4 habits of highly effective communicators. Called 'supercommunicators,' these people have the exceptional ability of creating authentic connections with others — just by listening and talking. Read the story here. 

How to write a personal letter, according to a Hallmark card writer. Be it snail mail, a text message, a work email or a birthday card to grandma: good personal writing can foster authentic connection, boost your creativity and brighten someone's day. But personal writing can be tough. In this episode, Courtney Taylor, a senior writer at Hallmark offers tips to make finding the words a bit easier. Read the story here.

The delightfully analog art of letter-writing. Tired of texting? Send your loved ones some snail mail instead. Rachel Syme, author of Syme's Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence, shares whimsical ways to start a letter-writing habit. Read the story here.  

Oops, I messed up! 7 common public speaking issues — and how to fix them. It can be anxiety-inducing to deliver a speech in front of an audience. How do you capture people's attention? What do you do if you stumble? A speechwriter and a speech coach share their best tips. Read the story here.  

This acronym will help you give the perfect toast. It's the wild card of every big event — the toast. If you're giving a New Year’s toast, a best man or maid of honor speech, or any other toasts this coming year, we've got some tips to make sure people remember your toast with fondness and not horror. Read the story here.

Last week, we published a story on houseguest etiquette, which focused on how to be a considerate guest while staying at someone else’s home.

Now, we’d like to hear from the hosts. How do you create a welcoming environment for overnight guests? How do you deal with sticky situations, like messy bathrooms or too-long stays, while remaining gracious?

Send an email to lifekit@npr.org with your full name, and we may include your advice in an upcoming story on NPR.org.