INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Place pine cones throughout the tree.  Mix bird ornaments in with fake leaves. White lights are best for this natural look. Mix glass and plastic ornaments alongside white lights for a tree that could rival the White House's own. To get even more patriotic, hang red, white, and blue lights on your tree.

SUMMARY: Create a nature-inspired look with rustic metal or glass ornaments. Hang red, white, and blue ornaments for a patriotic look.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Just being around someone with higher self-esteem may help someone who is suffering from a lack of confidence.  If you take opportunities to communicate your own self-perception, you can model healthy emotional well-being. People with low self-esteem often hesitate to take risks or make goals because of a fear of failure.  By making goals and taking risks yourself, you can show a healthy approach for life.  Additionally, showing that failures are not disasters will help show that one can recover from setbacks. If possible, talk through your thought process with the person with low self-esteem.  You may want to emphasize:  What goal you are setting and why. (I want to run a 5K so I increase physical fitness.) What you will do when you achieve the goal. (When I finish that race, maybe I will think about running a half-marathon). How you will feel if you do not achieve it.  What happens if I do my best and give it a shot and it does not work out? (I would be disappointed if I do not finish the race, but there is always another race. Besides, my real goal is to be more physically fit. If I am healthier, I am a winner. If running does not work out, there are other fitness activities I could try.) The possible outcomes of taking a risk. (I could get thinner. I could hurt my knees. I might look ridiculous in the gym. I may feel better. Maybe I will really like this.) How you will feel with the different outcomes. (I would be really happy to succeed, and feel more confident about myself. Injury would be bad, though. I hate feeling out of place, too.) We all live with our own inner voices, and it’s difficult to know that your voice is abnormal if you have nothing to compare it to.  Talking to someone with low self-esteem about the way you talk to and think about yourself can help him understand a more positive inner voice.  Emphasize that even when things do not work out as you had hoped, you do not blame or berate yourself. Communicate that you do not assume that other people are judging or thinking bad things about you in their minds. Explain how you praise yourself for your accomplishments, and that being proud of yourself doesn’t mean being arrogant. Model an inner voice that actually shows the support that you would give a dear friend, not the abuse that you wouldn’t wish on anyone. To someone with low self-esteem, a person who has confidence may seem perfect.  People with low self-esteem are often extremely self-critical, and when they compare themselves to others, they compare what they view as the worst parts of themselves with the best parts of others.  Explaining that you are not—and you do not want to be—perfect, and that you love yourself anyway can go a long way to help someone with low self-esteem. Use your words and actions to let the other person know that you accept yourself for who you are.  Even if you have goals or ambitions, you are content with who you are now. Try using positive phrases such as “I am good at…” “I hope to continue to grow in…” “I embrace my…” and “I feel good when I…” Communicating to someone with low self-esteem that you have areas you'd like to improve that you do not necessarily view as weaknesses can help him understand a healthier way to assess himself.  Whereas someone with low self-esteem may think, “I am a failure because I haven’t found a job,” you can model a better approach by saying, “I am a great employee, and am working towards finding a job that is the right fit for me.” Instead of expressing something like, “I am hopelessly disorganized,” you can say, “I am better at the ‘big picture’ ideas than the details, but I am working on becoming more organized and attentive to detail.”

SUMMARY: Spend time with your friend with low self-esteem. Model setting goals, taking risks, and resiliency . Express your inner voice. Explain that you are not perfect. Show that you accept yourself. Explain your personal goal setting.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The bat will eventually get tired of flying around, so close the doors to keep it in one room and wait for it to land, keeping your eyes on it at all times. It will probably aim for a place where it can hang, such as behind curtains or upholstered furniture, on clothes that are hanging up, or even in house plants.  Stay quiet and still while you wait for the bat to land. This will help it calm down more quickly. Don't try to catch the bat in mid-air. It's almost impossible, and will only panic the bat more. The bat doesn't want to touch you, so stay calm if it accidentally bumps into you. It will flit away as soon as it can. Once the bat has landed, carefully and quietly place a plastic tub, bucket, or similar container over it. This will prevent the bat from flying away while you work to remove it.  Make sure the tub or bucket is large enough to comfortably fit the bat, so you don't accidentally injure it in the process. For best results, use a clear tub or bucket so you can see the bat as you trap and transport it. Work a piece of cardboard or stiff paper under the bucket to completely cover the opening. Keep the container as close to the wall or surface as possible, and be careful not to pinch the bat as you trap it inside. You can also use the lid of the bucket or tub (if it has one). To catch the bat with your hands, approach it slowly and quietly, then reach down and smoothly pick it up in both of your hands, keeping a firm but gentle hold on it.  Try to hold it so that its head is facing out, near the tips of your fingers, so you can keep the most pressure on its body. If the bat bites you, or if you get bat saliva in your eyes, nose, or mouth, seek medical attention immediately, since bats carry rabies. Quickly and carefully take the bucket outside to a nearby tree. Tilt it against the tree trunk and, holding the container at arms-length, carefully remove the cardboard to let the bat hop out.  If you used your hands, hold the bat up against the tree trunk at arms-length. Carefully loosen your grip and let it hop out onto the tree. Bats typically can't take flight from the ground, so releasing it onto a tree will help it to escape more easily. This is especially important for a bat that's stressed and fatigued from flying around your house. Check common bat entry points around your house, such as chimneys or openings that lead to attics or cellars. Seal them up as best you can, or hire a contractor to do so, to prevent another bat from getting into your house. Bats can enter or hide in any space that's big enough for 2 of your fingers.

SUMMARY:
Close the doors and wait until the bat lands if it's flying around. Place a tub or bucket over the bat. Slide a piece of cardboard over the top of the bucket to trap it. Scoop it up with your hands if you don't have a bucket. Take the bat outside and release it onto a tree. Seal up any potential entries once it's gone.