一席英语·脱口秀：老外来了

主播：Wendi（中国）+Erin（美国）

歌曲： Imagine

01. 中国“春节”申遗成功了！

China’s Spring Festival has officially been inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. 中国春节已被正式列入联合国教科文组织人类非物质文化遗产名录。

This announcement was made on December 4, 2024, during the 19th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee in Asunción, Paraguay. Spring Festival is now globally recognized (被全球公认) as a cultural treasure (文化宝藏), and it’s the 44th Chinese item to be listed, putting China in first place (第一) worldwide for the number of heritage items (遗产项目).

The term “intangible cultural heritage” (非物质文化遗产) in English refers to traditions, practices, and expressions passed down through generations (代代相传). The word intangible (无形的) means “not physical” or “not material”, and its opposite is tangible (有形的、可触摸的), like in “tangible assets (有形资产)”.

The news is making waves. 消息一出立刻引起轰动。

For example, Global Times《环球时报》 ran the headline: "China's Spring Festival inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."

《环球时报》的标题运用了inscribe这个词，这个词让人感觉“春节”不仅是被列入了非遗名单，还有一种被刻在了人类文明的史册中的隆重感。That’s a powerful title.

And it’s not just about the celebration—it’s about the deep cultural and historical significance behind it.

申遗成功的Spring Festival不仅仅是这个节日本身，还包括它背后深刻的文化和历史意义，比如它所涵盖的很多习俗和民族文化。

02. “春节”申遗成功对中国以及全球意味深远

A lot of people in the world are no strangers to the Spring Festival. It is the culture and customs behind that truly matters and perhaps can now be better understood by more people abroad (其背后的文化和习俗现在被更多的海外人更好地理解).

It’s a recognition (认可) of the rich cultural and historical value (丰富的文化价值和历史价值) of Spring Festival. As Professor Xiao Fang(萧放) from Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学) explained, Spring Festival is a time of emotional connection (情感连接), honoring ancestors (纪念祖先), and celebrating the renewal of time (庆祝万象更新). It reflects family, social, and natural ethics—all tied together in one grand festival (它反映的是家庭、社会和自然伦理都在这个盛大的节日联结在一起).

萧教授强调，it’s a festival of peace and harmony (这是一个和平、祥和的节日)。It’s not just about personal joy but also about sharing values with the world (向世界传递和平、祥和的价值观). Because some of these values, like the connection of family, are naturally and universally shared by humans.

With globalization (全球化), Spring Festival is becoming even more influential (更有影响力). Over one-fifth of the world’s population celebrates Lunar New Year in some form (世界上有超过五分之一的人会庆祝春节).

03. 中国和美国过新年有什么不同？

在中国，春节几乎都是关于family reunions (家人团聚), festive meals, and traditions like red envelopes (红包), fireworks, and temple fairs (庙会). It’s a time to honor the past and welcome the future (是一个辞旧迎新的时刻). 在这个时候，all your families come back, and everything and everyone slow down (慢下来) to just enjoy the pure happiness (纯粹的幸福)。

而在美国，New Year is more about partying and making resolutions (制定新年决心). People gather in Times Square (时代广场) or watch fireworks, but it’s not as family-oriented (以家庭为中心的) as Spring Festival.

美国的新年的概念一般是指元旦。Christmas is more comparable to the Spring Festival (圣诞节更像是春节), because it’s also a mark of time and values the reunion of family.

一些美国人庆祝春节更多的会eat dumplings, make paper lanterns（做纸灯笼）, or watch dragon dances（看舞龙）。Erin上的一些课程would have all the students participate in paper cutting（会让所有的学生都参加剪纸活动）。

Erin在美国生活已经很多年了，对她来说，celebrating the Spring Festival overseas always feels like connecting both of her cultures（在海外庆祝春节总是感觉像是在连接她的两种文化）.

04. 为什么文化遗产在全球化的时代很重要？

When a tradition becomes part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, it’s not just a title. It’s a call to protect and celebrate these practices as treasures that belong to all humankind.

Take yoga from India (印度的瑜伽) or flamenco from Spain (西班牙的弗拉明戈舞)—both are vibrant (充满生机的) traditions that have been passed down through generations. When they were recognized by UNESCO, it not only boosted pride in their countries of origin (增强了对自己国家和地区的自豪感) but also encouraged people worldwide to engage with and appreciate them (尝试并欣赏它们).

It’s a reminder (提醒) that globalization doesn’t mean cultural absorption (全球化并不意味着文化的同化). Instead, it gives us the chance to share, learn from, and preserve unique traditions (保留独特的传统). Spring Festival is a perfect example—it started as a deeply Chinese tradition but has now become a global celebration.

It’s also a reminder that traditions can evolve (传统也可以“进化”). For instance, in the U.S., Erin has seen Spring Festival celebrated with fusion (融合) events—like Chinese New Year parades featuring samba dancers in Brazil (在巴西有桑巴舞主题的新年游行) or dim sum-inspired pop-ups in London (在伦敦有以广东早茶为主题的快闪店).

dim sum 粤式点心

pop-ups 快闪店/餐厅

At the same time, recognition (对文化的认同) like this helps us remember to protect these traditions in their original forms (以原本的形式). It’s easy to lose cultural roots(丢掉文化的根) when adapting to modern lifestyles (适应现代生活方式). That’s where initiatives like UNESCO’s list play a crucial role (关键作用)—they encourage us to preserve traditions in their authentic, unaltered states (在它们正宗的，不被改变的状态下) while still sharing them with the world.

And as we mentioned earlier, there are now 44 Chinese practices on UNESCO’s list. It’s not just about celebrating the Spring Festival—it’s about embracing a shared responsibility (承担共同的责任) to protect the diversity and richness of human culture (人类文化的多样性和丰富性).

Whether it’s storytelling, festivals, music, or food, each tradition has a story to tell. And every time we celebrate, participate, or even just learn about a tradition, we help keep that story alive for future generations (让这个故事带有生命力地留给子孙后代).

请留言告诉我们：

What traditions from your culture do you cherish? Are there any you’d love to see recognized or preserved on a global scale? 你的文化中有哪些传统是你所珍视的？有哪些是你想让全球认可或保留的吗？

主播：Flora（中国）+Selah（美国）

歌曲： Live Your Beautiful Life

As some of you may know, Selah is getting married in just a few weeks (Selah再过几周就要结婚了). 目前她也在筹备自己的婚礼中，那么本期节目就由Selah带大家走近西方婚礼。

A wedding maybe one of the most important events in life, but different cultures have unique ways to celebrate it. Actually, in China nowadays, we have both traditional Chinese weddings (中式婚礼) and Western-style weddings (西式婚礼). 但是这肯定跟西方国家的婚礼还是有区别的。

So today, we have Selah to share with us some of the authentic wedding customs from Western culture (正宗的西方婚礼习俗).

01. Before the wedding: bachelorette and bachelor parties 婚前的单身派对

Typically, a bride will have a bachelorette weekend (新娘会有一个单身周末) where she goes on a trip or celebrates with all of her closest friends. The groom will also have a bachelor weekend where he does the same (他会做同样的事).

And nowadays, a lot of people do creative activities for these parties. Some may have a themed costume night (主题盛装夜: 人们一般会化装出席,一般扮成 fictional characters --虚拟角色).

他们可能会rent a cabin（租一间小屋），甚至是going to another country。

Selah打算举办一个chill and simple（轻松又简约的）bachelorette（单身派对）。Her bridesmaids (伴娘团) are coming in town a few days before her wedding, and they are all hanging out together in a large Airbnb (在一个大的爱彼迎民宿里)。

Since it’s usually the maid of honor who plans the bachelorette (通常是首席伴娘规划新娘的单身派对), Selah doesn’t know exactly what it will look like. As Maid of Honor, it's your job to ensure you have all activities planned ahead of time (提前计划好所有的活动).

Selah knows that it will be full of quality time and celebration. 比如说outings（郊游）, having dinner。

02. The old traditions at the Western wedding 西方婚礼的老传统

传统的西方婚礼中，新娘在结婚时身上都要有四样东西：something old, something new, something borrowed（借来的东西）, something blue。

There’s actually a meaning behind each of these items. “Something old” represents continuity(延续性), like staying connected to your family or your roots. “Something new” symbolizes optimism (乐观) and hope for the future.

“Something borrowed” is about borrowing happiness, usually from a happily married (已婚的) friend or family member. It’s like sharing their good luck.

Something blue象征purity（纯洁）、love和fidelity（忠诚）. It’s a really old tradition dating back to ancient Rome (古罗马). These traditions are so meaningful.

However, this tradition that has started to phase out (逐渐消失), but still is special to some people.

phase out 逐步淘汰：逐步停止使用

Some are not doing this as much anymore, but it is up to their personal preference (取决于他们的个人喜好).

And for good measure, there’s also a tradition to include “a silver sixpence in her shoe (在她的鞋子里放一个六便士银币).” It’s an old British tradition. The sixpence was meant to bring wealth and good fortune (财富和好运) to the couple’s marriage. 这样的话，在西方的传统中，新娘应该是要准备5样东西了。

03. Where the ceremony happens? 婚礼仪式在哪里举办？

Western weddings can take place in a variety of places, like a church (教堂), a beach, a garden, or even a private venue (私人场所).

It’s pretty different from a Chinese wedding nowadays, which is usually held at a hotel or at home (在酒店或者家里举行).

在一些西方国家，婚礼仪式（the ceremony）一般会在一个 church 里举行。而the reception（招待会）会在一个hall or banquet room（大厅或宴会厅）这样的地方。

banquet /ˈbæŋkwɪt/ n. 宴会厅

现在，中国婚礼一般都是ceremony和reception在一起进行了，仪式进行完之后就可以宴请宾客了，也许在这一点上我们是有区别的。

Where is Selah planning to hold her wedding?

Selah: “For me personally, I am going to have my wedding in a family friend’s backyard (后院)! It is going to be outdoors and more simple than a huge wedding venue (大型婚礼会场).”

Being surrounded by nature must make the whole atmosphere feel so peaceful and special. 一定很自然也很温馨。

04. Giving cash or gifts? 随份子还是买礼物？

In the West, guests often buy a gift from the couple’s wedding registry (婚礼礼物登记) instead of giving cash.

Selah has a wedding registry with essentials (必需品) that she wants to start their life together-like kitchen supplies (厨房用品), house decorations(房屋装饰), tools, furniture (家具) etc.

在收到这些礼物之后，新人一般会write thank you cards (写感谢卡) to everyone who gifted them money or gifts off their registry.

05. How do they send wedding invitations? 婚礼请柬怎么发？

Often, people will send out “Save the Date (预留日期)” cards to people to tell them to mark that day on their calendars (告诉人们在日历上标出这一天). 也是为了让人们给这一天预留出时间。

Then, they will send invitations (发请柬), with a website or QR code on the back (背面有网站或二维码) that directs (引导) people to more information. It’s quite convenient these days.

06. Unforgettable moments during the ceremony 婚礼仪式上的难忘时刻

On the wedding day, one of the traditions in the U.S. is the “First Look (第一眼).” This is a private moment when the groom sees the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony (这是新郎在婚礼仪式前看到新娘穿着婚纱的私密时刻). It’s often very emotional (激动人心).

Another fun tradition is the bouquet toss (扔手捧花)! The bride throws her bouquet over her shoulder to a crowd of single women, and whoever catches it is said to be the next to get married (据说接到手捧花的单身女性就是下一个步入婚姻殿堂的人).

It is a sign that there will be good luck to come (好运到来) and whoever is single that catches it, will likely get married next.

In many Western weddings, couples write personal vows (个人誓言) to share during the ceremony. They express love, promises, and dreams for their life together. It must take a lot of courage to stand up and share something so personal in front of everyone. But that’s what makes it so beautiful.

These are just a few of the many beautiful and interesting wedding traditions from Western culture.

请在评论区告诉我们：

What else wedding traditions in the West do you know about (你还知道西方有哪些婚礼的习俗呢)?

主播：Wendi（中国）+ Erin（美国）

歌曲： HOT TO GO

现在，在国外TikTok上，有一个很火的Chinese challenge（中文挑战），已经成为了一个new trend，今天我们就来聊一聊这个话题。

01.“说中文挑战”是怎么一回事？

在TikTok上，现在有一个“Mandarin Fruit Voices”（用中文说水果名）的挑战，游戏玩法是say the names of fruits in Mandarin to pass levels（说对了水果的中文名就可以过关）。大家都在努力地模仿翻译软件里的中文发音来闯关，真的很搞笑。

It sounds easy, but if you don’t know Mandarin, it can get pretty wild. TikTok’s been full of foreigners trying to say “mango” or “banana”, and some of the mispronunciations (错误的发音) are hilarious. 因为英文和中文拼音的拼读很多是不一样的，比如芒果的“果”好像在英文里没有完全对应的发音。Also, 芒果and mango sound so similar, people can get really confused.

People are accidentally calling mango “man gou”, and banana sometimes becomes “shang zhao”. “猕猴桃”也是非常有挑战的一个词。It has three characters, probably the most challenging one.

Mandarin is tough for almost anyone who didn’t grow up speaking it. There are four main tones (四个声调), and mixing them up changes the meaning. 声调不仅对外国人来说很难，哪怕是中国刚学习拼音的小孩子也会被音调难哭。

另一个比较难的点是pronunciation（发音）。It’s different from anything they’re used to in English.有些中文的发音也是其他语言里没有的，比如“香蕉”这两个字的声母“x”和“j”，在英文里是没有这两个音的。

Trying to say even basic phrases can lead to funny moments, which makes for great TikTok content. It’s fascinating, challenging, and often hilarious (很搞笑). 对于中文母语者而言，it’s so funny to watch people trying so hard to speak your language。

Chinese challenge is more than just a language trend. People are genuinely interested in Chinese culture, and they want to learn through these challenges. Also, TikTok makes it so easy to share successes and struggles, so people really get into it. TikTok这种社交媒体氛围非常轻松，经常就会带起这种“中文热”甚至是“中国文化热”。

It’s great because even when they struggle, they just laugh it off or try again. And for Mandarin speakers, it’s super entertaining! 中文母语者在看这些视频的时候会觉得很搞笑。Even some Chinese-speaking users are joining in to give pronunciation tips to help others beat the game. 有些会说中文的人也参与挑战录制了视频，来给其他人做参考。That’s better because the translator may not be so helpful sometimes.

其实通过挑战不是最重要的，重要的是give it a go (尝试), and just have fun with it。Perfection isn’t the point—it’s about trying something new. 让参与者对其他文化好奇，以及愿意去了解其他文化也是这个游戏的意义之一。

02. TikTok上还有哪些和中国有关的元素很流行？

Besides the language challenge, there are other Chinese-inspired trends on TikTok, too.

# Get Ready With Me

One of Erin’s favorites is the Get Ready With Me in Chinese trend. 就是用视频记录自己出门前的准备。There are some influencers that speak a limited amount of Chinese (说着有限的中文) whether they learned in school or they are Chinese Americans (美籍亚裔), and they make the popular GRWM videos, but they speak Chinese the whole time (视频全程都在说中文).

It’s really fun to watch and often surprising how good they are at getting their point across (使自己的观点得到理解). Even if they don’t know the word for something, they figure out a way to describe it in Chinese using words they do know. 其实这对我们学习其他语言的人也是一个很好的建议，有时候在进行口语表达的时候会担心有不会说的单词，但其实没关系，我们也可以用别的方式把它描述出来。这样能让我们更大胆地开口说。

#Chinese food trends

中国的美食实在是太多了，特别像boba tea（奶茶），hot pot（火锅）这些在国外都比较火。

#Chinese-style makeup

People in the west call it “Douyin Makeup” and it is pretty popular to recreate it right now. 中式妆容在TikTok上也非常火。

It’s a style that typically involves the use of shimmery eyeshadows (闪闪发光的眼影), really really pink blush (粉嫩的腮红), and lips with a soft, blurred (模糊的) finish. It puts a lot of emphasis on the eye make-up, and netizens are often stunned (被惊艳到) by how beautiful and ethereal the people look. It’s very different from makeup popular in other Asian countries, because it’s very bold and bright (很大胆夸张、明亮).

It’s great seeing people get inspired and bring a bit of Chinese culture into their own style. That’s the fun of living in such a globalized and diverse world where you can expose yourself to so many different culture (置身于不同的文化之中).

请留言告诉我们：

你还知道哪些在外网上比较火的Chinese-inspired trends？

 主播：Flora（中国）+ Selah（美国）

 歌曲： I Count on Me

Today, we will discuss life lessons (人生道理) about interpersonal relationships (人际关系). 有哪些人际关系的道理是你现在才悟到的？

Almost every problem in the world can be traced back to relationships (世界上几乎每一个问题都可以追溯到人际关系). Whether it’s misunderstandings, conflicts, or even broader societal issues (更广泛的社会问题), it all often starts with how we connect with one another.

其实relationship这个词不光是指romantic relationship（恋爱关系），还包括friendships（朋友关系）, relationships with your family and co-workers（家庭关系和同事关系）等等。这些都是属于interpersonal relationships（人际关系）。

01. Always be sincere 永远保持真诚

Sincerity is the foundation of building a relationship (建立人际关系的基础). 你要向别人display your sincerity (展示你的真诚)，关键在于你是否真的真诚待人。Basically, sincere people really mean the things they say.

This means that when you care for someone, you really care and not just try to gain something from your relationship with them. You care about them as a human being, and want what’s best for them (你关心的是他们的人格，并希望他们得到最好的).

Flora thinks it's a quite valuable quality, especially nowadays when some people are no longer willing to remain honest and tell the truth in many situations. Sometimes they just create a persona (塑造一个人设) for themselves to be liked by others. But that's not who they really are.

Just show them your true self; those who like you will naturally be drawn to you. And it's also important to talk about your true feelings and thoughts, both positive and negative. But some may just feel ashamed to talk about these sometimes (但有些人有时会觉得羞于启齿).

They might have all sorts of concerns (担忧), like what others think of them. But it can really let each other know where your relationship is headed in the future (让彼此知道你们关系的走向). How you feel in a relationship matters, and it determines whether or not you want to stay in the relationship (决定了你是否想要留在这段关系中). 

Flora wasn't very good at expressing her feelings, but then she realized that doing so has so many benefits. 比如说简单的一句“今天和你玩得很开心”就会让对方收到一个正向的信号，这意味着你们的关系可能在向好的方向发展。

Similarly, alert the other person when you feel offended (感受到被冒犯) and tell them how you feel, which will prevent them from hurting you and your relationship further, even though they may not mean to (即使对方不是故意这样做的).

02. Communication is the key 沟通是关键

Being able to communicate effectively is an invaluable skill (很宝贵的技能). 世界上绝大部分问题是由人际关系引起的，而其中靠沟通能解决的问题其实是占很多的。You need to be able to communicate what you want, need, feel or think to someone else.

Otherwise there can be miscommunications (误解) that lead to walls being built in this relationship (在这段关系中造成隔阂). 有时候换位思考也达不到和解的时候，可能是别人不知道你的需求是什么。这时候能破冰的一点就是：You need to communicate what you want, need directly：Conform? Apology? Help? Or something.

Good communication can take time and practice especially as you learn the communication style of that person (尤其是当你了解了对方的沟通方式之后), but it is important.

不过大家可能还担心的一个点是："I want to express my needs directly, but what if he or she thinks I'm just being too sensitive or high-maintenance (太敏感或者让人耗神了)?" 但是，如果对方真的在乎你以及你们的关系的话，只要你的需求是合理的，他大概率应该是不会这么想的。

If someone actually tells you, 'You're just too sensitive,' and expresses that they can't accept your feelings, then congratulations—now you know that this relationship isn't right for you. Maybe they are just gaslighting (煤气灯操纵). 遇上这种人的话你要考虑一下你们的关系了。Maybe this relationship isn't right for you.

•gaslight vt. <非正式> PUA，心理操控使人产生自我怀疑

Part of learning to communicate is also learning to accept and respect differences (接受和尊重差异). Just because someone is different from you, does not mean they are bad or weird. They are just different.

It is important to know that someone sees something differently and learn how to accept it and accommodate (适应) it, just like you would want someone to do for you.

03. Interpersonal relationships must be maintained 人际关系是需要维持的

Especially in today's fast-paced lifestyle, it's easy for us to overlook the maintenance of our relationships (很容易忽视对关系的维持). Especially as an adult, they require investment (需要投入)- time and effort.

If you are not watering a seed, how do you expect it to grow into a flower? Even when it became a flower, you had to fertilize (施肥) it, water it, and even catch bugs sometimes.

04. Relationships without personal boundaries won't last long. 

没有边界感的关系是不会长久的。

You should put time and effort to invest, but at the same time, you have to heave boundaries to protect others and yourself. 有时候我们遇到一些和自己特别聊得来的人就容易忘记一些boundaries（边界）。

But it's these boundaries that can keep your relationship stable. That's why it's important to gradually learn their boundaries and demonstrate your own (了解他们的界限并展示自己的界限) when dealing with others. 这样双方就都会在一种很舒服的状态下沟通了。

Selah has some relationships that take more out of her and take away from her life, in which case she needs to set boundaries. Actually, boundaries have always existed within us; it's just that when they're constantly being crossed, we feel the need to make them clearer (只是当它们不断被跨越时，我们觉得有必要让它们更加清晰).

Another similar one is don't compromise your principles for them (不要在自己的原则上有所妥协). 大胆展示自己的原则，对方才会知道和你交谈的范围在哪，而不是疯狂踩雷。

05. Relationships: it’s good to consider quality over quantity 注重质量胜于数量

Our time and energy are limited. You cannot be best friends with everyone. When you feel that maintaining relationships has taken too much of your energy and time, maybe you should consider which ones are unnecessary.

When thinking about relationships, it’s good to consider quality over quantity. So sometimes you may need to have fewer friends to cultivate good and meaningful ones.

A bunch of acquaintances may not measure up to a true friend (一群泛泛之交可能比不过一个真正的朋友).

Thank you for joining us as we explored these insights together. We hope you feel inspired to cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships (培养更深层次、更有意义的人际关系) in your life. Until next time, take care and keep fostering those connections!

请在评论区告诉我们：有哪些人际交往的道理是你后来才悟到的？

主播：Flora（中国）+ Erin（美国）

歌曲： I Count on Me

今天我们要聊一个非常有趣并且比较深刻的话题，关于一些看似流行但其实可以被视为toxic (有毒) 的建议。

Today, we’re unpacking some of these popular “toxic” suggestions and exploring a healthier, more realistic way (更健康、更现实的方法) to approach them.

This isn’t to say all advice is bad (并不是说所有的建议都是不好的), but it’s crucial to recognize when advice doesn’t quite apply to your own situation.

01. “Just be yourself.” 做你自己。

It sounds positive. 但是这句话省略了一个非常重要的premise（前提）that is you’re already self-aware and respectful of others (你建立了自我意识和对他人的尊重). The problem with this advice is that it implies any version of yourself is perfect (任何时候的你自己都是完美的) just as it is.

But personal growth is about identifying areas where we can improve, not just accepting everything at face value (从表面上看). Growth is about learning, progress and transformation (转变) and going beyond yourself. 片面地理解这句话可能会lead you astray (让你误入歧途)。

So, instead of using “be yourself” as a blanket excuse, think of it as “be the best version of yourself (做最好的自己).” Ask yourself, “Am I truly living up to my potential (发挥了我的潜力吗)? Is this really my best self?”

02. “Show them what they’re missing.” 做出点什么让他们看看。

This is the idea of proving others wrong by showing them you can succeed. 但是如果你的动力是建立在向别人证明自己的基础上，actually the mindset can become toxic.

If your motivation is solely to get validation (仅仅是为得到认可) or prove something to others, then your success isn’t really for you (你的成功不是真正为了自己), is it?

Live for yourself, guys. If you think their assertions (断言) are ridiculous and toxic, just stay away from them. Not all people are careful with their words (审慎发言), but you don't have to take responsibility for their mistakes.

一种更健康的说法是“Achieve your goals because they matter to you, not as a form of revenge or validation.” Let your accomplishments be something that fulfills you—not something that proves a point (而不是证明观点的东西).

03. “Why are you sad? You have everything to be happy about.” 明明有值得高兴的一切，为什么要难过呢？

Flora thinks, to a certain extent, the person who said it is demeaning other people's emotions (贬低别人的情绪). Because no one can fully empathize with someone else (完全感同身受), we never have the right to judge how they really feel.

It implies that external circumstances should control your emotions (意味着外部环境应该控制着你的情绪). 但是情绪并不是这样运作的。This kind of advice can make people feel ashamed of their sadness. But it’s just a natural emotion. So don’t ignore and disrespect your true feelings.

We should recognize that it’s okay to feel down even if things seem fine on the surface. Emotions aren’t something you can rationalize away (合理化)—they’re valid and deserve to be acknowledged (值得被承认).

Instead “Allow yourself to feel what you feel without judgment. Acknowledge it and give yourself the space to work through it.” Then your emotions feel taken care of. Sometimes you think that ignoring your emotions will save you more time, when in reality it will only accumulate more problems (积累更多的问题).

04. “Follow your passion.” 跟随你的激情。

Sounds good, right? But sometimes, this advice can actually be misleading (误导性的).

Flora has heard a lot of successful entrepreneurs say this. It’s often well-intentioned (出于好意的) but it always seems like the reason why people find this quote valid isn't because all those who follow passion can be successful, it's that those who follow passion and aren't successful don't have a voice (而是那些追随激情而不成功的人没有发言权).

并不是每个人的热情都与一个stable career（稳定的职业生涯）或他们的技能相一致，这可能会导致很多frustration（挫折）。

Pursuing your interests is great, but sometimes it’s more practical to look for a balance—finding a job that’s fulfilling but also realistic in terms of earning potential and job prospects (收入潜力和工作前景). 梦想和热忱是要有的，但也要建立在生活的基础之上。

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

Maybe what you felt was against your heart is exactly what you love. There are some things that you don't appreciate until you do them. 有些领域是真正接触后才会感受到它的魅力。所以关键就在于你有没有真正踏实去做。

So, rather than blindly following passion, maybe the better advice would be to find purpose in what you do and keep space for personal growth outside of work too (也为工作之外的个人成长留空间).

You might find a mix of stability and interest that actually works better in the long run (把兴趣和稳定性相结合才是长远之计).

05. “Failure is not an option.” 没有失败这个选项。

没有失败这个选项，也就是只许成功不许失败了。听起来有一种破釜沉舟的决心。

It sounds so determined and tough (坚定而强硬), but if we’re honest, failure is almost always an option—and often the most available one.

Flora doesn't believe there should be anyone in the world who hasn't had a failure. Failure is something that is so common that if we don't allow ourselves to experience it, then it can be a huge blow (巨大的打击) to you when it does happen. 因为你假设自己能够成功但是却没有为失败做任何准备。

As Steven Crowder once said, failure is usually “the easiest and most readily available option.” Trying to pretend it doesn’t exist just isn’t realistic (试图假装它不存在是不现实的), and it doesn’t make you any more likely to succeed (这也不会让你更有可能成功).

A better way to look at it might be, “Failure is likely, but the odds of success increase when you try (失败很有可能，但如果你尝试，成功的几率会增加).”

Flora also has a favorite quote that is very similar to this one: the opposite of success is not failure, it's doing nothing (成功的反面不是失败，而是什么都不做). 总之也是鼓励大家不要惧怕失败，只要尝试就会有成功的可能。

Accepting failure as part of the process can actually be motivating. When you recognize that success often takes multiple tries (成功往往需要多次尝试), failure just becomes part of the learning curve, not some terrible end.

Knowing this will bring you closer to the truth, rather than being deceived by the lies you create (被自己的谎言欺骗). And that’s a mindset shift that helps. It turns failure into something manageable, rather than something you avoid at all costs (而不是一些你不惜一切代价避免的东西).

So, next time you hear popular advice, take a moment to consider how it applies to you. Just because advice sounds good doesn’t mean it’s always good.

Popular advice may be very eye-catching (引人注目的), but it may not always be right for you (不一定是适合你的).

That’s the key—make sure advice aligns with your values and goals. It’s okay to question (质疑) what you hear and even to reject advice if it doesn’t feel right for you.

树立自己良好的values（价值观）会让我们更有判断力，不会人云亦云、随波逐流。

Remember, the best guide for your life is your own informed perspective (你自己的知情视角). Thanks for joining today! Until next time, keep thinking, keep questioning.

主播：Maelle（法国）+Selah（美国）

歌曲：I Count on Me

今天梅莉和Selah要聊一聊“what they miss about China”! 到国外后最想念中国的什么。

Selah has not been back to China since she moved to the US in 2019, so it has been a long time. Maelle has been back a few times, since her family still lives in China. China is considered Selah’s childhood home, so she has many fond memories and nostalgia (怀念).

Maelle在国外和她的中国朋友说她准备“回国”时，他们都会笑，因为Maelle虽然是外国人，但是她说的回国也是中国。China is truly home for Maelle.

What do they miss most after leaving China？

01. China's Cuisine & Convenient Lifestyle 中国的美食和便捷的生活方式

Selah misses food being delicious, fresh, and cheap. When Maelle really misses Asian food, she finds it quite hard to find good and reasonably priced places (价格合理的地方). 在国外找好的中餐厅真的不容易，而且价格会比中国贵。

In the US, food is often very processed (大量加工), and eating out can be very expensive. In France they have really good food. Maelle would not complain on that, but it can be quite expensive for sure, especially coming from China.

Besides food, Selah also misses public transportation. 在中国想去任何地方可以乘公共交通工具and it is very easy! You can take a bus, metro (地铁), taxi and so much more.

It is so different in the states. 在美国公共交通不是特别的方便。In the US, everyone has to have their own car. 除了大城市like New York or Los Angeles, 其他地方必须得有自己的交通工具。It’s not so convenient.

This is something Maelle really misses about China, how quickly and convenient everything is. 梅莉觉得在中国生活真的很方便, like ordering food, and all the services such as滴滴, 达达, 代驾, and so much more. It is cheap, fast, easily accessible (容易获取) and makes life so much easier.

02. Chinese Healthy Lifestyle and Hospitality 中国人健康的生活方式和待客之道

Selah really misses the ability to walk everywhere. In the US, she mostly sits, either at her desk at work or in her car. Selah感觉中国人每天walk so much everywhere, this has to be so much healthier!

Maelle really misses going to the parks in the morning or at night in China and seeing the older people dancing and exercising. She always found it to be so wholesome (有益健康). This isn’t something she sees old people do in France. 在中国，梅莉经常会看到老人早上在公园里健身，晚上跳广场舞，真的很有意思，而且很健康！

Something Selah also misses is how welcoming Chinese people are towards foreigners. They always want to have a conversation with her. Maelle definitely misses the hospitality (热情好客) in China. 梅莉觉得中国人的待客之道非常好，她非常喜欢这一点。

When Selah lived in China, she would get many questions every time she left the house like, “你是哪里人？你怎么会说中文？你在这儿住了多久？你更喜欢美国还是中国？你喜欢吃饺子吗？”

Maelle would have very similar experiences. She always finds it so nice to be able to start a conversation and get to know people. They are very approachable (平易近人).

Selah said people in the US are kind and welcoming, but they can sometimes look intimidating or unapproachable (令人生畏或难以接近). It can be like that in France as well.

03. Interesting Traditions of Chinese Festivals 中国节日的有趣传统

China has many holidays, like 中秋节，端午节，春节 with many traditions. The US has holidays and traditions, but they have a shorter history. There are so many fun activities during the holidays, it is always so fun to participate.

Selah misses the red decorations (装饰品) around 春节 and the traditions like 红包 and 包饺子.

Maelle totally agrees. And she thinks that how everyone gathers to set fireworks is so special!

Selah misses hearing fireworks for holidays. They are not allowed where she lives other than New Years and the 4thof July.

They are not allowed in France either. Maelle doesn’t see them often expect for special occasions (除了特殊场合). 在美国和法国，她们不是经常可以看到烟花，在中国尤其是过节的时候放烟花都是很热闹的时刻。

04. Changes and Constancy in Chinese Cities 中国城市的变与不变

Maelle really misses speaking Chinese everyday. Selah does not use it as much anymore.

Maelle also misses the dynamic pace of development (充满活力的发展步伐) in China. There is always something changing. Cities in China are always evolving, with new buildings, restaurants, and innovations popping up (突然出现). It is always exciting and you don’t know what might pop up next!

Lastly, the 24/7 availability (全天候服务). In France, everything is basically closed on Sundays, and shop hours are quite limited. Maelle really misses how in China, food delivery (外卖), shops, and restaurants are always open. It’s great for emergencies or spontaneous plans (紧急情况或临时计划)—there’s always something open (总有营业的地方)！

There are some places like that in the US, but it is mostly fast food and even then, they will usually close after midnight (在午夜后关门).

After the conversation today, they miss China even more! If you have any questions or comments feel free to comment below !

请在评论区告诉我们：你还想听梅莉和Selah聊什么话题呢？

 主播：Flora（中国）+ Erin（美国）

 歌曲：Double Trouble

我们今天来聊聊最近在全球重映的魔法题材系列电影——Harry Potter。

It has captured the hearts of millions worldwide (俘获了全世界数百万人的心). Even now, with the re-release (重映) of the films, fans—both old and new—are flocking to (涌向) cinemas to relive the magic (重温). 

前几天Flora订票的时候发现Harry Potter的放映厅位置爆满。You really had to scramble to get the best seats (抢最佳观影位置) for the movie!

It’s the same thing in the U.S. Erin knows a lot of people would seat in theaters for hours on end, watch like an entire marathon of the movies (很多人会在影院里一坐就是几个小时，就像看一整部马拉松式的电影一样). So Today, we’re breaking down the top reasons (首要原因) why Harry Potter remains so beloved.

01. The relatability of its characters 角色的亲和力

They’re real, flawed (有缺点的), and far from perfect. 让人觉得没有距离感。In fact, there are actually a lot of movies and TV shows that simplify (简化) the characters and their emotions.

We see them deal with everyday problems, especially as teens and young adults. They aren’t portrayed (被描绘) as overly mature (过度成熟)—they are as messy and unsure as we were at their age.

And it perfectly reflects the everyday challenges that we face as teenagers. From Harry’s insecurities (不安全感) to Hermione’s perfectionism (完美主义) and Ron’s feelings of inadequacy (不自信), these are issues we’ve all faced.

相信这些是大家经历过的事情，所以我们很容易resonate with them（与他们产生共鸣）。That authenticity (真实性) makes us connect with them on a personal level.

02. A magical world intertwined with reality 与现实交织的魔法世界

Another reason the series feels so magical is how the wizarding world (魔法世界) is intertwined (交织) with our own. It’s not some completely distant, far-off place. Instead, the magical world runs parallel to our reality (与现实平行).

This makes a lot of kids believe in Hogwarts (霍格沃茨) even more. 所以很多孩子到了11岁的时候会期待收到来自Hogwarts的录取通知。

It seems like magic could actually be hidden around the corner. You can almost imagine bumping into (撞见) a wizard in Diagon Alley (对角巷) or stumbling onto (偶然发现) Platform 9¾ (9¾站台) at King’s Cross (国王十字). That connection makes it feel closer and more real.

03. Distinctive school divisions 独特的学院划分

In fact, Hogwarts itself is another huge draw (巨大的吸引力). 他们没有按照教授的内容去划分学院，而是按照学生的traits and characteristics（特征和特性）。It is unlike traditional magical schools at all.

Gryffindors (格兰芬多) are known for their bravery, Ravenclaws (拉文克劳) for their intelligence, Hufflepuffs (赫奇帕奇) for their loyalty, and Slytherins (斯莱特林) for their ambition. It’s not just about learning magic—it’s about belonging to a group that reflects who you are.

找到一个属于你的群体会帮你建立a sense of belonging（一种归属感）。Wherever in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin, you will all find a place where you belong.

Fans love imagining which house they’d be sorted into (被分到哪个学院). It’s more than (不仅仅是) just a school; it’s a home where your values and traits are recognized and celebrated (这是一个让你的价值观和特质得到认可和庆祝的家). Anywhere on the internet that mentions Harry Potter, you see people discussing what house they are.

Flora did a Personality Test-Which Hogwarts House Are You in (你在哪个霍格沃茨的学院里)?

Basically, you need to do some multiple choice questions (多选题) where you'll get points for each option, and at the end you'll need to add up the points. 一个分数区间会对应一个霍格沃茨学院。

大家如果对这个测试感兴趣也可以去搜一下：Which Hogwarts House Are You in? If you're interested in MBTI 16 personality, you must be very much the same with this one.

04. The stunning visuals 令人惊叹不已的视觉效果

Like Gloucester Cathedral (格洛斯特大教堂——位于英格兰南部的格洛斯特郡) and Alnwick Castle(阿尼克城堡——位于英格兰东北部的诺森伯兰郡), it makes them even more special.

These places are not just CGI (computer-generated imagery)—they have history, depth, and character. This makes them more relatable and appealing. 

05. Memorable quotes 令人难忘的名言

It’s like magic brought to life (魔法被赋予了生命). Harry Potter最powerful（强大）也是最伟大的地方就在于它教会我们的life lessons（人生教训），it’s about love, friendship, and loyalty（爱、友谊和忠诚）。These values that transcend gender, race, and age.

和我们大多数人一样，他们一开始只是nobodies（无名小卒）。Over the course of the series (在这个系列中), they grow, face incredible challenges, and mature in ways we can all admire. 也许这才是我们普通人崇拜的英雄。

It’s a story of resilience (坚韧) and growth. No matter who you are or where you start, you can become something greater through courage, friendship, and perseverance. They're all precious treasures in life.

Finally, the series is packed with memorable quotes(充满了令人难忘的名言) that stick with (继续跟着) you long after you’ve closed the book or left the theater.

Like Dumbledore (邓布利多)’s wisdom: “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live (人不要依赖梦想而忘记生活).”

Or “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light (即便在最黑暗的时候，也可以找到幸福，只要你记得开灯).”

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are (每个人内心都有光明与阴暗的一面，重要的是我们如何选择，那才是真正的我们).”

These lines aren’t just magical—they’re reminders of how we can approach life (对待生活). 它们讲述了the struggles we all face and the choices we make。

That’s why we love Harry Potter so much. It’s the characters we relate to, the magical world that feels so close, the life lessons that guide us, and the quotes that stay with us forever.

Whether you’re watching the re-release in theaters or picking up the books for the hundredth time, Harry Potter’s magic never fades (哈利·波特的魔法永不褪色). 他会一直提醒我们：friendship, bravery, and staying true to ourselves（友谊、勇气和忠于自己），这三样东西是何其宝贵。

06. Online reviews of the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone movie

接下来是来自Rotten Tomatoes“烂番茄网站”的一些影评。

（1）《哈利·波特》系列电影是少有的违背 “原著总是更好 ”这一观点的系列电影。

（2）看到孩子们自己动手、智胜同龄人和成年人、战胜强敌，总是令人激动不已。

（3）......第一部电影还算不错（decent-enough），很好地建立了罗琳笔下令人印象深刻的细腻世界和人物形象。

If you love Harry Potter as much as we do, share your favorite reason with us. Thanks for joining us today. Until next time, keep the magic alive (让魔法永存)!

请在评论区告诉我们：你觉得《哈利·波特》系列电影怎么样？

主播：Flora（中国）+ Erin（美国）

歌曲：Out There

我们来聊一个在不同文化背景下都能引起人们共鸣的一个话题—anxiety（焦虑）。

Anxiety is something most of us experience regularly. Whether it's work, school, relationships, or the day-to-day stress of life, anxiety tends to creep in (悄悄蔓延). 真的是生活的方方面面都有可能滋生焦虑。

关于处理anxiety，大家有想过：不去fight it（和它做对抗），而是和它make peace（和平相处）吗？Today, we’ll talk about how to accept and manage anxiety in a healthier way (今天，我们将讨论如何以一种更健康的方式来接受和管理焦虑).

01. Sources and Manifestation of Anxiety 焦虑的来源和表现

Anxiety can come from all kinds of sources. Relationships, work, school, and just navigating (驾驭) life can all contribute. It’s not uncommon to feel like we’re constantly juggling too much at once (我们经常会觉得自己要同时处理太多事情).

But anxiety isn’t just about what's going on around us; it affects us in various ways. We might feel physical symptoms (身体上的症状)—like a racing heart (心跳加速) or tension (紧张)—or find ourselves stuck in cycles of worry (陷入了一个无限担忧的循环中).

And that brings us to the heart of today’s discussion: how can we effectively manage anxiety (如何有效地管理焦虑)?

We’ll explore techniques like cognitive restructuring (认知重组), journaling (写日记), and brainstorming solutions (头脑风暴解决方案) to help manage those overwhelming feelings.

02. The Right Mindset 正确的心态

It’s important to recognize that these sources are part of being human, not something we need to completely eliminate (需要完全消除). But, how we react to them makes a huge difference.

Flora can relate to that on a personal level. There was a time when she tried to tackle her anxiety head-on, thinking that if she just fought it hard enough, it would go away. But then she realized that the more she resisted her anxiety, the stronger it seemed to become.

Eventually, she learned to acknowledge her feelings instead of battling them (承认自己的感受而不是压抑). She thinks this is a very important mindset for us to have when dealing with anxiety.

03. How to Manage Anxiety Effectively？如何有效管理焦虑？

(1) Cognitive Restructuring (认知重组)

To manage anxiety, one key approach is challenging our thoughts. 其实很多时候我们的认知或者想法和事实是有很大差距的。With a little bit of reasoning (稍做推理), you may find that the truth is actually far from what you thought.

进行认知重组的时候可以问自己一些问题：Is my worry logical（我的担心是符合逻辑的吗）? What’s the evidence behind it（这背后有证据吗）? 总之就是不要让你的emotion（情绪）占据自己的大脑。

You might find that a lot of what you’re anxious about is unlikely to happen, or that you’re exaggerating the problem in your mind (你夸大了心中的问题).

(2) Journaling (写日记)

Writing things down helps make the problem feel more concrete and manageable (更加具体和易于管理). When you put your thoughts on paper, it’s easier to break them down and find a solution.

当你有焦虑却不表达的时候，那它就成为了一种abstract feeling (抽象的感受)，会让你觉得it's difficult to manage，这样的话只会加深焦虑。那么这时候通过journaling把它具象化，就会打破你对这种未知抽象的恐惧。

(3) Brainstorming Solutions (头脑风暴解决方案)

When faced with a problem, listing out as many solutions as you can (尽可能多地列出解决方法) is a helpful way to ease anxiety (缓解焦虑). It reduces that feeling of uncertainty and helps you regain a sense of control (找回掌控感).

这个其实是可以刻意练习的。You might feel a bit lost at first, but once you open your mind (打开思路), you'll find that there are at least three solutions to your problem (一个问题至少有三种解决方法). It also calms your mind and helps it think of something else.

04. Classification of Anxiety (焦虑的分类)

(1) Acute Anxiety (急性焦虑)

Sometimes, we have acute anxiety, which comes on suddenly, like before a big presentation (一场大型演讲之前). 此外，在日常生活中大家轮流发言交流自己的想法的时候也有可能产生acute anxiety。So what can we do about this?

在这种情况出现时，deep breathing（深呼吸）or distracting yourself for a short period（短暂地分散一下注意力）都是比较有效的。

如果大家想要直接从源头上减少acute anxiety的话，Flora的建议是：Create more opportunities for yourself to deal with acute anxiety (多给自己创造一些能去应对急性焦虑的机会). 次数累积到一定程度之后，你可能就会惊喜地发现你没有之前那么紧张和焦虑了。

In fact, this method could take a lot of courage in the beginning. But when you actually take that step, you'll realize it's not that hard. It is like exposure therapy (暴露疗法). The more you do it, the less scary it is.

(2) Chronic Anxiety (慢性焦虑)

Chronic anxiety is probably more likely to bother us, and we often have a hard time dealing with it. If it’s chronic anxiety, where the feelings build up over time (随着时间的推移而积累), it’s important to approach it differently.

First, adjust your mindset (调整心态). 千万不要试着去suppress or avoid the anxiety（压抑或者回避焦虑），这只会适得其反。

其实anxiety是大脑对我们的一种保护。When we feel anxious, it's our brain reminding us to react ahead of time to unknown dangers (提醒我们提前对未知的危险做出反应) so we can better protect ourselves.

Whether we are humans or other animals, when faced with a threat we either choose to run or fight. Either choice requires our bodies to function at maximum capacity (都需要我们的身体发挥最大功能) to protect us from harm.

自古以来都是这样的。产生焦虑并不是错误，而且是我们身体的一种protective mechanism（保护机制）。

After realizing this, you can consistently do things that boost your mood (持续地做一些能改善情绪的事情). It could be exercising, connecting with loved ones, or taking breaks during stressful moments.

By balancing out life’s negatives with positive actions, you’ll prevent anxiety from becoming overwhelming. 当你生活中积极的事比重变大之后，心情自然也会变好了。

At the end of the day, anxiety is part of life, but it doesn’t have to control us. The key is learning how to approach it with the right mindset (关键是学习如何以正确的心态来处理它), accept it for what it is, and find practical (实用的) ways to manage it.

So next time you feel anxious, remember: you don’t need to fight it. Instead, try to make peace with it (尝试和它和解), understand where it’s coming from, and use the tools we talked about today to take back control. And remember, it's perfectly okay to seek support (寻求帮助), whether from friends, family, or professionals.

We hope today’s episode helps you feel more empowered to face anxiety head-on and find balance in your life.

欢迎在评论区告诉我们：你都有哪些管理焦虑的方法呢？

 主播：翩翩（中国）+Selah（美国）

 歌曲：Like I Loved You

最近外网有个话题被热议：

什么东西极大地改善了你的心理状态？（What massively improved your mental health?）

01 运动 Exercising

运动真是让人又爱又恨。It sucks at how well it works.

然而，心情低落的时候，运动是最不想做的事（when you are depressed, exercising is the last thing you feel like doing.）

但又是真有效果。所以说it sucks at how well it works.

坚持锻炼带来的精神状态改善是其他任何方法都比不上的。Nothing else has much of a positive effect on your mental health as regular exercise.

Many people think having pets helped their mental health. 因为life can be lonely, 宠物可以给到陪伴。It makes life a little easier. 让孤独的日子能好过一点。

“其实我有一个心理体验，就是在低谷期时，可以选择将一部分心力拿出来，去照料植物、动物，或者教学生、帮助别人，在这种过程中，会得到一部分自我救赎。”

This might be why having pets can improve mental health.

因为外面有大自然。Yes! Nature！

Nature can work wonders for your mental health. 就像梭罗在《瓦尔登湖》所体验的那样，大自然是内心的避难所。

When you realize that so much is alive and around us, it makes you stop and think how small we really are. 天地有大美而不言，身处其中，会时常有这种humbling moments。

前天在一席，翩翩还跟同事开玩笑，说人什么时候会意识到自己有脚？When do people become aware that they have feet?

答案是：脚疼的时候。(When your feet hurt！) 同理，人在痛苦的时候更能意识到“自我”的存在。当人处在大自然中，“自我”会瞬间变渺小，那么人与自我的巨大矛盾也就会平息很多。

就是要重新评估一下，什么引发了你的心理危机。

Is it a person in your life? Is it a living situation? 是接触的人？还是生活环境？

现在流行一个词叫做toxic，有毒的。

外媒上的网友建议，首先要远离那种不友好、不公正、人际关系复杂，得不到肯定的工作环境，这种就是有毒的工作环境（a toxic work environment）。

So leave a toxic work environment. 远离有毒的人（Remove toxic people）。

这位外国网友说：

It’s amazing how much your mental health can improve just by removing toxic people from my life. Toxic people bring nothing but negativity to your life.

睡觉，是被严重低估的精神改善大法！这位国外网友简直是嘴替，他说：我要是十几岁就知道这事儿就好了 （If only I’d realized this in my teens）。

睡眠太重要了。It has a great impact on your day, productivity and mood. 最终影响的是mental health。 长期睡眠不足一定会让人产生精神危机。所以好好睡足觉。

但话又说回来了，很多东西又绝对会影响睡眠，比如说 spending too much time on screens or social media （玩太久的电子产品和社交媒体）。

这位外国网友说：我停用社交媒体，改成读纸质书，今年1月份以来我已经读完6本书了，这让我感觉自己棒棒哒。（Putting a stop to my social media use and replacing that time with reading books. I have completed 6 books since the beginning of January. It makes me feel really good about myself.）

大家觉得，什么东西极大地改善了你的心理状态呢？

Selah是：周围环境干净整洁，东西各归各位（keeping everything in its place）。 

翩翩是：读书、写作、喝茶、以及教课。

你们呢？So what massively improved your mental health, our dear followers?

请大家留言分享：什么东西极大地改善了你的心理状态？说不定你的经验方法能够帮助到很多人。

主播：Flora（中国）+Selah（美国）

歌曲：fuzzy wuzzy

今天我们要谈的是：哪些话醍醐灌顶，永久改变了你对生活、对事物的看法？We both have some quotes (名言) that really impacted (影响) our lives and perspectives (观点).

01. “You might be the sweetest peach on the tree, but some people just don't like peaches.”

“你可能是树上最甜的桃子，但是有些人就是不喜欢桃子。” It is a very sweet quote that is also very deep. It reminds Flora of a story:

有一个人很喜欢吃橘子，但是他的父亲不喜欢。No matter how much he tried to tell his father about the benefits of oranges: rich in vitamin C (富含维生素C), or to buy the best variety of oranges (买最好品种的橘子), he just didn't like them. 最后他父亲说了一句话：“再好的橘子我也不喜欢吃，我根本就不喜欢橘子的味道。”

It doesn’t matter if it is the best orange. He wasn’t going to like it. 被每个人喜欢当然是大家都希望发生的。But it's impossible. You may be the sweetest peach or orange, but some people just don't like it, and it's not your fault.

It is impossible to make everyone happy all the time. Some people, you will just never win over to your side (你永远也无法把他们争取到你这边来)!

The quote actually helped Flora get over (克服) her desire to be liked by everyone. She realized she can’t please everyone, and that’s perfectly okay. Instead, she started focusing on becoming someone she herself actually likes. 不要成为别人眼中的你，要成为你眼中的自己。

02. “You cannot control the way someone else reacts.”

“别人的反应并不是你能控制的。” You can only control yourself and how you react to something, not other people.

Don't expect people to always react the way you want them to (不要期待别人总是按照你所希望的那样做出反应). If someone reacts poorly, that is out of your control (那是你无法控制的). But you can reflect and see if you can communicate better next time.

Maybe the only thing we can control in this world is ourselves. 虽然我们不能控制别人的reaction（反应），但是我们可以反思一下下次有没有更好的交流方式。That's what we can and really should do, rather than blaming ourselves.

This is good in any situation and is helpful in friendships, relationships, with your family or in the workplace.

03. “Courage doesn't always roar.”

“勇气并不总是轰轰烈烈的。” Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "l will try again tomorrow." Getting back up is the most courageous thing you can do (重新站起来是你能做的最勇敢的事情).

很多时候我们会觉得像电影中的主人公与死神交手的瞬间才算是有“courage（勇气）”，但殊不知生活中大多数的courage都是无声且沉默的，也许那只是一天结束后的暗下决心：“明天再试一次。” 其实内心经历了波涛汹涌之后，你早已成为了生活的勇士。

04. People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

“人们会忘记你说过的话，人们会忘记你做过的事，但人们永远不会忘记你给他们带来的感受。”

We think that what matters is what we do for people the success we achieve (我们取得的成功) and the status we have (拥有的地位). But often it is more about how we relate to and treat other people (我们如何与他人相处和对待他人).

Flora thought the only way she can get people to remember her and want to be friends with her is to make some contribution or achievement (做出一些贡献或成就). But at the end of the day she figured out what really attracts them is our character, the way we treat people (待人的方式).

This is especially true when working with kids. Often kids do not remember their teachers or activities they did, but they do remember how they felt at school.

因为Flora和Selah平时工作都会和一些孩子相处，所以她们有相似的感受。So if you're a teacher or a parent or anyone who has to spend time with kids on a regular basis (需要经常与孩子们相处的人), the way you treat them really matters to them.

05. “You can't blame a blind person for being blind… you just don’t let them drive your car.”

“不要责怪有视力障碍的人看不见，不让他们开你的车就行了。”

It points out that we need to be wise on how to protect ourselves and not just trust anyone to do anything for us. 有时候一些人造成一些事情并不是他们的本意，也许他们就是没有办法理解这些，但是这并不妨碍你采取措施保护自己。

You can be kind to everyone, that is your choice. But at the same time, protect yourself.

06. “When we hit our lowest points is when we are open to the greatest change.”

“当我们达到最低点时，我们就会愿意接受最大的变化。”

Flora would have a strange curiosity when she is at that point in her life: let's see if it can get any worse (这个情况还会更糟吗)? 可能因为那个时候已经没有那么多包袱了。有时候拥有的越多越怕失去。但是当你本身就赤手空拳的时候反而更愿意接受一些改变，承担一些风险。

When Selah looks back on her life, she has grown the most (成长得最多) or made the most positive changes when life was hard (生活艰难的时候). 这个低谷会让你pause（暂停）并reevaluate（重新评估）一下现在的生活。So, take this opportunity to make some positive changes!

There we have it—six powerful quotes. Each of these quotes invites us to reflect on how we see ourselves (思考我们如何看待自己) and how we connect with others (如何与他人沟通).

We’d love to hear from you. 哪些话醍醐灌顶，改变了你对生活的看法？哪些话最能引起你的共鸣呢？Share the quotes and your thoughts in the comments below! Remember, your insights might just inspire someone else (你的见解可能会激励别人), so don't hesitate to share!

我们期待在评论区看到你的分享！