A.gas was cheaper andsafer than coalB.she had to carry ……

The doctor’s young receptionist asked the sixtyish patient，“Are you on Medicare？”“No，I’m not，”he answered.“I’m still working，and Iplan to retire when I’m one hundred and four.”She laughed and asked him to take a seat.He and I were the only people in the waiting room，so I smiled atthe man and said，“I liked your answer...and your spirit.”“Thanks”，he replied，“would you like to hear the story behind my statement？”“I’d love to，”I agreed.
His name was John and he worked for a government agency.John was responsible for approving loanapplications for major home improvements.One day a woman called him and explained：“I need a loan to convert my heating system to gas，though I reallydon’t mind the coal at all.It’s those darn ashes—lugging them up from thebasement all the time.I’m 104 now and I’m just so tired of cleaning those ashes!”John was surprised at this outpouring，and a little skeptical about the woman’sage，but the agency’s investigation revealed that she was indeed 104years old.Only now was she rebelling against the burden she’d borne for so many years.
After hearing John’s story，I wondered if there was a broader message here more than just there markable stamina and endurance of an extraordinary woman.Picture the ashesas any heavy burden that one might carry inside for years，unwilling or unableto release feelings of anger，resentment，envy，or any other negativeconnection to the past.Luckily，we don’t have to shoulder this emotional loaduntil we’re 104，or even for another day，or even another moment.
By choosing to let go ofthe past，we can sweep out all the ashes that weigh us down and subtly affectevery aspect of our health，our relationships，and our inner peace.
My friend Jean wasdivorced after a thirty-year marriage that produced three daughters，one sonand eight grandchildren.Because she had literally raised them single-handedly，Jean was hurt and angry that the children didn’t take her part after thedivorce.For months she refused to attend any family celebration to which herformer husband Jim was also invited.When I reasoned that her children’sperception of the relationship with and between the parents was probablyaltogether different from hers，she clung to the belief that she was right.
One day Jean called intears.“Saturday is my granddaughter’s birthday，and I really want to be withher，but I can’t bring myself to face my former husband.”“Jim isn’t theproblem.”I said gently，“it’s your pride.Instead of holding on to the painfulpast，which is over and done，let the feelings go and get on with your life.You’re depriving yourself of the joy of sharing in these important occasions，while Jim feels free to experience them.Tell me，would you rather be right，orbe happy？”
That must have done thetrick because when Saturday arrived，Jean appeared at her daughter’s home withher famous chocolate-chip cookies and a beautiful birthday cake.
How great it feels tolet go!How energizing!And the more we practice the art of letting go of allnegative feelings，the better we become to devote our thoughts，our time，andour energy to living joyfully in the present，whatever age we happen to be.

A.gas was cheaper andsafer than coal
B.she had to carry thecoal home by herself
C.coal caused pollution
D.she had to lug theashes out of the basement