You can choose to think positively and see the good things around you，or you can choose to think negatively and only see the negative things around you. It's all up to you. 【小题1】 Look at what optimists do.

Believe in themselves.

While others doubt their own abilities，optimists believe they are good enough just the way they are and constantly try to get better. They trust their own intuition（直觉）and abilities when carrying out their day-to-day activities. 【小题2】 They don't need everyone's approval.

Believe in others.

Optimists not only believe in themselves，but also in other people in their lives. 【小题3】 They know that when you treat a person as he or she is，that person will remain so. But if you treat a person as he or she ought to be，that person will become what he or she ought to be. Optimists simply see sparks of good in others and work to turn the sparks into a roaring flame.

【小题4】

Optimists believe in seizing what life throws at them. They are not blind to the risks and dangers involved in taking chances，but rather look at the bigger picture，the resources available and then make every opportunity count for a much brighter future full of possibilities.

Forgive.

Optimists know better than to underestimate（低估）the power of forgiveness. Martin Luther King Jr. recognized the past was the past and forgiveness was the path to a better future for everyone. 【小题5】 Optimists know tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to correct what needs correcting and create a brighter reality.

Why you shouldn't punish your kids for lying

Getting your children to stop lying is challenging. There are many influences（TV，movies and video games）in which lies are common. Children see parents lie to others，if only to be polite. Most parents add to that with tales about the lives and activities of Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. 【小题1】

The most common reactions to children who lie are explaining why it is wrong and punishments. 【小题2】 Here are three better tools supported by research to use instead.

Give praise: You could ask your child to say something that happened at school that is true. When your child obeys, praise him enthusiastically. Be specific. 【小题3】 and give your child a hug or a high five. Aim for one or two interactions（互动）like this a day. If you happen to "catch" your child in a lie，say something like，“That is not true and could get you in trouble outside of the home.”

Act as a model: Explicitly（明确地）tell the truth. This could be about something that happened when you were a child or something that happened during the day. It need not be dramatic. Another option is to play a game at dinner. Each person tells one thing that was true that day. Again，give a little praise to the child who normally lies if she plays along.

Decrease punishments and moralizing（说教）：They are unlikely to change behavior or develop the conduct you want. 【小题4】 Rather，use very mild punishments（light scolding，short loss of privileges，a brief timeout）. More severe punishments（shouting，taking away something for a week，hitting）are not more effective in actually changing the frequency of lying.

【小题5】 Usually they can be dropped by then. It is unlikely that lying will be completely removed，but with the right encouragement，it can be dramatically lessened.

   If children believe in themselves, they can achieve much more in the future. One of the most important things you can do as a parent is help improve your child’s self-esteem and confidence. So, what are parents supposed to do?

1. Be constructive (建设性的) with your criticism (批评)

【小题1】 When your child does something wrong, don’t talk about how he is “bad”. Instead, discuss how the behavior is bad. Offer constructive criticism about how he can improve his behavior.

2. 【小题2】

Put your child in the position to learn new things and explore his creative side. By developing his creativity, he’ll gain confidence as he tries new things.

3. Encourage problem-solving and decision-making

From the time when your child is young, allow him the opportunities (机会) to make decisions and solve problems on his own. 【小题3】

4. Help overcome (克服) fears

One of the best ways to help improve your child’s confidence and self-esteem is by helping him overcome his fears. 【小题4】 This is sometimes due to fears. They don’t think that they will do well, so they are afraid to try. As a parent, you must be able to know their fears and then put them in the position to overcome them.

5. Develop your child’s natural gifts

Talk to your child about his dreams and goals, as well as things that he is both good at and fond of. 【小题5】 By developing his natural gifts and helping him find his talents and hobbies, you’ll improve your child’s confidence, self-esteem and overall happiness.

   It seems that there is never enough time in the day. But, since we all get the same 24 hours, why is it that some people achieve much more than others? 【小题1】

Keep 0a to-do list.

You should have a reminder system to tell you when you need to do what. 【小题2】 Carry a pen and paper wherever you go and write down the things you need to do, including dates and deadlines (最后期限).

Set goals.

Set yourself exact goals, and make sure that they are realistic. To do this, you first need to examine your present situation and assess (判断) which goals are important to you. Have a secondary route to your goals in case you have to change your plans.

Break down tasks.

Break goals down into different parts so that you can complete them one step at a time. 【小题3】 Try to complete one task before you go on to the next.

Organize your time.

【小题4】 A good way to do this is to record everything you do for a week in detail and then examine your record to see how you use or waste your time.

【小题5】

Keep your work space tidy so that you can work efficiently — it’s hard to work if things you need to find are buried under a pile of paper! Work to plan things so that you can meet deadlines in good time — don’t leave everything until the last minute.

   In the United States alone,over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year.Cell-phones are part of a growing mountain of electronic waste like computers and personal digital assistants.The electronic waste stream is increasing three times taster than traditional garbage as a whole.

Electronic devices contain valuable metals such as gold and silver.A Swiss study reported that while the weight of electronic goods represented by precious metals was relatively small in comparison to total waste,the concentration（含量）of gold and other precious metals was higher in So-called e-waste than in naturally occurring minerals.

Electronic wastes also contain many poisonous metals.Even when the machines are recycled and the harmful metals removed,the recycling process often is carried out in poor countries,in practically uncontrolled ways which allow many poisonous substances to escape into the environment.

Creating products out of raw materials creates much more waste material,up to 100 times more,than the material contained in the finished products.Consider again the cell-phone,and imagine the mines that produced those metals,the factories needed to make the box and packaging（包装）it came in.Many wastes produced in the producing process are harmful as well.

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency notes that most waste is dangerous in that"the production, distribution,and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas release." Individuals can reduce their contribution by creating less waste at the start-for instance,buying reusable products and recycling.

In many countries the concept of extended producer responsibility is being considered or has been put in place as an incentive（动机）for reducing waste.If producers are required to take back packaging they use to sell their products,would they reduce the packaging in the first place?

Governments' incentive to require producers to take responsibility for the packaging they produce is usually based on money.Why,they ask,should cities or towns be responsible for paying to deal with the bubble wrap（气泡垫）that encased your television?

From the governments' point of view,a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers.