【推荐1】Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. It was the sun shining on him and the fresh air surrounding him that made him gorgeous. In summer, children often came and sat down near him and said, “What a nice little fir!” In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare hopped over the little tree. But he never felt any pleasure. What the little Fir wanted so much was to grow into a big tree as his neighbors.

“Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are,” thought he. “Then I should be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into the wide world!”

When Christmas came, quite young trees with the finest looking were cut down. And so was the Fir Tree. He found himself, in the middle of the living-room, stuck upright in a bucket that was filled with sand and decorated with the most splendid things-apples, colorful lights and at the very top a large golden star, which made him incomparably beautiful.

“What a splendor!” thought the Fir Tree, believing he would take root here and forever stand covered with decorations!

However, the splendor never came back again. After the Christmas, the servant dragged him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft in a dark corner, where no daylight could enter.

“If it only were not so dark here, and so terribly lonely. Not even a hare!” he sighed. “They surely stored me here for the next Christmas.”

One day, the tree was pulled out and a man drew him towards the stairs, where the daylight shone. Feeling the fresh air and the first sunbeam, now he was out in the courtyard. Seeing all the beauty of the flowers and the freshness in the garden, he firmly believed he would be replanted there.

“Now a merry life will begin again,” thought the tree, spreading out his branches only to find they were all withered and yellow！When seeing the gardener getting close with an axe (斧头), he recalled his first youth in the wood and sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot.

【推荐2】For 85 years, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked an original group of 724 men and more than 1,300 of their male and female descendants (后代) over three generations, asking thousands of questions and taking hundreds of measurements to find out what really keeps people healthy and happy.

Through all the years of studying these lives, one crucial factor stands out for the consistency and power of its bond to physical health, mental health and longevity: good relationships.

In 2008, researchers telephoned the wives and husbands of Harvard Study couples in their 80s every night for eight nights. Researchers spoke to each partner separately and asked them a series of questions about their days.

On days when these men and women spent more time in the company of others, they were happier. Like most older people, those in the Harvard Study experienced day-to-day rises and falls in their levels of physical pain and health difficulties. But researchers found that the people who were in more satisfying relationships were cushioned (缓冲) somewhat from these ups and downs of mood—their happiness did not decline as much on the days when they had more pain. Simply put, their happy marriages seemed to have a protective effect.

Elizabeth Gillespie, a therapist of couples, stated that although most of us found that our experience of relationships might be hard, and at times, impossible, it is essential to our well-being.

Today we live in much more complicated environments, so meeting our social needs presents different challenges. We might be sitting on a gold mine of vitality that we are not paying attention to, because it is hidden by the shiny appeal of smartphones or pushed to the side by work demands.

【推荐3】Women cry 4,680 times over their adult lifetime — more than twice as much as men, a study has found. Sad TV shows or books, tiredness and arguments their partner mean the average woman will cry six times a month. In comparison, men will shed a tear just three times a month.

But the study found men are less embarrassed (难为情) about crying in front of others, with four in 10 saying they wouldn’t be bothered about shedding a tear in public compared to just a third of women. Psychologist Emma Kenny said, “While women are usually associated with crying, the results of this study actually show that men are now feeling that it’s acceptable to show their emotions through crying. And, different from what is usually believed, the results actually suggest that women feel embarrassed when they let their emotions show.”

The study of 2,000 adults found 51% of women admit to being a big crier — crying often or at little things. But far from shying away from it, three in 10 men are also happy to admit they often shed a tear.

A sad TV show, movie or book is most likely to leave women watery-eyed, while men tear up at sad moments or memories. Other reasons for crying include funerals, grief and anxiety. But women are more likely to cry happy tears, with 40%admitting to shedding a tear for a good reason, something just 24%of men do. And while 64% of women admit to crying for no reason, just three in 10 men can say the same.

The study also found an emotional 44% of men have cried in public, along with a huge 80% of women. Crying in front of people you work with would leave many feeling most embarrassed, followed by their boss, strangers and acquaintances. But almost one in 10 admit they would be left red-faced if they shed a tear in front of their family members.