you take on a task, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?" or "How can I improve this?” Simply by connecting to your values, you make use of your inner source of power. Your values fuel you and get you excited.

【推荐1】I couldn’t be more excited to join Reader’s Digest as we celebrate our 100th anniversary. Since 1922, this magazine has shared stories about remarkable people across the country and the kind and heroic things they do for one another.

I grew up in a family of storytellers. My father, a police officer in our central Illinois town, came home every day with stories about the people in our community: funny anecdotes or dramatic stories that revealed the lives of the individuals in our town and what they went through every day.

My mother was a gifted storyteller and her job in the front office of our local middle school provided a lot of material. My sister and I heard about classmates who were caught skipping school or forced by the principal to admit their mischief on unpopular teacher. She would deliver the play-by-play to us, laughing about kids and the things they do. My sister and I learned how to find and tell our own stories in a way that the April 1960 issue held Mom and Dad’s attention and earned their laughs. I suspect those conversations pushed me toward journalism, a way of telling stories to an audience beyond the dinner table.

In this special anniversary issue, we look at some of the incredible stories from famous writers, politicians, everyday heroes, and average Americans that have filled the pages of Reader’s Digest for a century. We also talk about humor, health, and how to feel hopeful about the next century. Of course, there is too much for one issue, so be sure to visit us online at rd.com/100th for more.

Most of all, thank you for being a part of the first 100 years of Reader’s Digest. I look forward to hearing and sharing your stories for years to come.