Recently I've been drawn to books which motivate me to look at myself, and hopefully make me a better "me". The Courage to Be Disliked, by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koya, has a title I just can't go past.

The book has taken Japan by storm, using the theories of philosopher Alfred Adler to create conversations between a fictional philosopher and a young man. The conversations cover many broad, interesting and sensitive topics. The philosopher character sticks by the theories of Adler, and explains how we are competent to determine our own lives, and be free of the influence of past experiences and others' expectations. It's a way of thinking that allows us to develop the courage to change and to ignore the limitations placed on us.

These often complex topics are played out in a conversational style between the two men. While it's easy to follow the conversations, the topics will knock around in your own head as you work out whether you sit on the side of the philosopher, the young man, or somewhere in between. The book is well-received by readers primarily owing to the fact that it presents two well-balanced viewpoints in the arguments. You'll find yourself doing household chores, or at your keyboard, unpacking all the information in your mind and coming to your own conclusions.

You will wholeheartedly agree on some points and want to throw the book at the wall at others. Its content is polarizing (两极分化) and I certainly don't agree with everything the philosopher or the young man says, but I think that's the point. The Courage to Be Disliked is there to start a conversation with yourself and do some slightly uncomfortable soul-searching.

"Essential oils can have a major impact on your mood and health. When you apply an oil to your skin, it affects your physical state. When you inhale them, it affects your mental state," says the "grande dame" of aromatherapy Jeanne Rose, author of The Aromatherapy Book: Applications and

Inhalations.

A few drops of eucalyptus on your skin will help heal a burn and smelling a pine tree might make you think of childhood Christmases. There are no rules for how to inhale oils. You can put a few drops on a tissue, or add some to water to spritz around the room or use in a diffuser(喷雾器)or vaporizer.

Be very careful, however, when applying oils to the skin. Always dilute them in another oil, like palm, coconut or olive to prevent burns or allergic reactions.

"A rule of thumb is 15 drops per one ounce of cream, oil or lotion," says Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, the founder and director of Atlantic institute of Aromatherapy in Tampa, Florida.

Some events have been added to the 2024 Olympias, with breakdancing, surfing, and sport climbing among the recent additions. A group of terms come with them that are foreign to the French language. Some French-language purists point out it's too much to bear to rely on English to praise surfers on their "nose riding"-standing on the front of the board. They've decided they need a French solution.

The French government has created a team of language experts devoted to promoting the national language. They will meet periodically over the next couple of years to identify and define new sports terms. The French battle against the influence of other languages isn't new. In 1994,the Toubon law was passed, forcing the use of French in all government publications，contracts and advertisements. Yet it contained several loopholes (漏洞), which allow brands and companies to extensively use English. As a result, anglicisms-words from the English language used in another language-are becoming more obvious.

Julie Neveux, linguistics professor at Sorbonne University in Paris, said anglicisms are "sometimes estimated at just under 5% of the present vocabulary, but they are disturbing because they show that we follow an economy and cultural model other than our own." They are particularly present in sports competitions and events, during which athletes from around the world are used to communicating in English. "Sport was one of the first areas to be globalized, "said sports historian Michael Attali.

Despite their best efforts, no committee has successfully prevented English from influencing everyday language. "Similar committees have been put in place in the past, but nothing has changed so far," said Attali.

"There are far fewer anglicisms in French than there are French words in English. " said Neveux, adding these exchanges should not be seen as a threat. "All living languages exist by borrowing from each other. Languages only exist thanks to their impurity. "