Gregory Burns, an well-known artist and speaker, has run a marathon, climbed both Mount Kinabalu and Jade Mountain, and much more. He has gained many achievements in his life despite the fact that he had polio(小儿麻痹症) as a child.

When Burns was a year old, he was diagnosed with polio, and he lost the use of his legs. In 1962, his doctor said, “The best thing for a kid with polio would be to swim in a warm-water pool. ” So, arrangements were made for the boy to practice swimming. In the water, he felt a freedom that he didn’t experience anywhere else. In 1977, Burns discovered the Paralympic Games. He spent the next 27 years in international swimming competitions, some of which resulted in five world records.

In 1984, Burns moved to Taiwan Province where he studied Chinese art. From 1989 to 1990, he worked as a teacher at Studio Classroom. Over the years, Burns had many interesting jobs. But it wasn’t until he returned to art that he truly felt fulfilled. He went back to school and completed a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in 1999. Then, working as a full-time artist, Burns uses his art to inspire people of all ages. He has a special interest in disadvantaged children. He employs art classes and other methods to help them to look within and make the most of the skills they do have and not to let the disabilities stand in their way when achieving their goals.

Today Burns is recognized as a world-class athlete, a motivational speaker and a notable artist. He has always aspired to excellence and encourages others to do the same.

He suggests everyone should “embrace and celebrate those things that challenge” them.

The autumn wind woke me up from my dream. I took a deep breath and looked around. Suddenly I saw two people approaching me. As there was no one else in the park, they caught my attention immediately.

The two people were getting closer and I heard them laughing. At first, this laugh made me annoyed as if they had broken my unity with this park and disturbed my thoughts. But all of a sudden, I noticed the age of them — they were old. I could not clearly identify their age, but the woman looked as old as my grandmother. She had grey hair, blue eyes, and a smile on her face. And all the time she was looking at HIM...

“Jim, I think we should change the park. It’s the same every Saturday. You know...” “Sus! Hug me.”— that was all he said. He looked at her, smiled and gave her a hug.

At this very moment, I saw an old but strong man who knew his wife, and no matter how often she could be complaining, he loved her! I imagined the many things they might go through together — so many hardships that might make them cry, all the problems that they might be experiencing right now and the probability that one of them would outlive the other. And the one that outlives will think the life they spent together was the most beautiful period of their life.

They left, and I was sitting on my bench, shocked, and I had a special feeling in my heart. This feeling was hope! The old couple with all the complaints and tons of mistakes behind their backs made me realize that it was happiness that mattered in life. Eventually, all people would get old and die, and what made a difference was the person you had dedicated your life to. I made a wish — waking up one day, being old and feeling proud of being together with the person I loved to overcome all the obstacles ( 障碍) and fight for happiness.

American writer Ernest Hemingway wrote a short story The Capital of the World, In this book he tells about a Spanish father who wants to find his son who has run away from home. He advertises in the El Liberal newspaper, “Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is forgiven. Love, Papa.”

Paco is a common name in Spain. When the father goes to the hotel he finds 800 young men named Paco waiting for their fathers.

What draws them to the hotel? As Hemingway tells it, it is the words “All is forgiven.” The father does not say, “All WILL BE forgiven IF you do this or that.” He simply says, “All is forgiven.” No strings attached.

Wiktionary tells us that the origin of the expression “no strings attached” may date back to ancient times when documents were written on parchment (羊皮纸) that was rolled up and secured with a string.

An unknown author portrays the possibilities of no-strings-attached love in this heartfelt story titled The Rock.

As she grows older her teenage daughter becomes increasingly rebellious. It is late one night when the police arrests her daughter for drunk driving. Mom has to go to the police station to pick her up.

They don’t speak until the next afternoon. Mom breaks the silence by giving her a small gift - a wrapped box. Her daughter coldly opens it and finds a little rock inside. She rolls her eyes and says, “What’s this for?”

“Read the card,” Mom instructs.

Her daughter takes out the card and reads it. Tears start to run down her cheeks. She gets up and lovingly hugs her Mom as the card falls to the floor. On the card are these words: “This rock is more than 200,000,000 years old. That is how long it will take before I give up on you.”

This mother doesn’t say, “I will love you IF...” Instead, she says that she will love her daughter forever and nothing can change that. No strings attached.