When you buy something with money, you feel as if it’s owed by you. __, when you receive something from someone else, the gift is a __ of something bigger than yourself.

In our living room, we have three shelves of books. We __ them as the “open source” bookshelf because our guests can take any book and __ any book to it. No one __ it; it’s all based on trust, __ our home hosts many events with hundreds of people passing through it.

These books cover various types and you can’t really be __ what you’ll find. So, my brother happened to __ a red book the other day. It __ because it had no title. Since it looked so __, he checked it out.

Page one __ some hand-written words:

To: DJ Burrowes

From: Grandma and Grandpa Burrowes

…

We were __. Every page had a quote written in the __ shaky handwriting of DJ’s grandparents. They had given it to DJ and DJ, __, had given it to us.

A couple of weeks back, DJ __ to go to China to learn its language and culture. Before leaving, he came for a(n) __ at our place, primarily to offer his __ gratitude. But this gift was over the top. Not only did he __ such a precious part of himself, but he did so without telling anyone in our house! What a(n) __ ! For a few seconds, all of us just stared at it in disbelief.

In shocking silence, we all stood in __ of the Burrowes for showing us, by their example, what life is all about. Thank you, DJ, wherever you are!

I was cycling and noticed a person, about a quarter of a kilometer in front of me. I could tell he was cycling a little slower than me and _______ to try to catch up with him. I had about a kilometer to go on the road _______ turning off.

So I _______ cycling faster and faster and every _______, I was gaining on him just a little bit. After just a few minutes I was only about 100 yards _______ him, so I really picked up the pace and _______ myself. You would have _______ I was cycling in the last section of the London Olympic triathlon.

_______ I caught up with him and passed by him. On the inside I felt so _______. I beat him, of course, but he didn't even know we were ________.

After I passed him, I ________ that I had been so focused on competing against him that I had ________ my turn. I had gone nearly six blocks past it and had to turn around and go all the way back.

Isn't that what happens in life when we ________ competing with co­workers, neighbors, and friends, trying to ________ that we are more successful or more important? We spend our time and ________ chasing after them and we miss out on our own ________ to our future.

The ________ of unhealthy competition is that it's a never­ending ________. And there will always be somebody ahead of you, someone with a ________ job, more money and more education, etc.

Therefore, just take what life has given you, your height, weight and personality. Stay focused and live a peaceful life. There's no ________ in life. Run your own race and wish others well!

Once upon a time, my job was in a mess. I was always inviting family and friends to listen to my_________. You can imagine how popular I was.

About that time, something I considered _________ happened. I _________ a program to the local club in Spanish. My minister was in the audience that night. _________ the program, he came up to me and said, “Linda, I didn’t know you could speak _________. You know our church sends a medical and construction team to Bolivia every _________.We’ve never had anyone who could _________ even a few sentences of Spanish. I’d like you to think about going with us this year.” I knew the trip was _________. But, to be polite, I told him I’d think about it.

At 8:15 the next morning, my minister was sitting in my office. He told me the plans and said: “We will float on a river on a boat, walk _________ the job sites and sleep on straw mats (草席). It will be ______________, and I know you’ll enjoy it!”

The idea my minister had ______________ began to grow. I thought, “I’ll go on this ______________ so I can put some time and distance between me and my job. Maybe it will help me decide what to do.”

I did make it. I surprised myself and ______________ my family. I loved the experience!

On the trip, we ______________ all the adventures my ______________ had promised and more. I worked with people who were ______________ poor. Their happiness puzzled and ______________ me. I asked myself, “what’s wrong with you?” The truth was ugly. I was all about status, money and show. My priorities (优先秩序) were ______________.

After returning from Bolivia, I didn’t have ______________ full-time job for two years. I realized that ______________ is only a thing. People — family, friends and relationships — are more important than things. I learned that for me, a simple life is best.