Feeling Blue? Twenty Five Self-Care Tips that Oprah Didn't Tell You

By: Sabah Karimi, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Ways to Nurture Yourself when You've Got the Blues

The media apprach and trends to lifestyle changes seems to always be a quick-fix strategy for a recurring problem. The South Beach Diet will cure all of your food concerns. The new anti-depressant medication will take care of your worries with just the right dosage.

 The latest sleep medication Lunesta will make sure you get a good night's rest. The quick-fix for weight loss might be surgery or another new diet fad. Or why not get plastic surgery go simply remove your body hang-ups? Whatever your past approaches in bringing yourself out of a rut have been, try these simple and effective self-care tips that may even outdo all past failures! We often forget that simple may in fact, be better.

We all have our ups and downs through life, times when we feel like everything is against us and we're carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. Sometimes it's a good idea to just play up the lighter side of life, and make note of some ways to chase away the blues! Here are twenty-five self care tips that can help you nurture the most important person in your life: YOU!

1. Take a walk
Nothing beats a dismal day than a refreshing walk. Even 5-10 minutes of brisk walking outdoors can enliven your spirits and help you recharge. Take deep breathes to release the tension, and you'll notice an instant change in your well-being.

2. Connect with nature
Bring a live plant to your home or office and take pride in maintaining and preserving it. You can connect with nature in other ways, by simply affirming the beauty around you, and mindfully taking in the stars, sun, or even a cloudy day!

3. Pet your dog or cat
It is vital for human beings to connect with life; petting your dog or cat will help you nurture something else, and create a sense of companionship and love naturally.

4. Sit in the sun for 15-20 minutes
Not only is the sun a natural Vitamin D source, it helps to revitalize your energy levels. Do apply sunblock and sunscreen!

5. Journal about your thoughts
This can help clear your head, and really reflect on what is on your mind. Carry an attractive journal with you and you'll soon find yourself turning to it more often than not! Putting thoughts to paper also helps you organize your ideas, so it can bring perspective on persistent problems, thoughts, or even provide clues to your future.

6. Smile at a stranger
An exchanged smile is a beautiful gift! Share kindness with a stranger, and you'll instantly better someone else's day, if not your own.

7. Practice Yoga postures
Yoga can encourage deep breathing which leads to a more centered and peaceful feeling of well-being. Practice early in the morning, or just before bed to strengthen and focus on your day.

8. Make a to do list
Putting your ideas and thoughts on paper greatly increases your chances of getting them done. Oftentimes the 'blues' is simply a feeling of overwhelm. Discourage this pattern by writing a to do list, and checking off each item after completion. This will improve your idea about the project or task immediately!

9. Read a book or magazine article
Even a short story, joke, or interesting magazine article can get you off the negative-thought train and into a new perspective for even a few minutes. Encourage your mind to drift onto a new subject once in a while, and you are less likely to feel so bogged down. Some exciting discoveries can be found in National Geographic, the New York Times, Business Week for recent business trends, Conde Nast Traveler for a daydream escape, or any magazine of your choice that can get your mind away from your problems for a while.

10. Exercise at the gym
For the full benefits of a great workout, work towards sustaining a cardio session for 30-45 minutes. If you can break a sweat, you're on your way to releasing tension and stress!

11. Get a massage
A great nurturing activity is to enjoy the benefits of massage. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran, you can always 'disengage' from your environment through this process of natural relaxation.

12. Sit or stand in the pose you are feeling
Ever feel like curling up into a ball? Do it! You may feel much better after affirming and experiencing the thoughts you are truly feeling.

13. Call a long-distance friend or family member
Just hearing the sound of a familiar friend or relative can help you think about someone else, and even reconnect

14. Sit in a park or garden
Connecting with natural settings helps the mind and body by increasing your awareness of the world around you. At minimum, try and do this at least once per week.

15. Listen to tapes
When your own thoughts seem scrambled or you just feel 'out of sorts,' sometimes it helps to just listen to another soothing voice or story. Invest in some meditative, story, or relaxation tapes and you'll feel a boost when you just don't have the energy to muster it on your own!

16. Turn off the televison!
Although television can be a great way to unwind, it can also do a number on your mental health! Disengage for just a week, and you'll find yourself much more interested in your own life, and the world around you.

17. Learn to forgive
We often get caught up, or hung up, on the trivialities of relationships because we haven't truly forgiven another person. Learn the process, and joy, of forgiveness, and you'll realize that forgiving yourself is often the first step.

18. Make a list of your own life-improvements
Just for fun, make a list of areas of your life that you would like, or want to improve. This will give you a measure of what you can look forward to, even if you do not have it now.

19. Volunteer
The joys of volunteering are countless, but it can take some time to discover where your talents will be best suited. Learn to appreciate your strengths and apply them towards a cause you strongly believe in. The return on investment is very high!

20. Sing
Even if you're not a singer, sometimes you've just got to belt out your favorite song! Sing along to something you already know if you can't sing on your own, but clear your head with some uplifting music!

21. Soak in a hot bath
Relax and unwind in the tub, and light some candles to soothe your senses. You'll feel calm instantly, and much more refreshed the next day.

22. Change your diet
Good nutrition is key to a balanced and healthy lifestyle, but can also help when you are feeling down. Invest some time in seeking out what works best for you and your body, and work towards eliminating junk food and excess sugar that can lead to extreme highs and lows in your day or week. Try a variation of the South Beach, Atkins, or Low-Carb diets if you must, but keep in mind that any crash dieting or abrupt changes will only cause more anxiety for you. The essential elements of all fad diets is balance; try and follow a balanced approach to your current food choices, and you will make slow but steady changes for a lifetime.

23. Cut back on alcohol
When you're feeling down, drinking may relieve your worry temporarily, but it will not help you solve any problems. Drink only out of necessity when you've got troubles on your mind, and you'll feel much stronger and resolute as a result!

24. Write a poem
Even the least creative person can scribble down random thoughts, ideas, or something that rhymes. Tap into your creativity and pick up some styles that suit your personality. Take up a creative writing class at your local college, or search online free poetry workshops to brush up on skills and techniques.

25. Take a nap
Sometimes you might just need a mental break. Take a short 15-20 minute nap, and you'll feel fresher and energized.

About the author

Sabah Karimi writes beauty, style, luxury travel, fitness, wellness, and personal finance content for several Y! channels. She is a full-time freelance digital copywriter, content writer, and new media marketing specialist.

Six Steps to Help You Forgive Those Who Have Hurt You

By: Nicole Lamarre, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Step-by-Step Forgiveness Instructions 

Been hurt? Offended? Ignored? Abused? We all have, to at least some extent, haven't we? And anyone who has experienced hurt at the hands of another also knows that forgiving that person is often a very difficult thing.

Forgiveness is a good thing. A necessary thing. A healing thing. But it is not an easy thing.
I learned a few years ago that there are three kinds of forgiveness. The first is judicial. This type of forgiveness can only be given by God. It is the pardoning of sin, a gift of grace.
The second is psychological. It is the victim's job. It is letting go of the desire for personal revenge and negative feelings toward the offender while extending grace to him or her.

The third is reconciliatory forgiveness. It is the offender's job. It is at this point that the relationship is restored or least restoration is sought/offered. In order for this to happen, the offender must be repentant.
I can not do anything about judicial forgiveness, save accepting that God forgives and offers mercy. And as the offended, I am not responsible for reconciliatory forgiveness. I do have one responsibility, however, and that is to work on the second one, psychological forgiveness. Taking steps toward forgiving my offender keeps bitterness from settling in. I must grieve over the offense (anger and resentment are natural reactions to deliberate wrongdoing) and then release the offense and forgive my offender.

Sounds simple enough, but we know it is not. Just saying - or thinking - "I forgive them" does not make it happen. No matter how much we would like to wave a magic wand of absolution and erase the pain and hurt, we quickly learn that forgiveness is a process that takes time and effort.

Walk with me through six steps to forgiveness that I learned about a few years ago. I have personally used this process to find forgiveness and healing as well as witnessed others journeying through it successfully.

Step One: Feel the Pain
That person hurt you. It is okay to grieve - nay, it is necessary! You are experiencing a variety of emotions, including anger, shock, and frustration, to name a few. Allow yourself the time and place to feel these emotions.

We all have an emotional "tank" so to speak. Imagine a barrel, and inside the barrel are your emotions. When we stuff emotion after emotion after emotion into that barrel, choosing not to deal with them, and trying to forget about them, they do not magically disappear. That barrel begins to fill. Higher and higher, the level keeps going up and up and up! And eventually, if we do not take the time to empty that barrel - really feel and allow ourselves time to process our emotions - that thing is going to spring a leak.

Have you ever sprung an emotional leak? Had a moment where one off-handed comment meant in fun set you into a tirade of anger or tears? One of those moments where when the dust of your harsh words or flying fists settled, you wondered, "Where in the world did that come from?"

One might call this "stuffing", and as one who has stuffed and been at the receiving end of someone else's "leak", I can tell you that it is not a pretty sight. We have to allow ourselves the opportunity to feel all of the emotions that are involved in the offense.

One practical way to do this is journaling. Write it down. Write a letter to the person who hurt you, then throw it away. Or find a trusted friend or family member who is willing to be a sounding board, someone who can listen without offering commentary. Someone whose shoulder you can cry on if needed and who will not share your delicate situation with others.
It is paramount that you FEEL the pain, as difficult as that is. You can not heal what you can not feel.

Step Two: Visualize Separating the Person from the Behavior

Making a concerted effort to separate the person from their behavior in your mind and heart can be excruciatingly difficult. By "letting them go", you are giving up your control, your "right" to go over and over again in your mind what they did to you.

Often times what the offender has done is an intrinsic part of how we are (especially in abusive situations). This step may take considerable time and effort. It is, however, necessary.

Put your hands in a palm-up position, side by side in front of you, as if you are offering an item to someone. Look at one hand and say, "This is [insert offender's name here]" and then look at the other and say, "This is [insert what they did to you here]". Now pull your hands apart in a sweeping motion while saying "I am separating you, [offender's name] from what you did to me." Do this several times.

You may be thinking, "You really want me to do some hand motions? Isn't that kind of silly?" Cast those thoughts aside and enter into this activity with an open mind. In our ceremony-driven society (think weddings, funerals, graduations, etc.), the visualization and vocalization of separating the offender from the behavior is actually very cathartic.

Step Three: Rage at the Behavior
The third step is to rage at the behavior. What they did was wrong. It hurt - a lot! Acknowledge that. Feel from deep within the anger, the hurt, the betrayal, the frustration. Remember, you can not heal what you can not feel.

I have seen this step handled in a group counseling session with a counselor standing in as the offender. That is a great way to work through this step, however, that type of opportunity may not be available to you - and it is too important to work through this process to wait for an "ideal" situation. Instead, try journaling your thoughts and feelings for this step in the process. Write it all down. Everything. Every emotion, every thought. Hold nothing back. Give yourself plenty of time in a safe place to complete this.

Step Four: Release the Offender and the Pain
Next you have to release the offender and the pain. It is giving up your right to revenge. Totally releasing them and your hurt to God. Giving up your control.

Take out what you wrote in step three and find a secluded place outdoors. Place it inside a fire-proof container and set it on fire - burn it! Allow the offender and the pain they caused you to become nothing more than ashes. While you watch it burn, say aloud, "I am releasing you, [name of offender], and what you did to me, to God. It is all His now. God, it is all yours."

When all that remains is ashes, bury them. You are, in essence, having a funeral for this event - those actions - and the hold they have had over your life.
It is time to let go. And trust me - I speak from experience - it is worth it.

Step Five: Express Love to the Offender
The last steps are the hard ones. Where the rubber meets the road. Putting action into what was probably handled privately, personally. The reason for great apprehension - and deservedly so - especially in abusive situations.

I am not sure that "express love" is even the best way to describe this step. In essence, now it is time to take a step forward and do something in the way of contact with the offender (provided you can do this safely). This does not mean letting them back into your life with all of the liberties they once had. Perhaps what they did to you changed your relationship with them drastically. This is not license to "reboot" that relationship and pick up right where you left off.

Once when I came to this step in this process, my step of expressing love was simply smiling and saying hello when I saw the offender a few months later at a meeting we both attended. Was it difficult? You bet! But I can not even begin to describe the sense of peace that came over me - and a sense of healthy pride - that I had taken one small step toward total healing from the hurt they had caused.

Romans 12:19-21 says, "Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good."
It will be a baby step, and that is all that it has to be. But actually putting your words into action has a way of bringing a peace and contentment that is indescribable.

Step Six: Express Bold Love to the Offender
This step might be more succinctly stated as continue making an effort to express love to your offender. You took that first step of saying hi when you saw them in the grocery store. A few weeks later you hear that they lost their job - perhaps you could send them a little note saying you are praying for them.
Baby steps. One at a time.
Why?
Because God has told me to "do good" to those who have hurt me.

Read Jesus' words in Luke 6:27-28:
But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
Wow.

This goes against everything we naturally think and feel when we have been wounded. And yet Jesus gives us this radical instruction. And He put His words into action not too long after that. Bloody and battered, hanging from a cross, just moments before He took His last breath, He looked toward heaven and said:
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

A Few Final Thoughts:
When you have been hurt, boundaries are automatically set, and rightly so, and these boundaries correlate directly with the nature of the offense. I am not always sure where the line is when it comes to those final two steps. When exactly does one step out - and how far - and when should one draw back to protect oneself?
This is where - and why - you will need to spend a lot of time praying about what you can safely do in the way of contact with your offender. Any actions you might take will also depend on if the offender has even acknowledged their offense or sought reconciliation with you.

And in the case of physical, mental, and/or sexual abuse, you must tread carefully. Do not make any steps toward contact with your offender without first seeking the advice and direction of a counselor and/or your pastor.

Forgiveness is a roller coaster ride. Just about the time I think I have "arrived" - that I have forgiven - a stab of pain, a memory of the wound, surfaces.

Perhaps it is just God reminding me that He is in control, and I am not. That I can not live my life in peace and joy without releasing my emotions, my pain, my wounds to Him. When I try to hold on and handle things on my own, it just hurts me and those closest to me.

When I look back over some of the hurts in my life, the ones that I have worked through with this process, I have realized that I can now thank Him for the pain. I now see how much it has helped me, how much I have learned. It is still scary when I sense Him asking me to take what He has taught me and apply it practically. Because that means being vulnerable.

I hate being vulnerable. But here is the thing. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.
I am weak when it comes to forgiveness - we all are. And once you embark on this journey of finding forgiveness, it will take time. You may have to repeat a few steps, and more than once. And that is okay.
It is time to take that first step toward letting go and letting God.

"And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
He will be with you. Every step of the way.

Published by Nicole Lamarre

Nicole Lamarre is a Communications Coordinator at a non-denominational church, where she creates and produces various print pieces. She enjoys writing for recreation and personal fulfillment.

 

22 Ways Couples Can Overcome Infidelity

By: By Dr. Susan Heitler, Creator Of "Power Of Two Marriage", Counselor Laurie Moore, Michael Howard, Julia Flood, Dr. Laurie Weiss, Teresa Maples, Kevin Toney

Learn how your relationship can pass even the toughest test.

When someone you love betrays your trust, it can feel like an insurmountable hurdle. Our experts beg to differ. With a little TLC, it's completely possible for your relationship to survive infidelity. Here's how:

1. Practice gratitude. No matter what happened, returning to gratitude will set the groundwork for positive transformation. If you feel consumed by betrayal and despair, take a moment to focus on appreciation. Think about everything you appreciate about your mate. After a few minutes of refocusing in this way, notice what changes inside you. —Laurie Moore

2. Fully face your feelings. When you are hurt, you may tend to blame, run, fight, judge or explain. If you can stop and fully feel the heartache tenderly, you will be surprised at what is possible. When you step fully into the sensation in your heart, beyond thought and explanation, the feeling begins to shift. Note: If you are suffering from a mental illness or severe emotional disturbance, use this practice only with the facilitation of a licensed therapist. —Laurie Moore

3. Clarify your purpose. When hurt, you may tend to think about the problem. Recycling the problem can escalate the pain. If you can focus on the solution you seek, you will naturally head toward answers.  —Laurie Moore

4. Develop a deeper level of emotional intimacy in the relationship. Infidelity is almost never about sex. Rather, it is about intimacy and unmet needs. To recover or heal a relationship following infidelity, you must learn how to become more emotionally intimate. This emotional intimacy comes from spending time together, communicating and sharing your lives together. In other words, you must take a risk and be vulnerable. Give your partner a chance to draw close to you. —Michael Howard

5. Do things together. Couples that spend time together and have shared interests recover from infidelity much more quickly and effectively. Discover or rediscover things that you can do together that you both enjoy. Keep in mind that not all hobbies or activities are expensive; there are plenty of things you can do together that do not cost money. —Michael Howard

6. Form a vision of the past and the future. One of the ways that couples can heal from infidelity is to think back to when they first met or got married. How did you fall in love? Why did you get married? What did the relationship look like back then? Now, think about the future you wanted together ... enjoying your golden years of retirement, traveling, playing with the grandchildren, enjoying family activities. What does that look like? Develop an image of these things and how nice it can be to share this with the person you love most — the person you married. —Michael Howard

7. Normalize your feelings. You are mad at your partner, but you're also experiencing painful thoughts about yourself. You wonder who you are and what you meant to your partner, or if you did anything to cause this, possibly doubting your attractiveness or self-worth. Reading books or blogs on the subject might help you see what is normal in reaction to discovering betrayal. —Julia Flood

8. Ask about the things you need to know. How long did this relationship last? Was it physical/sexual? What was the extent of the lies that were told in order to conceal it, and how much money was spent? Is there a risk of an STD or pregnancy? —Julia Flood

9. Don't ask about the details you don't need to know. You may have the urge to push to learn the x-rated details of the sexual encounters or ask your partner to compare you to the person they had the affair with. My advice is: don't! Keep the focus on your relationship, not the affair partner. —Julia Flood

10. Postpone final decisions. It might take a long time to figure out what led to this crisis and where to go from here. Your first impulse is probably not the wisest. Try to postpone permanent decisions until you can think more clearly. —Julia Flood

11. Ride the initial shock wave. Allow an initial wave of shock, pain, fear and grief to build and then break, like a wave at the beach. Wait for this initial phase to pass before you attempt to figure out what to do in response to your new reality. Impulsive angry actions are likely to make a bad situation worse. —Susan Heitler

12. Immunize yourselves. As a couple, use the infidelity to immunize yourselves against repeat episodes. Looking back at what happened, identify and write a list of each step down the path to its occurrence. Then, write out what each of you wish you had done differently at each step, so that you will stay safe in similar future circumstances. —Susan Heitler

13. Launch a better-than-ever relationship. Take a relationship education course that starts by helping you identify the weak areas in your relationship and then strengthens them for future happiness together. The stronger your skills for talking together about sensitive issues are, the less likely you will be to drift apart or to let anger rifts lead to resentment or fights. —Susan Heitler

14. Take turns listening even when it hurts. Make appointments for each of you to just listen to the other. The speaker should speak briefly and let the listener paraphrase what he or she heard. Often, the listener will hear only part of what is said. Repeat what was missed, and check before going on to the next point.  —Laurie Weiss

15. Tell the truth, as completely as you can. The unfaithful spouse can share the thoughts and feelings that led to the choices that were made. Doing this helps you both understand the underlying problems you face. The injured spouse can also acknowledge his or her contribution to creating the circumstances that led to the infidelity. —Laurie Weiss

16. Grieve together. Even if you choose to stay together, something has been irretrievably lost: your innocent belief that you would be true to each other and all that implied. Whatever you create from here will be different, hopefully better, but definitely different. Grieving helps you give up your past dreams to make room for your future. —Laurie Weiss

17. Recommit yourself to the relationship. Healing together is difficult, if not impossible, when one person has their foot out the door. If you want to stay together, act like you mean it. The betrayed partner is going to feel hurt, angry and emotional. The partner who strayed should allow this emotionality and validate it as being real by saying things like, "Of course you are feeling hurt, I messed up." The emotional fallout from infidelity can take years to heal. —Teresa Maples

18. Seek professional help. Look for a therapist who specializes in infidelity. There is a reason why the infidelity happened. Both of you need help to understand the underlying unmet needs, and how to heal from the breach in the relationship. If you knew how to fix your problems, you would have already done it. Instead, allow a professional to help you build a more mutually satisfying relationship. —Teresa Maples

19. Build trust. You can do this by having your actions match up with your words. If you say, "I love you," back it up with loving actions. If you say, "I want our couple-ship to work," stop all contact with the affair partner, and stick with it. There is nothing worse for your partner than to find out you are not being honest. —Teresa Maples

20. Get out of denial. The person who committed infidelity has to openly admit their wrong doings. Be truthful, honest and willing to cooperate with everything your mate requests from you. Decide to fight for your family and be willing to do whatever is necessary to save your marriage. This is crucial in trying to rebuild the trust that has been so badly broken. —Kevin Toney

21. Get help. Each partner must commit to couple and individual counseling. Look for a counselor who administers both practical and spiritual guidance. Without both aspects, it's impossible to heal and restore your marriage. Seek God's help and allow His standard of what is right and wrong to direct you and your mate during the healing process. —Kevin Toney

22. Start fresh. Pray together, forgive one another and allow each other time to heal in your own individual time. Let go of old thoughts, behaviors and anything that triggers a thirst for infidelity. Replace them with anything and anyone that encourages you to be committed, honorable and faithful in your marriage. Seek new couple relationships with those who have been married for a long period of time and can share what makes their marriage work successfully. —Kevin Toney

Can You Ever Trust a Cheater Again?

By: Crystal Ray, Yahoo! Contributor Network

A person cheating on a significant other is nothing new, but contrary to popular belief, men are not necessarily the worst offenders. Women cheat on men too, and the damage that is inflicted on a relationship is deep and long-lasting. Trust is fragile, and when trust is broken it can be glued together, but fine cracks will always remain. The harm that cheating causes spreads like cancer, and if the issue is laid to rest by the offender and is not open for discussion, wounds caused by a genuine lack of trust will continue to fester and eventually destroy the relationship.

 

It is difficult to trust a cheater, even when all seems well. As the dust finally settles and forgiveness has been granted, the person who was cheated on will have more time to reflect. Even though the cheater seemed to be forgiven at the time, it is possible that the one who was cheated on will change their mind. Whether a person is a perpetrator or a victim of cheating, it is important to remember the past, or the relationship might not have a future.

Will I Ever Be Trusted Again?

This is a question that often comes to mind after being caught cheating on a spouse or a significant other. The cheater sometimes decides the relationship is not worth saving or working on because he or she will never have their partner's trust again. Once broken, trust is very difficult to repair, but it can be repaired with patience and a great deal of time. Because of the issue of trust, the cheater should not be surprised when they are questioned on how their time was spent or how shared money was spent. Mysterious telephone numbers and online activities will also be scrutinized. The cheater gave their significant other a real reason not to trust their motives, and just because they were forgiven does not mean the person they cheated on will ever forget. It can take years to rebuild trust.

The Liar's Punishment and the Cheater

One of my favorite quotes comes from George Bernard Shaw. He said, "The liar's punishment is not that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else." This is very profound and true. Those who have cheated on a significant other may find themselves wondering if their significant other will someday decide to do the same. A cheater's transgressions can come back to haunt them. Sometimes cheating opens doors that would have otherwise never been opened, and a person who never fully recovered after being cheated on is sometimes better able to justify doing the same. They bide their time as old wounds fester, and they sometimes become exhausted with the relationship because they feel they must constantly check up on the former cheater. No one wants to spend the rest of their life playing detective. As a result of a lack of trust, the relationship eventually crumbles.

The Benefits of Counseling to Gain Back Trust

Many people who choose not to go to counseling after cheating or being cheated on make that decision because they know that talking about the issue cannot take back the act of cheating. Someone who has cheated on a significant other can never take back what happened, but they can help repair trust. Burying the past will not keep it from coming back with a vengeance. The cheater might want the entire issue to just go away, but the person he or she hurt definitely remembers, and even though all might seem fine, the former cheater may never be fully trusted again.

No matter the circumstance, do not pretend that cheating never happened if it in fact did. Instead, welcome the opportunity to go to counseling and discuss the issue. Talking about the problem and having patience while trust is slowly rebuilt is the best way to regain that trust once again - even if you were the one who initially caused the damage.

Published by Crystal Ray

Crystal Ray is an award-winning freelance writer and professional home decorator and designer from the Chicago area. She won the People s Media Award from Associated Content in 2009 as well as numerous award.