【推荐1】“I'm going to fail !"My best friend cried. She and I had this conversation almost every day while we were in high school.

The truth was that my friend never failed in any subjects. I just think that she can't accept failures because she lives her life as a perfectionist (完美主义者). What she fails to understand is that a lot of good can come from failures.

For example, failure can help build relationships. Once was cooking dinner for a friend. I was tired, and several dishes I tried to make turned out bad. I grew more and more upset until my friend told me that I shouldn't worry. She cared more about our friendship than the dishes. That day, I learned that failure doesn't always make people dislike you. In fact, after she said those words to me, I grew closer to her.

Failure can make success ever more exciting. Every few years, there would be an important test in the PE class at our school. Students had to run a mile within eight minutes. I was never good at running , so I failed every time until the third year at school. Then I began working out regularly, and yet I still failed that year. A few days later, however, the teacher gave me and some other students another chance to run and I got a pass finally!, You can 't imagine how excited I was after that. I felt the memory of the success was as sweet as honey, because I had to overcome failure to reach it.

Now it's clear to see that failure can teach us good lessons. It's not an end — it can be a beginning.

【推荐2】This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.

It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend (超越) it. Once we truly know that life is difficult—once we truly understand and accept it—then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.

Most do not fully see this truth. Instead they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that difficulties means a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or else upon their families, their class, or even their nation.

What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending on their nature, cause us sadness, or loneliness or regret or anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings, often as painful as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.

Yet, it is in this whole process of solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the serious test that tells us success from failure. When we desire to encourage the growth of human spirit, we encourage the human ability to solve problems, just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working out problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, those things that hurt, instruct. It is for this reason that wise people learn not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems.

【推荐3】A ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small island.

The two survivors, also good friends, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other choice but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they divided the land between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree beside him and he ate its fruit. The other man’s land remained barren (贫瘠的).

After a week, the first man was lonely so he prayed for a wife. The next day, another ship   was completely destroyed, and the only woman survivor soon became his wife. On the other side of the island, there was still nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes and more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship. In the morning, he found a ship at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island behind, because he considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”

“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”

“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”

“Tell me,” the first man asked with great curiosity, “What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”

“He prayed that all your prayers be answered.”

【推荐2】In 1972, my mother announced that we’d spend that summer in Europe. In Rome, we stayed at a fancy hotel with rooms overlooking the Grand Canal. On many mornings, our breakfast arrived on rolling tables. Mum insisted I tip the waiters and make the dinner reservations. “How?” I asked. “Read guidebooks, and ask local people,” she instructed.

One day, we took a train to Paris. After pulling into Gare de Lyon, I waited in the taxi while my mother helped a lady get her next train to Nimes. “Why did you have to do that?” I complained. “When you become a traveler, you help those who need you in the same way you hope others will help you,” she said.

In Paris, I finally got to test a theory I’d formed as a 9-year-old while reading a book about the lives of the French. The author’s vivid descriptions of their meals led me to conclude that France was a country where everything was delicious. Very quickly, this turned out to be true. The croque monsieur I had when we lunched in a café was the most amazing sandwich I’d ever had. Four days later, we reached England. My mother suggested having breakfast in a café. When we sat down at the table over fresh bread rolls and hot chocolates, I couldn’t eat. Somehow, I promised myself that I’d have to find my way back to Paris.

In 1986, I moved to France, where I’ve lived ever since, mostly writing about food. My late mother eventually took pride in my career. “I guess it was that trip to Europe,” she’d say with a knowing smile.

【推荐3】In 1952, my daddy traveled with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. He worked on a very large dredge vessel (挖泥船), and he went where it went. This meant he spent a lot of time away from our North Carolina home.

As Christmas approached, he called from Galveston, Texas. Daddy explained to my mother why he would not be celebrating the holiday with us. Money was tight and he didn’t have a way to get back to his family.

Disappointed as she was, Mother knew he was right. She also knew we would be upset, so she told my two sisters, brother and me right away. The news hit me very hard. Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without Daddy.

I knew he had tried his best. Still, I went to bed on Christmas Eve with a heavy heart.

When we woke up on Christmas morning, we were all happy with our gifts, so we went outside to play. As we were playing, I looked up and thought I saw my daddy in the distance. I ran inside to tell Mother. She did not believe me and told me not to make up stories. She just repeated he would have been home if he could, but it just wasn’t possible.

But I was sure it was Daddy! I turned to go back outside when I heard familiar footsteps. I ran down the stairs. Daddy was home!

As I rushed into his outstretched arms, Daddy explained that he had tried everything to get home for Christmas, but without success. At the last minute, a group of the workers had decided to drive. But the nearest guy lived miles away. So Daddy started walking on Christmas Eve until he arrived home. He had walked all night to get home to his family.

Though the presents that year were wonderful, the best gift was not found under the tree.

【推荐1】The 71^st annual Boston Marathon was held on April 19, 1967. This day was filled with freezing rain, snow and strong winds. However, for one runner named Kathrine Switzer, the weather conditions were the least of her worries. Kathrine was the first and only registered female runner in the marathon and she wanted to prove (证明) something.

The first few miles were a piece of cake for Kathrine. Then around mile four, she realized someone was going after her. She turned around and was startled to see an angry face just inches away. It was the race director (赛事总监), Jock Semple.

“Get out of my race and give me those numbers!” Jock shouted. As he said this, he caught hold of Kathrine’s arm and tried pulling her race numbers off her sweatshirt. Although Kathrine was so shocked and terrified, she struggled to break free.

Kathrine felt awful. She thought about quitting, but soon she knew that wasn’t a choice. “If I quit, nobody would ever believe that women had the ability to run 26-plus miles. If I quit, everybody would say it was a show. If I quit, it would set women’s sports back, way back, instead of forward.”

While all this thinking was going on, Kathrine continued, until she found herself nearing the finish line. Although several reporters were waiting there, none of them cheered. Kathrine completed the race in a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. The race was over, but her determination to change was just beginning.

She played a major part in getting women officially accepted into the Boston marathon in 1972. Her effort also opened up marathon in Olympic Games for women. Her number 261 on that historic day in Boston has also become a symbol of fearlessness for millions of women worldwide.