I often wonder how people can get so angry, so deep in their own belief that they become deaf to anything that may differ from their beliefs. I've often been told that I'm too open-minded, listening to others' viewpoints so openly that they become my own. Maybe that comes from my practice of actively listening to others. It means that I do really hear them instead of responding only out of politeness. Maybe it's because I was brought up by parents who didn't necessarily speak to me about respecting others but modeled it for me through their own actions. They treated everyone equally, from what I remember, never looking down upon others because they were different from us.
As I raise my daughters, I try my best to show them love and understanding in all situations. When they misbehave, talk back, or break the rules, I'll lovingly analyze the reasons behind their behaviour. I'll be tolerant (宽容的) towards their differing opinions and become open and curious about their ideas. And I'll be mindful of how I treat and speak to others, showing equal respect to everyone.
My expectation is that if I show my daughters unconditional love and acceptance, they'll learn to show the same love to others. I hope that they will not see difference as a threat, but as a way to add richness to their very existence. It's beautiful to live in a world filled with so many differences.
So, as I write this, welcoming my second daughter to my family, I'm fully aware that change begins with how I act and what decisions I make. Every generation carries its own set of problems. All we have control over is how we respond to those problems. This is what I will teach my girls: how to control their own emotional world; how to hold onto love as well as their beliefs and values; how to remember that hate and anger are never the answer and that tolerance and love will always take them further in life.
【小题1】What makes the author different from other people?| A．Her deep understanding of belief. | B．Her negative views on social politeness. |
| C．Her reaction to different opinions. | D．Her confusing attitude towards her parents. |
| A．Encourage them to have different opinions. |
| B．Set them an example of love and acceptance. |
| C．Punish them heavily for their bad behaviors. |
| D．Teach them some useful conversation skills. |
| A．Love me, love my dog. | B．Don't put the cart before the horse. |
| C．Nothing seek, nothing find. | D．Music with different tones sounds beautiful. |
| A．The Importance of Love and Tolerance | B．The Art of Social Communication |
| C．The Ways to Effectively Listen to others | D．The Positive Attitude towards Hate and Anger |
