We are going to play against (对抗) a team from a country school. They didn’t come until the last minute. They looked worse than we thought. They were wearing dirty blue trousers and looked like farm boys. We sat down for a rest. We felt that we didn’t need any practice against a team like that.

The game began. One of us got the ball and he shot a long pass to our forward (前峰). From out of nowhere a boy in an old T-shirt stopped the ball and with beautiful style (姿势) he shot and got two points. Then another two points in a minute. Soon the game was all over. We were beaten by the country team.

After that, we thought a lot. We certainly learned that even though (虽然) your team is very good, there is usually another team better than yours. You can’t be always the best. And the most important lesson we learned was: One can’t judge (判断) a person , or a team only by their clothes.

Daisy was in the bathroom. She was brushing her teeth and the tap was on. Water was pouring into the washbasin and vanishing down the drain (排水管).

“Turn that tap off,” a voice said loudly. Daisy froze (冻结). She looked around, but saw no one. “Turn the tap off. You are wasting water!” the voice sounded impatient.

This time Daisy obeyed. “Who… who are you?” Daisy’s voice was faint (微弱的).

“I’m a drop of water. It is not easy for me to get here. Do you know where I am from?”

“From the tap, I suppose,” said Daisy.

“Yes. But before that?” Water said, “A few days ago, I was floating comfortably in a cloud in Jiangxi, enjoying the view. Then the cloud dropped me into a stream and I sped down the mountain into the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River carried me to a lake. I relaxed there for a few days, and then I travelled a long way and ran into the Huangpu River. Then it was time to get cleaned up.”

“Cleaned up?” Daisy sounded puzzled.

“Yes. I was dirty after my journey so they took me to a water treatment works. They gave me a thorough (彻底的) cleaning and added a few chemicals to me. Then I travelled in the pipes under the street. I waited there until you called me, and here I am.”

Daisy said, “So this is the end of your journey.”

“No. When you have finished with me, I’ll go to a sewage (污水) plant. Then they will pump (用泵管输送) me into the river and I will be back in the sea again.”

“Again?”

“Yes. That’s where I came from in the first place. Remember not to waste me or pollute me. I’m precious, like liquid gold. See you.”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean by liquid gold?” But there was no reply. The water had gone.

Daisy came out of the bathroom. Her brother said, “Who were you talking to?”

“I was talking to the water,” Daisy said.

“Sometimes you are strange, Daisy,” her brother said.

Everyone’s past is important. It is the past that makes us who we are today. So, we should accept what has happened to us in the past. However, sometimes we need to let go of the past, so as to move on with our lives. Why should we let go of the past?

We can’t change the past. Sometimes, we like to say “I wish I did that earlier,” “I wish …” and so on. However, the fact is that we can’t go back and change the past, but what we can do is stop thinking about it, learn from it, and get ready for the future.

We should make space for something new. When we let go of our mistakes and fears, we can make room for something new to come. The world is full of amazing and exciting chances. New chances will knock on your door when you close the old one.

We need to grow. Sometimes it’s not easy to let go of the past because it makes us to leave our comfort zone. This is also why many people are afraid of making moves. However, making changes in your life can help you become stronger and find who you really are. So how can we let go of the past? Accept your past and focus on the good side. Learn to enjoy every day and be open to new things. All these will open new doors in your life.