INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In any conflict situation, everyone involved tends to believe the situation is the other party's fault. Consider whether there is anything you could do differently to improve your working relationship.  Do you have an aggressive personality? Sometimes you might come on too strong, and others might react by withdrawing or becoming defensive, even if you meant well. Try toning it down or giving them some space. Do you tend to be critical? Even if it's part of your job, the way a person offers criticism can feel constructive or like a personal attack. Some people with more sensitive personalities may receive all but the most gentle criticism this way. Don't be afraid to take the responsibility for a conflict, and make it right. Use "I statements" to deflect potential defensiveness, like "I may have overstepped my role" or "I am afraid I may have come across too harshly with my criticism." Learning more about their interests, backgrounds, and families can help to relieve some of the conflict by helping you understand their personality, goals, and priorities.  Invite them over to your home for a barbeque, or to a bar or restaurant after work. You can get to know them free of the stress of the workplace, and help them to see you as a three dimensional person with a life outside of work. Remember that negative and conflict-ridden people are often under a lot of stress. They may be fighting a medical condition, struggling to pay their bills, or dealing with family issues. Extend the same benefit of the doubt that you would hope someone would extend to you on a bad day. Be considerate of your co-worker's personal boundaries, and don't be offended if they choose not to get close. They may decline invitations or prefer to keep their work relationships strictly professional, and that's ok too. You might not be best friends with all your co-workers, but you can make a special effort to be kind, polite, and easy to work with.  Never engage in behaviors that are considered harassment, such as making suggestive sexual comments or gestures or telling jokes that target race, culture, or gender.  Consider leaving notes of appreciation for your co-workers, or bringing in donuts to the office once a month. When it's reasonable and does not add to your work load, help your co-workers out in little ways: grab their copies off the copy machine, offer to take orders for Starbucks if you're headed there anyway, or refill the soap dispenser. The little things can add up to a much more enjoyable working relationship. Going out of your way to be kind doesn't mean letting others walk all over you or letting others take advantage of your helpfulness. It just means treating everyone the same at work regardless of whether they are your favorite or least favorite person to work with.

SUMMARY: Look at yourself. Get to know your co-workers as people. Go out of your way to be kind.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Plug the power washer in, connect it to a water source, and turn on the machine using the switch. Hold the end of the power washer 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) from the surface of the concrete and pull the trigger to shoot out water. Use back and forth strokes to clean all of the concrete completely. Focus on areas where concrete is loose or deteriorating.  Look for a power washer with a fan tip that reaches 3500 PSI to clean your concrete slabs. If you don’t have access to a power washer, you can get an attachment for your garden hose. Cleaning your concrete makes the resurfacer adhere better. Give the concrete 1-2 hours to dry after power washing it. When the surface of the concrete is dry to the touch, you can move on. Once the concrete is dry again, sweep the rest of the dust and residue off with a push broom. Work in small areas at a time to clean off the area entirely before moving on. Resurface your concrete on the same day you clean it, or else dirt and dust will start to form again. Remove the backing from peel-and-stick foam weather stripping. Push the weather stripping into the cracks between your concrete slabs so the resurfacer doesn’t fill them in.  Weather stripping can be purchased at your local hardware store. The expansion joints between slabs cannot be filled since they allow the slabs to shift naturally without cracking.
Summary: Use a power washer to remove dirt and loose concrete. Let the concrete dry completely. Sweep off the concrete with a stiff-bristled push broom. Cover control and expansion joints with weather stripping.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Monitoring your progress is important when you're losing weight.  Stepping on the scale regularly can help you see how effective your diet program is going and whether or not you need to make any changes.  Remember, safe weight loss is about one to two pounds per week.  Be patient with your progress.  You're more likely to sustain slow and steady weight loss in the long-term.  For the most accurate pattern of results, it's best to weigh yourself at the same time of day, on the same day of the week and in the same clothes (or choose to go without clothes). If your weight loss has plateaued or you've begun to gain weight, recheck your meal plans and food journals and see if you can cut out any more calories to help weight loss. Having friends, family members or co-workers supporting you through your weight loss plan may help you continue to lose weight and maintain it long-term.  Build a support group to help you stay on track.  See if others you know also want to lose weight.  Many times people find it easier to tackle weight loss together as a group. You can also try finding online support groups or support groups that meet in person on a weekly or monthly basis. Get support by working with a registered dietitian; he/she can customize your meal plan and provide on-going support. Having a motivating and enticing reward at the end of your weight loss goals can help push you through to the end.  Set up something exciting for yourself as you meet your goals.  Ideas to try include:  Buying yourself new shoes or clothes. Treating yourself to a round of golf or other favorite sport. Getting a massage or other spa treatment. Avoid food-related rewards, as these can trigger old habits that might not be conducive to weight loss.

SUMMARY:
Weigh yourself once or twice a week. Find a support group. Reward yourself.