Your life is exactly that: your life. You should be living your life and doing things so that you are happy, not to please anyone else. There is a saying that you can’t please everybody and it is absolutely true, so don’t expect or try to make everyone happy all the time. The best you can do is make yourself happy and try to live according to what you believe is right and good. Most importantly, you will develop the greatest sense of self-worth when you stop trying to please the “popular” crowd and start trying to please yourself. If pleasing yourself means that you want to have a lot of friends, then do things that make other people want to be friends with you by accomplishing great things and being a wonderful person. Don’t try to make friends by wearing the right clothes or getting into trouble. People that spend time with you for these reasons aren’t really your friends and will only end up hurting you in the long run. Be you, don’t be someone else. Instead of going with the crowd and wearing all the popular brands, develop a unique sense of style. This will make you stand out and give you confidence by giving you something to identify with. Be sure that this style is one that means something to you and that you feel communicates something about who you are as a person. Style inspirations include: 1920-40s “dapper” look, 1980s punk, Japanese street fashion, or early 1990s grunge. Any style or image which speaks to you is great! Figure out who you are and what makes you happy by exploring things you care about or find interesting. Do you think parkour looks cool? Do it! Have you always wanted to learn how to dance? Do it! The only thing barring you from pursuing things that you’re passionate about is you. Many high schools have clubs which will give you the chance to try out new sports, games, arts and other activities. Local community colleges or universities will also have clubs which teens may be able to participate in if they ask very nicely and pay a small fee. The best way to deal with the harder aspects of life is to have great friends. Great friends remind you how fun and wonderful you really are. To keep your self-esteem high, find friends who understand and like you for who you really are.  Good friends should like a lot of the same things as you and have some of the same goals in life. This will make sure that you connect on a deeper level and will help you motivate each other throughout your friendship. It’s okay if your friends don’t like all of the same things that you do, however. Some differences are good and will allow you to open up your mind to new possibilities.  Don’t be friends with people who drag you down. Anyone who makes your life worse isn’t really your friend. If they make you feel bad about yourself or they want you to do bad things, then you shouldn’t be friends with them. Friends should bring out the best in us, not the worst! Don’t just let people push you around. Don’t just give in to the desires of everyone around you. It’s good to try to make people happy and it’s good not to be self-centered, but you need to focus on you and being your own person. Being assertive, standing up for what’s right for you, will do a lot for your self-confidence and self-esteem. If you are having a conversation with your friends or classmates, give your opinion. Ask for things that you need. Say “no” when you need or want to say “no”. And most importantly: don’t feel guilty when you do these things!

Summary: Don’t live to please others. Develop a sense of style. Explore your passions. Find people who understand you. Be assertive.


Emotional abuse, also known as “psychological abuse,” is any act of verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, isolation, or confinement that diminishes someone’s self-worth or dignity. It can take many forms and can exist in every relationship, whether familial, intimate, or work-related. Emotional abuse, like physical abuse, develops in cycles: the abuse builds as the abuser tries to establish dominance, then the abuser expresses remorse and life returns to normal. However, the cycle will start up again, often with the abuser acting in a more extreme manner. Any act that diminishes your sense of self-worth can be abusive. Common abusive acts include:  swearing or yelling name calling, mocking, and insults verbal or physical threats or intimidation isolation or excluding someone Emotional abuse can be every bit as damaging as physical violence in a relationship. Emotional abuse begins to take its toll on your self-esteem, happiness, and even your physical health. Common signs of emotional abuse in romantic relationships include:  The abuser criticizes, judges, or humiliates you. The abuser dominates or controls you. The abuser focuses on blame and accusation. You are the victim of emotional distancing. Children can be abused emotionally, not just physically. Although children may lack the words to tell someone that they are being emotionally abused, there are common warning signs:  The child withdraws socially. The child loses self-confidence or suffers a decline in school performance. The child is desperate for approval and affection. The child suffers repeat ailments like stomachaches or headaches that do not have a medical cause. The elderly can also be abused emotionally. In the United States, over half a million cases of elder abuse are reported each year. Elder abuse can be perpetrated by anyone who cares for the elderly, whether a family member or a professional. There are many symptoms of emotional abuse in the elderly:  They often suffer from hopelessness or low self-esteem. They become shy and withdrawn. They experience sudden changes in sleeping or eating habits. They express a desire to hurt themselves or someone else. Workplace bullying is a serious problem. It is not limited to supervisors bullying subordinates. In fact, almost anyone can become the victim of bullying in the workplace. Some tension is common in most workplaces, but you may be the victim of bullying if:  You obsess about work while at home and have trouble sleeping at night. You come home from work lifeless and without any emotional energy. You are afraid to admit to loved ones that you are being bullied and may even suspect that you brought the abuse on yourself. You are isolated by other employees, some of whom are afraid to work with you. Nothing you do is good enough for your boss, and your boss expects perfect performance without offering adequate training or supervision.

Summary: Define emotional abuse. Identify common abusive acts. Check for abuse in romantic relationships. Identify child abuse and neglect. Understand elder abuse. Recognize emotional abuse in the workplace.


Add the ginger, pepper flakes, and garlic, and cook for about one minute, stirring occasionally. Mix well. Spoon this mixture into the pot and mix well. Break the angel hair pasta in half and add it to the pot. Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 4-5 minutes. The pasta should be cooked al dente and the carrots slightly tender. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp is pink and opaque. Stir in the lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with green onions and serve hot.

Summary: Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the coconut milk, carrots, and 3 cups of water to the saucepan. Combine the cornstarch and two tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Bring the ingredients in the saucepan to a boil. Add the shrimp to the pot. Remove the pot from heat.


Using a large mixing bowl, mix together the following 5 ingredients. You may also substitute any flavor of cake mix or vodka. You may also completely omit the vodka and add additional milk.  ½ cup (125 ml) sweetened condensed milk ¼ cup (60 ml) yellow cake mix 3 Tbsp (45 ml) cake flavored vodka 2 Tbsp (30 ml) milk 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla Gather about 8 cups (half a gallon) of fresh snow and mix it in immediately with the cake batter mixture. Time is crucial as you do not want the snow to melt. Mix until you have your desired consistency of ice cream. Whether you enjoy peanuts or cherries, add whatever you desire. Cover the ice cream once mixed and place it in outside or your freezer as it may be fairly soft. The longer you freeze, the harder consistency.
Summary: Prepare your ingredients. Mix in the snow. Top with your favorite ice cream toppings. Freeze in a covered container.