Happiness For Beginners
Transcript
I’m here because I got a divorce.
I wanted to take on a new challenge and just sort of reset my life.
You’ll get all the badges, make lots of friends.
This is an adult camping trip.
Yes. It’s not camp.
Yes. Archery badge.
No archery. No.
Okay.
Okay, people. We’ll be working our way through some of Connecticut’s 51 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
These people here…
…are your team.
It’s hike day, baby! Whoo!
Like some coffee, Ellen?
My name is Helen, with an H.
Really? With an H, Helen? Hm. I’m Hugh.
I’m old enough not to discuss my age.
She knows what I’m talking about.
I am taking a vow of silence on our hike.
Okay, people. Well, let’s gather around.
Should we expect to see a bear around here? I’d say expect anything.
What about large stray dogs?
That is very unlikely.
I sense tension between the two of you.
Oh, no. We actually know each other.
He’s my little brother’s best friend.
Why are you here?
People get seriously injured on these hikes.
That’s where you’re wrong.
This is the new and improved Helen.
This Helen spits in the face of danger. Ow!
How did you find the sharpest rock in the forest?
I got it, thank you. I got it.
Why did you come here?
I think I just sort of got sick of being fed up with myself.
Every night, I write three good things that happened to me.
And, what, just like that you’re happy?
All you talk about is how your breakup is clinging to you, but that’s not what I see.
Why do you sound like a jealous boyfriend?
You were too good for him.
If you like him, just tell him.
You’ve got to look closer at the big picture.
I remember you seemed to really like your life, and you laughed all the time.
Yeah, I was young.
Well, you’re still really young.
You don’t realize it, but life really takes a toll.
Figure out a way to fight back.
To the trail.
Vocabulary List
take on
(verb) to accept or commit to a challenge or responsibility
archery
(noun) the sport or practice of shooting arrows at a target
trail
(noun) a path or track through a wild or wooded area
hike
(noun) a long walk, especially in the countryside
vow
(noun) a solemn promise or declaration
stray
(adjective) having no home
improved
(adjective) made better or more effective
breakup
(noun) the end of a romantic relationship
cling
(verb) to hold on to something tightly, especially in fear or desperation
fed up
(verb) unhappy, especially with a situation that has continued for too long
figure out
(verb) to understand or solve a problem
fight back
(verb) to defend oneself against an attack or challenge
Grammar Point
We are going to observe various collocations in this video.
Collocations are words that commonly go together.
Understanding collocations will help your English to be more natural in speech and writing.
get a divorce
I’m here because I got a divorce.
Other collocations with divorce:
get a divorce
go through a divorce
want a divorce
ask for a divorce
a marriage ends in divorce
file for divorce
take on a challenge
I wanted to take on a new challenge and just sort of reset my life.
Other collocations with challenge:
meet a challenge (=deal with one)
face a challenge (=have to deal with one)
accept a challenge (=try to deal with one)
take on a challenge (=accept one)
present/pose a challenge (=be a difficult one)
provide a challenge (=be an interesting one)
rise to a challenge (=deal successfully with it)
love a challenge
enjoy a challenge
relish a challenge
make friends
You’ll get all the badges, make lots of friends.
Other collocations with friend:
have a friend
become friends
remain friends
very unlikely
That is very unlikely.
Other collocations with unlikely:
highly unlikely
most unlikely
very unlikely
extremely unlikely
rather unlikely
pretty unlikely
quite unlikely
fairly unlikely
increasingly unlikely (=more and more unlikely as time passes)
sense tension
I sense tension between the two of you.
Other collocations with tension:
reduce tension
ease tension
relieve tension
Common Expressions
work our way
Okay, people. We’ll be working our way through some of Connecticut’s 51 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
The phrase “work our way” can mean a few different things, depending on the context.
– To move slowly and carefully through a difficult or challenging situation. For example, “We worked our way through the dense forest, careful not to make any noise.”
– To achieve something gradually and through hard work. For example, “She worked her way up from the mailroom to become CEO of the company.”
– To gain someone’s trust or affection over time. For example, “He worked his way into her heart by being kind and attentive.”
spit in the face of danger
This Helen spits in the face of danger. Ow!
The phrase “spit in the face of danger” means to defy or challenge danger, even though it is likely to cause harm. It is often used to describe someone who is courageous or reckless, and who is not afraid to take risks.
I got it.
I got it, thank you. I got it.
The phrase “I got it” can mean a few different things, depending on the context.
– It can mean that you understand something. For example, if someone explains a concept to you and you say “I got it,” you are essentially saying that you understand what they are talking about.
– It can mean that you have something. For example, if someone asks you to hold their coat and you say “I got it,” you are essentially saying that you are now holding their coat.
– It can mean that you are willing to do something. For example, if someone asks you to help them with a task and you say “I got it,” you are essentially saying that you are willing to help them.
– It can also be used as a way to express confidence or determination. For example, if you are about to attempt a difficult task and you say “I got it,” you are essentially saying that you are confident that you can succeed.
take a toll
You don’t realize it, but life really takes a toll.
The phrase “take a toll” means to have a negative effect on someone or something. It can be used to describe physical or emotional damage, or to describe the loss of something valuable.
For example, you might say that a long illness has taken a toll on someone’s health, or that a difficult job has taken a toll on someone’s mental state. You might also say that a natural disaster has taken a toll on a community, or that a war has taken a toll on a country.