. It's hard to be original when you're texting, so the person you want to flirt with will be even more impressed when you're able to pull it off. When you pull out your phone to text that special person in your life, you should try to think of something no one else but you could say. This will pique the interest of your crush and will make him more likely to respond to you right away.  Make your crush laugh. Start off with a short funny statement about something you both saw recently, or referencing a previous conversation.  Make a clever observation. Your crush will certainly respond to that. Flirting with your wit is a great tactic. Be original. Write something that no one can say but you. An open question is one the other person cannot answer by just saying yes or no. Asking an open question is a great way to impress and flirt with your crush because it shows that you're not texting just because you feel like it, but because you want to keep a conversation going and care what your crush thinks. Here are some great things to keep in mind when you ask questions:  Keep it simple. Just ask about something that happened during that person's day or week, like how her friend's birthday party went or if her mini-vacation was as fun as she had hoped. Ask lots of open-ended questions. Don't just ask a question that can be answered with a simple "yes" or a "pretty good." Give your crush room to elaborate and to ask you something back. Don't be too open-ended. Don't ask a deep philosophical question that your crush doesn't know how to answer. They may be puzzled by your message and could just give up. Don't be a boring texter. You're less likely to get a response if you say something like, "What's up?" or "How are you?" Be original, even when you ask questions. Be thoughtful. If you know your crush had an important event the day before, a text asking how it went shows that you pay attention. This may seem silly and irrelevant, but if you were flirting with your crush in person, then you would make sure your outfit was neatly put together and that your hair was in place. Therefore, if you're sending a text message, you should make sure you're using proper punctuation and that your sentences are complete.  If you send sloppy or inarticulate texts, it will look like you don't care enough about the person you're texting to spend enough time scanning your texts. Your writing doesn't have to be perfect. Just skim each of your texts once before you send it. Subtlety is key when you're opening up a text-based conversation, so you should try not to go overboard, or your crush will be able to see that you're trying too hard from a mile away. Just relax and send a text when the time feels right, and don't overthink it. You shouldn't spend more than a minute deciding what's the best text to send your special someone.  Make sure you're not always the person who sends the first message. If you are, then your crush may not be so excited to hear from you. Play it cool and wait for your crush to chat with you first sometimes. Don't try too hard to be funny. If your target can tell you spent hours crafting the perfect opening, it's not worth it. Remember that flirting over text is not so different from flirting in real life. You should still relax and take it easy if you want to be a successful flirt.
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One-sentence summary -- Be creative Ask an open question. Watch your spelling and grammar. Don't come on too strong.


Loss and change can be devastating, but they also offer us new opportunities to evaluate who we are and what we are doing. Chances are your goals and dreams are different now than they were five or ten years ago, and yet you may have become blind to that change because of habit and circumstance.  Any time you suffer a loss or a sudden change, use it as an opportunity to reassess and re-evaluate your life. Many people see a loved one's death, for example, as a wakeup call to do things differently or stop putting off long-term goals. A job loss can also be a wakeup call to find a job that offers more happiness and fulfillment.  Ask yourself honestly if your current goals and personal values are the same as they used to be. If they are not, find ways to incorporate your new goals and values into your life. Many people fear change, especially big changes that can seem life-altering. But change isn't always a bad thing - in fact, it's normal and healthy for our circumstances to change, and some experts advise that anyone going through change should adapt and modify their identity, rather than resisting inevitable change.  Ask yourself if, in ten or twenty years, you would regret not having taken a chance at trying something new or doing things differently.  Allow yourself to  go through a process of self-discovery. Figure out what it is that you want most in life, and find a way to work toward that goal from your current self.  As you imagine your future self, don't forget that that self is still you. Don't expect to be a different person. Rather, anticipate that experience will make you wiser and more informed than you are, without distancing you from your core self. Some people who have been laid off or otherwise lost a job/status may feel a sense of identity crisis, not knowing what to do or how to pick up the pieces. Some experts advise that one of the best things you can do after losing a job that you loved is to explore other options, seeking ways to do the same work in a different setting.  Consider freelance work in your chosen field. It may not be your ideal job position, but it will allow you to continue working in a field you enjoy, which can help renew your sense of purpose.  Try networking. Some employment positions are only advertised internally, to other employees. This is why networking with other professionals in your field can be tremendously beneficial. It opens doors on new opportunities that you might have otherwise missed, and can help you feel like you are part of a larger community of likeminded professionals.  Develop new habits that will help you get where you want to be. Doing the same things you've been doing for years probably won't get you on a different track, so work hard at making the necessary changes.
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One-sentence summary -- Reassess your life. Open yourself to change. Explore your options.


You can cut up old socks or fabric if you don't have batting.     The fastener should sit in the groove you cut into the dowel.
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One-sentence summary --
Stuff your hobbyhorse's head about half full with cotton batting. Decorate the face to make eyes, nostrils and a mouth. Glue or sew on curtain fringe or yarn to make the stick horse's mane. Fit the dowel into the hobbyhorse's head all the way to the top of the head (or the heel of the sock). Finish stuffing the head while holding the dowel inside. Tie the head tightly to the dowel using yarn, string or hair elastics over the fabric. Add finishing touches to your riding toy, such as reins made of ribbon, if desired.