Q: Whether your relationship is just starting out or you’ve been together a while, it’s always important to talk to each other. Get to know one another through conversation. Ask about their day, or what’s on their mind. Tell them about what’s bothering you and confide in them. The most basic communication is necessary and effective in strengthening your bond with your partner. If you feel like there’s distance between you and your partner, let them know. Talking to them about how you’re feeling can help bridge the gap. Say something like, “I feel like we aren’t as close as we used to be. What can we do to fix this?” Even if you feel like you already know everything about your partner, there is always more to learn. Ask them about their dreams, goals, and ideas. Listen intently and respond thoughtfully. Ask them how they feel about your relationship, and if they think there is any area that could use some work. By asking them meaningful, important questions, you will not only show them you care enough to learn more about them and their thoughts, but you will also be working on strengthening your relationship. Some other questions you might consider are: what traits do you value most in a partner? When was the last time you felt really disappointed? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years? What’s something that always makes you happy? It’s important to talk about your everyday lives with one another, but it’s also important to go deeper than that in your conversations. Try to set aside time each day to have a real, meaningful conversation with your partner. Maybe there is something on your mind that you need to discuss, or maybe your partner has been under some stress at work and might want to unload. Keep that space open for real conversation, and make it a point to engage with one another on that level as often as possible. Try talking about your feelings, either for one another or in general. Having emotional discussions can lead to a sense of vulnerability and trust, which can bring you closer together. Use text messages or sticky notes to leave one another little love notes now and then. Randomly letting your partner know you care can make them feel special and important. Love notes are a simple, sweet way to remind your partner of your feelings for them. No matter how much time goes by in a relationship, it’s important not to let one another forget how you feel for each other. Losing sight of the feelings that made you fall for each other in the first place can sometimes make you feel distant. Despite myths that couples’ therapy is ineffective, it can actually be a great tool for strengthening your relationship. Find a provider in your area, or through your insurance network if you’re covered. However, make sure you have a serious discussion about seeking therapy beforehand, and that both of you are on board. Take some time to discuss what you would both like in a therapist as well. For example, do you feel more comfortable with a man or a woman? Do you want to do sessions together or separately? Make a list of what you both want. As partners, you probably have at least a few things that you both worry about or get joy from. Whether it’s parenting, work, extended families, or finances, there are probably things you could spend time discussing together. Having someone to share in those emotions with you is a great way to feel closer by sharing a common ground. You don’t need to worry, or even be happy, alone. Your partner is there to go through those things with you. Try your best not to distance yourself from them. Instead, work to include them.
A: Talk to one another. Ask important questions. Have deeper, more meaningful discussions. Leave each other love notes. Consider seeking the help of a therapist. Share in your worries and joys.

Q: To be sure you aren't ingesting any dirt or pesticides, always wash produce before you prepare it. If the lettuce is marked “ready-to-eat,” the FDA has certified that it is clean and can be eaten as it is, but some experts recommend washing it again when you get home.  Remove the outer layers of leaves, until you get to a layer where you can't see any visible dirt or wilted edges. Grasp the entire head of lettuce and run it under running water. Gently scrub the exterior of the lettuce with your fingers to remove any traces of dirt or pesticides. Do not soak your lettuce in a sink filled with water – this will not remove the dirt. The stalk of the lettuce tends to be tough and can have a bitter taste. Remove the pale, hard tip of the head and discard it. Also discard any of the outer leaves that appear wilted or discolored. Put the lettuce on a clean chopping board and use a sharp kitchen knife to cut the head in half, through the root (or stalk). A classic chef's knife with an 8 to 10 inch (20 – 25 cm) blade is recommended for chopping lettuce and most other vegetables. Set each half of the lettuce, cut side down, on the cutting board. Slice each half in half, through the root (stalk). Place the lettuce quarter-section on the cutting board with the outer leaves against the board and the cut edges facing up.  Position the knife at the far, right edge of the lettuce and begin cutting with a back and forth sawing motion until you reach the cutting board. Move over approximately 1/4-inch and begin sawing again. The last piece of the head segment may be too small to slice safely. Reposition the small piece on the cutting board so that it lays flat, and finish slicing. Move onto the other half of the lettuce if a lot of shredded lettuce is desired. Slice only what you will need for your meal, and return the remaining uncut portions of lettuce to the refrigerator. Shredded lettuce will brown and wilt more quickly than lettuce that is left intact.
A: Wash the lettuce. Remove the tip of the lettuce head. Cut the head of lettuce in half. Cut the head into quarters. Shred the quarter head into thin slices. Shred another quarter, if needed.

Q: Look carefully at the screen once more to see whether it's clean or still looks clogged and covered in dirt. If it's good to go, you can put it back in your pipe. If not, you'll need to soak the screen.
A: Inspect the screen again.

Q: You want your summary to be short and concise while still conveying the ideas in the article. Compare your summary to the length of the original article. If it’s longer than 1/3 of the article’s length, revise the summary to cut it down. Similarly, add more detail if your summary is too short. Your summary doesn’t need to be exact in length. As long as it’s about 1/3 of the article’s length, it should be sufficient. Author tags remind the reader that the ideas you’re presenting belong to the original author. This helps you avoid accidentally plagiarizing the author’s ideas. Each time you state an idea or supporting detail from the article, use an author tag to show that the idea belongs to the original author. You’d write, "Lopez believes," "Lopez finds that," and "Lopez argues." It’s also okay to use pronouns. You might write, “She goes on to say,” “She further asserts,” or “She refutes this idea.” The purpose of a summary is to present the article ideas in your own words. If you use direct quotes, you aren’t summarizing. Rewrite all of the ideas in your own words.
A:
Make sure your summary is about 1/3 of the length of the article. Use author tags to attribute the ideas to the original author. Avoid using direct quotations because they aren’t in your words.