I personally used to prefer going out to a familiar bar with an old friend than delving into an event attended by strangers. However, my life changed after I started my internship at the Global Times Metro Shanghai.
在過去，相比和陌生人共處一室參加活動，我更喜歡約一個老朋友，一起去經常光顧的酒吧。但是在《環球時報》英文上海版實習之後，我的生活發生了翻天覆地的變化。
I was assigned to cover many amazing events in this equally amazing city. Never before did I know that Shanghai was so abundant with arts and entertainment. Free lectures held by encouraging speakers in Chinese and English, movie screenings about essential topics and curious facts of life, art and photo exhibitions, big festivals and small concerts were just some of the opportunities available to me every day.
這個實習機會讓我有機會參加報道了發生在魔都這個神奇地方的有意思的活動。在此之前，我從沒想到上海會有如此豐富的藝術娛樂活動。我每天都有機會參加勵志的中英文講座，豐富的電影放映活動，林林總總以生活、藝術、攝影為主題的展覽、盛大的節日慶典，小型的音樂會，層出不窮。
I visited exhibitions by Dutch designers and Chinese photographers. I was introduced to the concept of electronic music festivals and I befriended some diplomats. I now know how to contribute to saving water and have more in-depth knowledge about the global air pollution crisis. I was also exposed to helping children and animals in need around China.
我參加過荷蘭設計師和中國攝影師的展覽，知道了什麼是電子音樂節，還結識了幾位外交官。我知道了如何節水，知道了全球空氣汙染的嚴重性，知道了還有很多的孩子和動物需要幫助。
After four months of such breathtaking experiences, I realized I had not only enriched my knowledge, but also met more people than I ever had before - including the man who would become the love of my life.
在4個月激動人心的實習經歷之後，我意識到我不僅增長了知識也認識到更多的人，包括——我的那個他。
This is how it happened. At one of the events I was assigned to cover, I made contact with one of the event organizers, Kerry, who later became a close friend. As a person who takes a very active position in life, Kerry introduced me to other people and invited me to many exciting events.
One day she asked me to join her at a beer festival. I remember feeling hesitant about whether or not to go. I was extremely busy at the time, running between my college classes to the newspaper office to events I had to write about. However, instead of spending Saturday at home, I forced myself to get up and go to this beer festival.
That decision literally changed my life. At that festival I met a man who I later fell deeply in love with. After moving in together, I realized that the decision to expose myself to new things instead of being lazy gave me the greatest happiness in life.
這個決定真的改變了我的一生。在這個啤酒節上，我遇到了那個讓我深深愛上的男人。在住到一起之後，我十分慶幸自己那天決定讓自己去嘗試一下新鮮事物而不是懶懶地躺在床上，這讓我收穫了一生中最快樂的幸福。
So the next time you decide to spend an evening in front of the TV, or the whole weekend in bed, take note: keeping yourself busy is the key to a happier life. In addition, a new study in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal says that a jam-packed schedule is associated with better brain function.
所以下一次，當你決定晚上守著電視，或者在床上賴一整個週末的時候，必須要提醒自己：擁有更快樂人生的秘密就是讓自己忙碌起來。另外，神經科學雜Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal的最新研究也表明，擁有一個滿滿的行程可以保持你大腦功能更健全健康。
What one must do is use WeChat to check sections like "What is happening in Shanghai this weekend" or "Events in Shanghai this month." You will be surprised how many options are available.
Going out more often is not only a step forward to becoming social, but also a way to change one's life. I hope my story will motivate you, dear reader, to expose yourself to something new whenever you have a chance. Because every day is a new opportunity, but if you never try, you will never know.
經常出去不僅僅能讓你變的更善於社交，而且足以改變你的人生。親愛的讀者，我希望我的故事能激勵你，探索生活中的新鮮事。因為每一天都是一次新的機會，但如果你不邁開腳步去嘗試，你就永遠不會知道這點。
原文：Catherine Valley
翻譯： Betty
圖：Chen Xia、網絡
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