The Spanish language has gained popularity over the years. It has so many speakers across the globe as of today and there are still people interested to learn the language. But how does one really learn a language and eventually speak it? The good news about this is that, a person learning the Spanish language is lucky. Why, you ask? Because there are so many Spanish terms spread all around us. The Spanish language is actually everywhere!

If this reason isn’t enough to convince you that learning Spanish can be easy, then look around. If you don’t see one Spanish word, then I could agree with you but by the rate of how fast the Spanish language is able to interest people by the minute, it sure is an interesting thing to try.

Most Spanish learners take the language by course. There are still who prefer taking Spanish courses in universities and colleges though. But if you prefer to learn Spanish at home or online while at home, it’s possible. You may want to check the internet for a list of good Spanish courses. Be sure to specify the type of Spanish lesson you would want to take as well because there could be some that are too long or too short for you.

Take note, if you are planning on a trip to a Spanish speaking country and are interested to learn basic Spanish phrases, there are free materials online which you can use. These are the type of online lessons that you can search on the web and bookmark. The trick though, is how you can learn from it since most of these are self-learning sources. Simply take a minimum of 20 minutes to a maximum of 30 out of your busy day and learn one word at a time. Keep in mind as well that it’s not how much you can say but how you say it. By the time you finish up one of these lessons, you’re surely ready for your travel.

And yet, you can still take an extensive Spanish learning program by just spending 20 minutes each day. All you have to do is do the same thing, learn one word at a time, understand it, and find out how it is used and what it is for. This approach makes it easier for you embrace Spanish in the long run.

Keep if fun too! The more you enjoy each lesson everyday, the better you are able to learn.

It’s difficult for me to imagine living in fear everyday the way Anne Frank did, and still find a way to be happy and display kindness and joy the way she did. Anne was a Jewish girl born in Germany who wrote a diary while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands. After living for 2 years in hiding, she and her group were betrayed and the Germans removed them to concentration camps where Anne Frank died 7 months later. Her father Otto was the only one to survive and was instrumental in having Anne Frank’s diary published. It is from those pages that much inspiration came for the writing of books, plays, speeches and finally several movies depicting her life and the lives of those she shared during those days of seclusion.

Her simple words, “Look at all the beauty still around you and be happy” is advice we could all use, despite our predicaments. I was drawn to the words “still left around you” in this quote because I understood her predicament. Her whole peaceful calm world eroded around her till there was nearly unbearable circumstances left. I grew up under such circumstances, though it was camouflaged as merely a dysfunctional family or home. Yet, in her innocent mind and heart she found place to be kind to those other 6 people with whom she shared her terrible circumstances while in hiding.

After contemplating Anne Frank’s situation and her quote, I began to think about my life now and my own every day predicaments and I questioned whether I was being kind enough to others around me. I have been out of work since 2005 due to a disease that has turned my world upside down and I have since become resentful and unkind. Here is where self-empowerment’s price is felt. Discovering and admitting my weaknesses is a painful process for me. But they say that knowing your faults is half the battle.

There is another quote that goes, “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” I believe it is anonymous but pay no attention to that for the moment. “Be kinder than necessary” are the words that jump out at me there. You see in this battle that exists inside ourselves to grow, to mature, we often doll out kindness, and love, in measures that we deem as fair, as if there were a shortage of these behaviors or a given amount we need worry about less we run out. No- kindness is always in plentiful supply for us to use if we just want to. Now if I were to follow the anonymous quote’s advice I would give more than is necessary. Why? Because we never know what a person has gone through that day. I could be they were having an Anne Frank day. It is observed by the writer that everyone is facing some kind of battle today.

I feel the need to apply to myself the admonition given today. I think I can find more place for kindness than I have. I think if Anne Frank can do it, so can I. Today I feel empowered because I know what I need to do. I will look at the beauty still around me and I will display kindness to all I meet, but especially to those who are close to me. I shall refresh someone like it were a spring day even though it is the winter of my life.

Single Christians who want to be in a long lasting romantic/dating relationship need to learn how to fight, if that relationship is to survive. I know that sounds like crazy advice, but the top reason why both dating and married couples breakup is precisely that they don’t know how to argue and fight.

This is very important, so let me reiterate this dating advice a different way: Learning how to fight and argue successfully is the best way to a lasting and happy dating and/or married relationship. Why? Because conflict in this life is inevitable, so you better learn how to deal with it.

Single Christians who never learn the art of fighting and arguing will most likely fail in any romantic relationship they enter. This is true whether they seek a soul mate through an online Christian dating service or any other way.

Additionally, ever meet that dating perfect match who look so good together, and claim they never argue or fight? Don’t believe it. That romance made in heaven will be headed south soon unless they acknowledge the reality of conflict and arguments, and learn how to fight.

Whether you a single person already dating or only hoping to, the following dating tips on learning how to argue and fight will be helpful:

Fighting Tip 1:

Honestly and lovingly confront the problem, but leave out the personal attacks on your dating mate. If the argument or fight devolves into attacks on person hood, the battle (and possibly the dating relationship) has been lost.

Adam did this in the Garden after God confronted him with the problem of eating forbidden fruit. Instead of honestly acknowledging the problem, he put personal blame on both Eve and God: “This woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” (Gen. 3:12)

Honestly addressing conflict sometimes means swallowing our pride by admitting we are part of the problem. Ever wonder what God would have done if Adam honestly admitted his part?

Fighting Tip 2:

Listen to what the other person is actually trying to communicate. That means having earnest eye to eye contact as you open up your ears and heart, because communication can take place verbally, by action or body language. So, it’s important that you understand all these forms.

Many dating singles have a lack of communication in the area of conflict-resolution because they’re too busy thinking about their argument response rather than listening from the heart.

Don’t forget there was a reason God (James 1:19) told us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. He wrote it in part to help us avoid the pain of making further jackasses out of ourselves. This is what happens when we are clueless and careless about what others are thinking and feeling. Which brings us to our next tip.

Fighting Tip 3:

Rephrase your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s feelings and words back to them. Rephrasing accomplishes several important things:

1) It’s lets your date know that you are really listening, and are in touch with their feelings.

2) It ensures you that there is no mis-communication. After all, if you have to have a fight with your date, make sure you are arguing over the same things.

Here’s an example: “Sue, what I hear you saying is that you are feeling upset and hurt that I went out with the boys instead of with you Saturday night. It makes you feel sad that I would rather be with them than you. Is that right?” Sue’s response back will then give you further information on how to address the problem at hand. Of course, if a rolling pin pops out at this time, you may want to run for the hills!

Fighting Tip 4:

Commit to solving the problem together, which often calls for compromising on the non-essentials. This also means going over “fighting ground rules” with your dating partner before a conflict actually arises. It may sound silly now, but it will save you heartbreak in the future.

Some suggested helpful dating ground rules on problem solving together:

1) Putting a time limit on “the silent treatment” and/or anger. Remember, the Scriptures in Ephesians 4:26 encourages you to “not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” It’s your choice, but prolonged anger will destroy any romance in a hurry.

2) Winning an argument should never be the goal, but forgiveness and reconciliation is.

Overall, please understand that you do not have to agree on every little issue. In fact, could you imagine how boring that would be?

Finally, even if not currently dating, singles can still benefit from these dating tips by going over scenarios on how they would react in given circumstances in the future.