【推荐1】An Olympic Village is a place that houses Olympic competitors. It is a place where they prepare for what might be the most important moment in their life. But we want to know more about this mysterious place: What really happens in the village?

We asked swimmer Natalie Coughlin, a three time Olympian and 12 -time medalist. She says, “People think it’s a lot more attractive and interesting than it is. It isn’t. It’s like a huge college campus, including a bank, a salon, a post office, and a huge cafeteria- except that everyone is anxious, getting ready for their biggest event under unbelievably high pressure (压力).”

But some other Olympians look differently at their campus. “It’s like the first day of college,” water polo player Tony Azevedo says. “You’re super excited. Everyone s meeting people and trying to socialize with others,”

Coughlin says the best spot to be in the village is the cafeteria. Not only does it provide a place to talk with the rest of the athletes from your country but it’s a great chance for people watching. One of her favorite games was to tell what sport someone in front of her took based on their body type.

Living in the same village means athletes run into one another all the time. Coughlin shares this story: While in London in 2012, at one point applause (欢呼) broke out at the arrival of someone. Coughlin thought it was one of the British royals (王室成员), but it ended up being Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (the world’s greatest runner alive). Runner Allyson Felix— a winner of six gold Olympic medals— has also had her run-ins. In 2008, she came across the world-famous U. S. men’s basketball team, including Anthony, Bryant, Wade and other top players.

It’s “a pretty wild scene, the biggest melting pot— a place where large numbers of people, ideas, and cultures are mixed together— you’ve been in,” said swimmer Eric Shanteau. Felix agrees, saying, “You get to meet people from other countries that you wouldn’t even come into contact with. To me that’s the coolest thing.

【推荐3】Marathon Man

In 1896, a young man from Greece named Spiridon Louis ran one of the most exciting footraces ever.

Born in 1873 in a small house in the rocky hills above Athens, Spiridon helped his father tend the sheep from a very young age. After gathering the wool, they walked to the Athens market to sell it. It was in Athens Spiridon’s father told him the legend of Pheidippides, who ran from the village of Marathon to Athens, to tell his people that the Greeks had won a great battle, but died after delivering the message. The run of nearly 25 miles had been too much for him. The legend had inspired him for many years.

By the time he was in his early twenties, Spiridon was making a living selling fresh water from the hills. Twice a day he would load two barrels full of water on his mule and run alongside the mule to Athens, a trip of more than eight miles. Spiridon’s legs and heart grew strong from all that running. When he heard that a long race would be part of the Olympic Games, he decided to enter. The race would be called marathon, in honor of the legend of Pheidippides.

Held on the last day of the Olympics in Athens, the race included many excellent runners from several countries. When there were six miles to go, Edwin Flack of Australia was in the lead. But Spiridon, who had started out at a slower, steady pace, began to gain ground, and won the first Olympic marathon.

The Summer Olympic Games take place once every four years, bringing together athletes from all over the world. Perhaps the story of Spiridon will inspire the next winner of the Olympic marathon, just as Spiridon was inspired by the legend of Pheidippides so long ago.

【推荐2】According to B. C. Forbes, many widely known winners struggled with difficulties and failures before they achieved success, and the reason why they ultimately achieved is that they never lost their courage when they suffered setbacks.

In ancient times, a king had a big rock placed on a roadway, and he hid himself to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the wealthy noblemen and businessmen came by and simply walked around it. Many blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but no one did anything to move the stone out of the way.

Then a farmer came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the rock, he laid down his load and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he succeeded.

After the farmer picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a reward lying on the road where the rock had been. It contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating the gold was for the person who removed the stone from the roadway.

The farmer learned what many of us struggle to understand: Hidden behind every obstacle is an opportunity, yet many are unwilling to explore it.

Obstacles are present in everyday life. It can be a barrier that sets you back or stops your progress. Or you are about to carry out your best plan, but then a block that derails it appears. They are all discouraging and cause a loss of time and resources.

Beyond the frustration, what role do obstacles serve? Keep in mind that within the experience there could be a greater lesson contained. Perhaps you need it to master a skill or gain valuable knowledge before continuing your plans.

But what you can learn from the experience is never about involving in a battle with reality. Facing the challenges helps you move through obstacles rather than allow them to control your life.

【推荐3】My mother looks just like many grandmothers. Short, plump with white hair and rosy cheeks. She comes from an old traditional Catholic (天主教) family. She was a career government official. In short, she didn’t do crazy things.

That all changed a few years ago. She began to surprise me with what she described as “independence”. At the time, I merely saw it as examples of irresponsibility and possibly age-related questionable judgement.

In early 2015, the year she turned 75, she announced she’d booked a seven-night trip to Turkey. Alone. Because she’d never been. There was no way I could allow that. An old lady wandering the streets of a tally foreign country on her own—it was out of the question! Yet, she paid no attention to me. Off she went.

At 77, she did a similar thing while on a Caribbean cruise (游轮) with her sister. Upon landing in Cuba, she wandered off on her own. And of course she forgot to tell anyone about her plan, causing my aunt to spend the entire afternoon searching for her. She returned just in time for the cruise, saying she’d had a wonderful time drinking at a Cuban bar.

On her 80th birthday, sitting with her family, Mom suddenly told us she had got herself a tattoo (纹身)! Her first. It would be her birthday present to herself.

I wondered if she’d become addlebrained (老糊涂), but Mom proved that she was thinking straighter than most of us. The independence she seeks seems to be thoughtfully based on a realization that life is to be lived, and when there’s little of it left, it needs to be lived now. Sure, she’ll continue her craziness, but maybe that’s what we need right now. Some pointless, wonderful craziness.