A river was running happily in the hill, the valley(山谷) and the field. Soon it was stopped by a huge rock and the river was a little afraid and worried what it could do.

The rock said, “Hi, baby！Where are you going?”

The river answered, “I’m going to the sea. My mother is waiting for me.”

The rock made fun of the river and said, “You’re too young. Go back to the hill at once. You can’t get there. Don’t come back here again!”

The river was surprised to hear that and said, “I can only go forwards(向前).There’s no river that goes backwards(向后)!”

The rock became angry and warned the river. “Don’t speak! If you don’t go back, you will have to change your direction. Don’t want to run over my body!”

The river asked helplessly, “Where should I go?”

“You can go anywhere you like. Just don’t come close to me!”

While they are talking, more and more water came here. Then it began to get out of control. The river ran quickly over the rock and the rock was washed pitifully.

The river said proudly, “A weak person will change his goal and direction. A person who is strong will only go ahead and nothing can stop him!”

Many people might think that if they had more money, then they would be happier in life. For example, people might look at what others have, like expensive clothes or nice cars, and wish they could have the same. But the things that money can buy cannot bring happiness to a person for long.

① But is that really true? Studies have found that money can, in fact, make people happier. ② Instead, it's giving money to others that makes people happy.  ③ It could be buying a homeless person food to eat.  ④ It could be giving money to a person in need. Just think about the last time you used your own money to do something for someone else. How did you feel? Whether it is a small or large amount of money. People feel happier when they give. This is because making someone else happy makes the giver happy, too.

This idea of connecting your happiness to the happiness of others is described as a ubuntu in an African language. There is even a story about a man visiting Africa who asked some kids to race to a nearby tree. The first child to touch the tree would get a sweet treat. Surprising, all the children held hands and ran together. They all touched the tree at the same time. The man asked why they had done this. The children simply said they could only enjoy eating the treat if everyone had one.