While travel is restricted during this time, here are some amazing places around the world to daydream about and look forward to visiting one day in the future.
Lord Howe Island, Australia
The island in the Tasman Sea lies between Australia and New Zealand and is just 10km long. Despite its complete isolation, the island is populated, by around 380 people and the number of tourists is limited to under 400. The island is known for its geology, birds, plants and marine life, while cycling is the main mode of transport on the island, thanks to its virtually untouched forest and the fact that many of its plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world.
Thor's Well, Oregon
Also called "the drainpipe of the Pacific" or even sometimes, "the gate to hell", the hole appears to swallow the Pacific Ocean. Geyser-like ocean sprays erupt in winter time, thanks to ocean pressure and the gusting wind. It looks more dangerous than it is though; it is in reality just around 20 feet deep. The natural bowl is spectacular to watch, particularly during low tide when the sea rises towards the surface before draining back down into the depths of the rocky hole again.
Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods), Hawaii
Hawaiians call Keahiakawelo "wahi pana", which means celebrated, noted or legendary places which have cultural significance. As legend goes, the priest of neighboring Molokai island, a man named Lanikaula, was angry at the people of Lanai, so he lit a fire wishing ill will to the island's people.
Balamku (Cave of the Jaguar God), Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
The cave was rediscovered accidentally in 2018 by archaeologists who were searching for a sacred well. The seven-chambered cave was initially discovered in 1966 but was sealed up and forgotten about. Caves were considered openings to the underworld, and this one is no different. The name means jaguar god, which they believed had the ability to enter and leave the underworld at will. The cave is so unexplored that archaeologists are still mapping it out.
Anyone interested in easy ways to make a positive impact on their communities need look no further than 12-year-old Danykah Muck, a Michigan middle-schooler whose simple learning project is an inspiration to positive thinkers of any age. It all started with her way to school every school day. Every morning she would greet an old man in her neighborhood, who she still doesn't know his name, smiling or even simply offering a friendly word "hello". And he would always nod and smile back. "It seems to considerably change the emotional energy around me in the community," She noticed this in both directions, "That simple act can both change our entire day with how they greet me."
Last spring, Muck brought an idea to her teachers. She provided them with a pile of sticky notes she had filled with brief — sometimes one-word — positive messages. She then asked the teachers to place the notes on students' desks before they arrived at school the next day. She also gave pre-filled sticky notes to the lunch staff and to school administrators including the principal. The idea was to make it easy for teachers, staff and students to regularly encounter reminders that they matter and are valued. "You are enough just being you," reads one favorite note. Muck's idea could be just the thing in an office, assisted living facility or even at home for a small family.
"Low-cost" positive interactions, like a friendly word offered to the postal worker or coffee shop servant, are shown by psychology researchers to build sympathy and abate loneliness. An anonymous note sent into someone's inbox or stuck to their front door is perhaps the lowest-cost connection there is, with potential benefits beyond our imagination. Sometimes the smallest encouragements have the biggest impact. What would you say on a sticky note to share with someone in your community?
In the 2022 Beijing Olympics process, hand-kitting (手工编织的) Chinese knot, a symbol of unity and happiness in Chinese context, is loved by friends from other countries. It has a complex graceful curve, but it can be reduced to the simple two-dimensional line. It displays fantasy and wisdom of the ancient Chinese civilization. It has elegant appeal which comes from the basic tools of human life in the beginning years.
Preparation of Chinese knot, roughly divided into three categories: the basic knot, varying knot and combinatorial knot. Its knitting techniques, in addition to all the basic techniques, agree with a common principle of knitting and can be summarized as the basic techniques and combinations techniques. But the basic techniques use a single line, double line or lines to knitting, or change the use of the parallel thread (线) to separate thread so as to make colorful knot or bow section; and a combination of techniques use the extend of head and extended ear flap (耳帽), and combine various knot flexibly, complete pack of ever-changing knot ornaments (装饰).
To design a set of beautiful decorative knot, the most important thing is to determine what the knot will be used for. Accordingly, determine its size and shape, taking into account of the appropriate use of color matching and accessories. The shape, color and ornaments should suit each other. Do attach your own artistic beauty and deep emotion to it, which will be able to fully demonstrate the beauty of Chinese traditional art.
Long cultural heritage makes the Han ethnic Chinese knot techniques unique, purely cultural essence, rich in cultural heritage. Chinese knot not only has shape and color beauty, but also gain its name because of its meaning, such as endless knot, caisson knot (藻井结) and double the money knot, reflecting the ancient Chinese cultural beliefs and strong religious meanings. It represents the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty of good intentions.
The twilight (朦胧的) time between full wakefulness and being sound asleep may be packed with creative potential. Rumor has it that Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, used to prefer such moments between wakefulness and sleep. Supposedly, he used to fall asleep in a chair holding two steel balls. As he fell asleep, the balls fell into metal pans. The resulting sound woke him. Then, he could write down his inventive ideas before he fell into a deep sleep and forgot them.
Researchers tested Edison's method of developing creativity with 103 healthy people. Volunteers came to the lab to solve a tricky number problem. After doing the task 60 times, they earned a 20-minute break in a quiet, dark room. They relaxed in chairs, each holding a light drinking bottle, something like the steel balls that Edison used. Participants were told to close their eyes and rest or sleep if they desired. Meanwhile, machines monitored their brain waves. About half of the participants stayed awake. Twenty-four fell asleep and stayed in the shallow short stage of sleep called N1. Fourteen others progressed to N2, a deeper stage of sleep.
After their rest, participants returned to their number problem. The researchers saw a clear difference between the groups. People with a shallow early sleep were 2.7 times as likely to spot the hidden trick as people who stayed awake. Shallow sleepers were 5.8 times as likely to spot the trick as people who reached the deeper N2 stage.
Such differences in such experiments are rare, says Delphine Oudiette, a cognitive neuroscientist. "The results raise an interesting possibility. It may help people to learn to reach that twilight stage of sleep on demand. It seems Edison was onto something about the creative powers of nodding off. But don't put too much faith in his habits. He also is said to have considered sleep ‘a criminal waste of time'."
Dealing with an uncertain future can be scary, but thinking about, and taking steps to create, a positive future is vitally important.
◆Use hope to cope. One of the biggest things people are struggling with is feeling stuck in the difficult present and afraid to look to the future. Studies show that hope leads us to maximize psychological adjustment by reducing anxiety, increasing motivation, and helping us pursue goal-directed actions.
◆ It's crucial to your emotional well-being to continue planning and dreaming for the future, even when that future looks uncertain. "Suspend your reality for the moment, and allow yourself to feel happy about this imagined future," said Dr. Waters. "Just let your brain dream."
◆Dare to dream small. On a small scale, make plans with friends to meet for a walk or to go for dinner. Think of outings you and your loved ones can look forward to, movies or sporting events or even trips to the mall. There's no need to try to pin down when these things might happen.
◆Consider making changes. Use this time of sheltering-in-place as an opportunity to reflect on any changes you'd like to make in your life. Once you decide what changes would be beneficial, come up with specific steps you can take to enact them when the time is right. You can always adapt your plans as the situation continues to evolve.
◆Look for the positive sides. It is a long lane that has no turning. So you don't need to be optimistic to see them. Maybe you're learning to budget better or to be happier with less. Maybe you're seeing the benefits of getting back to basics. Whatever it is, acknowledge the new shift and be grateful.
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A. Dare to dream big. B. Never lose your heart. C. This is where hope comes in. D. Positive anticipation can be as rewarding as the events themselves. E. Even the worst of times usually bring with them some unexpected blessings. F. However, that doesn't mean you're ignoring the hardships you're going through. G. For example, many are reinvesting in relationships or spending more time with family. |
It was a very cold winter day. I listened to the heater working and zipped up my sweater. All my work done, I just wanted to relax and1in my nice warm bed. I placed a2behind my head and opened up my book. I laid back and got ready to take it3. But life rarely goes according to4.
"Sweetie, No!" My son yelled from the living room. Suddenly a four-legged ball of fur5in my bedroom. She jumped on my bed and6herself behind the pillow. "Sweetie, what're you doing?" I asked. She7her head on my shoulder and just looked at me8with her ears down and her eyes narrowed. I laughed when I saw her this9and petted her head to let her know that I10her. Already that day she had thrown up some food,11the corner of my quilt, and peed (尿) on the floor. I kept petting her while her body12and her resting guilty face slowly turned happy. Then she13licked my hand and cheek with her tongue. I laughed again.
I sometimes wonder what my14 would be like without dogs in it. My house would surely be15: the furniture wouldn't be chewed on, the floors wouldn't be16. But I would also have less17, less love, and less joy in my life. Of all the blessings and gifts in my life, I will always place a18on dogs. I will take a dog's love and a19house any day of the week. "Sweetie, I love you, even though you are one20dog. You are my best friend and greatest teacher of love."
Chinese opera, together with Greece tragic-comedy and Indian Sanskrit Opera, (be) among the oldest dramatic art forms in the world. During the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), the Emperor Taizong established opera school with the poetic name Liyuan. Since the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368), it has been encouraged by court officials and emperors and (become) a traditional art form. During the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), it became (increasing) fashionable among ordinary people. Performances were watched in tearooms, restaurants, and even around makeshift stages. Over centuries, Chinese opera has evolved into many different regional varieties (base) on local traits and accents. Today, there are over 300 outstanding regional opera styles, among Beijing Opera is the best-known Chinese opera style.
appeals to foreigners most may be the different styles of facial make-up, which is one of the highlights and requires distinctive techniques of painting. Exaggerated (夸张的) designs are painted on each performer's face (symbolize) a character's personality, role, and fate. Audiences who are familiar with opera can know the story by (observe) the facial painting as well as the costumes. Generally, a red face represents (faithful) and bravery; a black face, courage; yellow and white faces, dishonesty; and golden and silver faces, mystery.
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
My 4-year-old son Sandy happened find a toy panda. He held onto it all day but took it to bed with him at night. Later, I run across a community post from a mum urgent looking for a lost panda — her son's favorite. I messaged that we had one that evening. She was so relieving! In the morning, I had to break the news to Sandy which another little boy was missing his favorite toy. Tear streaming down his face, he gave me the panda. The little treasure was returned back to its rightful owner. This morning, I found a dropped-off card and new panda for Sandy — as the big thank you for him! Thank you so much, lovely neighbors!
注意：1）词数100左右；
2）可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：虎年the Year of the Tiger
