...and instead of looking for ways to climb over them， they simply feel sorry for themselves their whole lives.
instead of：代替；而不是；不是……（而是）；而没有，而不
Every day when it was time to diagram， my teacher would stand up in front of the class with an enormous smile on her face， and she appeared to be having the best time of her life.
in front of：面对；在……前；在……面前
学会掌控自己的情绪
Today I Will Be Master of My Emotions
佚名 / Anonymous
The tides advance； the tides recede. Winter goes and summer comes. Summer wanes and the cold increases. The sun rises； the sun sets. The moon is full； the moon is black. The birds arrive！ the birds depart.Flowers bloom； flowers fade. Seeds are sown； harvests are reaped. All nature is a circle of moods and I am a part of nature and so， like the tides， my moods will rise； my moods will fall.
It is one of nature's tricks， little understood， that each day I awaken with moods that have changed from yesterday. Yesterday's joy will become today's sadness； yet today's sadness will grow into tomorrow's joy. Inside me is a wheel， constantly turning from sadness to joy， from exultation to depression， from happiness to melancholy. Like the flowers， today's full bloom of joy will fade and withers into despondency， yet I will remember that as today's dead flower carries the seed of tomorrow's bloom so， too， does today's sadness carry the seed of tomorrow's joy.
And how will I master these emotions so that each day will be productive？ For unless my mood is right the day will be a failure. Trees and plants depend on the weather to flourish but I make my own weather， yea I transport it with me.
And how will I master my emotions so that every day is a happy day， and a productive one？ I will learn this secret of the ages： Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions； strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts. Each day， when I awaken， I will follow this plan of battle before I am captured by the forces of sadness，self-pity and failure—