Feeding the stray cats (流浪猫) in my neighborhood used to be part of my daily routine.

Last month, my favorite cat named Ginger _______ a litter of cute babies! Surprised and excited, I_______ them a new cat house, food bowls and even a large pack of cat food. I _______ the whole package of love and care behind the bushes so that they’d be safe and sound.

However, a few days later I found what I bought for Ginger was _______! I started looking for Ginger and her house right away. To my _______, a security guard showed up. “I know what you’re looking for,” said the middle-aged man. “_______. The cat family is safe, and they didn’t need those things.”

My mind was filled with questions and anger, but he seemed _______. “You see, Ginger is an _______ creature. She can manage herself without you. I _______ your willingness to help, but Ginger should take responsibility for herself. ________, by providing her with everything, you’re making her more and more dependent on ________. You’ve been making life way too ________ for them — and that’s no good for any wildlife.”

I understood his ________. For Ginger and her babies, my care and love are a ________, but as a helper, I was doing too much. I should let them be who they really are. A ________ doesn’t always have to “help”.

Saul and Keon have never felt bored with a day of work picking up trash in Miami Beach. They were especially ______ when they were covering their route this week as a beautiful ______ awaited them. When their   huge truck rolled down the street into the North Bay Road community, they found most residents (居民) lining the street with signs and balloons, all to ______ say “we love you”.

Jennifer Elegant wanted to show her family’s appreciation ______ she organized the socially-distancing surprise “thank you” ______ to honor the workers. Even the Miami Beach mayor, Dan Gelber showed up to ______ the two heroes-because Saul Scruggs and Keon Richardson do so much more than ______ trash. “They bring incredible energy to the ______ neighborhood,” Jennifer said. “In a word, they spread ______.”

What is ______ about the two men is the positive energy that they bring with them. They always have ______ on their faces and never ______ a chance to say hello and ______ someone’s day. They also go out of their way to help others and ______ nothing in return. One day, Saul spent 45 minutes helping a neighbor dig through her trash to ______ her lost wedding ring. He also waited for over an hour with another ______ who was having heart problems and needed a(n)______.

Jennifer has had “meaningful discussions” with the amazing workers about their inspiring levels of happiness and often shares their ______ with her students. “Every day we are ______ by heroes who bring us inspiration but too often we are unable to ______ these great people. I want Saul and Keon to know that we are thankful.”

As a teenager, Shannyn, was shocked to discover grey hairs coming through. It was the _______ thing the 16­year­old wanted to see, and it led to _______ from her unkind classmates, who said she was looking “old”.

In order to _______, she started visiting a salon every six weeks to have her hair dyed black. It was a heavy _______.

But it was money well _______ for the teen because she no longer stood out as “old” looking. However, as her 30th birthday approached, she _______ she was finally ready to go natural and took the _______ to stop dyeing her hair.

“It’s incredibly healthy because it’s not _______ with chemicals. It’s not weighed down or anything like that, it’s really nice,” she said.

_______ to the salon were no longer necessary and she also saved herself a ________ in the process. Four years since she made the decision, Shannyn is still ________ with her silvery hairs.

Women’s valuing their grey colour has gained ________ since the pandemic lockdowns, and Shannyn was far ________ for she committed to it several years ago.

If you can ________ your true self, then you’ve crossed the line that not many women in today’s society can do, and that’s indeed great ________.