Q: Plan an outing where everyone sits down at coffee shops, cafes, or park benches and simply observes the passersby. Have them make up stories in their heads about what the people might be doing, thinking, or feeling.  When people are really caught up in their own small worlds, their capacities for empathy are limited. When they expand their focus to the world at large (including strangers), they become more capable of feeling deeply for others. If coming up with simple stories about stranger's lives doesn't come naturally, encourage them to use body language, style of dress, or actions to help build the stories. They can also draw on stories they know, such as in movies or books, as a foundation for what they think strangers are doing. Differences separate, while similarities bring people together. Talk to others about the different people in their lives—everyone from their kids’ teachers to the mailman. Make a list of the things they might have in common with these people.  If they have trouble spotting commonalities, suggest that they start with the larger, more obvious things that can forge connections. For example, a mom may like the same color as her child's teacher. A neighbor may root for the same sports team as the mailman. As you practice connecting more through bigger items, you can eventually move toward smaller, more personal things. Encourage those you are teaching to  be mindful about everything they do for a day, particularly how others may play into their daily activities. Getting in touch with the human side of basic activities can help them build stronger connections with others. For example, while drinking their morning tea, they may think about the farmers and workers who harvested the leaves. While driving, they may consider the mechanic who gave their car a tune-up or the person who washed it. Becoming immersed in fictional stories has been shown to increase one’s capacity to understand and relate to other’s experiences. Challenge everyone to get lost in a fictional story and really connect with the lives of the characters. Inspire those you are teaching to take positive action in their local communities. Suggest some of the following volunteer opportunities to the adults you work with: serve in a soup kitchen, dedicate time to an important charity, or read to at-risk children at the library. Working with and helping others from a variety of backgrounds can help people see the shared humanity in others who seem different on the surface. As a result, this cultivates stronger empathy for people in general.
A: Get curious about strangers. Spot commonalities. Use mindfulness during daily activities. Read fiction to connect with others' experiences. Volunteer more often.

Q: Closure is a nice idea, but sometimes it just isn’t possible. You can’t always wrap up a relationship in a satisfying way, especially if your breakup was messy or your ex ghosted you. Instead of chasing closure, resolve to leave your ex in the past and live the best life you can from this point forward. Feeling gloomy (or downright miserable) is all but inevitable after a breakup, so don’t try to prevent it. Let yourself cry, eat ice cream, and watch sappy movies with your friends for a week or two. Once you’ve purged your feelings, take a deep breath and start pulling yourself together. Don’t wallow for too long, or you’ll get stuck in a rut of feeling sorry for yourself. Get your mind off your ex by doing something you like. Pick up a new hobby you haven’t tried before, or return to an old favorite. Your hobby will be especially therapeutic if it gets you out of the house or provides an avenue for helping other people.  For instance, if you like to write, join a local writers’ group. If you like swimming, volunteer as a lifeguard at the community pool. Consider picking up a hobby that you have wanted to try for a while. Avoid hobbies that remind you of your ex. Get some much-needed emotional support by calling a friend for a chat or scheduling a movie night with several of your pals. Don’t just rehash your relationship when you see them, though. Tell them you’re trying to get over your ex, and ask them to help take your mind off him by talking about other things. You might not feel like laughing right now, but try to do it anyways. Go to a comedy club, rent a funny movie, or watch a playlist of your favorite YouTube comedians. If all else fails, just do your best fake laugh, and soon you’ll feel better for real. Getting out into the sunshine and fresh air gives you an instant mood boost, so take advantage of it. Go for a hike in the woods, or spread out a blanket in your backyard and relax for an hour or two.
A: Realize that you may never get complete closure. Give yourself two weeks to wallow. Pick up a hobby. See your friends. Laugh. Spend time in nature.

Q: This method is ideal for round-bodied fish, such as trout, tuna, and salmon. Try to get as close to the fish as possible. Leave the tail on for now. Run a fish scaler down the side, back, and belly of the fish. Always go against the scales, from the tail end towards the head. If you do not have a fish scaler, you can use the edge of a spoon or the back/top of a knife. As you are "raking" the fish, the scales will peel off. Keep raking until no more scales peel off.  Rinse the fish, if necessary, to get rid of any excess scales. This may take a while for fish that have tiny scales. De-scaling a fish can be messy. Consider working on top of a newspaper. This way, you can just crumple up the mess and toss it out when you are done. You will be cutting into the fish at a downward angle. Always cut from just behind the fin towards the head, but do not cut through the spine. These are the three cuts you will have to make:  Cut from behind the side fin down to the gills. Flip the fish over and repeat the same cut on the other side. Turn the fish onto its back. from the behind two underside/pectoral fins down to the throat. Grab the fish by the head with one hand and the body with the other. Quickly twist and snap the head off. Pull away any guts that come with it and discard them as well. Slip the tip of the knife into the "vent" or anal opening. Cut towards the head. Keep the cut shallow so that you don't pierce the guts. If you pierce them, you might taint the meat. Turn the fish onto its back and spread it open, like a book or hot dog bun. Pull the guts out and discard them. If you see a kidney near the backbone, use a spoon to scrape it out. Run the tip of your knife down the center of the fish, right where the backbone would be. This pierces the membrane and exposes the bloodline. Use a stiff-bristled brush to clean out the mess. You want to remove the bloodline because it can give the fish a bitter taste after you cook it. Gently massage the flesh to get rid of any guts or blood. Run your finger down the center of the fish, where the bloodline was. Lay the fish down on its side, and spread it open. Cut the vent out at an angle. Flip the fish over, and cut the other side of the vent out. Start at the tail. Hold the knife so that the blade is almost parallel to the cutting board, but at a slight downward angle. Peel the skin up and slide the blade between the skin and the flesh. Carefully saw the flesh away from the skin. It helps to pull the skin up and towards you as you go. Some fish, especially bottom-dwelling fish, should be skinned. Other fish, such as salmon and trout, are often cook with their skin on.
A:
Lay the fish down on a cutting board. Trim all the fins off using a pair of scissors. Remove the scales. Make three cuts around the head. Snap the head off and discard it. Cut the fish's belly open. Remove the guts. Cut through the spinal membrane and remove the bloodline. Rinse the fish under cold water. Cut the "vent" or anal opening out. Consider skinning the fish.