Q: For beginners, learning the steps from a standing position is an easy way to grasp the dance before attempting it on the ground. Before starting, draw out a small, imaginary circle in front of you that you will dance around until you end up back at your starting position. Step forward with your right foot while keeping your left foot stationary. Step your left foot behind and to the right of your right foot so they are crossed. Step out with your right foot so both of your feet are shoulder-width apart. Cross your left foot over your right foot. Step your right foot back while keeping your left stationary. Step your left foot back so your feet are shoulder-width apart and you're back in your starting position. This motion will seem awkward at first and it will take some to practice to feel comfortable. Take this initial six steps at your own pace as its crucial to have it mastered in a standing position before you will feel capable of learning the 6-step on the floor. Run through the footwork for the routine to a song with a slower tempo at first. Oftentimes, you can listen to jazz, funk, hip-hop, or sampled break beats from a number of different or combined sources (soul, electronic, disco). When in doubt, practice to some of the original artists breakdancers used in their routines such as Al Green, The Meters, Funkadelic, Skull Snaps, Instant Funk, and Taana Gardner. As you become more comfortable with the 6-Step, you will begin to develop your muscle memory. This in turn will allow you to take your conscious attention away from the basic steps and work on ways in which to polish the move as a whole. By varying the music that you use, you will become adaptive and adept at dancing within a wide range of styles and moods. The hallmark of a dynamic dancer is looseness and confidence.
A: Practice the six steps while standing up. Remember to take it slow. Practice the steps to music. Change the tempo and style of music used.

Q: People generally behave differently in private than they do in public. You may see more open, honest or even outrageous behavior in a private situation. Perhaps people feel more comfortable in private. It is helpful to spot signs of insecurity because it will lead to a more compassionate understanding of others. Look for traits and behaviors such as: jealousy (wary of others and suspecting others of wrong-doing); selfishness (overly focused on own needs with little regard for others); sulking (gains control via fits of moodiness). If you choose to discuss a person's insecurities, be mindful that it is a sensitive subject. The person may deny a direct question such as, "Are you insecure about my sister spending time with me?" Consider saying something such as, "I'm so grateful to spend time with my sister. I really feel supported by her, which helps me be a happier person all around, which helps us." Whether you are in a group of friends, visiting from out of town, or you recently joined a running club, you can identify people's insecurities by watching and interacting. It can be difficult to connect and relate to a person who has a lot of insecurities. Public displays of insecurities take many forms. Look for traits and behaviors such as: excessive people-pleasing (attempts to please everyone to avoid being disliked); arrogance (an inflated view of oneself and boasts about all accomplishments); excessive competitiveness (turns every situation or conversation into something that must be won); overly materialistic (surrounds themselves with expensive items to convince others they are important). Observe body language as it is another way to identify insecurities. A person who is insecure will hold his body in a slumping, hunching fashion, as if he is trying to hide from the world. The opposite would be true for someone who is confident. He would stand tall and straight with shoulders back and make direct eye contact with others. Avoid publicly confronting someone about his insecurities. Pull the person aside for a private conversation. The person may not be aware he is exhibiting these behaviors. Let him know his behaviors are causing unwanted turmoil by saying, "Hey, I know this might be a sensitive subject, but it appears when you get overly competitive it's upsetting a lot of people. I didn't know if you were aware of that." Seeing others become defensive or upset can be difficult to watch. It is also challenging to be a part of such conflicts. When a person is put into a position where he believes he must defend himself, he will show you his insecurities by way of his reactions. Watch closely and you will better understand the person and his motives. Look for traits and behaviors such as: extreme authoritarian (know-it-alls who bully and boss people around); defensiveness (cannot accept feedback without perceiving it as an attack); extremely passive (won't fight back or stick up for themselves). Ask yourself the following questions when examining a conflict: If the person gets defensive does he resort to physical abuse? (Always report this to the authorities). Does the person say nothing or agree then have a reaction that is passive-aggressive (an indirect resistance to your request such as procrastinating)? If he is not feeling good about himself because he lost his job, does he have a short temper, is irritable and doesn't seem to care about most things? There are examples of verbal responses caused by underlying insecurities. Understanding these concepts does not excuse negative behavior. Instead, allow it to provide understanding so you can remain safe, remove yourself from the situation, or resolve the conflict once and for all. Ask yourself the following questions when examining the verbal aspects of conflict: When challenged, does the person attack your shortcomings or call you names? Does the person respond with, "Are you calling me stupid?" when you said nothing related to the person's intellect? Does he hear things that are not said and twist words into an attack upon himself?
A: Observe private circumstances. Study public situations. Analyze behavioral responses during conflicts. Analyze verbal responses during conflicts.

Q: Dogs squint, making their eyes appear smaller, when they are in pain, stressed, or depressed. Depressed dogs may also be reluctant to make eye contact with anybody, even you. Of course, some dogs have "sad" eyes at the best of times, due to naturally droopy eyelids rather than depression, so exercise a little common sense when interpreting sad eyes as a sign of depression. Depressed dogs tend to display a lack of responsive ear movements to noises going on around them. For example, your dog may fail to prick up their ears at the sound of things that normally interest them, such as you calling their name, or their collar and lead being fetched prior to a walk. Licking or chewing their paws is a comfort mechanism for dogs, and can be a sign of depression. Depressed dogs tend to keep their heads lowered when standing or sitting. When lying down your dog prefers to rest their chin on the ground, and rarely raises their head in response to activity going on around them. When a dog is depressed, the tail is held down or between the legs and doesn't wag as readily. When you encourage your dog to wag his tail, the motion is subdued and half-hearted. Depressed dogs tend to stand in a passive way, with their heads down and tails lowered, barely reacting to encouragement. Your dog may give the impression of feeling sluggish, and will lack interest in what's going on around them. When dogs are stressed, they tend to shed much more heavily. If you pet your dog and your hand comes away covered in hair, or if you are suddenly having to vacuum much more often, your dog may be depressed.
A:
Pay attention to your dog's eyes. Observe your dog for droopy or pulled back ears. Watch for paw licking. See if your dog hangs their head. Monitor how your dog carries his tail. Be aware of your dog's overall body position. Watch for extra shedding.