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.
在过去，相比和陌生人共处一室参加活动，我更喜欢约一个老朋友，一起去经常光顾的酒吧。但是在《环球时报》英文上海版实习之后，我的生活发生了翻天覆地的变化。
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.
这个实习机会让我有机会参加报道了发生在魔都这个神奇地方的有意思的活动。在此之前，我从没想到上海会有如此丰富的艺术娱乐活动。我每天都有机会参加励志的中英文讲座，丰富的电影放映活动，林林总总以生活、艺术、摄影为主题的展览、盛大的节日庆典，小型的音乐会，层出不穷。
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.
我参加过荷兰设计师和中国摄影师的展览，知道了什么是电子音乐节，还结识了几位外交官。我知道了如何节水，知道了全球空气污染的严重性，知道了还有很多的孩子和动物需要帮助。
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个月激动人心的实习经历之后，我意识到我不仅增长了知识也认识到更多的人，包括——我的那个他。
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.
这个决定真的改变了我的一生。在这个啤酒节上，我遇到了那个让我深深爱上的男人。在住到一起之后，我十分庆幸自己那天决定让自己去尝试一下新鲜事物而不是懒懒地躺在床上，这让我收获了一生中最快乐的幸福。
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，当你决定晚上守着电视，或者在床上赖一整个周末的时候，必须要提醒自己：拥有更快乐人生的秘密就是让自己忙碌起来。另外，神经科学杂Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal的最新研究也表明，拥有一个满满的行程可以保持你大脑功能更健全健康。
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.
经常出去不仅仅能让你变的更善于社交，而且足以改变你的人生。亲爱的读者，我希望我的故事能激励你，探索生活中的新鲜事。因为每一天都是一次新的机会，但如果你不迈开脚步去尝试，你就永远不会知道这点。
原文：Catherine Valley
翻译： Betty
图：Chen Xia、网络
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