In times of sadness, a friend would always suggest going for a walk. Suggestions like this are often said with kindness, but they used to make me feel like being told to drink more water. I did not understand how these things were going to help.

Three years ago, I hit a low point. Once I saw a pair of empty eyes looking at me through the mirror, I knew I was at my breaking point. So, I took the advice I fought so hard to ignore (忽视). I went for a walk—with the hope that it would somehow change my life.

I embraced (拥抱) the fresh air. But it did nothing. I was just as sad as I was before. I went on a walk every day for more than a month. Some days I could hardly make it outside, but I managed to push through. I took a picture every time I went. I think I wanted to record myself trying to make an effort.

One day, _______. I found myself smiling. I realized I had patiently waited all morning to go on this walk. What I once hated had become the best part of my day. I found myself longing to be outside. I’m glad I took pictures because there was a noticeable difference in my face. I slowly started to look less tired and down.

If you’re having a bad day, a bad month, a bad year or even a bad life, you should try going for a walk. Sometimes, all we need to do is a try.

Once I took a vacation in southern Italy. After climbing up a hill for a full view of the blue sea, white buildings and green trees, I stopped to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo.

Unluckily, just as I took out my camera, a woman came from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, she was there to appreciate the view.

Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, my camera scanning the sun and looking at the shot I would finally take, I grew angry. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape (景色)? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so lost in her world. I didn’t want to mess with that.

Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway. And now when I looked at it, I found her figure (身影) in the photo was what made the photo interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow came to life because of her.

The photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who “ruined (破坏)” it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure was once captured (捕捉) and frozen on some stranger’s bedroom wall? Perhaps we all live in each other’s private space. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us.

That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.

“Your hair looks nice today.”

This is an example of a compliment (赞美). It feels nice when someone n    51     and praises you for something. But are there cultural     52     (difference) in making compliments?

Sometimes I r    53     compliments for things that I don’t think I deserve (值得). For example,   a taxi driver said “Wow, your Chinese is so good!” even t    54     the only thing I said to him was “Hello, please take me to the airport.” It f    55     insincere (不真诚的) to make a compliment like this for saying just one simple sentence. However, I know he’s just trying to be p    56    .

It also seems like Chinese people are a bit more humble (谦虚的) when they are     57     (praise). They often downplay (低调处理) the compliments. I appreciate this quality, as people like this are usually more honest.

When and where should you give compliments? I try my best to praise people in the service industry. People sometimes c    58     about the bad service in restaurants, stores and other places. But if I get good service, I make sure to compliment whoever has s    59     me, such as by saying “the food was delicious” or something     60     that. This will encourage them to continue to provide good service to others.