1 . A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of life, asked me the question, “Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even meant to be fair?” Her question was a good one. It reminded me of something I was taught as a youngster: life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true. One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t be.

One of the nice things about surrendering (屈从) to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have. We know it’s not “life’s job” to make everything perfect, it’s our own challenge. Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that everyone is dealt differently; everyone has unique strengths and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions, and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.

The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we should. When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair, we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves. Pity, of course, is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone, except to make everyone feel worse than they already do. When we do recognize that life isn’t fair, however, we feel enthusiastic for others and for ourselves. And enthusiasm is a heartfelt emotion that conveys loving-kindness to everyone it touches.

The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.

2 . It was June 14 and the last day of middle school had arrived.

I had spent the past couple of months trashing and treasuring all the things that I had accumulated in my classroom over the past 19 years. Looking into my classroom, you can see about two dozen boxes and bins inside, piled nearly three-quarters high to the ceiling, all packed and ready for the big move. The 22-million-dollar restoration work was only days away from starting and we were instructed that everything must go.

My parents Michael and Donna, wife Laura and newborn baby Summer had arrived that day. The students had heard so much about my daughter and were excited to meet her for the first time. My mother was there to help organize my classroom nearly 19 years ago and hadn’t seen it since. My father had visited on a few occasions, as had my wife. That day marked not only the end of an era for me, but the dawning of a new beginning.

The day before, I had thrown a party for my students. The feelings were mixed, as I knew that this would be the farewell (告别) party in my classroom of 19 years and the last time I would see all of these students together. I thought back to when they were all in middle school and would visit me in my classroom on my birthday. They made it an annual tradition. I will treasure these moments for the rest of my life.

Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe (敌人), a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk. I’ve learned over the years in working with over 2, 000 children that looking at things from an optimistic perspective and taking the time to foster relationships with people make the world a happier and safer place. No matter what a person’s life circumstances may be, you can be the change in their life that will bring them a sense of self-worth, which will ultimately provide them with the opportunity to become who they are meant to be. They might go on to change the world.

4 . A man sat at a metro station in Washington D.C. and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle-aged man noticed there was musician playing. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him. They stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet their schedule.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3-year-old boy. His mother followed him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded（鼓掌）, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most beautiful pieces ever written, on a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell’s playing in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment.

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

7 . During my first three years of college, I put on about 30 pounds of weight. Between classwork and a part-time job, I had zero time for _______. Besides, I ate a lot of fast food. Not surprisingly, I got a fat stomach.

After leaving college, I _______ to take exercise. Invited by a friend, I began working out with exercise machines three times a week. I was the kind of person who did not try something _______. I ate the same foods; I did the same things. Clearly, I _______ my routines (习惯). My friend, however, became _______. One day, he said, “We’re not getting enough exercise. We should play tennis instead.”

Me? Play tennis? No way. I was strongly against his _______. 1 was not good at sports. Besides, I was _______ the exercise machines. However, weeks later, I found myself standing on a tennis court (球场). As I held my racket (球拍), I felt _______. I gave my friend some looks that could kill. I ran after every ball he served to me, completely _______ about 90% of them, and hitting the rest into the other court. The first few months were quite __________. But one day, as the ball enough came flying toward me, my racket and the ball finally met in the place where it is most effective to hit a ball. I watched __________ as my return landed where I had aimed (瞄准) it, I had finally. __________ how to play tennis properly!

Tennis would finally become my __________. I played it for several years, only __________ because of a knee injury. I learned a lesson during my journey toward learning to play tennis: I can do whatever I set my mind to. I just __________ to put in the work, and the results will follow.

9 . My mom is about to have a spinal (脊柱的) operation. The operation is _________minor, but does carry a risk of paralysis (瘫痪). Friends and family have _________ to this news by talking in such pessimistic terms that Mom has come to _________ this kind of talk as “psychological theft”. It occurs when other people increase your anxiety _________ providing comfort.

Last week Mom _________ Geoff who works for the local school. “How are you?” he asked. “Not great,” she replied, “I have been having some trouble with my back and I’m going to need a(n)_________.”“Oh, the back the most _________ place to operate on! My mom had that and she was in terrible pain.” He responded. Geoff’s _________ had been kind. He’d given his own mother’s story to show sympathy,_________ Mom only heard danger and pain.

People could have __________ things that would be equally true, but more__________ to patients. “The specialists in our hospitals are among the best in the world.” — that’s a good one. “You’re going to feel much better__________.” — that’s another.

I’m not suggesting patients should be __________ from the reality of the risks they’re taking. But if the decision to have an operation can’t really be __________, what’s the purpose of stressing the __________? It’s just common sense to say, “Get well soon, and how can I help?”

My name is Li Hua.

Thanks for listening.