1 . How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

It can surely be challenging and a little scary to step out of your comfort zone, but facing unfamiliar challenges can help you feel happier and more fulfilled in the long run. How to grow outside your comfort zone?     1    .

Regard discomfort as progress.

    2    .Whenever you try something new and make a move to step out of your comfort zone, remind yourself that the discomfort you’re feeling is ultimately progress that’s leading you to achieve your goals. Getting comfortable with discomfort is just like exercising a muscle; you have to continuously do it to get stronger and better.

Reward yourself for trying new things.

Treat yourself to stay motivated and energized. For example, whenever you do something that’s out of your comfort zone, buy yourself a small treat, take yourself out to a nice meal, or spend time doing other activities that you enjoy.     3    .

Surround yourself with supportive people.

Ask friends and family for encouragement and support. Tell your closest friends, family members, or partners what you’re trying to do and why.     4    .Whenever you feel hesitant, just know you have a whole team of people ready to celebrate your accomplishments.

    5    .

Get rid of things that’ll give you an excuse not to try something. For example, if your goal is to socialize with more people, turn off your phone when you go to a party or gathering so you won’t be tempted to use it as a distraction. Your environment can block or help your progress, so do what you can to improve it to guarantee success.

2 . While bees have a reputation for doing two things well: pollinating(授粉) flowers and making honey, they rarely receive the credit they deserve for their vital role in keeping a healthy grassland and maintaining a stable climate.

A grassland is one type of ecosystem where bees play multiple important roles. These often-ignored habitats are composed not just of grasses but of a broad community of wildflower species. Without the help of bees, flowering plants would no longer be able to reproduce at the same rate, eventually dying out, and we’d lose these species-rich ecosystems.

This would be a big problem for our planet because unlike the grasses that grow in your local park, native grassland plants have very deep roots that reach 15 feet or more into the soil. While a forest stores the majority of its carbon above ground in a tree’s trunks and branches, most grassland carbon is safely held below ground within these roots. Unlike forests, which lose most of their carbon once their trunks have burned, the carbon within a healthy grassland remains beyond the reach of fire, providing a second line of defense against a changing climate.

A bee’s impact below the soil line doesn’t end with carbon storage. Many bees nest within the soil. These gatherings may include thousands of individual bees, whose nests may go many feet into the soil, providing air and opportunities for water conservation. Where they are found, bees play a significant role in ensuring that soils remain healthy.

Sam Droege, a famous wildlife biologist states that bees will go wherever they are called to-the flowers, plants, and grasslands acting as a homing signal guiding them forth. “They will travel impressive distances to feed on specific species of flowering plants,” says Droege. “We’ve seen that even if the climate changes, the bees will still follow where the plants grow.”

3 . Arriving in Beijing as a 20-year-old girl from Germany, I found skateboarding to be my compass in exploring this vast and unfamiliar city.

My first impression of Beijing was its combination of ancient buildings and modern, futuristic architecture, which provided a variety of skate spots. From historic landmarks to urban malls in commercial districts, each location offered its own set of challenges and opportunities for creative expression. This contrasted with the skate parks back home in Europe, which, while well-designed and functional, lacked the historical depth and aesthetic (美学的) diversity in Beijing.

The skateboarding community in Beijing has also taken me by surprise. I remember the first time going out on a street skating park. I had some concerns initially, fearing that people might keep me, a foreigner, at a distance. However, with locals happy to communicate with me, my worries turned out to be unnecessary.

The first thing that caught my eye was a beautiful backside flip done by Seven, a Beijing skater who was just as welcoming and free-spirited as any skaters I’d met in Europe. It’s this shared passion for skateboarding that bonds this community together tightly across the globe.

In addition, even those outside the skateboarding community show curiosity and enthusiasm for the sport, which impressed me a lot. Passersby, especially the elders and young children, often stop to watch us skate, with some even daring to try it out for themselves. This openness and eagerness for exploration were refreshing for me, and it provided a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

My skateboarding journey in China has truly been enlightening, one that bridges the gap between Eastern and Western cultures. As I continue to navigate the streets and skate parks of Beijing, I do so with a deeper appreciation for the culture diversity here and the unifying power of skateboarding, which brings people together in the spirit of joy, freedom, and mutual respect.

4 . Time for International Booker Prize again! The novels on 2024 International Booker Prize shortlist (入围名单) cover cultures, styles and the width of human experience and associate us with new sensations and memories.

Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie

Two men and their friend’s teenage son go on a fishing trip. Frustrated after hours of wrestling with a hooked fish, one of them shoots it with a gun. So begins a tale about perseverance, guilt, desire and outsider suspicion.

The Details by la Genberg, translated by Kira

Genberg said that she began writing The Details, “just like the woman in the novel, in a world health crisis in 2020, when I headed to my bookshelf and randomly picked up a book that fell open in my hands. ”It’s a novel related to relationships, connection, memory and time.

What I’d Rather Ponder by Posthuma, translated by Sarah

The narrator is a twin whose brother has recently passed away. Posthuma said the story was inspired by a personal experience when “the one person that I thought would always be there withdrew from my life”. The novel is praised for its “utter truth” and unique writing style.

Crooked Plow by Viera Junior, translated by Johnny

Two sisters are confused by the powers of a knife beneath their grandmother’s bed. With magical and social realism, it illustrates the story of farmers in Brazil’s poorest region. It speaks to the significance of remembering our histories and preserving the land that sustains us.

The winner will be announced on June 21st, 2024. And £50,000 prize money will be divided equally between the author and the translator. Shortlisted authors and translators will share a prize of £6,000.

10 . Santa Rosa National Park is the first national park designated in Costa Rica. It was created not to preserve land but to save a building, La Casona, which was once destroyed by fire, but has been rebuilt to its original likeness.

In addition to La Casona, Santa Rosa National Park protects a multitude of ecosystems including marshlands and mangroves. Many endangered animals also live here, with over 100 mammals and 250 birds recorded within the park.

Playa Nancite is the most popular beach for sea turtle. Entry to the beach is restricted for protection, but entry can be obtained from park headquarters.

There are two different sectors within Santa Rosa National Park. The Santa Rosa Sector is frequently visited for its notable attractions including access to La Casona. The other sector, Murcielago is not accessible via the Santa Rosa Sector.

There are several different hiking trails within the park. We recommend bringing closed-toed hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and water.

We highly recommend exploring Santa Rosa National Park led by an expert naturalist guide. The park entrance fee is $15 per adult and $5 per child age 6 — 12. The park is open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm every day.

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