Q: It's important that you rinse the banana corm before planting it to remove any pests that might be on it. Rinsing the corm will also help remove any bacterial or fungal growth. Fill your pot with the soil that you purchased from the gardening store. Use a spade to dig a small hole in the center of your pot about three inches (7.62 cm) deep. You may have to dig a deeper hole to accommodate the size of your corm. Make sure to leave enough space around the corm so that you can plant it deep into your pot. To test this, place your corm in the hole and make sure that the top 20% of the corm sticks out of the hole. This portion of your tree should remain exposed until new leaves start sprouting. Once the corm is planted, fill in the gaps on the side with soil. Take your corm and place it in the hole that you just dug, roots side down. When planting your corm, make sure that it's 3 inches (7.5 cm) from the sides of your pot all around it so that the roots have room to grow. The top 20% of your corm should be exposed until the banana tree starts to grow leaves. When shoots or suckers start to grow from your corm, you can cover the rest of the corm with compost. Water your plant thoroughly with a hose when you first plant it, saturating all of the soil surrounding the corm. Bring your tree outside and allow the water to drain through the drainage holes. After this initial watering, you can use a watering can to keep the soil moist, but not overly wet. Do not put your pot on a saucer because the pool of water can lead to bacteria and rot.
A: Rinse the banana corm thoroughly with lukewarm water. Dig a small hole for the banana corm. Bury the banana corm into the soil and cover the roots. Water your tree.

Q: Simply put, not all German shepherd puppy ears are created equal. For example, thin ears that do not have much cartilage may not be stiff enough to stand upright on their own. On the contrary, thicker ears probably have enough cartilage and muscle development to stand up more easily. Ears that are widely spaced on your puppy's head may have a harder time standing upright. Smaller ears are more likely to stand up naturally than larger ears. Although it is the breed standard for German shepherds to have upright ears, it is not necessary that your own puppy meet the breed standard. It is your personal preference whether your puppy should meet this standard. Due to their structure, upright ears are less prone to ear infections than floppy ears. Upright ears also do not have be cleaned as frequently as floppy ears (about once a month versus once a week). Floppy ears tend to trap more moisture than upright ears, are therefore more prone to ear infections. Be aware that not all German shepherd puppy ears will stand up. This is known as "soft ear" and could lead to ear problems. Consult with your veterinarian or a German shepherd breeder if you are undecided on whether to tape your puppy's ears. Even with the option of taping, it is preferable for German shepherd puppy ears to stand up without assistance. You cannot wait indefinitely for your puppy's ears to stand up, thoughif they have not stood completely up by the time he is 7 to 8 months old, they are unlikely to stand up at all. Be mindful that it is not possible to have 100% certainty that your puppy's ears will stand up naturally on their own. Some puppy's ears will be upright on their own in as few as 8 weeks. For other puppies, it might take as long as 6 months before their eyes stand upright. Also, one ear may stand upright before the other.
A: Look at the structure of your puppy's ears. Decide if upright ears on your puppy is important to you. Wait to see if puppy's ears stand up naturally.

Q: You weren't put on this planet to gain approval. You are unique and valuable just the way you are. If you want to become more social, do it because you want to, and not because anyone else thinks you should. For example, when you want advice, look to the best person who can tell you what you should do, and that person is you. You know yourself better than anyone else and understand what you are comfortable with. When you learn to start trusting your own advice, you'll likely find that you won't feel the need to ask others anymore. When you begrudgingly try to behave in a manner that is out of your comfort zone, you're likely going to regret what happens. You may end up engaging in something that is against your values. Instead of enjoying yourself and growing from the experience, you may be disappointed in yourself. If your friends try to pressure you into doing something you're not comfortable with, simply tell them "no." For instance, you could say "I appreciate that you want me to have fun, but this isn't something I enjoy. I'm going to pass on this and I need you to accept and understand that." If they won't stop pressing the issue, remove yourself from the situation. If you're experimenting with new activities, or if you're unsure if something is in line with your values, take the time to reflect on how you feel afterwards. Check in with yourself you might find you enjoyed something unexpectedly, or you may decide that particular activity is not for you. If you're trying to figure out who you are, try journaling, which can help you get to know yourself and your values, which will help you make decisions in the future. Introverts may not be good at spending long amounts of time at busy parties, but they are excellent at many other things. Instead of focusing on what you don't think you're good at, or what makes you feel uncomfortable, take time to embrace what you excel at. For instance, introverts are usually excellent listeners and are pros at sympathizing with others. They are also typically self-sufficient, highly focused, and have the ability to create meaningful and deep relationships. Being around lots of people can make an introvert feel depleted. You may need to use alone time to recharge. When you're feeling tapped out, take some time for yourself so that you can be the best person you can. If you have to cancel an outing with your friends because you just aren't up to it, be honest. Tell them, "I'm sorry I can't join you today, but I'm feeling drained and need to spend time recharging. I would love to hang out with you another day." If they don't understand, there's nothing you can do. Doing something you don't feel comfortable with will only cause problems for you, and it's just not worth it. It may be helpful to look at your schedule and set aside designated "alone time" each day or week. Try to plan these so that they follow activities you expect to be draining, such as after a party.
A:
Realize the only acceptance you need is from yourself. Avoid trying to be someone you're not. Focus on what you love about yourself. Take breaks when you need to, and don't apologize for it.