Learn English with American Primary School Textbooks

Chapter 40 Literature and Art (5)
However, with kids (especially at an early age), when they fall down, They don't perceive their falling down as failure, but instead, they treat it as a learning experience. They feel compelled to try and try again until they succeed .
While I was touched by the boy's persistence, I was equally touched by the manner in which he ran. With each attempt, he looked so confident, so natural. No signs of fear, nervousness, or of being discouraged—as if he didn' t give a care about the world around him.
His only aim was to run freely and to do it as effectively as he could. He was just being a child—just being himself—being completely in the moment. He was not looking for approval or was not worrying about whether someone was watching or not. He wasn't concerned about being judged. He didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that maybe someone would see him fall and that it would be embarrassing if he did fall. No, all that mattered to him was to accomplish the task or activity at hand to the best of his ability. To run and to feel the experience of running fully and freely. I learned a lot from that observation and experience, and have successfully brought that lesson with me in my many pursuits in life .
Vocabulary
curb [k? : b] n. roadside, inhibition;
vt. control, rein in

hesitation ["hezi"tei? ? n] n. to hesitate, to hesitate, to hesitate (something or act)

perceive [p? "si: v] vt. perceive, understand, recognize;

vi. to feel, to realize
compel [k? m"pel] vt. to force, force, force to happen
persistence [p? sist? ns, -zis-] n. Persistence, persistence, persistence, retention

embarrass [im"b?r?s] vt. & vi. (make) embarrassment, (make) difficult;
vt. to complicate and make difficulties
observation["?bz?:"vei? ? n] n. attention, observation, remarks, observation data
Practice
Try to be yourself, don't concern about being judged.
Translation
One afternoon many years ago, I went to pick up my mother from get off work.I arrived a little early, so I parked the car on the side of the road, opposite to where my mother worked, and waited for her there.

I looked out from the car window on the right side, there was a small park over there, and I saw a little boy, about 1 to 2 years old, running freely on the lawn, her mother was watching closely with him.The boy had a big smile on his face, as if he had just been released from some prison.The boy fell on the grass, got up, and without hesitation or looking at his mother, ran as fast as he could.There was still a smile on his face, as if nothing had happened.

Still, with children (especially very young ages), when they fall, they don't perceive the fall as a failure, but rather as a learning experience.They force themselves to try again and again until they succeed.

While I was moved by the tenacity of the little boy, I was also touched by the way he ran.Every time he tried, he looked so confident, so natural.No fear, no worry, no discouragement - it's like he doesn't care about the world around him at all.

His only goal is to run free, to run as hard as he can.He was just a child - the real him - the whole him in that moment.He doesn't seek validation or worry if anyone is watching him.He doesn't care what people say about him, he doesn't seem to care if anyone sees him fall and cares that it's embarrassing to fall.No, all that mattered to him was doing his best to accomplish the task at hand.Go for a run and experience the full power and freedom of running.I have learned a lot from this observation and experience, and it has served me well as I pursue it time and time again in my life.

Exercise
Try to be yourself and don't care what others think of you.

09 Run Through the Rain Memories in the Rain

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so careful as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in. “Mom, let's run through the rain.” she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit." Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain."

“We'll get soaked if we do.” Mom said.
"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm."

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. Time when innocent trust can be nursed so that it will bloom into faith." Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said. Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day!

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.
Vocabulary
Freckle ["frek? l] n. freckles, spots
Innocence ["in? s? ns] n. Innocence, innocence, innocence, simplicity

gutter ["ɡ? t?] n. (roadside) gutter, gutter, (roof) gutter, poor area

Spout [spaut] vt. & vi. (referring to liquid) spouts, gushes out, speaks incessantly;
n. nozzle, spout

Irritate ["iriteit] vt. Make angry, make irritable, make feel uncomfortable, make pain

hypnotic [hipn? tik] adj. hypnotic

soak [s? uk] vt. & vi. soak, soak, soak, soak;
vi.
pause [p? :z] n. pause, pause

affirmation ["? f?" mei? ? n] n. affirm, confirm, confirm, approve;
Circumstance ["s?: k? mst? ns] n. environment, condition, situation, economic situation

Practice
Take the opportunities to make memories every day!

Translation
She and her mom had just finished shopping at Walmart.This innocent little girl should be 6 years old with beautiful brown hair and freckles.It was pouring rain outside.The rainwater overflowed the gutters and rushed to the ground before it could drain away.

We were all standing under the awning at the Wal-Mart entrance.Everyone is waiting, some patiently, others irritated because God is messing with their already busy day.Rainy days always make me daydream.I was engrossed in listening to and watching the heavens wash away the dirt and dust of the world, and the memories of running and splashing in the rain carefree as a child flooded in, temporarily relieving my anxiety of the day.

The little girl's sweet voice broke the drowsy atmosphere, "Mommy, let's run in the rain," she said.

"What?" asked the mother.

"Let's run in the rain," she repeated.

"No, my dear, we'll wait until the rain dies down," replied the mother.

After a while the little girl said again: "Mom, let's run out."

"We'll get wet then," said the mother.

"No, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," said the little girl, holding her mother's hand.

"This morning? When did I say we wouldn't get wet in the rain?"

"Don't you remember? When you talked to your dad about his cancer, you said, 'If God lets us get through this, there's nothing we can't get through.'"

The crowd fell silent.I swear, you won't hear anything but the sound of rain.We all stood still.No one moved for the next few minutes.Mother paused, thinking about what to say.

Some might laugh it off, or scold the child for his ignorance, and some might not even take her words to heart.But this is the time in a child's life when he needs affirmation.If encouraged, the child's simple trust at this time will develop into a firm belief. "Honey, you're right, let's run over there. If we're wet, maybe it's because we really need a wash," said the mother.Then they rushed out.

We stood there, laughing as they raced past the parked cars.They held their shopping bags over their heads to keep out the rain, but they were still soaked.Several people screamed and laughed like children, and rushed out, rushing to their cars.Of course I did the same and ran outside and got wet.I also need to be baptized.Circumstances or others can take away your material possessions, take away your money, take away your health, but no one can take away your precious memories.Therefore, remember to seize the time and seize the opportunity to leave some memories for yourself every day!

Everything in the world has its own season, and there is an appropriate time to do anything.Hope you get a chance to run wild in the rain.

Exercise
Take the opportunity to make some memories for yourself every day!
10 The Golden Touch

(End of this chapter)