Article: Life can be lonely for elders. If they don't have a spouse or family living with them, they may not see very many people on a regular basis. Try to visit them whenever you can make the time. If you can't visit regularly because of distance, make a point of calling to talk to them on the phone. Try to make visits or calls on a regular schedule. Sometimes surprise visits or irregular schedules can be disorienting for an elder. Visiting every Wednesday afternoon, for example, can be a regular activity that the person can look forward to. As people age, they process things and move more slowly. Your elder may need you to walk more slowly or repeat things that you say. Avoid showing impatience and remember that they're doing all they can to keep up. Elders may have a particularly difficult time using or understanding newer technology. You may need to go very slowly when showing them how to use it, or you may choose to not introduce new technologies into their lives. Let the elder set the pace for things like walking or preparing meals. Most elders will have a strong sense of propriety and etiquette. Their expectations for how people talk to each other are likely very different than yours. Don't use the same kinds of slang and casual manners that you would use around your peers. If the elder is not a member of your family, refer to them as Mr., Miss, or Mrs. If they tell you to call them by their first name, you can then feel free to do so. In some cultures, elders expect to be referred to as "sir," "ma'am," or something equivalent. Always make sure that they have food before you serve yourself, and that they have a place to sit before you or other younger people are seated. Avoid paying attention to your phone or computer when you're with an elder. Try to keep your focus on them and your quality time together. Asking an elder about themselves is one of the best ways to show respect. It indicates that you are interested in who they are and that you respect the fact that they've lived a long life and have things to teach you. You can ask them to tell stories from their life. You can ask something like, "Do you remember anything from your time in the war?" or, "Where did your family move after they sold the business?" If they're a member of your family, you can ask them about your family tree. This is a great way to learn about your own history. You can say something like, "Where did your mother's family come from?" or "Did you know any of the people on Grandfather's side?" This may be the most difficult thing for people of all ages to do. However, it's important to remember that cultural norms and expectations change across generations. Things that seem perfectly normal to you may seem unthinkable to someone two generations older than you and vice versa. If matters of politics or social norms become a wedge between you and your elder, try to let it go. You can say something like, "I understand where you're coming from, but I think we might just disagree," or, "We can do things that way here, if you want. But at home I'll probably still do things the way that works for me." You can also ask the person to talk about where they're coming from. Be sure to do so in a way that doesn't convey judgement, though. For example, you can say something like, "Tell me more about why you don't believe in divorce. That sounds really interesting to me," or, "I'd love to know more about what you like about your church."
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Visit them. Slow down. Be polite. Ask them about their life. Accept generational differences.
Article: We think that we need all sorts of things that we really don't, and these things can quickly suck up a lot of money. You want to make all those little bits of money that you made by following the first section stretch even more, right? Look at what you think of a need and reevaluate. Cell phone? Land line? TV? Candy? Fast food? gym membership? Online subscriptions? Internet? Different people need different things, depending on how they live. Just look at everything you spend money on and think: do I actually need this to survive? If you make your money through something like the internet, than the answer might very well be "yes". If you're young, live at home. This can save you a lot of money and help you build up a financial cushion so that you can more responsibly move out at a later date. If you help your parents out around the house and are generally respectful and loving, they won't even mind too much. Just make sure that they see you trying to save money and be responsible. Look at your monthly spending or bank statements. See any big numbers that stand out? When you look at your statements, you'll often find purchases that you really didn't think about or that you really didn't need. Paying attention to how you spend your money can make you a more conscious spender and save you lots of cash. Plan how you'll spend your money and stick to the plan. This will save you tons of money in the long run. A lot of the time the money we make seems to disappear, because we excuse all sorts of little purchases. Give yourself an allowance, but otherwise strictly budget your income in order to save as much money as possible. Clothes, food, household items: everything you buy should be at a discount. Don't go for any sale, however, that encourages you to buy something you weren't already going to buy anyway: this leads to to spend more money, not less. Get your clothes from Goodwill or garage sales. You can save a lot on food by shopping at grocery outlets and similar stores. Avoid credit cards or any other kinds of loaned money. This money comes with interest that you have to pay, which means that everything you pay for with the credit card actually costs more than what you're already paying for it. This can really end up costing you a lot over time. If you need a credit card to pay for something, then you either don't need it or you're living beyond your means. Using public transport can save you a ton of money on bills. If you have a long commute, an unlimited bus pass often costs less than just your gas bills alone. Once you factor in car payments, car maintenance, insurance, and other fees, public transport saves a ton of money. Plus, you'll have time to just relax while you get around or even use a 3G device to make even more money by doing online tasks or updating a blog while you commute.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Use only the base necessities. Live at home. Track how you spend money. Budget. Only buy things at a discount. Never use credit cards. Use public transport.
Article: Letting your friend know that, while you love your friendship, this really hurts your feelings, makes you angry, makes you feel disrespected. If you just accept it without expressing displeasure, this clueless friend may continue this behavior indefinitely. If you express your feelings about it, and there is no apology and nothing ever changes, at least you will have clarity - your feelings are not as important as whatever it is s/he is doing. Being late might mean the person was in flow, needs in between time, or is afraid to ask for space. Say, "I've noticed that time is a challenge for you." Then wait and listen with an open mind. Replay what they said to you in a gentle way, using their words. For example: "Okay. So you went to work, got involved, and stayed till the project finished. Is this right?" Listen. Then ask, "Did you really want to be on time?" Listen. If yes, "If you could be on time how would you do that?" Listen. Make agreement. "Okay. In fairness to you and me, let's agree that you pay for your own (ticket, etc.). If you are on time, we go together. If you choose or something comes up to make you late, you will understand that I may not wait and you are on your own time." Note: If you are married or in a committed relationship, ask how you can support the person.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Express your anger or frustration about it. Ask this person what is really behind being late.