【推荐1】Watching the young, 21-year-old Jordan Spieth win the US Masters today, I could not help but think of the great qualities he showed to win the most famous golf event on the calendar against the greatest players in the world.

Jordan Spieth has learned to keep himself in check. There is a great proverb: A fool shares all his or her feelings while a wise man keeps them in check. As I watched Spieth playing, I noticed a constant calm around him. Whether he hit the shot he wanted or not, he was the same and kept his emotions steady and strong. He never blamed the crowd, clubs (球棍) or wind.

He knows which club he is going to drive with on every hole; he knows which side of the fairway (高尔夫球道) to land and exactly where he wants to be standing on every green when he is putting: he has played it through his minds for months. He is the person who makes things happen by planning in advance because he knows winning is a product of months and years of planning.

If there is an event that every golfer dreams of winning, it’s the US Masters. Spieth failed in 2014, getting so close to winning but coming second. As good as second was, he only wanted to be first. As a great person once said, "While you’re green, you’re growing, when you’re brown, you’re dying." He stays green. He is always reading, learning, and he understands that the greatest teacher of all is failure.

【推荐2】This past fall, my husband and I stopped into the local Aldi for shopping. While checking out, I did my usual practice of replying to the cashier's usual "How are you today?" with a short but real answer. Then I looked at her and said, "And how are you doing?" and waited kindly and expectantly for an answer.

She was a little surprised, but then she got started. As it turned out, her elderly grandfather was the most important in her mind, but he had been struggling lately and in hospital. Her worry was obvious, despite her bravery. "I know he is ninety-one, but "Her voice turned into a sad whisper before she caught herself." If it won't offend (冒犯) you, I will pray for him," I said. "Oh, thank you!" she replied.

Several weeks or so in the future, we wound up in her line again. After the usual "How are you?" I paused, then quietly asked, "I hope this is not a bad question, but how is your grandfather doing?"

I could tell she had to think a moment to place me and to recall why I was asking. Then her face split into a huge smile full of light, and she started excitedly telling us about how he was a tough old bird, how he had recovered, and was doing well. She kept bubbling over even after we had moved to the bagging area.

I was amazed at how something so seemingly small meant so much to her, but it makes sense, really. Sometimes all we need is for someone to see us and care, to care if we are hurting and to celebrate with us in our joy.

Taking the time to listen when we ask, "How are you?" is such an almost small action only taking a few moments out of our day, yet how important that tiny amount of time can be!

We really are all in this together.

Can you imagine your parents choosing your husband or wife for you? And can you imagine not setting eyes on him or her until your wedding day? This situation is common in India, the Middle East and many parts of Africa.     1    We don't realize that people in other places often get married in very different ways—and with different motives(动机)．

    2    A marriage provides a safe and stable home for the husband and wife. It also joins children, making sure the couple will be taken care of in old age. Because a marriage is important for the whole family, some cultures don't let young people choose whom to marry.

Just as there are many different reasons for marriage, there are also many different wedding rituals(仪式),    3    In a typical Western wedding, the bride seeks good luck by wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” Something old represents the past. Something new represents success in the future. Something borrowed reminds the bride she can get help from her friends and family.    4    

In Poland, one wedding tradition is not only lucky, but also very practical. The wedding guests pin money to the bride's dress while she is dancing. Th e money is meant to bring luck and to help the young couple build their new life. In Bermuda, the young couple plants a tree in the yard of their new home. Once they move in, they take good care of the tree , making it grow and blossom. The planting of the tree is a good metaphor(隐喻) for marriage.    5    

【推荐3】Mallory Haske surfs nearly every day in the summer, and it really annoys her to see trash(垃圾) in the water or on the beach. So when her high school English teacher assigned a passion project, Haske came up with a creative idea that connected surfing and trash.

She collected litter on the beach and used it to create a surf board in an effort to raise awareness about ocean pollution. “The feeling of catching a wave is fantastic. It’s such a men-tal release,” said Haske, standing on the beach waxing(上蜡) her newly finished trash board. “I really hope it floats.”

Her teacher assigned the project months ago and was surprised to see how Haske’s enthusiasm about it grew throughout the school year. “Not every student found her passion, but she did,” said the teacher. “I’m super proud of her.”

Over the winter, Haske, who would graduate soon, collected litter including cigarette butts, bottle caps, fast-food containers and masks along the resort area beach. “It was definitely a unique challenge,” Haske said.

She landed a sponsor and raised money from friends to create the surf board, which cost about $1,000. Haske takes custom orders and helps people build their own surf boards. Making one out of trash was a first for her. Nearly the entire board is made from recycled material and litter.

On Tuesday after school, Haske went out and attempted to ride a wave on her new board, but the mostly flat conditions made it difficult. The nose of the surfboard made by herself kept going under the water, but Haske stayed upbeat. “It’s pretty heavy up front, but it’s going to be my best friend,” Haske said after coming out of the water. “It’s made for large waves.”

【推荐1】Alice Moore is a teenager entrepreneur (创业者), who in May 2015 set up her business AilieCandy. By the time she was 13, her company was worth millions of dollars with the invention of a super-sweet treat that could save kids’ teeth, instead of destroying them.

It all began when Moore visited a bank with her dad. On the outing, she was offered a candy bar. However, her dad reminded her that sugary treats were bad for her teeth. But Moore was sick of missing out on candies. So she desired to get round the warning, “Why can’t I make a healthy candy that’s good for my teeth so that my parents can’t say no to it?” With that in mind, Moore asked her dad if she could start her own candy company. He recommended that she do some research and talk to dentists about what a healthier candy would contain.

With her dad’s permission, she spent the next two years researching online and conducting trials to get a recipe that was both tasty and tooth-friendly. She also approached dentists to learn more about teeth cleaning. Consequently, she succeeded in making a kind of candy only using natural sweeteners, which can reduce oral bacteria.

Moore then used her savings to get her business off the ground. Afterwards, she and her father secured their first business meeting with a supermarket owner, who finally agreed to sell Moore’s product —CanCandy.

As CanCandy’s success grows, so does Moore’s credibility as a young entrepreneur. Moore is enthusiastic about the candy she created, and she’s also positive about what the future might bring. She hopes that every kid can have a clean mouth and a broad smile.

Meanwhile, with her parents’ help, Moore is generally able to live a normal teenage life. Although she founded her company early on in life, she wasn’t driven primarily by profit. Moore wants to use her unique talent to help others find their smiles. She donates 10% of AilieCandy’s profits to Big Smiles. With her talent and determination, it appears that the sky could be the limit for Alice Moore.