everyone. Welcome back to the English
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Dialogue Podcast. I'm Mike.
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And I'm Emma. Thanks for joining us.
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Today we're discussing something many of
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us struggle with. Prioritizing
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self-care. It's a topic that's been
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coming up a lot lately, Emma.
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Definitely. People are busier, more
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stressed, and often neglect their own
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needs. Before we dive in, let's define
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what we mean by self-care. Self-care is
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more than just taking a bath or getting
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a massage, although it can include those
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things. It's about consciously nurturing
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your physical, emotional, and mental
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well-being. It involves making choices,
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sometimes small, sometimes big, that
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help you feel more balanced, resilient,
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and centered in your everyday life.
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That's a great definition. Self-care can
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be practical and simple.
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Exactly. It might be choosing to go to
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bed early or taking a short walk at
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lunchtime. So many people think it's
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indulgent or selfish, though. Yes,
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there's often guilt attached. Let's
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explore why that is. In many cultures,
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productivity and achievement are prized
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above rest. True. We often feel we must
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earn rest rather than seeing it as
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essential. If we keep pushing and never
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recharge, what happens? We burn out.
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Then we're no good to ourselves or
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Exactly. Self-care isn't just personal
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indulgence. It's long-term maintenance.
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Think of it like keeping your car fueled
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and serviced. You don't wait until it
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breaks down on the highway to consider
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maintenance. You top up the tank
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regularly. Similarly, self-care helps
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prevent emotional or physical
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breakdowns. It's a proactive approach to
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wellness, ensuring we have the resources
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to handle life's stresses. And when we
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care for ourselves, we often become
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kinder to others. Right? A rested
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balanced person can show more patience
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and empathy. So what are some practical
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forms of self-care?
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They vary. Physical activity, balanced
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nutrition, adequate sleep. These are
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Yes, good sleep and healthy meals set
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the stage for better moods and focus.
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Mindfulness practices can help too. Deep
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breathing, meditation, journaling, and
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hobbies. We enjoy reading, painting,
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playing music can restore our energy.
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Exactly. Whatever lifts your spirit
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counts as self-care. How about setting
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That's crucial. Saying no to extra
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commitments can protect our time and
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energy. We often feel guilty about
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saying no, though. But if we say yes to
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everything, we deplete ourselves.
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Boundaries help ensure we don't neglect
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Yes, boundaries are a form of
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Let's consider the mental shift needed.
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We have to realize that self-care isn't
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laziness. It's strategic. By carving out
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time to rest or enjoy life's simple
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pleasures, we refuel our minds and
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bodies. This makes us more productive
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over the long term, not less. It's a
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mindset change. We're not being selfish.
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We're being responsible custodians of
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our own well-being.
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Beautifully put, Mike. Thanks. Let's
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talk about the challenges people face.
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One big challenge is feeling there's not
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enough time. But even 5 minutes can make
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a difference. Yes, small steps matter. A
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quick stretch break, a short walk around
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the block. Another challenge is
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financial. People think self-care means
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expensive treatments. It doesn't have to
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be. Nature walks, a warm bath, reading a
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library book, all low cost. Consistency
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is key, right? Absolutely. Doing
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something small each day adds up over
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time. What if someone feels guilty about
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resting? They can start by acknowledging
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that rest is natural and necessary. We
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wouldn't shame a car for refueling as
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Exactly. Our bodies and minds have
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limits that must be honored. How does
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self-care relate to mental health? It
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can help stabilize mood, reduce anxiety,
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and prevent burnout. And it creates
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space to process emotions healthfully.
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Yes, journaling or talking with a
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supportive friend can be part of
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self-care. Physical activities also
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boost mental health, right?
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Absolutely. Exercise releases endorphins
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and reduces stress. Good nutrition
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supports brain function, too. Yes. What
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we eat affects how we feel mentally and
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emotionally. All these elements
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interconnect. Self-care is holistic.
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Exactly. It's about treating ourselves
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Let's consider the work life balance
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aspect. Many people overwork and neglect
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their personal lives. Self-care might
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mean setting a strict end time to the
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workday or turning off work
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notifications after hours. It's about
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reclaiming personal time. Yes. And
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giving ourselves permission to breathe.
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What about people who feel pressured by
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social media? They can practice digital
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detoxes or limit screen time. Setting
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phone-f free periods each day can help.
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Absolutely. Reducing digital overload
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improves mental clarity. We've covered a
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lot. Let's summarize some key
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strategies. Sure. Start small. Pick one
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self-care activity that resonates, like
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a short walk or 10 minutes of reading.
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Schedule it at a set time each day.
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Respect that appointment with yourself.
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Over time, add more activities cooking a
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healthy meal, spending time offline,
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stretching between work sessions. These
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habits reinforce the message that your
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well-being matters. You're learning to
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treat yourself as you would a good
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friend, caring, supportive,
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understanding. That's great advice.
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Consistency builds a self-care routine
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into your life. Yes. And self-compassion
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is vital. Don't beat yourself up if you
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miss a day. It's about progress, not
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perfection. Exactly. Kindness toward
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oneself fosters healthier patterns over
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time. What if someone tries several
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activities and none feel right?
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Experiment. Self-care is personal. Keep
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exploring until you find what clicks.
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Maybe yoga isn't for you, but dancing
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Exactly. Or playing an instrument,
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gardening, or simply daydreaming
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quietly. The goal is to feel
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replenished, not to check a box. Right?
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Self-care should be fulfilling, not
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another task on a to-do list. Also,
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remember that self-care
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evolves. What worked when you were
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younger might change as you get older.
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Be flexible and adapt. As life
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circumstances shift, new job, moving to
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a new city, changing health conditions,
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your approach can shift, too. The beauty
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of self-care is that it's not static.
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You can always discover new ways to
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nurture yourself. So true. It's a
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lifelong learning process.
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And it's okay to seek support.
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Therapists, coaches, or friends can help
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guide you. Yes. Asking for help is also
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a form of self-care.
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We don't have to navigate this alone.
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Exactly. Community care and self-care go
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hand in hand. When we're well, we can
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support others more effectively. It's a
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positive cycle. Caring for ourselves
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benefits everyone around us. So
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self-care isn't just personal. It has a
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ripple effect. Yes. Imagine a world
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where everyone took better care of
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More empathy, less stress, richer
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That's the vision. It starts with small
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changes in our daily lives. Before we
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wrap up, any final tips, Emma, give
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yourself permission to rest and
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recharge, even if it feels uncomfortable
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at first. And remember that every step
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counts, no matter how small. Yes,
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celebrate those small wins. They add up
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over time. Well said. I hope our
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listeners feel inspired to try something
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new. Me too. Even a 5-minut break today
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is a positive start. Thanks for chatting
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with me about this, Emma. Thank you,
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Mike. It's always a pleasure.
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