Many societies prioritize and even celebrate marriage as the ultimate achievement for women.  From a young age, society tells women that they should grow up, find a partner, get married and then they’ll be happy.  This might not be the right path for you, though, and that’s perfectly alright.  You can find examples of social expectations everywhere, from commercials for cleaning products to reality television shows to print magazine ads for wedding dresses and engagement rings. Nowadays, marriage is usually seen as a union founded on love and mutual affection, versus a financial or security arrangement between two families.  Remind critics that a woman doesn’t need to be married to be secure or successful anymore.  If being a single woman is frowned upon in your culture, ask your family to explain their concerns, and be prepared that you may ultimately disagree on what is right for you – and that’s okay. Your family’s cultural background might place an extraordinary emphasis on you getting married.  If your family routinely asks you when you’re going to settle down, or offers to set you up with someone, remember these cultural motivations before you get too upset with their persistence.  Bearing these expectations in mind will help you best determine how to respond to your family.   Remember, too, that you might be the first woman in your family to voluntarily remain single and succeed at being independent and happy, which is a foreign idea to some. Understand that there will always be neigh-sayers who cannot accept that you’re not actively working on finding a future spouse.  They will typically ask questions like, “did you give up on love?” or “don’t you want to be happy?” or even, “what’s so wrong about wanting to be close to someone?” These questions usually come from a good place, with the questioner just not understanding how you could be happy without a partner.  Preparing stock answers to this line of questioning will alleviate stress for you, and ensure that you respond with a concise, direct answer that ends the line of questioning. For example, if someone asks, “don’t you want to be happy?” you could respond with, “I certainly do, which is why I’m focusing on myself and my happiness.  I am happily, voluntarily, single, am quite fulfilled, and am not looking for a relationship.  I really appreciate you thinking of my happiness.” Another option is to say, “I am no more unhappy with being single than you are with being married.”

Summary: Challenge social expectations. Defy cultural expectations. Familiarize yourself with the typical conversation.


The HVLP, like the Airless Spray Gun, consists of a paint reservoir, a hose, compressor, and gun with a variety of tips.. The high volume (HV) in the sprayer applies more paint, and it does so at low pressure (LP), thereby, reducing overspray.

Summary: Use an HVLP sprayer for surfaces where it is important to avoid streaks. Test sprayer on piece of wood or cardboard to practice sweeping motion and determine most effective tip. Paint surface with sweeping motions that overlap last sweep by 50%. Clean sprayer by flushing with lightly soaped water.


Wooden or foam rollers can help work out tightness in your foot or deepen a massage. You can manually rub the roller against your foot, or you can place it on the ground and rub your foot over it. Wooden rollers are often made small just for feet. You can even find some that rest on the floor so that you can easily rub your foot against them. Foam rollers can also be laid on the floor under your foot so that you can rub your foot over it. Sit up straight with your legs outstretched. Loop a long towel or strap around your foot. While keeping your knee straight, gently pull your toes toward your torso. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, switch feet, and do a total of 5 reps per foot. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent at 90 degree angles. Cross your legs by bringing your right foot to the opposite knee. Rest the foot on your knee so your toes point forward.  Use your right hand to gently pull your right toes toward your right shin. As you stretch, use your left thumb to gently rub the your right foot’s plantar fascia, which feels firm and taut, like a guitar string. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, switch legs, and to a total of 5 reps for each foot. While standing, lean toward a wall and place your palms against it with your elbows outstretched (but not locked). Extend your left leg behind you so it’s straight with your heel flat on the floor. Your right knee should be slightly bent. You should feel a stretch in your left calf and heel chord. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, switch legs, and do 5 reps total per leg. Don't bounce in and out of a stretch, and don’t push your body past your normal range of motion. Breathe in as you move into a stretch, then exhale as you stretch. Never hold your breath as you stretch.

Summary: Loosen your foot using a wooden or foam roller. Stretch your plantar fascia with a towel or strap. Cross your legs and stretch your plantar fascia with your hands. Do calf stretches. Hold a stretch steadily and remember to breathe.


Writing a person's name down is a visual cue that can help increase your recall. When someone tells you their name, immediately take the time to write it down. You can jot it down in a notepad, for instance, or even just a napkin. You may not have time to write the name down right away. Just be sure to stop and take a moment as soon as you can to write down names. Another visual cue that can help you remember later is to make notes about the person under the person's name. Maybe the mentioned their family or where they like to go for coffee. Maybe they mentioned a pastime or a hobby. Jotting these things down can help clue you in later, and serve as a visual reminder. While just looking at a name won't help you remember as well as writing the name, seeing the name can help. When they hand you the card, be sure to study the name for a second to cement it in your brain. Plus, a business card can serve as a reminder later if you forget. Another visual cue you can use is to type their name and number into your phone. Ask them to spell out their name. That way, you're getting the exact spelling, as well as stomping it into your memory. Another option is to have them type it in, so that you get the exact spelling. Then you can look the person up on social media later.
Summary: Jot the person's name down. Write down some notes about the person. Request a business card. Type the name in your phone.