It was New Year time, but I wasn’t looking forward to it. That winter, my mother and my stepfather moved our family to Southern California. My brother and I were leaving our rural Alabama behind. This would be our first New Year away from Alabama. My mother took to California like a swan to a royal lake. My athletic little brother, Paul, was thrilled at a climate that allowed him to go to the beach whenever he wanted.

I, however, was a fat child with heavy southern pronunciation. My first day in the new class, I introduced myself in a low voice. The instant I opened my mouth to speak, the whole class burst into laughter, “He talks funny.” It was so frustrating that I went to place a call to Granny Smith after school, who was my biggest support. But I didn’t get through.

On Sunday evening, the phone rang. It was Granny. She often took advantage of the discounted long-distance rates (长途电话费) on Sundays. She said she’d shipped a New Year package. Sure enough, it arrived. Surprised at the box, large enough to hold a small refrigerator, we eagerly tore it open. The smell of Granny’s house filled the room: a combination of fried meat, sausages, furniture polish and decorations. Her house was tiny and always filled with cheap holiday decorations and homemade food before New Year. But in my childhood eyes, it was precious and fantastic.

There were countless tins and containers. We open them to discover piles of holiday treats. She even included our traditional candy bats. The box was as bottomless as a magical box. There, beneath all these, was familiar holiday.

Every New Year that we spent in California, the postal service would call and say our package arrived. Over the years, many treasures arrived in the box. For me, it’s always been the best part of the holiday.

Picking up free newspaper at the Tube station, I see the title “Hot! Hot! Hot!”. Today, the temperature in London is expected to reach 30 plus degrees. The average high temperature in July is only 22 degrees, so over 30 is not usual for London. It's going to be awful on the central line with no air conditioning. Why did they have to invent the Tube before air conditioning? It's just typical that my journey is on one of the oldest lines, as well as one of the deepest. It's the hottest on the whole tube system.

Sure enough, going down the stairs and onto the platform is like jumping into a volcano that's erupting. This, however, is nothing compared to the train. Because there's no air conditioning, the temperature inside the train can reach 35 degrees! It's lovely at the beach, but not so when you are wearing a suit and in a crowd of passengers. I'm sure the passenger next to me and I are melting and becoming one. I had bacon and eggs for breakfast and now I'm feeling a bit sick — I hope I can make it to bank station. I will avoid the feeling by thinking about work. I work in a tall, glass building. One very hot summer, the sun reflected off it and melted cars park below. Will this happen again today?

Yes, each summer in London definitely seems hotter than the last. I suddenly feel a bit scared. Perhaps now is the time to start planning for the future. I should probably put my flat on the market and buy a boat. That way, when the Thames rises and there is a flood in London, I'll still be able to get to work. But wait! Would I still have a workplace to go? My office is only on the third floor of the building, so quite low. I'll speak with my manager about moving to the top floor. Most importantly, I will need to learn to swim! I would join a beginner swimming class immediately. Then I'll be able to survive even when the tall buildings are flooded.

Looking through my newspaper, I'm shocked by photos showing that a hurricane in Asia has destroyed a town. What's more, heavy rain in Eastern Europe has caused landslides, and the heat across the Southern Europe has caused forest fires. Experts say this bad weather has occurred due to climate change. News like this makes me feel nervous. Now that it's hard to avoid disaster on Earth, perhaps I should start thinking about moving to space. . .

“The next station is bank!” comes the announcement. That's my destination. stepping out of the station with a heavy heart, I suddenly feel a fresh wind on my face. Well, maybe I have been worrying too much. After all, it's only 30 degrees outside!

When I started my own business, I thought I had it all figured out. When I made the decision to change my lifestyle and get fit, I thought I was on the right track. And when I purchased a second business, I knew I was doing the right thing. Slowing down never occurred to me.

But something was wrong. My Apple watch buzzed repeatedly in the night, warning me that my heart rate was over one hundred. My body ached, my head pounded, and no matter how much I exercised, I was losing strength.

When I visited the doctor, the first thing she asked was “How’s your stress level?” I shrugged. “Nothing new or out of the ordinary.” But something was happening in my body. A multitude of tests and blood work revealed I had Graves’ disease, with symptoms that include accelerated heart rate, high blood pressure, physical anxiety, tiredness, and muscle weakness.

For the next week, I re-read online articles indicating that stress management played a part in controlling Graves’ disease. And I made a list of everything I was juggling(兼顾). My calendar was filled with online marketing, photo shoots, website design, and copywriting. I barely had time to blink, let alone relax.

It was hard to decide which were the most important and do them first. I examined the juggling act and tried to decide what to let go of. I bid farewell to clients, explaining I was cutting back and lightening my workload. When asked to speak at events or take on new projects, I said “No.” And I found someone to help me plan that big event.

Until then, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed the simple joys—little things that helped me relax and recharge, like long hikes, taking my dog to the park, visiting my favorite bookstore, and sitting on the back porch to watch the sunrise. I know my limits and when it’s time to stop juggling. I’ve learned to be kind to myself. I start each day with meditation(冥想) and end with gratitude.