☆Big Sale

According to their new study, reduced loneliness has something to do with enjoyable activities that require both concentration (注意力) and skill.

“When people concentrate on (全神贯注于) what they are doing, they enter a state (状态) called ‘flow’,” Dattilo explained. “Flow can be achieved by doing activities that we value and that require us to concentrate fully to use our skills.”

To achieve a state of flow, there must be a balance (平衡) between the challenge of the task and your skill level. For example, if you’re trying to create a difficult computer program but your skill level is low, then you’ll feel stressed instead of achieving “flow”. On the other hand, if the task is too easy, then boredom will set in and “flow” will not appear, either.

If you have artistic skills, for example, playing the piano or painting can lead to flow. So can things like skiing, writing and storytelling.

“When we enter a state of flow, we become focused, and we experience enjoyment,” Dattilo said. “When we leave a state of flow, we are often surprised by how much time has passed.”

However, watching television usually doesn’t help people enter flow, according to Dattilo, because there aren’t any challenges.

“People grow on healthy activities and challenges,” said Dattilo. “We hope this research will help people live fuller, happier and healthier lives.”

It was about ten years ago on a cold rainy winter day. I was walking over to visit my dad, and although his house was only a short walk from mine, I was already wet. I knocked on his door and stepped in. Sweet smell from the kitchen touched my nose, and suddenly, I was eight years old again. Dad was making Grandma’s special sauce(酱).

When I was growing up, every Sunday after church(教堂), Grandma would make us a large Italian meal. She would slow cook her spaghetti sauce for hours. When it was done, we would mix it in the spaghetti. It always left our bellies(腹部) full, our hearts happy and the house smelling wonderful.

I sat down with Dad. It felt so good having a meal like we used to when I was a boy. We talked about those old times and laughed over the memories, both good and bad. I didn’t feel cold anymore. My heart was warm, both my face and stomach were smiling.

Dad and Grandma have been gone for years now. I still miss them often. And although my daughter and I both know how to make Grandma’s special sauce, we don’t cook it as often as we can. Maybe it is because no matter how hard I try, I can never get it 100 percent right. I think that maybe I am missing an ingredient. Or maybe, it was love with which Grandma and Dad cooked it that made it so delicious.

“Hi, George! My name is Lori. I’m twelve. How are you? How are you doing in school?”

Back in the 1970s,     61     was a trend(潮流) in the United States called “chain letter.” Teens sent out letters to     62     (stranger) in the hope of getting more back. Through the use of the words given above, Lori Rubin started a lasting friendship     63     George Ghossn.

It was November 1975. Lori was in the sixth grade and George was an eighth-grader. In his reply to Lori’s       64     (one) letter, George introduced himself and his family, including a school photo of himself. Since then, the two     65     (continue) to exchange handwritten letters about once every month.

Lori and George, however, didn’t meet in person or even speak on the phone until 2017. They were so     66     (excite) at the sight of each other, they hugged and cried together.

George said Lori’s letters were beautiful. “She always knew the perfect thing     67     (say),” he said. “So     68       matter how sad I felt, her words could always pull me out of the darkness.”

Lori said she saw letter-writing as a form of art. Many young people today no longer value it. Because letter-writing     69     (take) a lot of time, it allows her to dig deep into her soul(心灵) to express what she is feeling. Both she and George have saved almost all of the letters they have exchanged over the years.

Now, George and Lori have been talking on the phone and on     70     [ˈsəʊʃl] media more often. However, one thing will never change-they will always exchange handwritten letters with each other.