Everything was put neatly into my suitcase. I’m a flight attendant. I’m so organized, my half of the closet could be a display at The Container Store. My husband’s half of the closet? Just thinking about it made my head ache. I carried my suitcase downstairs. Bill was in the kitchen cooking. Looking at the messy kitchen, I shouted, “Why do you have to be so messy?” Bill looked hurt, “What?” I sighed and left for the airport.

On my last flight, an elderly couple had the seats in my section. They held hands during takeoff. Later I caught them looking into each other’s eyes. Something about that look was familiar. Then I realized: it was the look Bill and I had worn in our wedding photographs. I couldn’t resist asking them about the secret of their long-lasting marriage. “Have fun together” the man said, “and never take each other for granted.”

His words circled in my head long after we landed. Bill wasn’t perfect. But then, was I? I kept complaining about his messiness and forgot his kindness, his ability to see the bright side of every situation-qualities that ran so much deeper, the reasons I had married him in the first place

I took out my cell phone and called Bill. “I miss you already.” I said. “I miss you too, Kim,” he said. As soon as my flights were over, I rushed home. Bill met me at the door. “I have a surprise for you.” he said and led me into the kitchen. I glanced around the room. He really had worked hard. In spite of the fingerprints on that microwave floor, I could see our reflection in it: my husband and I, our smiles glowing with love for each other, just like in our wedding photos.

Even the most intuitive (直觉的) people make dumb decisions now and then. Being “intelligent” or “smart” doesn’t make anyone immune to making a bad decision, explains author and investment strategist Michael J. Mauboussin in his book Think Twice. If you want to improve your luck and make better decisions more often, Mauboussin writes, your best bet is to think twice and follow a few simple rules, which involves doing some planning first and avoid the faults that often trap many decision makers who think their intuitive feelings are infallible.

Believing that each of our problems is unique is often our first decision-making mistake. Simply considering outside views and the experiences of others can improve all decisions. Failing to consider alternatives is another way to make bad decisions.”Tunnel vision” is created when we reduce our options instead of opening our minds to more choices or forget how hidden incentives (激励) can influence our decisions.

Overvaluing an expert opinion is another common pitfall for decision-makers, the author explains. Thanks to modern technology, we no longer have to limit our decisions to the opinions of a few experts. Today, we can tap into more accurate computer models and powerful social networks that offer us the “wisdom of crowds” to help us make better decisions.

Another common decision-making mistake is failing to notice how much we are influenced by other people. Peer pressure can be powerful, so Mauboussin encourages us to make an effort to recognize the conscious and subconscious social influences that could be weighing on our choices.

By providing us with the tools to challenge our subconscious intuition, Mauboussin shows us how to recognize our problematic habits, take them into account when we make decisions and move past them to get to the better decisions and better rates of success on the other side.

I was eleven years old standing outside in just my underwear while I watched the house that I grew up in rapidly burn to the ground.

A few minutes earlier I had been in bed when a scream woke me up. My grandma’s bedroom was just next to mine and my elder brother’s. A fire had broken out there and awakened her. Hearing her scream, my elder brother jumped to action, running from room to room quickly to wake everyone in the house. However, before we could do anything, the fire had consumed (烧毁) the old and wooden house.

I stood there shivering (颤抖) while the fire destroyed my books, clothes, and toys. I watched helplessly while my Mom cried and my Dad sighed. I wondered what was going to happen to us now that we had lost all of our things. As I looked around, though, I realized something for the first time: What matters aren’t things. I saw my elder brother running across the swinging (摇摆的) bridge by our house to get help. I saw my eldest brother who was on crutches (拐棍) from an earlier accident standing unsteadily on one leg. I saw my grandma and dad wrapped in each other’s arms and my mum holding our little dog. I realized at that moment that we were all alive. Everything that was essential had survived the fire. Our lives would continue. We would survive without the “stuff” that was burning. We would all be around to love each other for many years to come. And that was all that mattered.

I still think of that fire at night. It helped me to become who I am today. It showed me for the very first time what is truly essential in life. It helped me to learn that the love we share is far more important than the things we possess.

Live your life then for the things that matter, not for the things you own. Love others. Let the fire inside of you make this world a warmer place. Let your soul shine bright.