1 . No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.

Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.

The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!

3 . Because my stories keep my heart pounding at night with the possibility of it all, when I can’t get words on paper, I want to scream. All my energy pools at the bottom of my heart, where it continues to yell at me all day long, “Write! Write! Write!” I have to quiet the voice like a hidden pet, shushing (发嘘声) it over and over until I get the chance to leave, laptop in hand, stories pouring out of my mind.

What poor, unfortunate lives we artists live! We’re tortured by our words, whether they’re circling around in our minds at 3 am or written on paper, looking sad and regretful that we’ve put them there. Our words laugh at us before and after they leave our bodies.

I messaged a writing mentor (导师) when I found myself running in circles. With only a small window of time to myself each afternoon, I found it hard to write. If only I had more time, I could finish my book. If only people would leave me alone, I could become an accomplished writer. It was everyone else’s fault.

Small — my mentor told me to start small but keep going. “Do what you can, when you can. Let that be enough during the busy seasons.” In her eyes, she was once me. She was once crazy with tasks that kept her hands pushing, pulling, grabbing and moving endlessly. She recognized herself in the way I talked with starry eyes about my dreamy writing goals and plans. Essays, articles and short stories flowered in my rich mind.

In a few wise words, she gave me the freedom to write in small periods of time she called “the cracks of the day”. She argued that I should run after publishing with the same desire as ever. But in her patient voice, I heard a gentle reminder of stopping running so hard and instead slowing to a sustainable pace.

So I write. I submit. I live, and I dream.

5 . Former Disney child star Jennifer McGill recently shared how, after her mother passed away, she went through an extremely dark period in her life.

Jennifer was born ready for the stage. She grew up in a loving home in Texas. And by age 7, she begged her mom to let her enter contests. Jennifer’s mom was uncertain. But seeing her daughter’s high energy and unshakable love of the stage, she finally supported her daughter’s wish.

Jennifer won many contests, and soon her parents were advised to have her audition (试演) for The New Mickey Mouse Club, a Disney show. Jennifer tried out and landed her dream job.

Many of Jennifer’s co­stars on the show went on to run after their careers. But after many years as a Disney child star, Jennifer didn’t feel ready for Hollywood just yet.

“I just needed to grow up and grow wiser in order to be the artist I thought I was meant to be,” she said. Instead, Jennifer chose to go on to college — a decision her mother fully supported.

Jennifer’s parents were supportive throughout her career and schooling. But her mom was her champion — a constant source of support. Unfortunately, when Jennifer was 24 years old, her mom passed away.

“The biggest light and fan was gone, the person who’d reminded me that I was unique and valuable. I was kind of lost,” she said. The next several years grew very dark. She began feeling herself lonely. She felt lifeless and purposeless.

Much as Jennifer still missed her mother, she realized she should get her life back to normal. She’s now pursuing a new career in music. She also spends her time coaching young artists. She encourages them to put fame at the bottom of their list.

6 . In 2000, all my family were coming back from a T-ball game. Unlike every other weekend, a surprise was waiting for us in our driveway—two adult geese and a small goose. Obviously startled by our return, the adults flew away in panic, with their baby left behind.

Hours passed before night eventually fell. It was apparent that the small goose needed protection, warmth and food to make it to the morning. We brought him to our backyard. Each morning, we would try to drive the small goose away to his parents, who kept coming back to our yard. He wouldn’t go to them, though, and neither would they come close enough to take him back. Realizing the young goose had clearly decided we were his family by then, we gave him a name, calling the little guy Peeper.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Before we knew it, the little creature had grown into a big bird with two powerful wings. One day, when my dad threw Peeper into the air, he just flew away and didn’t come back. With night falling, all of us became increasingly worried. We looked for him, called his name and anxiously expected his return. But he never appeared again. It took a long time before we accepted the fact that he was missing. We could only pray he found his parents and went off on his natural way.

I was thrilled to see when, in 2019, an adult goose made his way back to my family home. He did all of the same things Peeper used to do! Much to my amazement, he even responded to the name Peeper. It became clear to me that my old best friend had returned many years later.

This experience has been as meaningful to me as anything in my life. Looking beyond our reach high in the sky, birds have feelings like human beings, so do many other living things. We human beings should learn to get along with them. We need each other’s care and protection for a better world.

7 . Mack Rutherford, a 17-year -old pilot has become the youngest person to fly alone around the world. He landed his small plane in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia on Wednesday. That is also where he started his trip five months ago.

His trip, which started in Sofia on a plane owned by the Internet company ICDSoft on March 23, took Rutherford through 52 countries across five continents. The plane, called Shark, can travel at the speed of 300 kilometers per hour. Normally a two-seater, the plane was changed for his long trip by replacing the second seat with an extra fuel container (容器).

Rutherford first planned to make the trip in three months. But it lasted longer because of several barriers, including rainstorms, sandstorms and extreme heat. Most of the delays were caused by waits to get permits and other documents required for keeping with the flight plan.

The flight took him through Africa and the Gulf area to India. China, South Korea, and Japan. He crossed the northern Pacific and landed after 10 straight hours in the air on a volcanic island near the Bering Strait. From there, he headed to Alaska and down the West Coast of the United States to Mexico.

On Wednesday, a huge crowd of people welcomed Rutherford. His father, Sam Rutherford, told reporters that such an event helps show other children they should follow their dreams.

His sister, Zara, said, “While he was flying, I often tried to keep in touch and help him. Our parents called him every day, and I joined in those conversations. I gave him advice on the route, on the flight, so that I could be useful to him.”