Crushes are the stuff that dreams are made of and they reveal more about you than you may think. This is the effect of early adolescence, when young girls and boys begin to grow out of childhood.  For example:  When you see someone you like and your heart begins to beat faster or your palms may become sweaty, or it feels like butterflies are in your stomach, this is your body reacting to chemicals in your brain called dopamine. Also known as the "pleasure chemical."   You may think about your crush constantly. When you wake up, when you eat, and when you sleep they are on your mind. It will feel like you're dreaming. Do your best to not feel embarrassed by these side effects of liking someone. These are all natural chemical reactions in the body. Release yourself from the expectation of anything happening. Just relax in the feeling of liking the person. It may seem like a difficult thing to do. But it will free you from any outcome. These new feelings may seem overwhelming and having an outlet for them could help you make sense of them.  Write love notes to your crush or create a "Feelings Journal." Keep everything you write to yourself.   Make a playlist of songs that remind you of your crush. Play the songs when you can't see or talk to the person. Or you can save it for the special day when you do decide to reveal your feelings. Become a secret admirer of your crush. But don't stalk the person. For example:  Notice the little things about your crush. There are obvious things you like about your crush, like their beauty or sense of humor. But also, take the time to notice other things, people might overlook. Maybe they snort when they laugh or they have a small visible birthmark. Anything that makes them different, learn to appreciate it. Get to know your crush secretly. You can find out if they have social media accounts. What do they post about? If they post about a specific sports team or musician, do some research. Or maybe they like something you like too. It's solely up to you if you want anyone to know about your feelings. Be as private as you like. Here's how:  Remember, no one can read your mind. Don't worry, you have the choice of spilling your secret. And if anyone asks, you can deny or brush it off. If you've written about your feelings, keep it to yourself. Make sure what you've written is in a safe place where no one can find it. Try to act normal around the person you like. Don't bring any attention to your behavior. Remind yourself, they are a regular person, even if your mind tries to tell you otherwise.
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One-sentence summary -- Embrace the new feelings. Express your feelings creatively. Observe and admire your crush from afar. Keep your crush a secret.


Finger picks usually come in a small, medium, or large size. Wearing a finger pick that is too large or small can be uncomfortable and affect the way you play. It's ideal to go to a music store to try on the finger pick. If that's not an option, look for a sizing chart online. You should look for picks made for left hands if you are left-handed. Some finger picks are as cheap as a dollar, but some can be as expensive as $35. It may seem tempting to go for the expensive one to assure a great sound, but that is not always the case. Cheap picks can often be just as good as expensive finger picks. You may want to pay more if you'd prefer handcrafted metal finger picks. It's okay to use metal or plastic picks, but metal picks are ideal if you are going for a specific sound. A metal pick will help you produce a louder and more precise sound. Metal may also be more durable if you play hard and very often. Plastic is softer than metal, so naturally, it creates a softer sound with more ease than a metal pick would. Plastic is also a good idea if you plan to make adjustments to your finger pick because they are fairly malleable. It's also an option to combine plastic and metal fingers since people often wear three picks as they play. Thinner picks are great for beginner players because they are lighter. This is good for people that aren't used to having picks on their fingers. They are also good because they are more flexible than thicker picks, and flexibility makes it easier to play. Thin picks aren't just for beginners though. They are good for achieving a delicate sound in your music. Thick picks are great for more advanced players that feel confident with controlling their finger picks. They are also ideal for the faster strumming that is common with banjo playing. You can also use thicker picks if you want a heavier sound.
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One-sentence summary -- Wear the right size. Look at a variety of picks. Choose metal for a louder sound. Go for plastic if you want a softer sound. Use a thin finger pick at first. Wear a thicker pick for a fast playing style.


Hand gestures can be a way to add more force to what you're saying. These are often known as "illustrative gestures." It can be used to convey intensity, confidence, and even be used to garner attention to a point you're trying to make.  Use a solid shaking fist to knock home an extremely important point you're trying to make. Be careful to not use an irritated voice to accompany it or it can come off as anger. If you are giving a presentation, use your hand to highlight a particular paragraph or slide that contains important information. Pointing can be used to literally make a point , or to accompany something like, "This one's important," or "Let me tell you." It can also be used as playful gesture to acknowledge someone. Be careful about pointing directly at someone, though, as this can come off as rude or even aggressive.  Make sure your hand gestures match up to your speech. Do not try to add emphasis to a point that is not worth emphasizing, or add force to a point that is not meant to be forceful. Whether you're speaking in front of a large group of people or one individual, hands facing up usually invite positive responses from people. Combined with an outstretching of your arms, it can communicate effectiveness, acceptance, and trustworthiness.  If you use this gesture with a shrugging of the shoulders it can give off a feeling of uncertainty, so you will also want to monitor other parts of your body, too. Palms down typically gives others a feeling of confidence because they give you an aura of confidence or even dominance. Much like hands up front can show defensiveness, hands behind the back with an exposed torso shows confidence. This is especially an effective hand gesture if you are walking side-by-side with someone and communicating with them. This demonstrates that you are open to making yourself vulnerable, and not worried about protecting yourself with your hands. This gesture is especially useful to gain someone's trust.
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One-sentence summary --
Use hand gestures to add emphasis to speech. Use open hands and palms up for a positive effect. Keep hands behind your back to show confidence.