Get to the root of the issue. Consider if the situation was a result of miscommunication or misunderstanding. Who is at fault, and who needs to be forgiven? Figure out how to solve the issue and who to forgive by first understanding the cause to begin with.  Think about the effects the grudge has had on you.  Do you find yourself not trusting other people? Do you find yourself acting irritable and angry more often? Are you experiencing physical issues like stomach pains or headaches? Have you changed your routines as a result of the offense?   After you consider the grudge's effects on you, ask yourself who it is helping for you to be experiencing all of that.  Does it tell the offender anything? Is the offender bothered by it? Are you expecting to "get back" at the person somehow? How effective is the grudge? Is it just hurting you? Recognize your emotions and the reality of the situation. Telling the truth about your feelings to yourself will help you to acknowledge the hurt you feel. Don't deny the event, and go over the facts of what occurred. Was the situation really a big deal? If not, try to let go of it. If so, you should talk about it with the offender.  When you evaluate the situation, step back and consider if this grudge is worth your time to pursue or to continue dwelling on. Sometimes you can let go of the grudge without discussing the situation with the offender. Ask yourself if holding the grudge is about you or them.  Extend compassion to whatever caused the wound, and let it go. After you understand exactly what took place and how you feel, find commonalities as to why your offender may have acted the way they did. Once you realize that you got in a fight with your friend because she just lost her job, it will be easier to let go of your hard feelings. Sometimes it takes multiple conversations to come to an understanding. Even small wounds may need to be looked over and forgiven again. Be patient with yourself and try to always think positively.
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One-sentence summary -- Identify what needs healing. Acknowledge what took place and how you feel. Remember that forgiveness is a process.


Write the due date for the scholarship essay in your calendar. Think about whether your best works comes from lots of preparation, or if you do better under pressure. Create a schedule that is personalized to fit your needs, and give yourself at least 1 week for the delivery of the essay so you are sure to meet the deadline. For instance, you could give yourself 3 weeks to write the essay. The first week could be focused on researching and brainstorming your essay. In the second week, you could outline and write your essay. The final week could be devoted to editing and proofreading the essay. Give your essay a structure so that it is easy to read. It should include an introduction, body, and a conclusion. Make only 1 point per paragraph.  In the introduction, you should include a thesis statement and tell the reader what you will show in the body of the essay. The body should include vivid examples and stories that highlight why you are the right fit for the scholarship. The conclusion should emphasize all of the connections between your experience and the organization’s vision. In the body of your essay, use personal experiences and examples to illustrate your main points. Show the committee that you have experiences that are pertinent to the award.  In each paragraph, include only 1 example or illustration. If the award is for a student from a rural background who shows promise as a community leader, show the committee that you match this description. Describe aspects of your rural upbringing and leadership work that help support your argument. Focus on your strengths. Remember to follow the formatting guidelines outlined in the scholarship application guide. If no formatting guidelines are outlined, use the following rules:  12 point Times New Roman font Double-spaced Margins of 1 inch (2.5 cm) on the top, bottom, and sides of the page Because the committee will be reviewing potentially hundreds of essays, it is best to avoid well-worn phrases and quotations. Instead, stand out from the crowd by using your own words to express yourself and your fit for the award. Read your essay out loud. As you read, take a mental note of any passages that sound confusing or overly complex. Then, rewrite those passages and read the essay again. Notice any parts that could be more concise by cutting unnecessary words or phrases. Take time between drafts. For instance, give yourself at least an hour or even a day between drafts of the essay. No matter how confident you are in the quality of the essay, ask a friend or mentor to review it. They will almost certainly catch a few typos, unclear sections, and other issues that you’ll have missed.  Perhaps, for instance, a former teacher can give you helpful feedback. Print off your scholarship essay. With a colored pen or pencil, read each sentence and look for any typos or grammatical errors. Use spellcheck on your word processor. However, don’t rely on spellcheck alone, since it may miss some mistakes. Mail or email your essay to the address included in the scholarship application guidelines. Cross your fingers and wait for their response!  If you submit it early, it gives you more time to address any of their possible questions or concerns ahead of the deadline. Avoid submitting the essay too close to the deadline, since you could end up missing it.
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One-sentence summary -- Schedule your writing to meet the deadline. Outline your scholarship essay. Use personal examples to illustrate your main points. Follow the formatting guidelines. Avoid common sayings and clichés. Edit your scholarship essay for clarity and concision. Ask someone to read over your scholarship essay. Proofread your scholarship essay. Submit your essay to the committee.


The basic gravy recipe above tastes great on its own, but it's not the final word on hamburger gravy. For example, if you want to give your gravy a slightly more complex taste, try adding these dried herbs with the salt, pepper, etc. at the end of the recipe. The bitter aromatics of sage and the sweetness of basil pair well to make a gravy that's a little more filet mignon than hamburger. Bouillon is a common ingredient in gravy recipes. Its salty, meat-y flavor make for a mouthwatering gravy. To use bouillon, just stir it into the mixture along with the flour. Both beef and chicken bouillon make good choices. You can also use broth for a similar flavor. About one 14-ounce can of chicken or beef broth should be plenty. If you don't have any flour or you like a slightly thicker gravy, this is the way to go. However, since cornstarch can form unappetizing clumps if you add it directly to hot liquids, you need to prepare the recipe a little differently: While the beef cooks, combine the corn starch with the milk in a small bowl. You can also combine it with the broth if you're using it. Stir until well-combined. Add the liquid-cornstarch mixture gradually to the pan, stirring as you go. Steak sauce goes excellently with beef, so it only makes sense that it would go with hamburger gravy. The sour-savory taste of most steak sauces makes the perfect companion to the smooth taste of the basic gravy. Add your favorite steak sauce at the end of the recipe with the salt, pepper, etc. Barbecue sauce and hot sauce also work well here. Gravy is delicious, but it's not something that people usually associate with the word "spicy." If you have a bold palate, try adding red pepper flakes or cayenne to your gravy. The latter will give it a nice pinkish color in addition to plenty of heat. Don't forget to add gradually and taste the gravy often to avoid adding too much! Cutting down on the fat in your gravy is as simple as adding nonfat milk in place of 2% or whole milk in the recipe. Since nonfat milk is slightly more watery, you may need to heat the gravy for slightly longer to get the same thickness (or add a little extra flour/cornstarch). You can also use leaner grades of ground beef to reduce the fat in the dish even more.
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One-sentence summary --
Try seasoning with basil and sage. Add bouillon for savory flavor. Try thickening with cornstarch instead of flour. Add tangy steak sauce for a barbecue flavor. Heat the recipe up with red pepper. Use fat-free milk for a healthier alternative.