INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Learning to pinpoint and name your emotions can give you control over them when you feel like they’re running wild. Take a few deep breaths, then force yourself to look straight at the things you’re feeling, even if it’s painful. Then, ask yourself what the source of that emotion is, and if it’s covering up for something else that you’re afraid to confront.  For example, ask yourself what about taking a major exam is making you so stressed. It might have a big influence on your future, or you feel like you have to do well to impress your family. At the root of your nerves might be a fear that your family’s love depends on your success. Naming your emotions is actually a skill you may not have learned. Fortunately, you can use exercises from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help yourself learn to name your emotions. Here's a great exercise to try: https://www.dbtselfhelp.com/What_Skills.pdf  Remember that no emotion is “wrong.” Telling yourself not to feel something is a way of hurting yourself even more. Instead, notice the emotion without passing judgment. Accept that the emotion is natural and let yourself feel it. Imagine your emotion as a character who holds that emotion. Then, trace the emotion back to its root cause. Identifying and naming the true feelings behind your emotional turmoil gives you control over them. Now that you can identify the emotion for what it is, you know that it’s just a feeling, and that it doesn’t have to have any real power over you. Bottling up or ignoring your emotions will not make them go away. They will bubble up and resurface later, so it's important that you let yourself feel your emotions. However, you don't have to ruminate on them. Instead, set aside a block of time, such as 15-30 minutes to get out your emotion.  For example, you might call a friend to vent or write out your thoughts in a journal. If you're feeling upset, you might take a moment alone to cry. If you feel the emotion in your body, such as with anger, stress, or envy, you might need to do something physical to work it out. You might go for a short walk or do yoga poses. Sometimes, you may feel out of control emotionally because you can’t see how to control the situation around you. This can lead to “ruminating,” a “broken record” thought loop where you obsess about the negative thought or feeling in an unproductive, usually vague, way. Break this cycle by focusing on any specifics of the situation that you can address.  Instead of ruminating about trouble at work by thinking, “Why am I so bad at my job?”, make a list of things that you can address. You might talk with your boss about how to increase your productivity, ask someone more experienced for help, or start trying different stress-management techniques. Work to accept the things that your own efforts can’t address. Letting go of the idea that you need to “fix” or “control” every element of a situation is a way to liberate yourself from stress and emotional turmoil. When you’re ready to decide on a course of action, make sure it’s a conscious choice, not a reaction to another, competing emotion. Think about how you want to resolve this situation and why. What values of yours does this response represent? Does it make sense rationally, too?  Think about what your moral principles are. What do you want the outcome of this situation to be? What is the decision you'd be most proud of? Then, ask yourself which course of action is the most likely to result in the outcome you want. For example, if someone insults you, you could do nothing, respond aggressively, or firmly tell them to stop. Ask yourself how you want this situation to end, and how to get there without compromising the things you believe in.

SUMMARY: Identify what your actual emotions are. Give yourself permission to work through the emotion. Think about what you can do to resolve the situation. Decide how to move forward in the best way you can.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: These chemicals are sprayed on the surface of the yard, but when it rains they leach deep into the ground and get into the groundwater below. Contaminated groundwater can have a negative effect on the environment as well as the people who depend on it. Switch to natural methods for getting rid of pests and weeds.  Look into organic gardening practices to find creative ways to deal with garden pests. For example, many pests can be dealt with using a simple solution of dish soap and water. Planting native species can also help, since native species have developed a resistance to the pests and weeds in the area. Species native to other lands are more susceptible to disease as well. When a house is surrounded by concrete patios and other surfaces, chemicals pool and runoff leaches into the groundwater instead of getting evenly distributed staying closer to the surface. It might be tempting to pave over your yard so you don't have to deal with mowing the lawn, but keeping a yard is much better for the environment. . When soil gets eroded and ends up in streams, rivers and other waterways, chemicals that exist in soil mix with the water and create problems for plant and animal life. For example, when phosphorus levels get too high in a body of water, they lead to algae blooms that can kill fish populations. The best way to prevent erosion is to keep the soil in place by planting plenty of native trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcover. The plants' roots hold the soil in place and keep it from falling into the water. Yard waste that sits around can easily wash into storm drains when it rains. Even if the waste doesn't contain chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides, the introduction of large quantities of sticks, leaves, and grass clippings can overwhelm waterways with unhealthy quantities of nutrients.  Your compost should be contained in a bin or barrel to prevent the materials from being washed away. Some municipalities provide these for free or at low cost. Use a mulching mower instead of bagging grass clippings. Mulching mowers add a natural layer of compost to your lawn and you don't have to deal with disposal of grass clippings. Dispose of yard waste and grass clippings properly. If you don't compost or if you have yard waste that you can't compost, contact your local waste management or environmental protection agency to determine how to dispose them. If your car leaks oil and other chemicals, they can leach into the groundwater beneath the soil. Get your car regularly tuned up and make sure to repair any leaks as soon as they occur. In addition, don't forget to dispose of motor oil properly instead of washing it down the drain.

SUMMARY: Don't use pesticides and herbicides. Remove concrete surfaces and replace them with groundcover.  Prevent soil erosion from occurring Contain and compost yard waste. Keep your car in good repair.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Some experts advise using sexual positions that encourage deep penetration, such as a rear-entry position, when trying to conceive a boy. The logic behind this is that ejaculating during deep-penetration sex places the sperm as close as possible to the cervix, giving the fast-moving male sperm an advantage. With shallow penetration, sperm may be deposited farther from the cervix, which means that the more durable female sperm (which can survive longer in the vagina) may have the advantage. Male sperm, which are more fragile than female sperm, tend to die faster in the acidic environment inside the vagina. Giving the female partner an orgasm can improve the chances of the male sperm because during female orgasm, extra cervical fluid is released. This makes the environment more hospitable to male sperm, increasing the chances that they make it to the egg alive. There are also claims that the orgasmic contractions can help push the sperm into the cervix faster. Just remember, these aren’t proven by science. Some research suggests that the older the parents are, the higher the chances are of having a girl. Therefore, if you're trying for a boy, it might be best to start early. The chances are highest for a woman to conceive a boy before age 30. It's age 35 for men.

SUMMARY:
Have sex in a rear entry position. Try for a female orgasm. Consider having a baby before your reach 30 or 35.