In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: This may be trickier if you live 2,000 miles (3,000km) away or are in another country. But if your long distance relationship has been for over a year or more, and you are able to drive to see your girlfriend, then a break up in person is a more respectable option. Breaking up in person shows courage rather than cowardice, and shows that you take this relationship seriously--even the breaking up part. Meeting in person may be more uncomfortable but it can give your girlfriend a better sense of what you're feeling in terms of body language, your words, and your physical presence. If financial costs or timing are major factors, then consider breaking up by phone or video chat such as Skype. This way you can still have a conversation that allows both sides to interact at the same time. There will be less miscommunication than if done by email or text. Schedule a time to call or chat when both of you are free to talk for an hour. Consider a format that is most comfortable for you, but also allows for real-time, voice interaction. While you may be used to texting, chatting, or emailing your girlfriend, this is a less personal form of communication. With a break up, it's important to take action in a personal, kind, and clear way. Texting back and forth about breaking up will likely feel heartless to your girlfriend. In terms of break up etiquette, it will feel like the relationship wasn't even that important. While ending a relationship via text after two or three dates may be fine, if you and your girlfriend have been exclusive and dating for many months, then avoid this way of breaking up. While you may not like your girlfriend anymore, there is still common decency to consider. Treat her as you would like to be treated if the roles were reversed. Maybe you've been dumped before and it felt horrible. Try to avoid making the same mistakes. It is important to be clear and direct without giving mixed messages. For example, consider saying, "I'm sorry but this isn't working any more. I did care for you very much, but I don't think we should see each other anymore." Be truthful with your reasons for breaking up. If it's that you're headed in different directions, then say so. If you have lost interest in the relationship, then say so. Just make sure to be kind, and say some words that show there were good times in the relationship too. Your girlfriend may be shocked, heartbroken, or possibly understanding. It could be a combination of all or none of these emotions. By talking with her in real time, either over the phone or in person, you give her a chance to say what she needs to say. Avoid getting into an argument at this point. If you have decided to break up with your girlfriend, you don't need to have this conversation blow up into a blame game. Be open to listening. Avoid ending the conversation abruptly after you have said that you wanted to break up. Give her time to think and process what is happening.
Summary: Break up in person if possible. Consider breaking up by video chat or phone as an alternative. Avoid using text, chat, email, or other non-direct modes. Be kind and honest. Listen to her side of the story.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: CBT exercises teach you to change your habits and patterns of thinking. You can soon start changing your feelings of regret, shame, and anger. Instead, you'll focus on emotionally healing any harmful, unproductive thoughts you have. CBT works to reduce and replace your feelings of regret and anxiety, instead of simply telling yourself to stop thinking about the past. This helps you to deal with the regret in a better way. With regret, people often wonder "why" they acted or didn't act, and this is often where people become stuck. List your regrets and any questions you keep asking yourself. For example, you might wonder why you acted the way you did. Go through your list and change the "why" questions into "what's next?" This will help you overcome the feeling of being stuck. For example: You might ask yourself, "Why did I snap at my child so much last week?" For "What's next?" you could say that you know you have very little patience left after work. In the future you could take a 5 minute break before engaging the children. Regrets can be important learning tools for the future. Try to look for the lessons learned and recognize that life lessons make you wiser. For example, if you regret not treating your spouse with respect, you may have learned that disrespecting your spouse makes you feel terrible. Having this knowledge makes you a wiser spouse and person. What you regret may also be things you have learned about yourself and others. Having this knowledge decreases the chances of making a similar choice in the future. Make sure to apply the wisdom you've gained. For example, if you've learned that disrespecting your spouse makes your spouse feel distrustful, don't do it again in the future. While you can not change what happened in the past, you can choose how your past affects your present and future. For example, you can't change how much or how often you drank in college, but you can make the choice not to let the regret make you feel guilty now or let it affect your future choices. Beating yourself up over things beyond your control would be considered unproductive regret. But, productive regret can be positive if you are moved to improve yourself or act on opportunities. Once you're aware of a missed opportunity, be it educational, financial, or emotional, you're more likely to correct the mistake in the future. If you find yourself ambivalent about taking a new opportunity, ask yourself if you'd rather worry about a wasted opportunity or take a chance. By trying something new, you're minimizing future regrets.
Summary: Use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Write down your regrets. Learn your lesson. Apply what you've learned. Control how regrets influence your future. Recognize productive regret.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Plants that thrive well in rain gardens are hardy and healthy. Your rain garden will be most low-maintenance with regional plants because they will be adapted to the climate and local rainfall fluctuations. The best place to purchase native plants is at locally-owned plant nurseries. Younger plants will not thrive as well with high quantities of waters, so avoid buying seeds or seedlings. Their root systems are not developed enough to handle the downpour. Perennial plants last for several years, so plants at least one or two years old will have established root systems. Ask your local nursery for specifically mature plants to avoid receiving seedlings. Choose plants that can handle lots of downpour. You can find native wetland plants via the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) by visiting: http://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/nwpl_static/index.html. You can also check local gardening magazines or your city's plant nursery to ask which wetland plants thrive in your climate. Plants with dense root systems hold rain gardens together best. Shrubs generally have developed root systems that soak up excess water and prevent land erosion. Look for shrubs best adapted to your soil conditions. Most shrubs prefer well-draining soil to clays. Shrubs grow best in moist but not oversaturated conditions. Add several shrubs to rain gardens with especially excessive runoffs.
Summary:
Choose plants native to your area. Purchase perennial plants that have already matured. Look for plants that thrive well in wetlands. Add shrubs for erosion protection.