1 . Adults understand what it feels like to be flooded with objects. Why do we often assume that more is more when it comes to kids and their belongings? The good news is that I can help my own kids learn earlier than I did how to live more with less.

I found the pre-holidays a good time to encourage young children to donate less-used things, and it worked. Because of our efforts, our daughter Georgia did decide to donate a large bag of toys to a little girl whose mother was unable to pay for her holiday due to illness. She chose to sell a few larger objects that were less often used when we promised to put the money into her school fund (基金).

For weeks, I’ve been thinking of bigger, deeper questions. How do we make it a habit for them? And how do we train ourselves to help them live with need, and use less? Yesterday, I sat with my son, Shepherd, determined to test my own theory on this. I decided to play with him with only one toy for as long as it would keep his interest. I expected that one toy would keep his attention for about five minutes, ten minutes, max. I chose a red rubber ball-simple, universally available. We passed it, he tried to put it in his mouth, he tried bouncing it, rolling it, sitting on it, throwing it. It was totally, completely enough for him. Before I knew it an hour had passed and it was time to move on to lunch.

We both became absorbed in the simplicity of playing together. He had my full attention and I had his. My little experiment to find joy in a single object worked for both of us.

2 . Mrs. Bruce is an unusual teacher. Once she told each student to bring along a few potatoes in a plastic bag. On each potato the students had to write a name of a person that they hated. And the next day, every child brought some potatoes. Some had two potatoes; some three, some up to five.

Mrs. Bruce then told the children to carry the bags everywhere they went, even to the toilet, for two weeks. As day after day passed, the children started to complain about the awful smell of the rotten (腐烂的) potatoes.

Those children who brought five potatoes began to feel the weight trouble of the bags. After two weeks, the children were happy to hear that the game was finally ended. Mrs. Bruce asked, “How did you feel while carrying the potatoes for two weeks?” The children started complaining about the trouble loudly.

Then Mrs. Bruce told them why she asked them to play the game. She said, “This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred (仇恨) for somebody inside your heart. The terrible smell of the hatred will pollute your heart and you will carry something unnecessary with you all the time. If you cannot stand the smell of the rotten potatoes for just two weeks, can you imagine how heavy it would be to have the hatred in your heart for your lifetime? So throw away any hatred from your heart, and you’ll be really happy.”

3 . Students and Technology in the Classroom

I love my blackberry (黑莓手机) — it’s my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me. I also love my laptop computer, as it holds all of my writing and thoughts. Despite this love of technology, I know that there are times when I need to move away from these devices (设备) and truly communicate with others.

On one occasion, I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas. Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom, I have a rule-no laptops, IPads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy.

Most students think that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some students think that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. I love technology and try to keep up with it so I can relate to my students.

The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversations and engage complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration (专心) and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course material and the class discussion.

I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create. Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge, they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom.

I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a rally good reason for the change, I’m sticking to my plan. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up.

4 . The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching while my dentist was on holiday, and I’d been in a/an _________ with a friend. Her words still hurt, “You never put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head and felt the _________ in my tooth. It was really _________. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. _________, at about lunchtime, I got lucky.

“If you _________ right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will fit you in.”

I rushed out to my car. But suddenly I began to _________ about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to _________ someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as _________ as the others?

While I was in the dentist’s office, I saw nothing but the empty walls and I became even more _________. The assistant __________ my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one.

When I told her my fears, she laughed, “Don’t worry. The dentist is very good. Just lie down and __________. And enjoy the artwork.”

“The artwork?” I was __________.

The chair went back, and suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the __________. How __________ the dentist was! At that moment, I __________ what my friend meant.

5 . A lady wanted a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had been fond of a beautiful ________, and knowing her husband could ________ it, she told him that was all she wanted. On the morning of the birthday, her husband told her how ________ he was to have such a good wife, and how much he loved her. He gave her a beautiful gift package (纸盒). She opened it and ________ a Bible. ________, she raised her voice and said to her husband, “With all your money, you give me a Bible?” She was so ________ that she left him.

Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She owned two large companies. She ________ her husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to ________ him. But before she could, she ________ a letter telling her that he had died, and gave all of his possessions (财产) to her. She needed to go back and ________ things.

When she arrived at his house, sadness ________ her heart. She saw the still new Bible, just as she had left it years before. With ________, she opened it and began to turn the pages. A ring ________ from the Bible to the floor and a card could be seen. She picked it up and found it was the ring she wanted in those days. And on the card was the date of her birth, and the words “LUV U ALWAYS”.

________ your gift is not packaged the way you want it, it’s because it is better packaged！Always appreciate little things as they usually lead you to bigger surprise! The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched for they must be felt with the ________.

6 . When we pay attention, we see courage every day. I see it in my classroom when a student __________ her hand and says, “I’m completely lost.” Do you know how incredibly __________ it is to say so when you’re pretty sure every one else gets it?

I recently saw another __________ of ordinary courage in my son Charlie’s preschool. Parents were invited to ____ a music presentation by the kids. You know the __________— twenty-five children singing with fifty-plus __________ in the audience holding up cameras.

One girl cried her way through the entire __________ because she couldn’t see her mom. As I was telling Charlie goodbye, I saw her mom burst through the door, and immediately start __________ the room for her daughter. Another mother walked by this stressed mom, shook her head and __________ her eyes.

Just then one more mom walked up to this now ____________ mom and smiled. “I wasn’t just late. I ____________ forgot.” She said, “It’s okay. We’re in the same boat.” The woman’s face ____________ and she wiped away a tear. By the time she made it to the corner where the teacher was still ____________ her daughter, she looked calm.

The mom who stopped and shared her story of ____________ was practicing courage. She didn’t have to. Every time we choose ____________, we make the world a little kinder and braver.

10 . After college I wanted to make a difference in the world，so I joined the Peace Corps and became a volunteer teacher in Namibia，my country of assignment(任务).Honestly,my first choice wasn't Africa，but I am extremely grateful that I was sent there.

Various tribes and racial groups live in Namibia and a number of languages are spoken.When Namibia gained independence in 1990,English became the official language.Teachers were supposed to teach in English,but many lacked the language skills to do so.My job was to train the teachers.

Schools were quite bare．Some classrooms consisted merely of sticks stuck in the sand and a metal roof.Each student had only one threadbare uniform.The students had exhausting days.They walked miles to get to school,often barefoot.They also did many daily chores.Even with their mountains of work，few possessions and little opportunity,these children were joyful.I admired that.

This was my first time living abroad in a different culture.Simply adapting to the living conditions was a big adjustment.I had no electricity，running water,phone or Internet.Imagine no air conditioning where the temperature was often above 38 degrees Celsius! However,I could end each day with a splendid African sunset.And at night,I could have an incredible pollution-free view of the entire Milky Way(银河).

Before Namibia，I never thought a girl like me would adapt to such an environment.My experience awakened me to not only the limitations we place on ourselves，but also our amazing ability to adapt.

Step outside of your comfort zone and throw yourself in another culture.You won't regret it.