People just like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.
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Sometimes things happen to you and at the time they may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles, you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity - all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and downfalls you experience - they are the ones who create who you are. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. Those lessons are the hardest and probably the most important ones.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.

Words:

1. reflection    反射 ；反映；沉思
                      After a minute's reflection    沉思片刻后
                      on [upon] reflection    经再三思考
                      without (due) reflection    轻率, 不经思考