INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Though every cat is unique, Persians in general tend to have a distinct personality type. They are playful in their own way, yet reserved and somewhat docile for the most part. Unlike other cat breeds, Persians are not particularly known for jumping or climbing. Persian cats tend to prefer sitting in a person's lap or lying in the sun over more physical activities. They tend to not be very demanding of people's affection. Sitting or reclining in a person's lap is usually sufficient for most Persians. Persians often get frightened or annoyed with loud noise and/or poorly-behaved children. Persian cats are not known for being very vocal. They might greet people with a quiet, low-key meow, but will not meow or yowl with any persistence unless they are distressed. When a Persian cat does vocalize, it tends to be in short, melodic bursts. Persians are generally not very welcoming to surprises. Because of this, taking a Persian cat to an unfamiliar environment may be jarring and unpleasant to your cat. If you are planning on leaving town for a few days, a Persian may need someone to visit your home and care for him or her, rather than being boarded in unfamiliar territory. If you plan on making changes to your home, like buying new furniture, it may be best for your cat to introduce that furniture gradually instead of all at once. If you move to a new home, make sure some of your old furniture is there before you bring your cat. This can make the transition easier for a Persian. Like many purebred cats, Persians are prone to certain health complications at some point in life. Some may not significantly affect the cat's quality of life, while others can be quite serious. Some of the most common health complications seen in Persian cats include: Basal cell tumors Cataracts Deafness (especially common in blue-eyed Persians) Cryptorchidism Entropion Facial fold dermatitis Lysosomal storage disease Peritoneopericardial hernia Polycystic kidney disease Progressive retinal atrophy Systemic lupus Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Portosystemic shunt Gingivitis Corneal sequestration Hip dysplasia Strabismus/nystagmus Dermatophytosis

SUMMARY: Look for a playful but reserved personality. Anticipate a relatively quiet cat. Keep a Persian's surroundings familiar. Identify common health complications in Persians.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If members of the family are pressuring you to get married or find a serious romantic partner, it is important that you are honest and clear with them about why you are not marrying your partner or are not in a committed relationship. You might want to explain to them that you are waiting to meet the right person or that you and your partner are not yet ready for marriage. The more open you are with them, the better. If you're partnered but not married, you might want to say things like "we'll get married when we feel ready for it" or "we're not that serious." If you are single, you might say something like "I'm waiting for the right person" or "I'm enjoying being single." Although you might feel the urge to get upset with your family members, try not to lash out at them. The result will likely be that everyone's feelings get hurt. Try to remember that these people care about you and that their pushiness is a result of their anxiety about you finding happiness. To play things off more casually, try making a joke or say something like "Is there someone that you'd want to set me up with?" If your family members are particularly pushy and try setting you up with someone that you are not interested in, you should definitely stand up for yourself and decline. You do not want to be cajoled into a relationship that you are not interested in; you won't be at all enjoying the relationship if you were forced into it. It is your life and you should be in the driver's seat. If you are not interested in being set up, let your family members know that you want do to things your way. If you are unable to resolve your issues with your family, you may want to consider family counseling. This will allow you, and whichever family members are pressuring you, to work out your issues. Once you and your family members have gained a little insight, you may be more accommodating to each other's views.

SUMMARY: Be open with your family members. Try not to get defensive. Stick to your guns. Talk it out.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Old habits are hard to break, and emotional triggers can fall into that category. To avoid and change a trigger, you'll need to replace some old habits and activities with new ones. You'll also need to avoid those circumstances that have proven to be triggers. For instance, if you know someone who gets belligerent when drunk and pushes a multitude of your triggers, stay away from that person when they're consuming alcohol. If not having enough money to pay your bills creates a trigger, then look at what you can cut from your budget. Avoid alcohol and other drug use. When you're under the influence of either substance and encounter a trigger, you won't have as much control over your emotions and your outbursts. Sometimes a time-out can help you calm down before re-engaging with a situation. You can use this time to think about the emotions you're experiencing and how to address them effectively. Try saying "I need some air" or "I'll get back to you on that." If someone tries to follow you, say "I really need to be alone right now." For example, if you are angry with your coworker and you don't want to harm your working relationship, you could say "we'll discuss this later" and walk away. You can write a note saying that you don't want to be disturbed, put it on your office door, and go inside. Then you can take the time to figure out whether and how to respond to her. Staying away from things that trigger you works in the short run, but it might not work in the long run. Avoiding triggers all the time can be stressful, and it may limit your life. Start small, and work your way up. Continue until you have successfully managed your emotions to the point that the experience is no longer a trigger. Take baby steps towards your goal. For example, perhaps you are afraid of crowds. Your first step might to briefly spend time in a crowded cafe or mall, and then leave and do something that calms you. Don't try to jump in headfirst. For example, if you are afraid of cats, don't lock yourself in a room with a cat right away. Perhaps step 1 is watching someone else pet a cat, or watching cat videos and learning more about cat body language so that they seem less unpredictable to you. Habit and lifestyle changes don't typically have immediate results. It may take weeks or months before you start noticing a change. This is normal, and it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. Set small goals. For example, if you tend to freeze up around a verbally abusive mother, step one might be learning how to say "I'll get back to you" and leaving the room. Don't punish yourself for not being able to ignore her yet. You have to master step 1 before you can handle step 5 or step 10. Reward yourself for making progress. Even if it's small progress, tell yourself that you did a great job, and be proud of yourself. Give yourself a physical reward (like a movie night or extra time to work on a hobby) if you'd like. Making progress is a big deal, so be proud of yourself!

SUMMARY:
Change your lifestyle. Take a time-out. Expand your window of tolerance gradually. Be patient with yourself.