If you end up speaking to your ex, don’t be aggressive or hostile in your words. Aim to be civil and assertive. There may be hurt feelings on both sides, so don’t be afraid to acknowledge the sting of seeing one another or interacting. Aim to say words that are if nothing else, kind and neutral.  For example, say, “Hello, Alex. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I hope you have a nice time.” As the old saying goes, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” If your ex is purposefully trying to get your attention by calling you names or spreading rumors, do your best to stay out of it. They might be trying to provoke you or show the power they have over you still. As hard as it is to ignore these hostile and angry behaviors, do your best to ignore them or act as if they don’t bother you.  If possible, take a break from the situation. You can either do this temporarily by taking a restroom break, or permanently by leaving the location or event. Don’t perpetuate childish behavior, either! If you’re not in a place to act maturely around your ex yet you need to communicate, opt for a message or email instead of in-person contact or a phone call. If you know you’ll run into your ex somewhere (say, a restaurant or a concert), have someone with you to act as a buffer. You might invite a friend to come with you or stand next to you if you see your ex. This can help you feel protected or at least not alone. After all, there’s strength in numbers.  If you suspect you might see your ex somewhere, have a friend go with you. If nothing else, they can distract you from seeing your ex or help you stay calm. Try to have an escape plan in place. For example, you and a friend could arrange a hand signal to show you are uncomfortable. Your friend could even be the one to suggest leaving if they notice that you seem distressed. If you’ve moved on and found a new partner, don’t rub it in your ex’s face. At best, they might think you’re a jerk, and at worst, they might feel very hurt and upset. Think about how you would feel if they did that to you. It’s generally not a nice move and doesn’t feel good.  Your new partner may feel used if you try to flaunt them in front of an ex. This can cause problems on many levels! Make sure that you resist the urge to make negative comments about your ex’s new partner as well. Be polite and civil.

Summary: Use soothing words. Ignore childish behavior. Have a buffer. Don’t flaunt your new partner.


It won't have the same softening and shine-adding properties, but it will help get rid of excess oil. Simply squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water, then pour that over your head. Massage it into your scalp and rinse it out. You can also use lemon juice to lighten your hair naturally. Co-washing is just like washing with shampoo except that you use conditioner instead. While you'd normally focus conditioner on the ends of your hair, you actually do want to apply it to your scalp while co-washing and massage it in. Once you rinse your hair out, you don't need to use an additional conditioner.  Co-washing is not recommended for oily or greasy hair because it doesn't contain enough detergent to get the grease out. You may have to scrub your scalp more than you normally would in order to get it squeaky-clean.

Summary: Try diluted lemon juice as an alternative to apple cider vinegar. Consider co-washing if you have dry, curly, natural, or wavy hair.


Closely related to a goal's attainability is its relevance. This is the "R" in SMART. The question to ponder here is whether this goal will be fulfilling for you as individual.  This is a moment to revisit the "why" question. Ask yourself whether this goal will truly fulfill your desires or if there's a different goal that's more important to you. For example, imagine you are considering what you want to do after high school. You might be capable of getting your medical degree at a large, prestigious university. The goal is achievable for you. But, if your goal is to be a Broadway dancer, it does not matter what you could do. Getting into a pre-med program will hinder your dance career, and you would not succeed in the medical field, either. It's also important to consider how your goal fits with other plans you have in life. Conflicting plans can create problems.  In other words, its important to determine if your goal fits in with the rest of what is going on in your life. For example, imagine your goal is to go to an ivy league college. But, you also want to take over the family business in the next couple of years. Especially if the business isn't located near an ivy league college, this creates a conflict. You will need to reconsider one of both of these goals. If you decide your goal is relevant and and will work well with your other plans, you can move on to the last step. If not, you'll need to make some more revisions. When in doubt, go with what you're passionate about. A goal that you care deeply about will be both more relevant and achievable than one you're only sort of interested in. A goal that will fulfill your dreams will be much more motivating and worthwhile to you.

Summary: Reflect on your desires. Consider your other goals and circumstances. Adjust your goal for relevance.


Use a Furby dictionary to say words to your Furby, watch movies with your Furby Boom to increase its English vocabulary, dance with it, play games with it, etc. Shake,hug,tickle, play with it.
Summary: Interact with your Furby. Have play time.