On a cold November afternoon, my mother and I were walking back home from a pizza store. We had bought many things. We were dressed warmly, and I was feeling a little tired as I was carrying our shopping bag. I decided to throw something away. I was walking towards a dustbin when I noticed a poor man walking out of the restaurant in front of us. He headed over to the nearby dustbin and started looking through it.

I suddenly felt very sorry because I was about to throw away new drink just because it was too heavy. I walked up to him and handed the drink and some bread over to him. The man looked up in surprise and took what I gave him.

A huge smile appeared on his face. I felt I couldn't be happier with myself. But then he said："Wow, this is my son's lucky day!"

With that, he thanked me happily and started off on his bike. I even heard him singing as he rode away. It gave me a warm feeling inside. I now understand what it means when someone says, "Giving is getting." Though it was only a small act, I learned more in those two minutes than I did in the rest of the month. Everyone in the world needs help. Everyone can give help and everyone can be helped.

When I was growing up, I was ashamed to be seen with my father. He was severely crippled(跛的) and very short. And when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. If he was ever noticed or bothered, he never let on(流露).

It was difficult to coordinate our steps—his slow, mine impatient—and because of that, we didn't say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace. I will try to adjust(调整, 适应) to you.”

He never talked about himself as an object of sympathy(同情), nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart", and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him. I believe that is a proper standard by which we can judge people, even though I still don't know exactly what “a good heart" is.

Unable to engage in many activities, my father still tried to participate in some way.

I now know he participated in some things indirectly through me, his only son. When I played ball, he “played” too. When I joined the Navy, he “joined” too. And when I came home on leave, he saw to it that(确保) I visited his office. Introducing me, he was really saying, “This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this, too, if things had been different.” Those words were never said aloud.

He has been gone many years. I often wonder if he sensed my unwillingness during our walks. If so, I just want to tell him how sorry I was and how I regretted it.

Now I think of him when I complain about small affairs, when I am envious(羡慕的, 嫉妒的) of others’ good fortune, when I don't have a "good heart."

At such times, I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance, and say, “You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you.”

Here is a story: A man   sees a butterfly (蝴蝶). The butterfly tries to get out of its   chrysalis (蛹). Feeling sorry for it, the man decides to help. He cuts the chrysalis and the butterfly comes out easily. Surprisingly enough, the butterfly is unable to fly. If the butterfly doesn’t struggle to leave the chrysalis, it can’t fly! The struggle develops the energy in the butterfly which makes it fly. Similarly, the challenges of life bring out the best in young people and make them fly.

When people are young, meeting and overcoming challenges will make them strong and ready to face life. When we look at successful people, we see that the most successful of them are people who have had to struggle. One famous businessman, who now owns many big supermarkets, used to carry clothes on his back and sell them from door to door when he was young. Another successful man is Dennis. His father died when he was only twenty. His father’s death forced him to mature   fast. He had to bring up a family of nine people. He   took up the challenges and overcame them. Today   his brothers and sisters are leading successful lives.

Sometimes challenges do not appear to us because we keep away from them. So some parents and teachers actively encourage young people to face challenges. They might organize some activities for young people which provide them with challenges, like rock climbing, camping, volunteer work and so on.   However, just passing exams will not prepare a person for life. We must meet and overcome challenges. The young people of today will become the leaders of tomorrow. For countries to continue to become successful, it is important that the young people learn to meet challenges and overcome them.