Our annual poetry competition celebrating the best of mental health writing is back. Seasoned professional or fresh newbie, wherever you are in your writing journey, you are personally invited to enter the The Happiful Poetry Prize 2026.

We are looking for poems to explore the topic of mental health and well-being in unique, engaging, and empowering ways. The competition is free to enter, and no prior experience is necessary; the only thing you need is a passion for writing!

The winner will receive £100, and four shortlisted poets will receive a £25 National Book Token. All five poems will be published in issue 108 of Happiful.

Please submit:

·One entry per person, of a poem no more than 25 lines long.

·Your poem's title.

·Your full name and address.

·A short biography, no more than 50 words long.

To enter, visit happiful.com/poetry-prize

The deadline for entries is midday on Friday 14 November 2025. All poets will be contacted with the results by the end of February, 2026. GOOD LUCK.

My sons, Fred, 12, and Arthur, 8, were overwhelmed by the stacks of gifts under the tree, and my husband, Baz, was stuck building toys and searching for batteries, while I slaved over turkey and the trimmings. When we sat down to dinner, the children refused to eat most of it, then started arguing. We couldn't even go for a family walk because the weather was so miserable and, I hid myself outside for some peace, my thoughts turned to loved ones lost over the years. "I am not doing this again," I told my husband that evening. "Christmas is supposed to be fun."

Within days, I'd found a solution. Instead of our traditional Christmas at home or with our extended families, I'd booked a holiday park for the following year. We would pay for it by decreasing the numbers of gifts and when we explained to the children that Santa would only be able to deliver a stocking and one large present, they were so thrilled about the holiday to mind. It was the right decision because Christmas 2024 was the best one we could remember. And beforehand, all I had to do was packing the suitcase and buying a few necessities.

We spent Christmas Day at the pool for bowling, and dined at an Italian restaurant. The boys were so excited to eat their favorite food, pizza, for Christmas dinner!

It felt as festive as anything we could have created at home and everyone was happy. Best of all, we made lots of special memories that the boys still talk about today.

I am so glad we broke free from the tradition. It feels as if we have regained the spirit of Christmas by doing what works for us, and we've created our own new traditions instead. Quality family time is so much more precious than any gift that Santa could bring.

Gerald Ruzindana, a nutrition and wellness expert, says protein is a vital nutrient that plays a key role in maintaining and repairing the body, and legumes (豆科植物) are high in amino acids (氨基酸), the building blocks of protein. He says that people should consider consuming legumes on a daily basis. "With their presence of proteins, consuming legumes helps heal and make new tissues in the body," he says. Legumes are also linked to significantly lower risks of heart disease, high blood pressure according to studies.

"It's surprising how many people still don't understand the benefits that come with consuming legumes," says Erick Musengimana, a nutritionist at Rwanda Diabetes Association. He adds that legumes provide fibre, protein, carbohydrate, B vitamins, and because they are plant foods, they are cholesterol free as well, which makes them a perfect option. From studies, one serving of legumes, which is one-half cup, provides about 115 calories, 20g of carbohydrate, 7–9g of fibre, 8g of protein, and 1g of fat. It has also been established that legumes are an essential part of many healthy eating patterns, including the Mediterranean style of eating and vegetarian.

Along with being a highly nutritious food, evidence shows that legumes can play an important role in the prevention and management of a number of health conditions. Also, nutritionists say that a diet that regularly includes legumes may help with weight control, because of its fibre content and protein, as this means that it will slowly get digested after consumption, therefore, aiding in satiety.

Why is it good to sleep with white noise? It can be an effective tool for "noise masking" and help avoid trouble sleeping. Studies indicate that listening to white noise for sleep can have some payoffs, such as by blocking out other sounds that can startle you out of sleep.

Researchers believe that white noise is a noise that makes someone's hearing threshold level (阀域值) reach its maximum rate, which means the presence sounds in the background become less capable of stimulating the cerebral cortex (大脑皮层) region of the brain during sleep.

A study published in 2021 examined the effects of white noise on sleep for 10 New York City residents who live in a high-noise environment. While the sample size is small, the data showed that "white noise significantly improved sleep based on subjective and objective measurements in subjects complaining of difficulty sleeping due to high levels of environmental noise." Further researches confirms these findings. For instance, white noise helped improved average total sleep time in patients admitted to a coronary care unit in a 2016 study, while research published in 2022 found that critically ill patients improved their sleep quality with the use of white noise.

White noise are now widely available. There's one option to use a sleep machine app on your phone if you don't want to purchase a device. If using white noise while studying, try listening to YouTube videos on your computer or phone completely for free, which can play in the background and drown out other distracting sounds.

Staying connected with close friends can be challenging when they live far away. You might feel helpless when a distant friend is going through a tough time. However, with some efforts, you can still provide meaningful support and strengthen your friendship.

"Physical distance can make us feel disconnected," Dr. Sophie Mort, a clinical psychologist says, "but being emotionally present is key." Here are four practical ways to show you care.

This simple act can bridge the physical gap between you. A care package is a powerful way to show you're thinking of them. It could include their favorite snacks, a heartfelt letter, or something that reminds you of a shared memory. "This gesture is especially meaningful during difficult times, offering comfort and a sense of connection," Dr. Mort adds.

Schedule regular video calls.

While not the same as meeting in person, regular video calls can create a sense of routine and provide quality time together. The key is to be fully present during the call. Avoid distractions and focus on the conversation. This intentional effort will make your friend feel valued.

Share an activity online.

To make your virtual meetings more engaging, try developing a shared hobby. You could do yoga together, cook the same recipe while on the call, or start a two-person book club. "These shared experiences create new topics for conversations and a stronger sense of doing things together," Dr. Mort suggests.

Work on a project together.

Whether you are working towards a fitness goal or planning an adventure, it gives you a shared purpose. It could be a fitness challenge where you track each other's progress, learning a new skill like painting, or even planning a future trip. Collaborating on something fun helps maintain a strong connection despite the distance.

Although miles apart, your friendship can continue to grow. With creativity and commitment, you can show that true friendship knows no boundaries.

A. Create a shared memory.

B. Send a Personal Care Package.

C. Therefore, it is crucial to find a time when you are both free and can give each other your full attention.

D. The physical distance may seem like a huge problem.

E. Starting a shared project gives you a common goal to be excited about.

F. This could be almost anything you both enjoy.

G. It's not about the form of communication, but the frequency.

He and his wife had come up into my hometown for a2, but his wife had a medical emergency and was taken to the nearby hospital. Unwilling to3 the trip or make another long drive home, he decided to spend a few nights at the hotel to get closer to knowing his wife's situation. As I'm talking to him, he told me he was a veteran from Vietnam and he started to4 his time in the service, talking about his wartime friends and the5 they'd made during that hard time.

I was6 by this and kept talking to him about his experiences. As we talked, I stepped into the backroom to place an order for a pizza. When the food was7, the man started to excuse himself, claiming he didn't want to8 my meal. When I told him it was for him, he cried — for the first time someone had9 a hand of generosity to him.

He showed me his badge and then talked about how Vietnam soldiers weren't10 the best when they came back to American soil and that further moved me.

As he headed to his hotel room, I carried his11 and followed. He tried to stop me, but I insisted, saying I was12 to respect elders and lend a helping hand wherever I could, since a small act of13 would go a long way. The veteran thanked me14. The next day, I went home feeling like the most accomplished individual, knowing I'd15 in someone's life.

China has been actively developing (it) circular economy (循环经济) across all industries, turning waste into useful products, aiming to build a circular industrial system with its recycling industry (reach) a 5-trillion-yuan output value by year-end.

Chinese companies are using advanced technology to upgrade the industry. At a circular economy industrial park in Suzhou, Jiangsu, high-tech (facility) can handle around 500 tons of kitchen waste every day. "About 90 percent of kitchen waste can (recycle) into nutrient-rich soil for landscaping or composting (堆肥), or turned into biomass natural gas the city's gas grid (供气网)," said Huang Yuanchen, general manager of a local environmental company.

The secondhand market was once popular in the US and Europe is now also growing in China as green choice, covering home appliances, books, digital products, camping gear, and fitness equipment. Big discounts make them (afford) for more people to enjoy their hobbies.

"The secondhand economy boosts products circulation, unlocking new consumer needs helping the domestic economy," said Li Yongjian, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. " (promote) the circular economy, we must not only strengthen the industry but also raise public awareness and spread the idea of sustainable development." (Xinhua)

1. 描述AI帮你解决问题的具体经历；2. 分享你对AI与日常生活关系的新认知。

注意：

1. 写作词数应为80左右；2. 请按如下格式作答。

Dear Peter,

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Yours,

Li Hua

An orange firework burst overhead. "Where do the sparkles go after they fall out of the sky?" Annika asked her family. "Do you know?"

Her little brother, Ben, gurgled and waved his tiny fist. "Great question," her mom said as she offered Annika a slice of watermelon. Her dad said, "Hmm," and adjusted his camera's lens.

Annika flopped down on the blanket her mom had spread on the grass. A white-and-gold firework blossomed high above the trees, and they heard a pop-pop-bang! echo down by the lake. Annika tipped her head all the way back. She watched the sparkles drip like glittering spray from a fountain before they disappeared into the dark. Kids were running between blankets all over the hilltop, kicking soccer balls, waving streamers.

This was her favorite day of the whole summer.

Do the sparkles turn into stars? Annika wondered. Do they land in the treetops? Do they puddle up at the bottom of the lake in a mound of glitter?

Two red fireworks shot across the sky like comets and burst into bright white lights that blinked on and off. Ben screamed happily and threw one of his shoes across the blanket. Her mom laughed and put it back on his foot. Her dad said, "Wow, look at that one!" and took a photo.

"Can I go look for sparkles?" asked Annika.

"When the show is over, honey," her mom said.

Annika wiggled her fingers like fireworks at Ben and said, "Ka-boom!"

After the show was done, all the families clapped. They talked about what a great fireworks show it was and wished each other a happy Fourth of July. Annika sighed. Her favorite day of the whole summer was almost over. Everyone started packing up to go.

Annika gathered the watermelon rinds and helped her mom fold the blanket. Annika's dad put away his camera and picked up Ben. Then Annika tugged her mother's sleeve. "May I go look for sparkles, please? Just for two minutes?"

"OK," Annika's mom said. "But stay where we can see you."

Annika ran to the edge of the field and looked around.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；2.请按如下格式作答。

There were no orange sparkles in the grass.

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"A firefly!" Annika yelled out.

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