Shadowing Practice: Why Gratitude Changes the Way You See Problems | B1 English Shadowing - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B1
Life is not always easy.
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Life is not always easy.
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We all face stress, disappointment,
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and moments when things do not go the way we want.
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When something bad happens, our first reaction is often negative.
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We complain, feel upset, or think that life is unfair.
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This is normal, but it also makes every problem feel bigger.
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It makes us feel weak and tired.
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However, gratitude can change this experience.
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Gratitude means noticing the good things in your life,
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even when you have problems.
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It does not remove the problem,
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but it changes how you see it and how you feel about it.
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Many people think gratitude is only for happy days,
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but that is not true.
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Gratitude is most powerful when life is difficult.
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When you choose to be grateful,
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you add light to a dark situation.
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The difficult moment does not disappear,
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but it becomes easier to understand and easier to handle.
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You can still feel sad or stressed,
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but you also feel more calm and more connected to what is still good.
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Think about a day when everything seems to go wrong.
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Maybe you wake up late,
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you miss the bus, your work is stressful,
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and someone talks to you in an unfriendly way.
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On days like this, it is easy to say, this day is terrible.
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When you think like that,
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your mind focuses only on the negative parts.
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You forget the things that are still okay.
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For example, you still have a job,
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you still have people who care about you,
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and you still have the ability to try again tomorrow.
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Without gratitude, your mind creates a story that says everything is bad.
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Now imagine the same day,
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but you decide to use gratitude.
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You still make mistakes, and you still feel pressure,
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but you ask yourself, what can I still appreciate today?
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Maybe someone held the door for you.
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Maybe your friends sent you a message.
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Maybe you enjoyed a warm cup of coffee.
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These things are small, but they help your mind relax.
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They help you remember that your whole day is not terrible.
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There is still some balance.
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Gratitude changes the way you see problems in three main ways.
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It changes the size of the problem,
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it changes your attitude, and it changes your energy.
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First, gratitude changes the size of the problem in your mind.
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When you think only about what is wrong, the problem grows.
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It takes all your attention.
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For example, imagine you lose your keys.
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You feel stressed and angry.
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You think, Why does this always happen to me?
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If you stay in that thought,
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the problem feels huge But if you use gratitude,
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you can think
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Yes, this situation is annoying But I am grateful
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that I have time to look for them I am grateful
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I am in a safe place The problem becomes smaller and more manageable Second,
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gratitude changes your attitude Without gratitude,
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you feel like a victim You feel that the world is against you But when you practice gratitude,
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you feel stronger You feel more open and ready to learn For example,
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if someone criticizes your work,
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you may feel hurt But with gratitude,
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you can think I am grateful that I can learn from this.
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I am grateful that I can do better next time.
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You do not ignore the problem,
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but you see it in a more helpful way.
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Third, gratitude changes your energy.
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Negative emotions such as anger,
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fear, or frustration take away your strength.
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They make you feel tired and heavy.
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Gratitude gives you lighter emotions,
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such as peace, hope, and confidence.
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These emotions help you think clearly.
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They help you make better choices.
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Even when things are difficult,
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you feel that you can handle the situation step by step.
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Let's look at an example.
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Imagine you fail an important test.
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You feel disappointed and embarrassed.
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Without gratitude, you may say,
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I am not good enough,
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or I will never pass These thoughts make the problem bigger They stop you from trying again But with gratitude,
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you can think, I am sad about the test,
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but I am grateful that I know what to improve I am grateful
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that I still have time to study I am grateful that I did my best These thoughts give you motivation.
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They help you move forward instead of giving up.
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Another example is relationships.
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Sometimes, people we care about hurt us or misunderstand us.
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Without gratitude, we focus only on the pain.
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We think about what they did wrong.
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But with gratitude, we remember the good parts of the relationship.
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We remember the times when they supported us or made us smile.
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This does not mean you ignore the problem.
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It simply means you see the whole picture.
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You can talk more calmly and find a better solution.
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Gratitude also helps you discover meaning in difficult experiences.
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When something bad happens, you may think, this is terrible.
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There is nothing good in this.
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But many people later realize that a difficult moment helped them grow.
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For example, losing a job may push someone to learn new skills or find a better opportunity.
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A painful argument may help someone understand themselves better.
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Gratitude helps you look for this meaning earlier.
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It helps you ask, what can I learn from this?
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Or, how can this help me in the future?
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Of course, gratitude takes practice.
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It is not easy to feel grateful when life is stressful.
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Your mind may resist it at first.
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It may say, why should I be grateful?
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Things are bad.
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This is normal.
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Gratitude is like a muscle.
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You need to train it slowly and regularly.
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One simple way to practice gratitude is to start with small problems.
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For example, if you spill your drink,
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instead of getting angry, you can say,
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I am grateful that I can clean this quickly,
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or I am grateful that I have another drink.
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If someone speaks to you in a rude tone,
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you can think, I am grateful that I can choose to stay calm.
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These thoughts protect your energy.
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Another way is to write a gratitude list each day.
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You can write three things you are grateful for.
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They can be big things like health, family, or work.
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Or they can be small things like a comfortable bed,
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a kind smile, or a quiet moment.
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Some people also write gratitude sentences about challenges,
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such as, I am grateful for this busy week because it teaches me to organize my time,
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or I am grateful for this mistake because it helps me learn.
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Over time, this exercise trains your brain to look for solutions instead of problems.
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Gratitude also helps you see the kindness of others more clearly.
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When you feel stressed, you may think you are alone.
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But with gratitude, you notice small signs of support.
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Maybe someone asks how your day is.
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Maybe someone helps you carry something.
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Maybe someone listens to you.
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These moments show you that there is still care around you.
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You are not fighting alone.
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Finally, gratitude improves how you treat yourself.
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Many people judge themselves harshly when they face a problem.
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They say things like, I am weak,
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or I should be better.
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Gratitude helps you speak to yourself with more kindness.
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You can say, I am grateful that I am trying,
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or I am grateful that I keep moving even when it is hard.
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This supports your confidence and inner strength.
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So, why does gratitude change the way you see problems?
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Because it changes the story in your mind.
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The problem is not the same when your heart is more open.
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Gratitude gives you balance.
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It helps you see both the difficulty and the good things that still exist.
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You do not need a perfect life to practice gratitude.
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In fact, gratitude is most important when things are not perfect.
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When you choose gratitude, you choose a calmer mind and a stronger heart.
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Your problems may stay the same, but you change.
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And when you change, your experience of the problem also changes.
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You walk through challenges with more clarity,
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more hope, and more courage.
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Gratitude does not erase pain,
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but it gives you a light to guide you through it.
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It reminds you that even in hard moments,
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there is still something to appreciate.
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And sometimes, that small feeling of appreciation is enough to help you keep going.
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Context & Background
In the video titled "Why Gratitude Changes the Way You See Problems," the speaker addresses a critical aspect of human experience: how our perception of problems can significantly alter based on our mindset. It highlights that life is often full of challenges, leading to feelings of stress, disappointment, and frustration. However, the speaker emphasizes the transformative power of gratitude, explaining that by consciously shifting our attention to appreciate even the smallest positives, we can change our overall perspective. This approach not only makes problems appear smaller but also helps maintain a more balanced emotional state, even in the face of adversity. Learning to apply gratitude in our daily lives can help us develop resilience and a more positive outlook.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "What can I still appreciate today?" - A powerful question to invoke gratitude.
- "Life is not always easy." - Acknowledges the reality of life's challenges.
- "Your mind focuses only on the negative parts." - Important for recognizing negative thought patterns.
- "You still have people who care about you." - A reminder of the support system around us.
- "Gratitude is most powerful when life is difficult." - Highlights the importance of gratitude in tough times.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively enhance your English speaking and pronunciation skills using this video, follow these steps:
- Listen and Focus: Start by watching the video without distractions. Pay attention to the speaker's tone and emotion as they talk about gratitude and challenges.
- Break it Down: If the language feels challenging, pause and repeat smaller sections. This technique will help you internalize the phrases and their context. Using a shadowing app can be particularly useful for this step.
- Practice with Shadowspeak: Begin shadowing by repeating what the speaker says immediately after them. This practice not only improves your pronunciation but also helps with rhythm and intonation.
- Utilize Rephrasing: After shadowing, try rephrasing key points in your own words. Doing this allows you to strengthen your understanding and personalize the vocabulary emotionally.
- Reflect and Apply: Finally, ask yourself, "What can I still appreciate today?" and try to journal or speak about things you are grateful for. This real-life application enhances your language skills while adopting a positive mindset.
Consistent practice using tools like the shadowing app can greatly improve your English skills while encouraging a mindset shift towards gratitude. This unique approach to learning can ultimately help you improve your English pronunciation and fluency.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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