Your smile through the clouds<Gulistan.>

Life is short, and we all need to step back and realize how great it really can be. 

Be optimistic. Think of life in the best way possible, bright side and find the better side of every situation. You would be amazed at how much more there is to life than the negative.

Live every moment to the fullest. Don’t waste a single second being sad, bored, or lonely. Get out there and dance, and sing as if no one was around. You never know how much longer you have to do so.  

 Laugh often. This is possibly the most important point in this how-to guide. Laughter is the number one most important thing in life. Laugh much, and smile often.  

 Live in the present. Forget about the past, as there is nothing you can do about it. Don’t worry about the future, as what is to come is to come, and if you forget to live in the moment, you would be surprised at how quickly time can slip.  

Be kind to everyone. Kindness is the key to unlocking your own happiness and joy. If others notice your kindness, they will gratefully return it. Make as many close friends as you can, and help them when they are down, as you never know when you will need them to catch you.  

Find a Partner. Find someone to love can be very hard however just be patient and maybe that special person will come along.

Today is a bright day. When I woke up, the blazing sun lights nearly blinded my eyes. Out of instinctive reaction to strong rays, I immediately covered the quilt over my face. It took me a long while to adjust my eyes to a new day. Having washed my face and tidied myself up, I went into the kitchen with the purpose of finding something delicious to eat, but in vain. Disappointed, I was about to nag at my poor mother who was still in bed, when an idea struck me. Why don’t I go to People’s Park and breathe the fresh summer air? that is really a good idea foe me..

The morning breeze carried with it the scent of fresh dirt into my nostrils.I felt I were at the top of the cloud, everything in my sight seeming new to me. The leaves of plane trees were glowing in the morning sun, through whose opening the rays penetrated and fell on my shoulders, my head and face, making me narrow my eyes, smiling. Every few hundred meters, there was a cleaner, dressed in bright orange, cleaning the cypress road. A few miles from the park, I noticed a funny scene. An aged male cleaner was riding his open-tricycle, while his lovely dog running after him as fast as it could. I guess he must have finished his work, for he was singing happily as he cycled along. It dawned on me that happiness belongs to everybody, whether he be rich or poor, noble or humble. 

The park was already a sea of people before I arrived. Since the park was rebuilt and open to the public, it has served as a morning practice centre. The people can be categorized by the clubs they joined in. A group of gray-haired men were playing Taijiquan, many middle-aged women with fans or colorful ribbons in hand were doing yangge, I went though a small grove and crowds of people to the lake side. I looked into the surface and saw my reflection, a skinny girl. I laughed, and she responded, too. The water is blue and green with patches of willow catkins floating over. Running water is never stale. How could we expect the water to be clear since it’s a man-made lake? I squatted down and observed the water carefully. There should be tiny tadpoles swimming about! They were just like black commas in my primary Chinese textbooks. It’s hard to imagine they are babies of frogs. With a well-preserved childlike innocence, I got down on my knees, pushed up my sleeves, reaching my hand for the tadpoles. However, they were too smart to catch. As soon as I thrust my hand into water, they immediately disappeared into the depth of the lake. Behind came a storm of laughter,A few old men were exchanging of conventional greetings.  I stood up immediately and patted the dirt off my trousers. The sun was already in the half sky. I quickened my steps and headed for home. Wish my life filled with sunshine every day. 

Other men live to eat, while I eat to live, said Socrates the sage. This utterance may have offended many people as he pointed out part of the truth of their life. Nevertheless, nobody will deny the importance of eating, for the sake of “living” at least. Hence, cooking becomes an essential part of life.    Cooking involves a series of complicated procedures, challenging both hand and head. I don’t see cooking as a bad job. Cooking, for the preliminary purpose, is to feed empty stomaches, and for a higher grade, enjoyment.

 Cooking itself is enjoyment too. Take me for example. I find a lot of pleasure in the preparatory process of cooking. Slice a potato, knife up and down quickly, producing a rhythmic piece of music, if not melodious. This done, I would jokingly apologize to my sister, “sorry honey. I sliced them too thin again.” And then, we’ll laugh heartedly.

Some people believe that cooking, traditionally taken by women, is nowadays undertaken by men. That’s true. In many families, it is the husband that cooks, and he does wonderful cooking too. Some women, a lot actually, pampered from childhood, know little about housework, never touch cooking, or step into the kitchen. 

Cooking, same with other human activities, can be interesting at the first try, but boring repeated day in and day out. It would be ideal when a couple cook together. When  they are at home,  they would cook together. Usually, wife prepare for cooking, cutting, skinning, slicing, etc, which he is not good at. And then, he takes real cooking, fume and strong smell of which she dislike. Afterwards, she wash dishes, and he, waiting till I have wiped all clean and dry, puts them one by one back into the cupboard. Work seems boring but connecting, the joy of which only those involved in know. 

“Love is unconditional and unselfish”. If you do love a guy, you’ll not hesitate to cook for him/her. You’ll be willing to do something even boring like cooking for your beloved.

Time is running out for my friend. While we are sitting at lunch she casually mentions she and her husband are thinking of starting a family. "We’re taking a survey,"she says, half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know,"she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous holidays…"

But that’s not what I mean at all. I look at my friend, trying to decide what to tell her. I want my friend to know that every decision will no longer be routine. 

I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for child care, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting, and she will think her baby’s sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her child is all right.

Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the added weight of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her own life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. She would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years—not to accomplish her own dreams—but to watch her children accomplish theirs.

My friend’s look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You’ll never regret it," I say finally. Then, squeezing my friend’s hand, I offer a prayer for her and me and all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this holiest of callings.