# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Although my writing often focuses on chronic illness, anyone can feel the pain of loneliness. I hope the tips in this article will be helpful for everyone:

1. Don't blame yourself in any way, shape, or form.

Trust me, it will only make you feel worse. Blaming yourself for how you feel is never skillful, productive, or kind. A host of causes and conditions have come together in your life to create this painful feeling. It's not your fault.

2. Seek relief from a non-human "friend."

There are lots of possibilities-a pet, comfort food, a favorite book or a nature show on TV, or even just sitting outside for a while. We can find solace in many things that ease the pain of loneliness. Experiment and see what helps you feel better.

3. Connect with a human friend if you can.

Think of someone who is always supportive or who simply makes you laugh, and give that person a call or send them an email. You may resist doing this at first because it can be hard to reach out to others when you're feeling lonely. In my experience, however, it's worth giving myself the little extra push that's needed to contact someone I can count on.

4. Do something creative, no matter how simple.

It need not be earth-shatteringly creative. Try a coloring book or a jigsaw puzzle, make a collage, or experiment with needlework of some kind. Or think outside the box and come up with something that is fun and soothing for you to do.

5. Help someone in need.

Helping others eases loneliness because it makes us be less self-focused. It could be an elderly neighbor or someone on a social-media site who might benefit from a supportive comment.

6. Call to mind others who are feeling lonely and send them kind and compassionate thoughts.

Wishing well to others who are lonely creates a special connection between the two of you. Even more, when you realize that you're not alone in your loneliness, you'll feel less lonely. At least, that's how this little practice works for me.

7. Visualize some place you'd like to be-a fun gathering, the seashore, a sporting event-and see if, just for a moment, you can feel happy for those who are there.

Feeling happy for others even when they're doing what you wish you could do can make you feel as if you're there with them, and that eases the pain of loneliness. Even if feeling happy for others only lasts a short time, it's soothing and healing-and amazingly, it can even make you feel happy! (For a more detailed explanation of this practice, see my recent post, " Feeling Happy for Others Can Make You Happy.")

8. Treat loneliness as an old friend who's dropped in for a visit (despite not having received an invitation).

This is a way of not resisting how you're feeling; resisting only makes you feel worse. Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh asks us to take care of our anger and other painful emotions. Making friends with how we feel is self-compassion in action. So take care of your loneliness as if it's an old friend. Sometimes I say, "Hello, loneliness. I see you've come to visit again for a while." When you let painful emotions into your heart with compassion, it disarms them and that takes away their sting. This eases your pain.

9. Remind yourself that life is not always fun, and that tomorrow is a new day.

Nobody gets their way all the time and-let's face it-life isn't always fun. This is true for everyone. The bottom line is that loneliness is one of those unpleasant moments in your life. That's all it is. In the words of Rainer Maria Rilke, "No feeling is final." If you can be patient with your loneliness, it's likely that by tomorrow, it will have eased a bit. Then, the next day, it's likely to have eased even more. All emotions are impermanent. They arise and pass, arise and pass.

10. Sing.

It's almost impossible to feel lonely when you're singing. I've tried it, and it works. Sing solo or let your favorite singer keep you company as you sing together.

I know from personal experience that loneliness can be hard to bear. I hope this piece has given you some useful ideas to try.
© 2016 Toni Bernhard. Thank you for reading my work. I'm the author of three books. All of them contain more suggestions and practices for easing the pain of loneliness: All of my books are available in audio format from Amazon, audible.com, and iTunes. Visit www.tonibernhard.com for more information. Using the envelope icon, you can email this piece to others. I'm active on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. See also "How to Turn Loneliness into Sweet Solitude" and "10 Quotations and Reflections on Loneliness."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Things to Try When You're Feeling Lonely

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Although my writing often focuses on chronic illness, anyone can feel the pain of loneliness. I hope the tips in this article will be helpful for everyone: 1. Don't blame yourself in any way, shape, or form. Trust me, it will only make you feel worse.

# data[].attributes.body
- Having a place to call home forever
- being loved
- not being alone

These are Jane's ultimate dreams because she has been moving place to place and has not had a permanent place of residence. She never felt like she had a home. She has never felt loved by anyone wherever she would go. She has not had any permanent friends or people in her life so far that are positive influences.

# data[].attributes.body
We believe that this would be Jane Eyre's favorite song because it is a empowering song that pumps up the listener and gives them the feeling that they can get through what they have been going through.

# data[].attributes.body
- "I like rudeness a great deal better than flattery."
- "But they know very well you are thinking of another then they, and that he is not thinking of you..."

# data[].attributes.body
Along with the tattoo, this is what encompasses Jane and is what we believe her personality is like. Throughout the book she wanted to go and explore, but she couldn't because she was held back until she came out of the cage and spread her wings and finally went to Thornfield.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Did you just sign up for piano lessons and aren't sure where to start? Or have you been playing for years but don't seem to show any signs of improvement? People who play the piano - whether they're professionals or amateurs - should always aspire to be a better musician and pianist. Whether you've been taking piano lessons for half a decade or have yet to touch the instrument, improvement and progression are key. From improving finger strength to constantly challenging yourself, here are a few different ways you can become a better piano player.

Manage Your Practice Time

If you're the type who practices whenever you have spare time, this could be why you haven't seen much improvement. Practicing the piano shouldn't be low on your list of priorities. If it's at the bottom of the list - along with cleaning out your rain gutters or organizing your spice rack - you should schedule some time each week to sit down and practice your instrument. Whether you practice every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6 to 8pm, or every weekday for an hour, try not to allow anything to deter you from practicing. Commitment to practice is as important to improving your abilities as finding the right teacher. If you do find yourself with extra time, tack on an extra hour to your practice routine.

Practice Sight Reading

While sitting down and practicing the same piece of music until you play it perfectly is a good way to practice, switch it up every once in awhile by throwing a random piece into the mix. When practicing your sight reading, don't worry too much about making mistakes. Simply play the piece from start to finish to your best ability, and run through it a few more times for good measure. Not only does this type of practice improve your improvisation skills, but sight reading is essential for those who are interested in joining a band or orchestra. When you do make mistakes, don't look at them as a disappointment or burden. If you consider mistakes a crucial part of the learning process, you'll likely find that practicing the piano will become more enjoyable.

Slow Down

Too many people falsely believe that the true test of a musician is how quickly they can play. While playing quickly makes sense in some contexts, those who play too quickly may start to miss notes and play sloppily. If you find yourself missing notes in a particular section, don't rush through that section as quickly as possible- pause the metronome, slow down, and practice it until you get it right. No matter how well you think you know a piece, practice it at a slower pace every three or four run-throughs. After all, how can you ever expect to play a piece quickly if you can't play it at a slowed down pace?

The MA-1 is a compact metronome that solidly covers all the basics with a broad tempo range and a rich variety of beats and rhythm patterns. The MA-1 also shows the beat in an innovative way that makes practicing easier. The MA-1 is available in your choice of two-tone color schemes: blue and black, or black and red. With stylish design and reliable functionality, this is an indispensible rhythm training aide for any musician. Learn More

Keep Challenging Yourself

This may sound like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at how many pianists stop challenging themselves once they've become semi-proficient at playing the instrument. Just as a bodybuilder must lift heavier weights in order to get stronger, a piano player must continually play more and more difficult pieces in order to improve. If you aren't sure which piece of music you should choose to challenge yourself, ask your instructor. They'll know better than anyone what your strengths and weaknesses are, and they should be able to pick a piece that's challenging but not impossible. For example, if you struggle playing with your left hand they should be able to pick a piece that focuses mostly on the left hand.

Make Sure Your Goals are Realistic

Whether your goal is to become a music theory master or memorize your latest piece from start to finish, make sure the goals you're setting are realistic. If you're expecting to become a genius at playing the piano overnight, think again- becoming better at the instrument requires hard work, dedication, and plenty of practice. We're only human and, as humans, we tend to dream big. If you're struggling to meet your goals, take a moment to re-evaluate them. Make a list and, for extra input, go over the list with your piano teacher. They know better than anyone what your current skill set is, and will be able to determine whether your goals are realistic or too lofty.

Play Classical Pieces

If you're of the mindset that "classical music is boring", hear us out. Classical music might not be the most interesting genre of music to learn and play, but it's widely known to be very technically demanding. Once you start getting into some of the more complex pieces you'll start seeing improvements in your technical abilities. Not only does classical music set a solid foundation of basics upon which you can expand, but it'll challenge you to become a more well-rounded musician. If you've never played classical music before, pieces by Bach and Chopin are a good place to start. Just make sure to choose pieces that will challenge you because, after all, you won't improve if you only play what you already know.

This tremendous piano solo collection contains 400 pages of great music literature: sonatas, toccatas, preludes, waltzes, romantic short pieces - plus themes from symphonies, operas & ballets, and much more! Learn More

Practice Playing in Public

As a pianist, it's important that you get used to playing the piano in public without becoming a bundle of nerves. If you have a performance or recital in your near future, prepare yourself for the big day by putting on a mini-recital for your friends and family. Whether you play for an audience of one or one hundred, feeling comfortable during a performance is key. Once you're comfortable playing for your parents, invite some cousins or friends over for a recital. From there, start performing at private events, including Christmas parties, picnics, or school functions. Eventually, playing in front of others will be no big deal and those sweaty palms and butterflies in your stomach will become a thing of the past.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tips on How to Become a Better Piano Player

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Did you just sign up for piano lessons and aren't sure where to start? Or have you been playing for years but don't seem to show any signs of improvement? People who play the piano - whether they're professionals or amateurs - should always aspire to be a better musician and pianist.

# data[].attributes.body
Jane would want to travel to New Orleans because it is a big city. Jane seemed to enjoy the upscale from Lowood to Thornfield. She might enjoy the rich, artisan feel of the city and the vibe the city gives off. New Orleans also contains a lot a French architecture and culture which we think Jane would like considering some of her French background. "...yes, I saw it; both the shire and the town. —shire was seventy miles nearer London than the remote county where I now resided: that was a recommendation to me. I longed to go where there was life and movement." pg. 90

# data[].attributes.body
- When Mr. Rochester took Jane to Millcote they picked out wedding dresses and Jane wanted a simple satin dress that wasn't a funky color. She is simple and sophisticated and this dress shows that.
- "With anxiety I watched his eye rove over the gay stores: he fixed on a rich silk of the most brilliant amethyst dye, and a superb pink satin... I should certainly never venture to wear his choice."
pg. 284

# data[].attributes.body
- "I am no bird and no net ensnares me..." (Pg. 268)
We believe that modern Jane would get a tattoo of her uncaged bird because that is her spirit animal and what she lives by throughout the book. She doesn't live by the status quo and isn't afraid to tell people what she is thinking.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
No matter what kind of artist you are, chances are that a pencil and a piece of paper figured prominently in your early art life. Throughout my career as a character designer and visual development artist - as I've learned how to draw - I've realised that having a strong respect and understanding of the process and fundamentals of drawing is essential to becoming a better artist, and what's more fundamental than pencil skills?

Before you start you need to decide upon the best pencil for your drawing style. Next, follow my seven fundamental tips for next-level pencil drawing, and take a look at the video above demonstrating these pencil drawing techniques in action.

If this inspires you to educate yourself further, why not head over to Schoolism.com to discover courses, workshops and more?

01. Master pencil grip

When I draw, I use not the tip but the side of the lead in order to maximise its utility. Holding my pencil like I would charcoal also keeps it sharper longer.

When covering large areas, I shade with my pencil perpendicular to the line I'm drawing to get wide, soft lines. For details, I hold my pencil parallel to my lines to get sharp, narrow marks. The only time I use the point is when I'm working on intricate details.

02. Mix up shading techniques

I like to shade in two main ways: the first is with all of my lines going in the same direction, which makes my shading appear more cohesive. This pencil drawing technique also helps my details pop out from the lines I'm using for shading.

The second method I use is working in patches, which help define shape. Patches of lines go around the form, which help keep things in perspective. This technique is also great for backgrounds and adding texture.

03. Control line weight

The next drawing technique concerns line weight. Having control over my line weight is a great way to separate objects from one another, and can help emphasise shadows. Thicker lines can fade and disappear into the shadows, which can help convey the 3D form.

I try to avoid outlining my drawings because this tends to make things look flat and deadens the 3D effect. Breaks and spaces in my lines show form in the lights and shadows.

04. Build up your sketch

When I start drawing, I plan and explore using loose lines, and avoid committing too early with hard, dark lines. As I progress my lines will change, so checking and rechecking my work is vital. I darken my lines and add details at the end. I don't focus on one area for too long to prevent overdrawing.

When drawing something symmetrical, I focus on the spaces between the lines, and of course keep reevaluating as I go along.

05. Check and recheck

When I've checked my drawing, I check again. I have to nail down its underpinnings before I can add details. I really avoid guessing at the details; I want to make sure things are symmetrical and look right before putting down stronger and harder lines. I constantly ask myself, does this feel right?

If anything seems off - even if I can't immediately put my finger on what it is - I trust my gut and troubleshoot my drawing before continuing.

06. Prevent pencil smudges

This is a valuable beginner's tip: I always put a piece of paper under my hand to keep from smudging my drawing.

I also like to view my drawing in a mirror, through a camera, or step away from it. This way, I can get different vantage points on my drawing and detect if anything is off.

07. Know when to finish

Like every other artist I know, even after I've signed my name, I will sometimes continue tinkering with my drawings. I can always find something to change if I look hard enough, so it can be difficult to tell when a piece is truly finished.

But remember that a drawing can be overdone! Eventually, I make a conscious decision to put my drawing away and start something new. That's when I consider my drawing done. Well, maybe...

I hope these pencil drawing techniques have helped - join in the conversation by adding your tips and tricks in the comments on Facebook or Twitter.
Related articles:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Drawing techniques: 7 fundamentals of pencil drawing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
No matter what kind of artist you are, chances are that a pencil and a piece of paper figured prominently in your early art life. Throughout my career as a character designer and visual development artist - as I've learned how to draw - I've realised that having a strong respect and understanding of the process and fundamentals of drawing is essential to becoming a better artist, and what's more fundamental than pencil skills?

# data[].attributes.body
We chose this for our vision board because throughout the book we see that Jane has been left by her family and friends both by their choice and by nature. We see that Jane has been damaged by this because she pushes everyone who could potentially get close to her away.

# data[].attributes.body
We chose this for the vision board because we see in the book that Jane always wears simple dresses and never wants to be too dressy. We believe that Jane would also wear simple patterns to dress up her outfits a little more. In the book Jane never had much more than a simple dress. It said, "This additional ceremony seemed somewhat stately. However, I repaired to my room, and, with Mrs. Fairfax's aid, replaced my black stuff dress by one of black silk; the best and the only additional one I had..." pg. 123

# data[].attributes.body
Jane thinks that Mr. Rochester is handsome and cute but also ugly sometimes and this is Mr. Rochester from the movie that is a little ugly but handsome at the same time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
With so much excitement about learning to sew, improving skills and the new Sew Crazy Monthly Challenges, I thought it would be a good time to pull together a list of all sorts of sewing tips for beginners, pros and everyone in between. Let's face it, probably almost all of us have things to learn and things to work on in our sewing, so today I've got a list of 50 Sewing Tips, Tricks and Techniques to help you in your projects.

Sewing Tips for Beginners and Pros:

Here we go! I've broken it down into categories to make it easier. If you find other great tips and tricks online that you think would benefit others, feel free to send them to me and I can add them in.

Getting Started:
Understanding Your Sewing Machine Sewing Dictionary-Sewing Terms Defined What Supplies Will I Need to Start Sewing? The Sewing Pledge
Basics/Beginners:
How to Sew a Straight Line The ZigZag Stitch Winding and Threading Bobbin Simple Steps to Improve Your Skills Basting 101 How to Sew Piping Turning and Top Stitching Adding Elastic in a Casing How to Sew Ruffles How to Insert a Zipper How to Sew Buttonholes How to Applique Shirring/Smocking with Elastic Thread Clipping and Notching Curves Tips for Sewing Corners and Squares Using a Stretch Stitch Hand Stitching Making Crisp, Even Hems Sewing With a Double Needle Mitered Corners Sewing Pleats Serge without a Serger Tip for Sewing on Vinyl How to Draft and Sew a Skirt Hemming Jeans How to Finish Seams How to Sew a Dart Tips for Perfect Pressing Taking Your Measurements Pattern Cutting Understanding Patterns Which Fabric to Buy? Understanding How to Buy Fabric Pre-washing Fabric Sewing with Cuddle Fabric How to Sew on Leather How to Sew with Lace Sew with Laminates Sewing on Knits Cleaning Your Sewing Machine Understanding Thread Tension A Guide to Sewing Machine Feet Deciphering the Marks on Measuring Tape Using Stay Tape Using a Rotary Mat and Cutter Attaching Snaps Understanding Interfacing and Lining Learn to Sew Kids Series Teaching Kids to Sew
Couple more things. If you aren't already, I would love for you to join us in the Sew Crazy Monthly Challenge!

And be sure to join me on Pinterest where I pin sewing tips, sewing projects and all sorts of other great sewing idea.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With so much excitement about learning to sew, improving skills and the new Sew Crazy Monthly Challenges, I thought it would be a good time to pull together a list of all sorts of sewing tips for beginners, pros and everyone in between.

# data[].attributes.body
We chose this engagement ring for our vision board because Jane has such as simple style and the ring matches that type of style. Rochester proposed with this to fancy Jane's taste in style and think of her even though he is more of an extravagant person.