【推荐2】Are you a tiger? According to the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Tiger are kind, caring and energetic.    1    Thus, while we admire the handsome animals, we also fear them. But there are lessons from the lives of these striking cats.

Tigers rarely feed in groups in the wild, but when they do, males allow females and cubs (幼崽) to eat first.     2    We, too, should consider the needs of others before we act.

Tigers go after large prey, so they have big ideas. Despite all their planning, tigers only end up with a meal once out of every 12 attempts to catch something. Yet they do not give jom up; they keep trying until they succeed.

Most kinds of cats avoid water, but tigers enjoy water and are very capable swimmers. This fondness of water allows them to live in many different environments. Learn from the tiger, and decide for yourself what you can and cannot do.    3     Explore surprising places.

Tigers’ love of water also allows them to hunt and fight crocodiles. Typically, tigers make a kill by biting the neck of their prey. But a crocodile’s neck has a thick coat of armor. Tigers are not put off by this. Instead, they change their strategy and attack the creature’s vulnerable (脆弱的) areas like its stomach or eyes. Like the tiger, don’t let difficult situations stop you from succeeding.    4    

Tigers are as different as people are.     5     So be yourself and show off your stripes (条纹).

【推荐3】It was mid-afternoon. I looked outside my dorm window, and saw the lifeless gray sky, the snow and the trackless sidewalks. There was no one in the snow but a squirrel. The brown-gray North American squirrel,a look of terror in his shining eyes, braved the cold to throw himself over snow. In his mouth was a large acorn(橡实)—I was surprised it fit in his mouth.

I moved closer to my window, outside of which is a medium-sized tree, lacking its warm-weather leaves. The squirrel ran up rapidly, higher and higher in the tree, and his small body held onto his dear acorn.

Up he went, to the tip of one of the highest branches. I held my breath—I wondered if that slender branch could support him. I wondered if his winter food store was in this tree—squirrels are known to hide their nuts, mushrooms, and vegetation high up in trees. Outside, the squirrel firmly grasped that branch, jaw clamping(夹紧)on his acorn.

Then came the wind blowing violently, shaking the tree, the branch and the squirrel. He hung on for dear life, and both arms wrapped around the branch in the wind. I held my breath: If he fell from a height like this, then.... Seeing this little squirrel, I had my heart in my mouth. As the wind became stronger, the squirrel’s precious acorn fell to the ground. The squirrel followed its downward progress only by sight—if he let go the branch, he would fall downwards as well. I was so nervous that I didn’t take my gaze off the squirrel for one minute. Surprisingly, he then climbed down the tree and was now half-buried in the snow, searching desperately for his acorn. Finally, he made it.

The brave animal is able to survive in nature all because of its desperate efforts.The same goes for us humans. We all work hard to survive, and this is the law of nature. So effort is not something special, but a matter for all living things to do to survive.

【推荐1】Everyone has bad days-they're a universal part of life. Maybe you're getting fed up at work, the news has you down, or you wake up in a terrible mood.    1     And there are simple ways you can love yourself through it.

Accept the fact that you're having a bad day.

Forget about what you think you should be feeling. Your emotions are acceptable and deserve to be recognized, so give them a hug!    2     And remind yourself: it's okay to have a bad day.

Practice gratitude.

Write down a few things you're thankful for. Not only will this push you into a more positive mindset, it will also make you more appreciative of what you have!

    3    

Find your go-to and enjoy! Play music that makes your heart sing, spend some quality time with your pets, or have your favorite dessert-it doesn't matter as long as it makes you smile!

Get some fresh air.

    4     You'll probably be surprised by how much better you feel! Many people find it incredibly comforting to spend time in nature, so get out and enjoy!

Spread some kindness.

One of the easiest ways to feel good is to do good. You'll find that by lifting others up, you do the same for yourself.

So if you're feeling down, keep in mind that this won't last forever.    5     These adjustments don't require much effort, and may be easier than you think. Let's go for it.

【推荐3】Have you ever started your day feeling unbeatable, only to feel worn down by the time you get into bed?     1     Try the following routines to help you sail through your day.

Practise gratitude. As you wake up, whether naturally or through your alarm, pause for a few seconds.     2     It may be a photograph of someone you love, your stylish new bedside table, or just being alive and being offered a new day. Take in the positivity and bathe in it for a few moments before continuing your day.

Exhale(呼出) your tension. If you feel anxious or stressed as you wake up, take a few minutes to do an exercise to deal with the tension. Stand tall and bring both hands to your chest. Inhale, and then exhale as you open your arms and reach down to touch the floor. This will stretch your body and oxygenate your brain.     3    

Check in with yourself. On your way to work, take a minute to “check in” with yourself. Think through your goals for the day.     4     Allow yourself to feel the positivity associated with those achievements. This visualization exercise is a simple way to build positive intention, create focus, and boost your motivation and confidence for the day.

    5     Be aware of not automatically reaching for your phone to check emails or social media as it can put you into a reactive mode rather than keeping your mind clear to choose how you want to go about in your day, and how you intend to respond instead of just reacting to events and people. The more you are able to stay centered and connected to yourself, the less likely you will stress out.