Day01. Success in Life

Success means different things for different people. Some may equate it with fame, some with wealth and still some with accomplishments. For me, it means fulfilling one's dreams. Whatever your dreams are, you have a goal there and then focus all your attention on it.

Dreams bring you hope and happiness. In the process of struggling for it, you cry, sweat, complain or even curse, but the joy of harvesting makes you forget all the pains and troubles you have gone through. So an old proverb says that the sweetest fruit is one that has undergone the bitterest ordeal.

There are several keys to success. First, your goal must be practical and practicable. If you set your goal too high, chances are that you will never attain it. Next, you have to make a plan of doing it. You can take some steps to realize it. Since the process is quite tough, you need to be diligent, patient and persevering.

Even if you meet with some difficulties or frustrations, just take them in your stride. You can always tell yourself that there is nothing insurmountable. With this will and determination, success is sure to wait for you at the end of the tunnel!

Day02. Learning: a Lifelong Career

As food is to the body, so is learning to the mind. Our bodies grow and muscles develop with the intake of food. Likewise, we should keep learning day by day to maintain our mental power and expand our intellectual capacity.

Constant learning supplies us with fuel for driving us to sharpen our power of reasoning, analysis, and judgment. Continuous learning is the best way to keep pace with the times in the information age.

It is a common misunderstanding to regard school as the only place for the acquisition of knowledge. On the contrary, learning should be an endless process, from the cradle to the grave. With the world changing so fast, to stop learning for just a few days will make a person lag behind.

Lack of learning will inevitably lead to the stagnation of the mind, or even worse, its fossilization. Therefore, to stay mentally young, we have to take learning as a lifelong career.

Day03. JOGGING

Every day, in all kinds of weather, thousands of men and women go jogging. Why has jogging—running slowly for long distances—become so popular? Most joggers like it because they have heard it is very good exercise. Jogging makes the heart stronger and helps people lose weight. It can also help them feel better about themselves.

How fast should you go? Jog with a friend and talk to each other as you run. If you have difficulty talking, you are going too fast. How far should you jog? Remember not to go too far too soon. In fact you should walk, not run, the first few times. Then do some short jogs, but no mare than what you can do comfortably.

After that, increase your distance a quarter or half of a mile every two weeks or so. Maybe in a few years, you, too, can run in a marathon like thousands of other people do.

Day04. Body Language

Americans feel that physical contact can be important in breaking down barriers between people. Such physical acts as hugging, shaking hands and kissing in public are seen as displays of affection.

In China, on the other hand, this is not common because physical contact is not the custom. Interestingly enough, most Chinese who spend some time in America come to like hugging; they learn that Americans use body language to express feelings. It is a way of saying "I like you and I care about you."

Shaking hands is another traditional way of greeting someone in America. Shanking hands is a more formal way of greeting than hugging. Whereas hugging shows closeness, shaking hands means that there is a little more formality in the relationship.

Western people usually shake hands when meeting someone for the first time, or when they see someone again after a certain amount of time has passed. In Japan, people traditionally bow as a form of greeting. Other countries have different customs, like patting someone on the back or kissing.

Day05. Sleep

Scientists suggest that today, most adults get up to two hours' less sleep than they need. As a result, those lacking in sleep are forgetful, tired, less productive and grumpy. Sleep is the time when our bodies and minds are rested and restored.

There are two types of sleep: Rapid Eye Movement and Non-REM. We need both types to be healthy. Rapid Eye Movement sleep is when we dream. Our brains are active, and our eyes have fast short movements, as if watching something. This type of sleep helps restore our mind.

Non-REM sleep is when our brain and body slow down. Our heart rate slows and our breathing is regular. This type of sleep helps restore our body. We have twice as much Non-REM sleep as Rapid Eye Movement sleep each night. To get better sleep, have a regular time for sleeping and a routine before you go to bed.

This will give your body the signal that it is time to sleep. Make sure the bed and bedroom are quiet and comfortable. If your bed is too hard or too soft, if you are too cold or too hot, you will not sleep well. For two hours before going to bed do not drink coffee or alcohol, or do not smoke or exercise. All these activities stimulate your body and make sleep difficult.

Day06. Swimming

Swimming is a competitive sport played around the world and on many different levels, including the Olympics. It's also an wasy sport to do on your own, both for fun and for exercise.

Many doctors and athletes agree that swimming is one of the best workouts you can give your body, because it works almost on all of your major muscle groups at the same time.

Since you're floating in the water and not in contact with any hard surface, there's less pressure on your joints and bones. You're less likely to suffer injuries than with other sports.

There are many ways to push yourself and get better as a swimmer. If you're into speed, you can race the clock and see how long it takes you to do a certain number of laps. If you're into endurance, you can slow down and see how many laps you can do before you have to take a rest.

Many teenagers like swimming best. One of the students says, "The best part about swimming is when you beat your time. It doesn't even matter if you lose the race as long as you tried your best; you can walk away with a smile on your face.

When you're in the water you forget that people may be watching and all you care about is getting to the other side of the pool and touching the wall. You can just let go and fly."