INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There’s a saying that “love is all you need”, but along with that, everyone needs respect. If there’s no respect, is there love? Often, respect is a two-way street; if it’s not given, it’s not received. Be sure to treat your partner with respect just as much as you want him or her to respect you. Most importantly, have respect for yourself. Treat yourself with respect and dignity. Don’t be in a relationship just because you’re lonely, and don’t let your partner walk all over you. For more information on how to respect yourself, check out How to Respect Yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in feelings, but it’s also important to think about your partner in terms of what kind of person he or she is. What are your partner’s values and personality traits? Think about how these things affect you and your relationship. If your partner treats friends and family in a way you dislike, it’s likely that you and your partner have different values in how to treat others. It may be difficult to come to an agreement on how to treat each other in a way that feels good to both of you. Think about what you value in a partner, or what you consider your “non-negotiables”. If you value having a very mutual relationship yet the current one seems off balance, ask yourself if that’s something you can compromise on or not.  Think of all the values you have in a partner and in a relationship, then compare them with your reality right now. What are you willing to compromise with, and what are not unwilling to put up with? It’s unlikely you will meet someone who meets all of your “criterias”, so be willing to compromise in certain areas.  Remember it’s up to you where you choose to compromise. Especially at the beginning of a relationship, it’s easy to mistake attraction and physical intimacy for love. It’s important to make the distinction between sex and love. Ask yourself about what the relationship fulfills for you, and what it fulfills for your partner. Make sure that you and your significant other are on the same page; if one of you thinks the relationship is casual and the other views it as serious, it’s likely you will treat each other differently and find unhappiness soon along the way. You may treat each other differently or expect treatment from the other based on your own expectations. Be clear on your intentions in the relationship with each other. If you are unclear about nature of the relationship, or you are unclear about how your partner’s feels, talk about it.

SUMMARY: Prioritize respect. Evaluate your partner. Reflect on your values. Remember that sex doesn’t equate to love. Assess compatibility.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Look at the bulbs on your strand of lights to be sure that each one is seated firmly into its plastic socket, as they sometimes come loose.  Focus first on looking at individual unlit bulbs, or the first and last bulbs in a section that is unlit, but you should check all bulbs for loose connections. Gently push a loose bulb down into the socket until its connecting edge appears flush with the socket or it clicks into place. Remove any bulb that you know for certain is dead, either because it is an isolated unlit bulb in a strand of otherwise functioning bulbs, or it is clearly shattered, burnt-looking, or otherwise discolored.  Gently remove a dead bulb by grasping it between two fingers and pulling it up out of the socket. Some bulbs may require you to twist the bulb before pulling up. Replace any individual dead bulb with a new one of equal size and wattage, placing it firmly down into the socket. If you have a section of unlit bulbs in the strand, use a bulb tester, found in stores where Christmas lights are sold, to determine which bulb is causing the problem.  Inexpensive bulb testers can be found as a plastic mold or pen-shaped tool powered by a 9-volt battery.  Start with the first and last bulbs in an entire strand that is unlit, or the first unlit bulb that follows a section of working bulbs. Follow the individual instructions provided with your bulb tester for proper use. Remove any bulb you discover to be dead and replace with one of equal size and wattage. Plug your strand back into a power source after you’ve replaced any bulbs found to be dead to determine if all bulbs are now lit. You may need to replace more than one bulb in a section of unlit ones. Continue to test all bulbs in an unlit section if replacing just one doesn’t solve the problem. At the end of the season, of after you’ve replaced bulbs, ensure that others are not broken or damaged by storing them where they will not be crushed or exposed to extreme temperatures.  When putting up or taking down lights, be sure not to pull too hard on the strand, or otherwise roughly handle the wires and bulbs in such a way that could damage them. Coil your light strands neatly around a piece of cardboard, a clothes hanger, or other sturdy object, then place them into a box where there will not be pressure placed on the bulbs or wires. Note that typical Christmas tree lights usually have a life of about 1,000-1,500 hours, or about one to three seasons of use (unless they are LED lights, in which case they can last much longer). Plan to replace light strands every few years rather than continuing to attempt bulb replacements beyond the strand’s expected lifespan.

SUMMARY:
Check first for loose connections. Replace dead bulbs. Test bulbs in a dead section. Test the strand after you’ve replaced bulbs. Continue to care for bulbs when stored.