【推荐1】My mum is about to have a spinal (脊柱的) operation. The operation is relatively minor, but does carry a risk of paralysis (瘫痪). Friends and family have reacted to this news by talking in such pessimistic terms that Mum has come to label this kind of talk as “psychological theft’’. It occurs when other people increase your anxiety rather than provide comfort.

Last week Mum went to the post office and ran into Geoff who works for the local school.“How are you?” he asked. “Not great.” she replied. “ I’ve been having some trouble with my back and I’m going to need an operation.” “Oh, the back is the most dangerous place to operate on!” he responded. My mum had that and she was in terrible pain. “Make sure you get all your affairs in order before you go under the knife — it takes months to get over it!” Geoff was out of kindness. He’d given his own mother’s story to show sympathy. However, Mum only heard pain, danger, knife, and months.

In the past few weeks, Mum’s mates and colleagues have told her stories about how their Auntie Trisha, who had just received an operation was left speechless after hearing that she required a rapid follow-up operation; and how their neighbour, who had only a minor operation, never walked again .

It’s really not that difficult to think of alternative things they could have said that would be equally true, but more beneficial to hear. “The specialists in our hospitals are among the best in the world. It’s amazing what they can do these days!”— that’s a good one. “You’re going to feel much better afterwards.”— that’ s another.

I’m not suggesting patients should be sheltered from the reality of the risks they’re taking. But if the decision to have an operation can’t really be avoided, what’s the purpose of emphasizing the drawbacks (弊端)? It’s just common sense to say: “Get well soon, and how can I help? ”

【推荐2】I really love this saying, “Love is endless and unlimited.” For me, there’s a story behind it. When I used to hand out chocolates with beautiful paper bags, my friends always told me, “You are wasting time and money. No one here believes in nameless gifts.” To be honest, I have noticed that people here do donate (捐赠)in temples. They give food to the poor, and provide clothes and other things for whoever is in need.

I think maybe I am the one who starts to think of the dogs in our neighborhood. When I moved into this new community, I noticed that there were two street dogs. They were wounded and homeless, and everyone used to stay away from them and hit them when they came any closer. They were becoming thinner and thinner and they would did of hunger sooner or later.

But my habit of loving dogs has changed all these things. I began to walk close to them and give them food regularly. When I touched their heads and gave love to them, I could see tears in their eyes. My friends noticed, and now even kids and elders in the community provide them with food and also love them. I am really glad to see that I saved their lives.

What I started will lead to beautiful memories with them. They enjoy playing with me and they even have a particular pose when they see me. I see a sparkle in their eyes and a smile on their faces. They are priceless for me.

【推荐1】Parents in the U.S. are claiming the popular children’s TV show Peppa Pig has caused their kids to start speaking in a British accent. The cartoon follows the life of a pig, Peppa, and her family as they go about their day-to-day life in a fictional U. K. town made up of various animal families.

And now parents of children who love the show are noticing that Peppa’s southern British accent and vocabulary seem to be rubbing off on those watching the show. One parent wrote online: “My 4-year baby girl loves watching Peppa Pig and I have noticed her accent and grammar is extraordinary. I’d like to thank Peppa Pig for the slight yet adorable British accent my toddler (幼儿) is acquiring.” added by another parent. A third parent wrote: “The most entertaining aspect of my life right now is that my toddler now speaks with a British accent.”

Writer Janet Manley called it the “Peppa effect”. Janet revealed that immediately after her daughter’s first time watching the show two years ago, she started calling her “mummy”. Her daughter also began snorting at the end of her sentences, just like the cartoon pig. And the “Peppa effect” isn’t anything new. Parents have been discussing about it for a number of years. Since the show first aired, there have been a total of 241 episodes created as the show surged in popularity.

【推荐3】Generally,when rescue workers save the lives of people in emergency situations,they   never see each other again.However,this was not the case for Mike Wilson,a member of the U.S.Air Force,and Jennifer Brown,the"little"girl Wilson picked up from the waters of Hurricane Ike in 2008.

The Air Force pilot took a photo of the moment Jennifer gave her rescuer the biggest   hug that he would never forget.The photo touched hearts around the world.For Wilson, who was fighting an illness at the time,it was especially precious.He carried the photo with him everywhere to remind him of one of the most special moments in his life. Eventually, he decided to find the little girl who changed his life and even ran a FindIkeGirl activity on social media.

Finally,10 years later,the two met again on the set of The Real in September 2018. And Wilson told Jennifer,"You, rescued me more than I rescued you".They did not end their friendship there.Ever since they met again,Wilson has visited her family and has spoken to her on the phone weekly.This Saturday,he will visit the Browns again,as 14-year-old Jennifer is bringing him to her military training program,which she encouraged   herself to join in with the support Wilson has provided."I'm going because I would do anything for her and her family in return for the hug.They mean as much to me as my   own family,"Wilson says.

The girl tells PEOPLE:"The program was very interesting and a challenge for me because I had never done it before".She even plans to join the military one day."I am Proud of her no matter what she does and will support her in everything she does,"Wilson   said."I think she understands service and I believe that she will do great things no matter what she chooses."

【推荐1】Eradajere Oleita thinks she may have a partial solution for two of the country’s longstanding problems: garbage and poverty. It’s called the Chip Bag Project. The 26-year old student and environmentalist from Detroit is asking a favor of local snack lovers: Rather than throw your empty chip bags into the trash, donate them so she can turn them into sleeping bags for the homeless.

Chip eaters drop off their empty bags from Doritos, Lay’s, and other favorites at two locations in Detroit: a print shop and a clothing store, where Oleita and her volunteer helpers collect them. After they clean the chip bags in soapy hot water, they slice them open, lay them flat, and iron them together. It takes about four hours to sew a sleeping bag, and each takes around 150 to 300 chip bags, depending on whether they’re single-serve or family size. The result is a sleeping bag that is “waterproof, lightweight, and easy to carry around,” Oleita told the Detroit News.

Since its start in 2020, the Chip Bag Project has collected more than 800,000 chip bags and, as of last December, created 110 sleeping bags.

Sure, it would be simpler to raise the money to buy new sleeping bags. But that’s only half the goal for Oleita — whose family moved to the United States from Nigeria a decade ago with the hope of attaining a better life — and her fellow volunteers. “ We are committed to making an impact not only socially, but environmentally, ” she says.

And, of course, there’s the symbolism of recycling bags that would otherwise land in the trash and using them to help the homeless. It’s a powerful reminder that environmental injustice and poverty often go hand in hand. As Oleita told hourdetroit.com: “ I think it’s time to show connections between all of these issues. ”