My dad worked in construction. His day started early and ended late. All he wanted to do was crash on the couch and relax when he got home. For the most part that was what he did. No one complained; we were just happy when he was home.

But one hot and muggy summer, when my parents’ nineteenth anniversary was coming up, they made plans to go out, just the two of them. The big day finally arrived and Dad got home at seven. Mom had fed me early. She was dressed in her finest and wearing her favorite pair of high heels when he came in. He came through the kitchen and headed for the family room. It was obvious he was hot and tired.

“Honey, I just need a thirty-minute nap and then we will go out to eat,” he said as he sat down on the couch. Mom was already on her way over to the couch to give him a fresh cup of hot coffee. She bent over and kissed him on the head and said, “I’ll be ready whenever you are.”

I knew how important this evening was to my mother, but before long Dad was fast asleep. Then I watched my mother do the strangest thing. She reached into the refrigerator and took out eggs and bacon. Soon she had a batch of biscuits baking in the oven.

Before my eyes she piled a plate full of his favorite foods. As she set another fresh cup of coffee on the end table she bent down and kissed him while whispering in his ear. “It’s time to wake up.”

He sat up on the edge of the couch. As he looked up he found my mom standing in front of him with his dinner. “Honey, I promised you I would take you out to dinner and I meant it.” he said sincerely.

Mom sat down beside him on the couch as he took the plate of food. She said, “I know you would, but I also know you’ve had a hard day and you’re tired. What’s important is that we are together. We can go out any time for dinner.”

2 . It is natural to compare ourselves to others and to get caught in a mental comparison loop, and yet this seldom is beneficial. You may have heard the expression. “Comparison is the thief of joy. “To me, this rings true as I have found it is quite difficult to compare myself to others and feel joy at the same time.

Comparison not only robs us of joy, but it can also fuel self-criticism and a lack of self-acceptance. Typically, comparison leads to perceiving others as superior to you in some way and feeling inadequate or inferior. “I am not as successful, competent, attractive as they are. “Why don’t I have what they have?” We use comparison as an avenue for self-criticism, “What’s wrong with me? I must be an inadequate loser.” This hinders(阻碍)self-acceptance.

We often tell ourselves we are acceptable only if we meet certain standards, and we evaluate how we measure up by looking at others. The tendency is to conclude that we are not measuring up, particularly if we have a low sense of self-worth, and we worry that others are going to judge or criticize our perceived failures. We don’t just ask ourselves. “What’s wrong with me?” We worry what others will think: “What’s wrong with them?” The looming(迫近的)sense of possible rejection creates uneasiness and anxiety.

Comparison is deceptive(造成假象的). It tells us that if we meet the expectations, lose weight, get a promotion, or buy the house, we will feel better, calmer, more self-assured, and stop comparing ourselves. This may be temporarily true, yet, a comparison is an internal process that is ultimately based on our thoughts and sense of self, not external circumstances. We can always find something else to compare, another expectation we tell ourselves we are not meeting.

To stop comparing ourselves to others, we have to recognize that the comparison game is unwinnable and exhausting and stop playing. We should shift from being guided by comparison to being guided by personal values.

4 . It was a regular school day, and the air was filled with the usual sounds of chatter and laughter as students prepared for their lessons. Little did I know that this day would soon take a ________ turn, making it an unforgettable day.

As the bell rang, signaling the beginning of our English class, we entered the classroom, completely ________ of the coming danger. The teacher began the lesson, and we were really ________ our literature lesson when, out of nowhere, a loud fire alarm ________ everything.

Panic spread as we understood how ________ it was. Smoke filled the hallway, and a sharp burning smell hung in the air. The neat classroom turned into a mess as everyone ________ to the door, trying to get away from the coming danger.

In all the chaos, I noticed my ________ Sarah looking obviously scared by her desk. I quickly ________ she needed help. Without hesitation, I rushed over, took her shaky hand, and told everyone to stay calm. We went through the thickening smoke together, and each ________ felt like a really long time.

As we reached the door, it felt hotter, and we knew we had to hurry. With hearts ________, we hurried into the playground where teachers and students were making sure everyone stayed sate.

Outside, we took a moment to catch our breath, ________ by the loud sounds of approaching fire trucks. Seeing parts of the building on fire, a sense of ________ washed over us, knowing that we had made it out unharmed.

After everything happened, I couldn’t help but reflect on the events of that day. ________ it taught me it’s important to stay calm when things get ________ and how helping others during hard times matters. It was a day when ordinary students became unlikely heroes, bound together by the shared ________ to overcome the unexpected challenges.

6 . “Absolutely no!” I thought while looking up at a mountain pass to the cliff (悬崖). I climbed halfway and looked over. It was extremely steep (陡峭的), which would _________ broken bones… or worse. I could feel my _________ increasing, hands getting sweaty and breath getting shallower.

“No, I’m not taking my kids over this! How did I end up here?” I _________ curiously.

I have _________. You might not guess it but it’s _________. Nature is full of things that _________ me: bears, snakes, lightning storms, etc.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that fear is so powerful that it prepares our bodies to react anytime. I’ve also found that we _________ to fear what we don’t know. However, it’s during times like this that I’ve _________ the importance of showing myself that there’s nothing to be afraid of.

I looked over the pass with _________ knees, and then back at my children. I took a deep __________ and smiled at my kids, “I’m going first and then help you.” The __________ took about five minutes for me to complete and then my kids __________. “That was fun!” they yelled, and surprisingly I had to agree.

Despite my fears, __________ our beautiful world with my kids is very important. Why? There are so many __________! One is teaching my children that it’s OK to feel scared sometimes, but not to let fear __________ their steps from getting outside and trying new things.

7 . I enjoy being alone. I go to the movies alone. I wander museums alone. I eat meals alone. I sit in coffee shops and get lost in thought. I take the train and go to new towns and walk around alone.

You’re probably thinking that I must be pretty strange and very lonely. Interestingly enough, I was more lonely before I started spending time alone. The feeling like I needed to be around people all the time was loneliness. The feeling of complete anxiety and fear when a boyfriend broke up with me was loneliness. But being alone? This is peace. This is fun. This is what self-esteem (自尊) is built of.

For the past year, I’ve been single by choice, not by circumstance, not because no one will ask me out or I can’t find anyone eligible (合适的). It’s hard for some people to believe that I am choosing not to date, and I often get strange and confused looks from my old aunt and college friends alike.

I’m not the slightest bit embarrassed to say out loud that I’ve been choosing to be alone and it’s been the most nurturing (滋养的), sustainable, and non-anxiety including relationship I’ve ever had. There’s no waiting to be texted back, and there’s no feeling like another person just doesn’t understand me.

That doesn’t mean I don’t plan on bonding with others in future — I definitely do. But I know now that the relationship I’ve built with myself is a model for the relationship I want to be in. I know now that I’m not going into the relationship as a half. I’m going in as a whole.

8 . Last year, I spent my holiday with some of my children and grandchildren in a rented house in an unfamiliar neighborhood in Lakewood, New Jersey. Everyone in the area was super friendly and hospitable (好客的), offering to introduce themselves to us.

The home next door to us was particularly fascinating. In the yard, there was a trampoline (蹦床), a swing set and various toys and games that were particularly popular with young children. The owner was also very friendly and invited the kids to come over and play.

They played for hours on end. While we relaxed in our yard, perhaps feeling comfortable, perhaps enjoying each other’s company, perhaps forgetting that young children can’t be left too long without adults looking after them.

Unexpectedly, a small fight broke out. My 10-year-old grandson pushed the boy of the next door. At this point, the mother next door went to intervene (调停).

She came over to speak to us. Were I in that position, I would have been a very angry mother and complained about the bad behavior of these visiting children, and definitely sent them home.

What she did was quite the opposite. She spoke of their great pleasure in sharing the backyard, of a slight difficulty that had arisen and of the necessity of monitoring our children’s behavior. She told her children we were all their guests and that we should be respected and treated well. After that, these children got along well as before.

Honestly, I owed my thanks to the neighbor. Small as her actions may seem, they were big in our eyes. The neighbor not only kept the children happy but also taught me an unforgettable lesson in dealing with relationships. From her, I learned small and kind actions can bring warmth to people.

Once upon a time, there was a young athletic boy who is really hungry for success. For him, winning was everything and success was measured just by winning. He practised hard every day to win every race lying ahead of him.

One day, the boy was preparing himself for a running competition in his small village. A large crowd had gathered to witness the sporting event. A wise old man had travelled far to bear witness also. The race began. The boy with his determination, strength and power took the winning line and came to the first. The crowd were excited, cheering and waving at the boy. However, the wise man remained still and calm, expressing no excitement. The little boy, however, felt proud and important.

A second race was called and two new young fit challengers came forward to run with him. The race was started and sure enough the little boy came through and finished first. Once again the crowd was excited again, and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm again, expressing no excitement. The little boy, however, felt proud and important.

Another race, the wise old man stepped forward and presented the little boy with two new challengers, an elderly weak lady and a blind man. “What is this?” the little boy was puzzled. “This is no race!” he claimed. “Race,” said the wise man.