INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Depending on the situation, it may be a good idea to contact those with whom you gossiped and point out that you regret your role in the conversation. This is particularly important if you were dishonest in any way, or may have over-embellished for the sake of a juicier story. Everyone says things they regret, but you have the option to partially undo the damage by articulating to those you spoke with that you regret your negative comments about someone. When speaking with those you gossiped with, be sure to include something along the lines of "It was wrong of me to say what I said. No one deserves to be spoken of poorly behind their backs, and I regret doing so. Please do not define your perspective of this person by my words." Further, ask whomever heard you gossip not to repeat what you said. Point out something like "It was wrong of me to say what I said, and I sincerely hope you choose not to repeat it." If you lied or embellished something, stress that what you said was not only inappropriate, but dishonest or inaccurate. Ideally, you can speak with someone before they hear the gossip you've spread. Either way, you need to reach out to them as soon as possible. Ask if you can meet to talk, and propose to meet someplace where you'll have privacy. Concern about getting caught should not be the reason you reach out or apologize. Rather, your contact should be guided by genuinely apologetic sentiments, and your recognition of the potential hurtfulness you may have caused. An honest apology will help diminish the potential hurtfulness of your gossip, as well as the damage to your relationship with the person you gossiped about. Secondarily, you will help resolve your own feelings of guilt by acknowledging your wrongdoing. Most importantly, be straightforward when apologizing. Say something like, "I wanted to let you know that I said something negative about you the other day, and I feel terribly about it because it doesn't reflect how I actually feel about you." If they ask questions, answer them honestly. Don't try to downplay what you said. Don't make excuses or try to assign some of the responsibility for the gossiping that occurred to someone else. If you participated, you need to take responsibility for doing so. Furthermore, don't try to rationalize what you did. You violated someone's trust, and you need to acknowledge that outright, without qualification. Be clear about how you're feeling; "I know I violated your trust, and I hope I can earn it back." After stating a clear and honest apology, just listen. Understand that they will likely be hurt, and potentially surprised to hear what you've told them. They may not know what to say, or they may become angry or otherwise emotionally upset. If they're so angry or upset that they shut you out, give them space. Consider how you would feel if the situation were reversed. If they don't have much to say, or become upset, reiterate your apology. Say something like "I'm really sorry, and I hope I have to chance to repair any damage I've done to our relationship. I understand why you're upset, and am happy to give you space in the meantime."

SUMMARY: Contact those who you gossiped with. Contact the person you gossiped about. Apologize to the person you gossiped about. Take full responsibility for your actions. Allow your friend to respond.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Find a space without loud noises or noticeable odors that might distract you. You should also avoid spaces with excessive decoration or colors that might draw your attention. See what works for you best and what makes you in a peaceful state of mind. Indoor spaces are less likely to have distracting sounds but you can meditate outside if you prefer the fresh air and you have some distance from cars or other people. Most people sit down when they meditate so find a spot where you can sit comfortably for more than 10 minutes. Plush carpeting or soft grass are ideal. You could also lay down a yoga mat or even just a towel. Turn off or silence your phone and anything else that might make a noise. If there are other people around, tell them you plan to meditate and ask to be left alone for the next few minutes. If you have pets that may come looking for attention, put them in another room where they can't distract you. Tell other people in the house "Please do not disturb me for the next 30 minutes unless it's an emergency. I will be meditating and need to maintain absolute focus." There are many different positions you can use for meditation. The key is to choose a position that is comfortable and won't require you to consciously prop yourself up. Some meditators purchase a zafu, a small floor pillow, or a zabuton, a small padded mat, to help prop them up. The most popular posture is the lotus position. Sit on the floor with your back straight. Place your left foot under your right thigh and right foot layered over the left ankle. If you are meditating for a long period of time, you may want to switch which foot goes under the thigh after a while. Some meditators sit in a chair. Make sure you keep your back straight and your feet flat on the ground.

SUMMARY: Find a quiet, featureless space. Find a soft surface. Remove distractions. Sit in a comfortable position.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Request donations for things like running your website, using print media, and hosting educational events. You can put a donation area on your website and ask for donations at events to help increase the reach of your campaign. It helps put people's minds at ease if you set up a nonprofit organization. However, you might not be at that stage yet. If you get money from donations, consider doing a mail-out campaign. Once you start making a name for yourself, you can ask to speak at local events. Many companies and organizations are happy to have occasional speakers, so call around to organizations you think would be relevant. That is, know who you're presenting your message to and how they may or may not perceive it. For instance, if you're creating a campaign for better education in local schools, your message to a group of teachers is going to be different than your message to the general public or local officials. Think about each group you're going to be presenting your message to. If you know a group will support you, keep your message brief, such as explaining your main goals and asking for support. Be specific--and creative--about the range of things they can do, looking for what is easy or fulfilling. If your asking them to pass the message on to others, share arguments they can use as well as materials, web-links, etc. If the group you're presenting your message to is neutral or even antagonistic towards your message, you'll need to actually present an argument about why they should support your organization. Ask local experts to speak about your cause, and host the event. Check with local businesses, your local library, your school, or even your company to see if they're willing to host speakers. Since education is one of your primary goals, using experts to speak about the issue can only help. Know that donations will only take you so far. At some point, you're going to have to raise money yourself. Host events that both raise awareness of the cause and raise money. You can draw on your group of supporters to volunteer and run the event. For instance, if you're raising money for education, consider running a lock-in at the school for kids and parents. You could have games, food, and movies. Charge a small fee at the door, and sell tickets for some games and food. You can use all forms of media to promote events. A flier or poster can be used to get people's attention in public places, while social media can help you reach both current and new followers of the campaign. Always ask people to share with their friends, so you can raise awareness with new people.

SUMMARY:
Ask for donations. Speak at local organizations. Segment your audiences. Host educational events. Create fundraising events. Promote events.