Summarize the following:
You experience many benefits from gratitude, like bettering your physical and mental health. But you might not know that gratitude also reduces aggression and strengthens empathy.  Your partner will likely interpret as an expression of love. Some people have a tendency to keep thoughts to themselves and to build relationships while working on tasks, which can be interpreted as coldness. Even if you don't agree with what is being said, acknowledge it and respond appropriately. A text, phone call, or email might be the easiest way of getting in touch with your girlfriend, but taking the time to pen a letter yourself and either mailing it or delivering it shows your girlfriend she's worth the time to do something nice. Use your own words to come up with a unique message that conveys just how much you love your girlfriend. Vocalizing your feelings can help you manage and enrich those feelings. Try starting with:  "It's hard for me to say sometimes because I feel it so strongly, but I love you more than anything." "There is nothing better than having you in my arms." "Whenever I see you, I..." Negative surprises have a measurable effect on satisfaction. Prevent negative surprises for your girlfriend to maintain a higher level of satisfaction. Conversely, positive surprises will give your girlfriend a higher sense of satisfaction. If your girlfriend articulates a need to continue a conversation even if it is unpleasant for you, take note of her emotional need. In the event that you are unable to calmly carry out the conversation, voice your own feelings while acknowledging her own. It can be easy to take for granted something you know absolutely to be true, like your love for your girlfriend. Reawaken yourself to this truth by reminding her frequently. Look her in the eyes, or wait for an unexpected moment, like when the lights dim before a movie plays in the theater, and whisper, "I love you." The very act of asking this question to your girlfriend will signal to her that her happiness is important to you. Showing you care for her emotional well-being is a powerful indicator of love. You might ask:  "What are your guilty pleasures?" This can be useful down the road when she's unhappy or when you want to give her a small surprise. "If you could ... in the world, what would you...?" This pattern is great for making future plans. You can kill an afternoon talking about exotic places or things you've always wanted to eat, then use this later when planning a trip or gift. Talk to her and sincerely ask her how she feels. Women frequently communicate by sharing personal details and feelings of vulnerability. Respond in kind to communicate your own feelings more clearly to her. Remove, "What's up?" from your vocabulary. Ask direct questions, "How was your morning? What did you have for lunch? Was it good?" Respond to her answer with your own opinions and observations. Even if you don't know what to tell her, a hug or a shoulder to cry on can be enough. Though being around an emotional person can be difficult, by staying with your girlfriend through the ordeal, you demonstrate your dependability. It's important to let her know that:  "Everything's going to be OK." "Sometimes I feel the same way." "I'm here for you." Comparisons are a natural part of human communication, but by comparing your girlfriend to your ex you may accidentally make her feel like she's in competition with a previous girlfriend. Research has shown that closeness and affection in a relationship are influenced when you make comparisons to a prior partner.

summary: Show gratitude. Respond, even when you don't reciprocate. Write a note or letter. Put your feelings into words. Call her back, always, even if it's just to say "I love you". Be emotionally respectful during arguments. Tell her how much you love her. Ask what she enjoys and what you can do to make her happier. Make her feel important. Listen to her and try your best to comfort her when upset. Do not compare her with your previous partners.


Summarize the following:
Create flashcards with the Pinyin on one side and an image of the object or person it represents on the other side. Practice with the flashcards so you can memorize the correct Pinyin for the object or person. Say the Chinese word or phrase aloud so you can remember it. Quiz yourself with the flashcards or ask a friend to quiz you. Add more challenging words and phrases to the flashcards as your Chinese improves. Chinese music and songs are another great audio resource you can use to improve your Chinese fast. Tune in to Chinese radio stations and keep it on in the background so you can sing along to Chinese words and phrases. Listen to the lyrics in the songs to get better at your pronunciation and tones. You can also find CDs or music online by Chinese artists and listen to it to help you learn the language. Set aside time once a day to watch a movie in Chinese or a television show. Listen to how the words are spoken in conversation. Note the tones used as well as the phrasing. Stick to watching one television show at a time. Watch movies featuring the same actors or actresses so their dialogue becomes familiar to you.  Try watching a Chinese anime for simple dialogue and vocabulary. Challenge yourself to watch a Chinese soap opera or a movie with a lot of dialogue for more difficult conversation. Look for Chinese movies and television shows at your local library or online. There are many apps you can download onto your smartphone, tablet, or computer to help you improve your pronunciation and tones. Look for apps that focus on basic nouns and verbs or getting better at Pinyin. Use the app during your study sessions to look up the pronunciation of a word and improve your tones when you are practicing conversational Chinese. You can also use apps to help you learn how to write Chinese characters. Apps like Skitter, FluentU, Chinese Pod, and The Chairman’s Bao are all good options.

summary: Use flashcards with images and Pinyin. Listen to Chinese radio stations. Watch Chinese movies and television shows. Use a Chinese language app.


Summarize the following:
If you're traveling alone, you're often an easier target than with a group of friends or relatives.  Groups of teens often are more inclined to act out when in a group.  Their group is their security, and they may want to show-off in front of their peers.  Find ways to travel more often with someone you trust, particularly at night or in areas where you know there's been trouble. While this may not come easily, it's important to see that increasing your self-esteem will allow you to act and behavior more assertively.  Try to dress and do things that don't draw attention to yourself in a way that may lead to ridicule.  Bullies often find ways to make others feel more vulnerable, so blending in may be helpful. By participating in a class, the act of taking action will lead to greater self-esteem, and in turn a greater sense of strength.  Most martial artists will tell you that the first day you start a martial arts class is ironically the last time you ever fight. With the use of discipline as taught in martial arts, the ability to walk on past a group of bullying teens will seem much less intimidating. If there's a group of teens who aren't actively provoking you, but just acting a little suspicious, try breaking the ice.  Consider having a brief but positive conversation with them, rather than assuming it will be negative.  Sometimes loitering teens just want to have a purpose, particularly if they're hanging out in the same spot regularly.  Consider engaging them in a useful way, like being a look-out for other suspicious activity. Or just simply introduce yourself and make small talk. See if being "neighborly" reduces the negativity.
summary: Travel in groups of two or more. Dress and act with confidence. Learn self-defense such as martial arts, or take a self-defense class. Try having a positive interaction with them.