Q: Don't wait for your friend to reach out. If you want to reconnect, make yourself available, either by reaching out or by inviting your friend to meet with you. A phone call or an email are quick, easy, and respectful ways to convey your interest to speak or spend time together. However, you should consider your options regarding how to reach out. Depending on the degree to which you've grown apart, there are different recommended routes to take. The depth of your previous friendship, and the context in which you drifted apart are important factors when considering how you should approach an old friend. If you simply haven't seen or spoken with someone in a while, reach out casually. A message on an online media platform that you both use may work. An email is better because it is a more reliable and secure method of communication. People also tend to check their email more frequently. Consider sending a letter. If you had gone through a conflict with your friend, be wary of rekindling old animosities. Take care not to make them feel as though they are under pressure to respond. Don't just call someone you had a falling out with; this may make them feel uncomfortable or may even upset them. A note or card gives them time to think and contemplate a response. Do more than just text. While texting is great way to convey information of send a quick hello, it is not a productive method to rekindle a relationship. If you feel your relationship is casual and comfortable enough to contact a friend via text but you haven't spoken in a while, give them a call. The more personal approach will indicate your interest to truly reconnect. Don't feel as though your friendship has ended or become less important. Friendships often change when people get married, move, or have kids. If you're missing an old friend, there's a good chance your friend misses you as well. It is always appropriate to try to reconnect. Recognize the importance of circumstances. If you had drifted apart because your friend went through a major life change, and you recently went through a similar life change, you may soon find you have even more in common now than ever before! Don't wait any longer! The more time you spend missing your friend without acting on it, the further you may drift apart. Know that it's okay if you haven't spoken with someone in a while. You may actually make their day by letting them know you've been thinking about them and would like to reconnect. If your friend doesn't respond, or does so hesitantly, you can try to convey your hopes to reconnect again. Don't rush though. Allow time in between contact. If they simply don't respond, accept the fact that they may not be ready or willing to reconnect for the foreseeable future.
A: Take the first step. Reach out in the right way. Don't worry about how long it's been. Be persistent, but not over-eager.

Q: The major effect of nearly all probiotics is to improve your gut and digestive health (in addition to whatever other benefits the bacteria provide). If you've been using a certain probiotic supplement for a couple of weeks and don't notice an improvement in your digestive health, it's time to try a new probiotic. Signs of an ineffective probiotic include: Stomach cramps. Intestinal pain. Constipation or diarrhea. Keep in mind that, since most probiotics are sold as dietary supplements, they aren't guaranteed to produce the results they advertise. Fortunately, another probiotic may fix your health concern. If the first probiotic you tried isn't helping, switch to another type. Unlike medication, you can change your probiotic supplement without experiencing major side-effects. The only side-effect you're somewhat likely to experience as a result of switching is mildly upset stomach. Most medical studies on probiotics have been performed on strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Probiotics containing these strains are most likely to match the claims made on the label. Choose well-known strains of these bacteria to help with common health ailments. These include: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which helps with lactose intolerance and various resultant digestive problems. Lactobacillus reuteri LR-1 or LR-2, which improves dental hygiene and prevents tooth plaque from forming. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 or MIMBb75, which decreases bloating and discomfort from IBS. If you have frequent moderate to severe abdominal pain, or chronic constipation or diarrhea, the problem may be more severe than a probiotic can handle. Talk to your physician and explain your condition to them. Also ask your doctor if they recommend any specific probiotics or know of any to avoid. You may be suffering from an undiagnosed case of IBS, or you may be lactose intolerant or have Celiac disease without knowing it.
A: Pay attention to your body's digestion. Revise your probiotic supplement as needed. Choose studied strains of probiotic to help with frequent health concerns. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about your digestion.

Q: Umbrella policies are supplemental insurance policies that protect you from liability over and beyond what your homeowner's and automobile policies will pay. Some umbrella policies offer protection both in excess of the amounts in your homeowner's and auto policies (excess coverage), but also offer coverage for items that are not covered in those policies (drop down coverage). Most insurers offer them, so check with yours about rates and pricing. Although it's not very romantic to think about, divorce is an extremely common source of financial loss. Completing a prenuptial agreement with your partner, which agrees on the division of assets beforehand, can help avoid it. Due diligence with lawyers is a must. A prenuptial agreement is only as good as the lawyer who wrote it. Make sure that you employ sharp and honest counsel. Retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, are often protected from litigation (legal action, such as being sued) by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Furthermore, money in 401(k) accounts is also protected from creditors during bankruptcy proceedings. It is therefore a good idea to put as much into these designated retirement accounts as you can. A legal proxy is a person or entity that is authorized to act on your behalf. Forming a legal proxy, like an LLC or a corporation, can also be a good way to protect your assets. These legal entities protect the individual from personal liability if their company is found liable for some type of wrong, but this protection also goes the other way. These corporate forms can be especially useful if the corporation owns your real estate holdings, instead of you as an individual. A corporation is a common legal structure that can protect its owners' assets from litigation. Others include certain types of partnerships and limited liability companies (LLCs). One example of proxy would be if you owned an apartment building. Instead of having the building in your name, you would create a company that owns and manages the property. This would keep your financial assets separate from the company's financial assets. Then, if one of your tenants has an issue and wants to sue, they would sue your company and not you directly. You can also create a trust or foundation to protect your assets from taxation and litigation, provided certain requirements are met. It is advisable that you work with an attorney and/or a financial planner to set up these structures. Life insurance can also be a great way to protect your money from litigation, as most life insurance policies are exempt from an individual's legal liability in many states. Also, buying any kind of insurance obligates an insurer to defend you in court if a litigant tries to go after assets contained in the policy. Since many umbrella policies cover items in excess of amounts in auto and homeowner's policies and losses not covered by either type, buying an umbrella policy can be a great way to shield money from litigants.
A:
Get a backup insurance plan. Create a prenuptial agreement. Feed your retirement accounts. Create a legal proxy, like a company. Buy life insurance.