In January 2022, the now l7-year-old Mack Rutherford watched his 19-year-old sister, Zara Rutherford, set two new world records for flying around the world in an ultralight aircraft. Less than a month later, Mack declared his intention to go for a world record too!

“I always knew I wanted to do something special in my life in aviation but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do, it was only when my sister flew around the world that I knew this was what I wanted to do,” Mack said.

Mack is no stranger to aviation. He was only 15 when he became the youngest pilot in the world. Now, he’s set the record for the youngest person to fly around the world, replacing previous record-holder Travis Ludlow of Britain. Travis was 18 when he set the record in 2021.

Mack’s journey began on March 23rd, 2022 when he left Sofia, Bulgaria flying a Shark, an ultralight aircraft that’s the same style his sister used in her circumnavigation of the globe.

“I am flying a Shark,” Mack wrote on his website. “It is a high-performance ultralight aircraft made in Europe. The aircraft has been specially prepared for such a long journey.”

Mack traveled through 52 countries over five continents. The trip was supposed to take between two and three months, but paperwork and visa issues slowed his progress.

On August 24, 2022, Mack completed his journey and set not one, but two new world records! He’s now the youngest person to fly around the world solo. He displaced his sister as the previous record holder, but we’re sure there are no hard feelings!

As Mack stepped out of the aircraft in Belgium, he had some simple words of wisdom to offer the world.

“Just follow your dreams, no matter how old you are — work hard and move forward to achieve your goals,” he said.

Can you resist cream cakes? I miss my sugar! I’ve decided to lose weight and I had to give up cakes. It’s difficult because I have a sweet tooth and I love cream cakes.

Not having treats can be good for your health. I’ve heard that the Burts, a family of five in South East England，lived sugar free for a whole year after they found out their daughter had diabetes (糖尿病). It wasn’t easy. To avoid temptation, I don’t go to any bakeries, but this family actually owns one, which makes up to 3,000 cakes a week.

They were in shock when the doctor said that their 16-year-old Lucy had to check her blood sugar levels regularly and take insulin (胰岛素). He advised her to eat a normal, balanced diet, but the Burts went further and got rid of sugar altogether.

And how does it feel to live without sugar for a while? Jason Burt said that for a month they felt weak. But later on it all changed. He says he feels “more awake” and full of energy.

And what about the Burt family business? It had to keep using half a ton of sugar a week and any cook worth his salt knows that you have to taste a recipe to know if it’s right. No problem there, says Jason Burt’s wife, Clare. She points out that she’s got lots of people offering to taste the cakes for them. The family is also thinking about selling more delicious products.

I wonder what makes us have a strong desire for sweet food. Anyway, I’ve decided to forget about the sweet taste of sugar for a while. As British model Kate Moss says：“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”

In the dead of winter, a small village in a valley found itself in extremely low temperature.       

The townspeople huddled (蜷缩) in their homes, protecting themselves against the cold wind and never-ending snowfall.

In the middle of this, a young woman named Lily was snowbound in her cozy cottage, feeling like a prisoner.

Frustration began to settle in, but then Lily decided to make the best of the situation. With a determined spirit, she welcomed the idea of breaking the ice with her neighbors.

Lily began inviting people in her village to her cottage. She hoped a welcoming atmosphere would create some warmth among people. The villagers accepted her invitations, curious to see what Lily had planned.

As the guests came and went, Lily’s home became a place of laughter and joy. Lily’s enthusiasm (热情) helped to melt the icy walls that had formed between people. They shared stories and played games, putting their worries on ice for a while.

Little did they know that their gatherings would have a snowball effect. Word of the heartwarming occasions spread throughout the valley to other villages. Soon other homes became retreats from the cold, with families gathering to enjoy one another’s company.

Villagers realized that the true beauty of winter wasn’t its frosty white snow. It was the opportunity to come together and support one another. They had only scratched the surface of the friendships that awaited them.

Days turned into weeks, and Lily’s cottage was snowed under with laughter and love. People found comfort in sharing meals, stories and dreams. The cold light of day seemed less daunting (令人生畏的) when they faced it together.

The villagers learned that human connection could warm a very cold heart. And so, the valley’s villages seemed better than ever from the cold. Everyone learned that there was power in uniting. They had created a world where warmth and compassion shone through in the darkest winter nights.