Problem: Article: Old wooden pallets tend to be very rough and splintery. It's important to use heavy work gloves when handling them. You may like to sand them down before using them. If you do this, use a face mask and eye protection. These are a bit harder to find. This means the wood was heat treated, not chemically treated, in order to preserve the wood when it was made. It's important to use a new, unused HT pallet if growing edible plants. This is important, as wood can absorb chemicals after manufacture, for example if the pallet came into contact with chemicals such as bitumen or petrol when in use. That's why you want to use a new pallet for growing edible plants. When the wood gets wet it's also a good breeding ground for bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. For any kind of use, it may be best to avoid old pallets that you suspect may be contaminated with chemicals. Avoid bringing old pallets into the house. You can mitigate the bacterial risk by scrubbing your pallet clean with soapy water and weakened bleach, or soaking in a disinfectant solution. Over time the bacteria may build up again though. Beware of protruding nails and the wood shattering into sharp pieces when you work with it. If you notice any obvious signs of damage, you should work with a different pallet instead.
Summary: Protect yourself from splinters. Look for pallets stamped with 'HT". Avoid using older pallets, as they may be contaminated. Check pallets carefully for signs of damage to the wood.

Problem: Article: Sometimes we get feedback we don't want to hear. Whether from a classmate, a teacher, a coach, or a parent, criticism isn't always "hating." It's meant to be constructive. There's a big difference. Bullies abuse, hate, and tear down. That is "destructive criticism." Constructive criticism, on the other hand, is meant to help us. Intent is the big difference between these two kinds of criticism. Why is a person criticizing you? If they are trying to hurt you, to be cruel, or to just tear you down, it's destructive. If a person gives criticism that points out your mistakes or faults, but also how you can improve, it is constructive. It still might hurt, but it is worth listening to. Say that your hockey teammate tells you, "You're a terrible skater" or "You really suck out there." These are examples of destructive criticism "hating." It would be constructive if your teammate had said, "You're a weak skater. Try bending more at the knees and getting lower to the ice. You'll get more power in your stride" Not only intent but the target of criticism is important in determining whether it is destructive or constructive. Destructive remarks target the individual you. They are meant to attack you as a person. Constructive criticism does not do this. It focuses instead on your work, your skills, a concept, a process, or something else. It is impersonal. Examples of destructive criticism include, "You're stupid," "What's wrong with you?" "You're doing this all wrong." Note that the criticism attacks you and your personal worth. Examples of constructive criticism include, "Your writing sounds kind of stilted. Try to use simpler sentences," or "You nearly hit that car. Always check your blind spot before changing lanes." It can be hard to separate yourself from your work or other things that you love. Try not to take it personally. Someone who criticizes your writing, for example, is not attacking who you are as a person. They may just want to help you improve. How criticism is delivered is also important. Destructive and constructive criticism can both be harsh and difficult to hear. Tone is a key separator, however. A destructive critic usually takes a hurtful tone, maybe contempt, maybe mockery, or maybe just insults. Constructive critics may point out faults, but their tone is supposed to be cruel. For example, a hater would say something along the lines of "Only an idiot would do it this way." The tone is very personal, insulting, and hurtful. A constructive critic might take the same fault but express it more kindly: "This is wrong, but it's a common mistake. What you could have done differently is..." Note that the tone is more impersonal and leads to a piece of advice. At heart, the advice is what most separates destructive from constructive criticism. The first aims only to tear down, without offering suggestions for the future. The second, on the other hand, is meant to offer advice and to help you improve. A hater will never (or rarely) have suggestions for how you can improve, e.g. "That was pathetic!" or "Why did you waste your time on that?" Constructive criticism offers useful advice. For example, say you get a low grade on a paper and the comment, "It seems like you wrote this essay very fast. It is filled with errors. Always make sure to proofread!" This criticism may be blunt, but it offers genuine advice. Lots of people talk about "haters" when they get a piece of criticism. While there are lots of critics out there, we sometimes fall back on the word "hater" as a way to avoid confronting our own failures. In other words, we dismiss criticism when we "lack the self-awareness to critique and improve." Criticism can be hard to hear. However, we sometimes need to hear the truth in order to grow. Don't resist all criticism. Learn to tell constructive criticism from destructive criticism. Be open to criticism when it's mean to help you.
Summary: Note the intent. Note the target of criticism. Note tone of criticism. Note the lack of substance of advice. Be open to constructive criticism.

Problem: Article: Do not be in a rush. Be laid back. If you need to be somewhere on time, leave early so you have more than enough time to get there. And if you are running late, don't worry about it. There's really not much you can do about it now, because the traffic, the stop lights, and the laws of the road are still there. So relax. Drive as if you have all the time in the world. If you are late, at least you will have had a lovely ride. Instead, try listening to the sounds of your car the engine, the way the tires sound on the road. Listen to your breathing and your heartbeat. This is an excellent time to learn to enjoy (relative) silence, since in our noisy world it can be hard to find. Think about why you listen to talk radio or classic rock in the first place. It's probably because it helps distract you from what you're doing, and makes the drive more tolerable. But what's so terrible about what you're doing, that you have to pay attention to something else? This type of listening might even make you better at detecting problems with your car before they become expensive to fix! Feel your belly rise and fall (against the seat belt, of course) with every breath. Count each inhalation and each exhalation, until you get to ten. Start back at one again. This is at the core of Zazen (Zen meditation) and will help keep you calm. Look at your hands on the steering wheel. Are you clenching them? Let go of excess tension. You only need just enough grip to control the wheel no more, no less. Then direct your attention to your stomach. Is it tense? Soften your belly, then soften your shoulders and consciously let go of tension anywhere else in your body. Take a moment to appreciate that you're in this incredible machine that was specifically designed to make your trip easy. All you have to do is turn a key, hold a wheel, and press your foot. Be grateful that, right now, your car is actually working, not breaking down. Appreciate that not everyone has a car to drive, instead of taking your car for granted, as if it's a right. Be glad that you can drive on paved, safe roads. Most importantly, be thankful that, at this moment, you're alive and healthy enough to drive.
Summary:
Take your time. Turn off the radio and other distracting noises. Breathe deeply. Loosen up. Be thankful.