My palms were sweating. I was sure that I could hear my heart beating fast. This was the worst. I _________ feeling this way, but I had to do what I was about to do. I drew on a small bit of my inner strength and opened my _________.

“Excuse me. I was just _________. Would it be possible to maybe get that table over there by the window _________?” I asked. My voice sounded strange to me, as if a stranger from a _________ had asked the question instead of me. I _________.

“No, I’m sorry, but that table is reserved,” the hostess replied kindly as she _________ me into the dining area. _________ I followed her to my table, I realized that the earth had not opened up and swallowed me. I had not passed out or died of _________. The entire population of the restaurant was not laughing at my bravery for asking for a table by the window. I had asked and been told “no.” That was all. Nothing more.

For someone like me, who is always __________ and unconfident, asking for a different table was a huge __________. But I’ve started doing it on a regular basis because of a simple piece of advice my mother told me: “The worst they can say is ‘no.’ ”

And so, I’ve learned to actually __________ for what I want. I’ve learned to reach for my dreams and pursue my goals. I got a job that I wanted. I’ve even gotten prices __________ on a huge variety of items. Because I asked. Because my mom was right.

Sure, I have been turned down. I can’t say I have never been __________. I have been, but I keep__________. I will continue to ask for what I want out of life and from other people. What could happen? The worst they can say is “no.”

A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile (敌意的) person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.

Mirrors have a very particular _______. They reflect the image in front of them. Just as a _______ mirror works as the vehicle to reflection _______ do all of the people in our lives.

When we see something beautiful such as a flower garden, that garden _______ a reflection. When we love someone, it’s a(n) _______ of loving ourselves. We have often heard things like “I love how I am when I’m with that person”. That simply _______ into “I’m able to love me when I love that other person.” _______ when we meet someone new, we feel as though we “click”. Sometimes it’s as if we’ve _______ each other for a long time. That feeling can come from _______ similarities.

Just as the “mirror” or other people can be a positive reflection, it is more likely that we’ll ________ it when it has a negative connotation (内涵). ________ it’s easy to remember the times when we have met someone we’re not particularly ________ about. We may have some criticism (批评) in our mind about the ________. This is especially true when we get to know someone with whom we would rather spend ________ time.

Often when we ________ qualities in other people, ironically (讽刺地), it’s usually the mirror that’s ________to us.

At times we meet someone ________ and feel distant disconnected or disgusted. ________we don’t want to believe it and it’s not easy or ________ to look further, it can be a great learning lesson to ________what part of the person is being reflected in you. It’s simply just another way to create more self-awareness.

I can still remember it like it happened yesterday. It was a dark, _______ day. The Christmas decorations had been taken down. The old year had given _______ to the new. Now it was just winter. A hitter wind was blowing outside. Several inches of _______ lay on the grass and trees. My water pipes were dripping (滴水) inside so they wouldn’t _______ and I was drinking coffee so I wouldn’t freeze either. I asked my dog _______ he was ready to go for a walk, but he just turned around and lay down next to the heater. I shook my head, zipped up my sweater and _______ on my thick socks while I looked out of my kitchen window. I wasn’t _______ another 3 months of this. I sat at the kitchen table to eat my oatmeal. Then _______ I saw him! A beautiful, bright red cardinal (主红雀) had _______ on the tree in my backyard. I looked lovingly at him while he ________ back at me. He gently ________ his wings and flew into the sky. His visit left my ________ a little higher, and my heart a little lighter.

Sometimes in our lives it is just ________. Sometimes problems and ________ may exist in the world. Sometimes life feels both cold and bitter. Sometimes it is very ________ to see the light. It is time like this when we need to call on our own inner (内心的) cardinal. It is time like this when we most need to ________ our own light, share our own love, and let ourselves fly. It isn’t always easy and often takes ________.

Life may not ________ give you what you want ________ it does give you what you need to grow kinder, better and more loving. Let your inner cardinal ________ then.