It may be the holiday season, but the spirit of peace and goodwill has not infected the streets of Los Angeles. More drivers seem to be rolling through stop signs and running red lights than ever before. Everyone seems to be in a terrible hurry.

Why is everyone in such a hurry? Where are they rushing to?

I think perhaps the answer lies in answering this question: What does that round of parties and meetings and mad rushing from place to place allow all of us to avoid confronting? I think the answer is clear---ourselves.

There is an experiment where subjects had to choose between being alone with themselves and their thoughts for approximately 15 minutes and receiving electric shocks. The majority chose the shocks-- reflection of how painful, frightening, threatening, confusing, boring (!), you name it...we find being alone with just ourselves and our thoughts.

Our desire not to be with our innermost thoughts is so great that we create and find distractions. In the car, we can make phone calls or listen to music. We live in a world of endless opportunities for distraction.

I understand the desire. Life is hard. Growing is a painful slow process. To keep moving requires determination and strength--- and giving up seems So much easier (as do those electric shocks!). We may win some battles, but the war is never over. Sometimes we are just too tired to fight and just need that music or that book to relax. I just instinctively turn on the radio when I get in the car, I don’t even give the quiet a moment to sink in.

But it’s time for a reality check; otherwise, we slip into an avoidance mode. It’s challenging. But let’ s take a change. Instead of rushing from house to car to meeting to groceries to...let’s take a moment to stop and think before each activity. What do I want to achieve now? And what is the best way to do that? Maybe I could think of ways to grow.

Think of the last time you disagreed with another person. Maybe you argued with a sibling (兄弟；姊妹) over what to watch on TV. Or perhaps you tried to convince grown-ups that ice cream makes a better dinner than vegetables. How did your disagreement end? Were you able to see the issue from the other person’s viewpoint?

In many situations, disagreements are unavoidable. They’re part of life. After all, everyone has different opinions. We all have past experiences that shape how we see the world. Still, not all disagreements are bad. In fact, many people look at them as opportunities to learn. They do so by trying to understand where both sides are coming from.

How can you understand both sides of an issue? Often, it’s best to start by asking questions. Questions help us learn about the world around us. The right questions can also help us learn about other people. In a disagreement, asking for more information can help you learn about a person’s viewpoint. It can also lead you to gather more facts. This can paint a better picture of the entire issue.

When seeking to understand both sides of an issue, it’s important to know the difference between facts and opinions. Remember, facts are based on true information. Opinions can change from person to person. Paying attention to facts can stop biases (偏见) from taking over in a disagreement. This can help everyone involved see both sides of the issue.

Maybe you’re wondering why it’s important to understand both sides of an issue, anyway. After all, don’t most people just want to prove that their side is right? Often, that’s true. However, understanding the whole issue can lead to both sides working together.

Disagreements may be uncomfortable at first. However, when both sides truly try to understand each other, they often find they have more in common than they thought. The next time you disagree with other people, try asking them questions about their viewpoints. You never know what you might learn.

Journalists are looking out for news stories that attract a significant audience. By applying a set of guidelines or criteria, they can recognize what material will make the best stories. 【小题1】 They are central to this process because they identify the ingredients (因素) of a story that will draw people’ s attention.

Timeliness

News gets out of date quickly; it’s timely if it happened recently. But how recently? 【小题2】 On a television news channel events that have happened during the past half hour are timely. By contrast, in the monthly magazine events that have taken place over the past 30 days are timely.

Unexpectedness

【小题3】 For instance, it is not a newsworthy event that boats travel through the Suez Canal daily. However, a boat getting stuck in the canal and blocking the passageway could be so unexpected and surprising that it makes the headlines.

Currency

Topics that are already under the public spotlight are more likely to be newsworthy. Thus, growing public awareness of global warming has generated more stories about companies producing environmentally friendly products. 【小题4】 Journalists can capitalize on the current conversations on different social media platforms to find out what is holding people’s interest.

Human interest

People like to know people. Certain events make people feel strong emotions. Both a dying child receiving a donated organ and families reuniting after fifty years are good examples. People’s everyday concerns make them feel interested, for instance, stories about food, health and housing. 【小题5】