When I first began to learn photography, a photographer offered me a simple ________ for taking a good picture.

Don’t just “point and ________”, as one camera used to advertise. After ________ your intended subject through the lens pause and think about how you feel in the moment. Then after deciding the specific part of your subject that ________ that emotion, simply cut away everything else and press the button.

This advice could also be ________ to life. Focus on what matters most; ________ everything else. When we go about our lives with little challenge or difficulty, we may be tempted to “take it all in”, ________ to focus on what matters most and then find it ________ to get rid of unnecessary things.

Often it is not until our lives are in ________ that we suddenly realize that we’ve ________ our focus. We have ________ paid attention to the important aspects of existence — justice, kindness, and humanity. ________, we actually have a chance to focus again. As we make difficult ________ about what offers meaning and purpose, we may discover that even ________ things have the potential to turn good and beautiful. We just need to reframe the picture before us. Then we can ________ and pay attention to the meaningful things of life.

There were times when I wanted to be a fashion designer, a model, or a rock star but I gave up all of them halfway. The one thing I stuck with was drawing. That’s why this “100 Days of Self Love” project was both a joy and a _________.

The rule I _________ for myself was simple: one self- portrait (自画像) a day for 100 days. _________ my own advice, I wanted to achieve something outside of my job. In our culture of selfie (自拍) _________, we take pictures of our faces all the time without a second _________. I wanted to _________ the meaning of “self ” and see what I could learn. I quickly _________ that I never looked at my face so _________.

By about Day 20, I had got a good _________ of what I look like—I could draw myself pretty well. My face was familiar to me — instead of just being the ____________ in the mirror. I also got tired of looking at myself and I wanted to draw something else other than my face. The last 40 days were very hard. All I could do was tell myself never to give up. Finally I carried on to the last day and I ____________ to myself that I could do it.

Drawing my face every day for 100 days was difficult, but I made it! I’m proud that I finished this ____________. This experience served as a good ____________: If I set my mind on something—and if I’m ____________ crazy about it—I can do it. And if I can do this, what else can’t I ​____________?